MetaGame

Nov 19, 2010 Benjamin Thomas rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi, advanced-reading-copy, indie-authors

"Metagame" by first time author, Sam Landstrom is a cyber-punk style of science-fiction novel that is utterly original in style and scope. Essentially, it is about a futuristic society where life itself is one humongous game. Points earned equate to currency so the better player you are, the richer and more powerful you are. Top scorers are eligible for immortality.

Kudos to Mr. Landstrom for creating this world. He has obviously spent a lot of time and energy extrapolating mankind's current tren ...more

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Nov 07, 2010 Penelope Fletcher rated it really liked it

I don't read sci-fi books often, but the synopsis intrigued me.

I dropped a star because for me the book gradually lost it's...sparkle, and by the end I was wondering where the finish line was. It started strong but at times during the middle I was lost. It may have been easier to follow if I had connected to the main character, D_Light, more than I did.

That said I thought it as well written and made complex relationships, and practices that are seen as taboo in today's society easy to follow, a ...more

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Oct 10, 2012 Lady Entropy rated it liked it · review of another edition

3.5 Stars.

I really really wanted to give this a better rating that I gave, oh, Twilight, but I honestly, couldn't bring myself to give it a 4.

The strength of this book is the setting, which is elaborate, gorgeous, complex and frankly interesting. This writer would do wonderfully in creating roleplaying games. The downside to it is that, well, everything else is pretty weak: the structure crumbles under its own weight, the pacing is atrocious, the stakes are never that high (and the revelation of ...more

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Dec 19, 2011 Brian rated it really liked it

As an avid reader, especially in the Sci-Fi genre, I've encountered a fair amount of original story-telling when envisioning a (dystoptian) future society, but I have to hand it to Sam for being particularly original in the vision he casts for earth in the future decades (if not hundreds) of years from now. He takes some pretty well known concepts like genetic manipulation, MMOG and and other fairly well known elements in our current culture and extrapolates them out into some pretty fun places As an avid reader, especially in the Sci-Fi genre, I've encountered a fair amount of original story-telling when envisioning a (dystoptian) future society, but I have to hand it to Sam for being particularly original in the vision he casts for earth in the future decades (if not hundreds) of years from now. He takes some pretty well known concepts like genetic manipulation, MMOG and and other fairly well known elements in our current culture and extrapolates them out into some pretty fun places in this future world. Aside from your standard Sci-Fi elements, there's also some good humor throughout, some clever and interesting dialog, and a variety of different types of action ranging from the geeky to the graphic. And, of course, like most good stories, this one has a few pretty nice plot twists that, especially the final one which I did not see coming.

The story itself revolves primarily around one guy (D_Light) who's starting to ascend into the next level of success in his journey towards immortality - the goal of many in this future world where the Oversoul sees and governs all. Most of the action revolves around the title-referenced "MetaGame" which is basically a quest taking place in real life where the cost of winning or losing is very high and possibly the difference between death and immortality.

The tale is split up into 3 unequally sized acts. The first act which lasts about 6-8 chapters sets the stage, the main players and introduces some important ground rules for the world you'll be reading about. This act is pretty strong for the most part and you are more or less thrown right into D_Light's life and are playing catch up for several (slightly bizarre but fun) chapters. There's a bit of a lull around this poimt, but then there's a very strong second act that lasts all the way up to about the 70%-75% point of the book and there's a lot to like about this act. It's paced well, progresses naturally and the events all make sense and do much to move the players to the next place in the story.

Granted, it's not what I would consider "amazing" Sci-Fi, but what it lakes in polish and finesse, it makes up for in originality and unexpected turns in the story. The last act takes place largely in one location (Dr. Monsa's) and is very unevenly paced making some passages clumsy and even tedious to get through. There were also some questionable and/or confusing decisions that our protagonist makes, especially in this act, though the book does manage to refocus and end strongly in the last couple of chapters. Still, the problems in the last act didn't negate the overall quality of the book, just that I think the plotting and pacing of the events in this story could have used some more work.

So, all in all this book has a little bit of everything from action/thriller to lots of Sci-Fi elements to horror and even some romance and philosophical ground is covered. For a first effort, this book definitely shows a lot of promise and I'll definitely be watching for more Sci-Fi goodness in the future. ...more

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Jan 06, 2013 David rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

(Originally reviewed on Otherwhere Gazette)

From time to time, a book comes along that has such an interesting concept that it’s hard to get out of your mind. Metagame, by Sam Landstrom, is that kind of book.

The basic concept is pretty simple. On a future earth, the world has changed in some really significant ways. Instead of everyone working, everyone instead plays games. In fact, your game is usually your job, called a “grinder game.” For example, people in a law enforcement grinder game get p (Originally reviewed on Otherwhere Gazette)

From time to time, a book comes along that has such an interesting concept that it’s hard to get out of your mind. Metagame, by Sam Landstrom, is that kind of book.

The basic concept is pretty simple. On a future earth, the world has changed in some really significant ways. Instead of everyone working, everyone instead plays games. In fact, your game is usually your job, called a “grinder game.” For example, people in a law enforcement grinder game get points and rewards for catching people. You also get points for little things like dropping a company’s brand name into a conversation. Family is also less of a biological concept and more of a social one, allowing people to join a family of their choice. Of course, there are still lower and higher level players, and the higher level players are invited to play a “Metagame,” where the really big prizes are.

Religion has also changed, with the OverSoul as the deity. And it’s a deity that can grant immortality, if you get to a high enough level. You can think of the OverSoul as the operating system that runs the whole game system, including the implants in people. So people who break the rules of the game are not criminals, they’re demons. And demons are hunted by angels, which are artificial people with enhanced abilities.

Speaking of artificial people, they’re all over the place, and they do most of the dirty work. They’re also not considered people, they’re “products.” It’s the interaction of one player with a product, inside of a Metagame, that provides the story. I don’t want to give it away, but suffice it to say that during the Metagame, questions arise about what humanity really means, and whether a being that is 96.3% genetically similar to a human (the upper limit of similarity allowed for products) is truly human or not.

For a thought provoking story that is still enjoyable and very readable, it’s hard to beat Metagame. I strongly recommend it. ...more

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Sep 19, 2010 Dirk rated it it was amazing

Shelves: gaming, entertains

MetaGame von Sam Landstrom habe ich gleich zweimal hintereinander gelesen. Einmal als Roman und das zweite Mal, um die im Buch beschriebene Vision der Gesellschaft wirklich zu verstehen.

Das Buch spielt irgendwann in der Zukunft. Die Gesellschaft ist in sogenannten Familien organisiert, deren Mitglieder jedoch nicht klassisch verwandt sein müssen, sondern eher ein Mittelding zwischen einer Firma, MMO-Gilde und Religion sind. Alle werden von der sogenannten OverSoul regiert, einer künstlichen Inte MetaGame von Sam Landstrom habe ich gleich zweimal hintereinander gelesen. Einmal als Roman und das zweite Mal, um die im Buch beschriebene Vision der Gesellschaft wirklich zu verstehen.

Das Buch spielt irgendwann in der Zukunft. Die Gesellschaft ist in sogenannten Familien organisiert, deren Mitglieder jedoch nicht klassisch verwandt sein müssen, sondern eher ein Mittelding zwischen einer Firma, MMO-Gilde und Religion sind. Alle werden von der sogenannten OverSoul regiert, einer künstlichen Intelligenz, die unter Aufsicht aller Menschen die Gesellschaft steuert und reglementiert. Der Wert eines Menschen definiert sich dadurch, wie gut er “das Spiel” spielt, was im Grunde gleichbedeutend ist mit: “wie gut er lebt”, wobei “gut” definiert ist als Erfüllung der von OverSoul anerkannten moralischen Kriterien. Einfach gesagt: das ganze Leben ist ein Spiel, bei dem die Regeln kontinuierlich den gesellschaftlichen Vorstellungen angepasst werden.

Das Buch begleitet D_Light, einen hochrangigen Spieler einer Familie, wie er seinen adligen Eltern bei der Erfüllung einer epischen Quest hilft. Übersetzung: der Hauptdarsteller, ein angesehenes Mitglied der Gesellschaft, wird von den reichen und mächtigen Geschäftsführern seiner Firma als Berater zu einem Auftrag hinzugezogen.

Während die Geschichte ihren Lauf nimmt wird die fiktive Gesellschaft immer tiefer vorgestellt: was die Motivation für die Einführung von OverSoul war, auf welchen wissenschaftlichen Theorien diese Gesellschaftsform steht. Das Interessante dabei ist: diese Theorien sind tatsächlich erschienene Bücher und Paper, so dass diese Science Fiction Gesellschaft eher wirkt wie eine Vision, ein konsequent weitergedachter Versuch diese Theorien in den Alltag zu übertragen. Und das ist spannend. Vielleicht nicht vollständig realistisch, aber darum ging es bei 1984 ja auch nicht. Aber das Buch stellt interessante Fragen zu Identität, Moral, Motivation und letztendlich Menschlichkeit.

Fazit: Empfehlung für SciFi-Fans, Doppelte Empfehlung für Leute, die sich mit Game Design und Gamification beschäftigen. ...more

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Jan 03, 2011 Russell rated it liked it

Metagame is the story of D_Light who lives in a future in which life itself has become a game, where basic jobs have been boiled down into games in which players earn points that add up to currency and if you have enough points you can get a show at becoming immortal. D_Light is an upstart player who finds himself invited to take part in a Metagame, a prestigious, potentially dangerous game with high rewards.

First of all, as someone who has not read a great deal of science fiction, I found the w ...more

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Aug 20, 2013 Erik Noren rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I have always loved high-technology and dystopian style novels. MetaGame fell right into this wheelhouse. The story was easy to follow, didn't involve a confusing number of characters and was quite linear.

The overall plot was compelling and the technology appeared well integrated for the most part. In some cases there were superfluous side characters or situations which didn't really serve any purpose than a pure plot device to set up a situation before they were quickly forgotten.

The ending was ...more

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Jul 26, 2011 Pamela (slytherpuff) rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: gamers, sci-fi geeks, distopia/utopia readers

Shelves: fantasy, lendle, own, favorites, z-complete-2011-subc, ebook, pimp-out

See more of my reviews at Bettering Me Up.

I do not usually delve into the world of sci-fi and I am certainly not a gamer (much to my husband's chagrin), but I could not get enough of this book. Landstrom creates a world that seems all too plausible in the far (near?) future. The characters are realistic, and arrogant, and flawed, but you can relate to them. Their names consist only of handles you'd find on the internet. No "Jennifer" or "Joshua" plain vanilla names.

There were several "Oh no!" m ...more

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Oct 14, 2011 Gsawe rated it it was amazing

Incredible sci fi. The plot is a little weak but the world building and the 'what ifs' that make up the best sci fi stories are all there. The character is a little weak - you never really sympathize with him - but it doesn't matter, you can feel for his story and his very detachment makes you realize that this futuristic environment is almost guaranteed to create a population of veritable sociopaths. He isn't at all likable but is the most likable of his peer group. Every action he takes makes ...more

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Aug 22, 2015 Ross Martin rated it really liked it

Shelves: recommended, made-me-think

This book will make you think. For prescience, I give it five stars as the author has really captured a plausible picture of our future where pervasive gaming gives us a way to bring meaning and order to our hyper-tech lives. The writing was good but not Neal Stephenson amazing.

All that said, I will probably read it again because I want a playbook for where humanity is going and this book spells out a likely scenario.t

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Aug 09, 2011 Greg rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction, biological-fiction, kindle-ebook

I thought this book pretty interesting.

It's one of those "emerging story" books where you're thrown into the story and it's background and premise is explained as you read it.

For a first book, it's pretty darn good. You get into the characters, feel for them and there's a few twists that you wouldn't really expect.

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Sep 01, 2016 StealingShade Productions rated it liked it

Published in 2009, MetaGame, by Landstrom, Sam is a science fiction novel I found through my Pixel of Ink account. I held onto it for a while before really getting into it, though when I did, it seemed strange that I hadn't dove right in. The world Mr. Landstrom creates is fun, and believable.

Opening these pages takes us far into the future, where The Game is everything. Think of your favorite MMORPG (massive multiplayer online role-playing game, for you noobs), but live, and ongoing at all time Published in 2009, MetaGame, by Landstrom, Sam is a science fiction novel I found through my Pixel of Ink account. I held onto it for a while before really getting into it, though when I did, it seemed strange that I hadn't dove right in. The world Mr. Landstrom creates is fun, and believable.

Opening these pages takes us far into the future, where The Game is everything. Think of your favorite MMORPG (massive multiplayer online role-playing game, for you noobs), but live, and ongoing at all times. That's pretty much how the world of MetaGame is. Micro-chipped brains can link everyone together, like trolling Facebook 24/7, but with better search parameters. Everything you do can be done for game points, and everything, including plants, people, and created objects are covered in nanosites, creating a "...three-dimensional map of the world that software could easily understand...marking moving objects in real time..."

The more game points you have, the more prestige you carry, granting long-youth, long-life, and possibly even immortality. Points are earned for everything, including everyday "job" type duties, including software engineering/programming, medicinal research, law enforcement, etc, so every aspect of an individual's life has become a "game," thus creating "flow," in turn generating happiness for all. For those who like games as we know them today, they are available, though frowned upon from a societal stand-point, as they are thought of as lazy. These games are called Spank Games, and require literal, physical movement to play. "Sloth is a sin [therefore] spank games require physical movement [so they at least enhance physicality]..." To play spank games, one must jack into a world-wide virtual reality, where the game is played superimposed over the real world. Watching a spanker can be entertaining, as they typically look ridiculous while they're embarking on whatever game quest they happen to be involved with.

Our main character, D_Light (many of the characters have gamer-tag-like names), is one of the top ranking gamers in his Family. After an intense Rule #7 (a randomly implemented game where any gamer is allowed to kill (literally) another, and be granted 1/5th the victims total game points), D_Light finds himself the #1 points earner for the day. This circumstance offers him the opportunity to be involved in a monthly MetaGame, (known also as Divine Quest or House Crusade); a game offered only to nobility. Comprised of a series of games, not even the participants know what the quests will be until they are starting them. More a cultural phenomenon than a traditional game, the MetaGames take place in the real world, versus the software constructs of the electronic worlds.

Teamed up with Lyra & Djoser, the nobility invited to participate in the Metagame, along with their bodyguards, Amanda (a product, I thought of as a cybernetic robot) and Brian, a chip-on-his-shoulder meat-head type, we follow the group through their MetaGame, which leads them into the depths of the OverSoul's cultural constructs.

What I really enjoyed about this book were the references to the reasoning behind the creation of the culture this book takes place in. Real psychology, like that of Mihaly Cskiszentmihalyi's idea of Flow, were used by Mr. Landstrom to create a very believable culture. I'm an origin story lover, so thoroughly enjoyed the chapter prefaces that told the back-story. Thinking about it more as I write this, I may not have enjoyed the novel without these insights...

If you're a gamer, or a tech person, you may enjoy this novel just for the sheer joy of reading about the universe the story takes place in. I definitely did. If you like a good onion peel of social constructs, this could do it as well. There's even the hint of a love story, but not enough to overshadow the rest, and definitely the build-up of "what the hell is happening!" that will make you want to continue to the end. ...more

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Jan 09, 2013 Ravencrantz rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: e-books

What if life was just one big MMO? That's the question that this book answers.

This book takes place in the future. At least, I think it does. I assume it does. I'm pretty sure it does. That was kind of unclear. Let's just say it takes place in the future. Civilization as we know it now is gone. People we believe to be beautiful would be considered average, even ugly. Life span has changed so someone in their 50's is now considered young and youthful. Everyone is fit, and those who become lazy a What if life was just one big MMO? That's the question that this book answers.

This book takes place in the future. At least, I think it does. I assume it does. I'm pretty sure it does. That was kind of unclear. Let's just say it takes place in the future. Civilization as we know it now is gone. People we believe to be beautiful would be considered average, even ugly. Life span has changed so someone in their 50's is now considered young and youthful. Everyone is fit, and those who become lazy are penalized through the points system. Life is one big game, and every one is a player. Best friends can become enemies in an instant, and your enemies can become your greatest ally.

An interesting concept that has been done in anime a few times (namely the .//hack series and Sword Art Online), but I had not come across the concept in a book until MetaGame. I originally started it because I needed to read something that wasn't The Graveyard Book, but MetaGame quickly captured me and I had trouble putting it down. Looking back, I'm not too sure why. Nothing truly sticks out other than the concept and some of the imagery. The names were confusing in the beginning because it uses usernames of the players and not their real names, such as D_Light and Love_Monkey. Then there are times when characters go by more common names, such as Lily and Lyra. It got a bit confusing, but once I was used to it, I was okay. The plot seemed to skip around a bit, but that was only due to the jumping of viewpoints. When in the viewpoint of the angel, Jacob, the story seemed to drag on and on. This was due to the author trying to write as Jacob would think, and since he was a machine and completely math oriented, there were a lot of numbers and calculations that just didn't flow well. It was a good idea, and added voice, but I just don't think it worked out too well.

The technology is interesting, and the blurbs at the beginning of the chapters were helpful. They explained the world of The Game and explained how this form of civilization came to be. It was all the background information we needed, but given to us a little at a time only when we needed it. I just had trouble differentiating from when the characters were in game to when they were out. I guess that's the point, because you never truly stop playing, but at times it was confusing. Especially since they all went by their usernames and then when they "plugged in" to a game, they went by a character name.

D_Light was an interesting enough character. Nothing really special about him. He's in his 50's but looks like he's 20 thanks to the health contracts that keep everyone looking young as long as they're playing. He saves the mysterious Demon Lily from the Divine Authority and that's where the story actually picks up. That was a few chapters in. A good quarter of the way through the book.

I enjoyed Lily and her ignorance to The Game. We learned most of the background information through D_Light explaining to her what's going on. Her background, though quite disturbing, is really unexpected. The other characters keep dropping hints as to what she may be, but the truth was really...disturbing.

Honestly, I think my favorite character is Smorgeous, D_Light's cat familiar. He's a robot, he's a cat, and he dances.

My only warning is of the language. And I don't mean swearing. There's a lot of gamer lingo dropped left and right, and if you're not familiar with it, you could have a tough time. All in all, a fun read. ...more

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Jul 17, 2011 Tara rated it really liked it

My thoughts:
This book was completely the opposite of what I was expecting. I am not a sci-fi reader, let me stress that again - NOT a SCI-fi reader. I really didn't know that this book was science fiction. I read the synopsis and it sounded kind of dystopian-ish-plus-action which I love. It was a futuristic dystopian-type sci-fi-pretty-technical-but awesome. The world building and technology was....WOW INCREDIBLY PHENOMENAL. It totally blew my mind. It was very detail oriented, and so so so SO c My thoughts:
This book was completely the opposite of what I was expecting. I am not a sci-fi reader, let me stress that again - NOT a SCI-fi reader. I really didn't know that this book was science fiction. I read the synopsis and it sounded kind of dystopian-ish-plus-action which I love. It was a futuristic dystopian-type sci-fi-pretty-technical-but awesome. The world building and technology was....WOW INCREDIBLY PHENOMENAL. It totally blew my mind. It was very detail oriented, and so so so SO creative. I've grown tired of the vague descriptions of new inventions and technology in this recent wave of dystopians (Not ALL recent dystopians, but quite a few of them have been severely lacking in that department). There were no plot holes, every single bit of this amazing, new technology was well thought out and described so perfectly. Sam Landstrom's amazing world-building skills are just one of a kind. I really can't stress enough how cool, creative and complex everything in this futuristic sci-fi world was. I would give this aspect of the book a hundred stars.

This world we are immersed in does take some getting used to. You have to really pay attention in this book. There's so much information packed into the pages that you have to COMPREHEND and REMEMBER everything. But thankfully, I was never really left with that "HUH" feeling. Y'know the one where you're just lost while the author is overloading your brain with new terms, inventions, places and characters.

I have one complaint, it is a pretty big complaint (hence the 4 star and not 5 star rating). The plot felt like it just meandered about. I didn't really know where it was headed. I was 50 pages from the end, and I still felt like we were in limbo. The last 15 or so pages was where the action was. Still, I didn't have the urgency to keep flipping the pages because I didn't really understand what we were waiting for or what was going to happen. The ending did turn out to be wonderful, and it tied everything together nicely. I couldn't imagine a more perfect ending. There was some romance throughout the book, but it was hardly the main focus.. I feel like it was more sex-oriented than romance oriented

I really hope that the author will write another novel based in this futuristic world. He did leave it open-ended enough for a possible sequel. I think this could be a great series.

I borrowed this book through LendMe for my Nook even though Metagame isn't sold in a Nook format anymore (as far as I can tell). But it is available in Kindle format for $2.99. Great price for a good read!

I recommend this to:
*GUYS (not to say that girls shouldn't read it, but I don't often come across a book that I think both sexes can really enjoy).
* Anyone that enjoys the technical aspects and technology in dystopian books.
*Borderline Sci-Fi Readers and hardcore sci-fi readers too!

Clean/YA readers: The book is not a YA book, definitely more of an adult book. I don't recall any language or anything like that, but sex and rape is discussed rather flippantly.

Judge a Book By It's Cover: The cover is pretty cool. It's actually one of the coolest sci-fi covers I've seen. I usually DO NOT LIKE sci-fi covers.

*Disclosure: I acquired this book of my on my own. I actually read and reviewed a NOT FOR REVIEW BOOK!? Yay me. Links in this review are not affiliate links. ...more

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Jan 13, 2014 Nanne rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction

Before I begin my review I should probably state how I got to this book and what expectations I had. About a year ago I read Ready Player One by Ernest Cline and absolutely fell in love with it, going so far as to recommend it to everyone who was capable of reading basically. Of course that was a debut novel and so there wasn't more I could immediately delve in to and so I started looking around for similar books but there weren't any obvious contenders. Now of course this was part of the reason Before I begin my review I should probably state how I got to this book and what expectations I had. About a year ago I read Ready Player One by Ernest Cline and absolutely fell in love with it, going so far as to recommend it to everyone who was capable of reading basically. Of course that was a debut novel and so there wasn't more I could immediately delve in to and so I started looking around for similar books but there weren't any obvious contenders. Now of course this was part of the reason I loved Ready Player One (RPO), it was original, but it still left me longing for more. So I started looking at what people who also loved the book recommended as being a similar read and that's how I came to this book.

Now on the face of it the similarity is indeed there. The idea is basically that the whole world in the future has basically turned in to a massive MMORPG, everyone plays a role in live and one can get ahead by playing well. Sadly that's where the similarity ends already. In RPO there's a blend between virtual reality and reality and that's what makes it work, here were are just left with a largely confusing dystopian MMORPG society that just doesn't quite work. The idea of having AI assistants (called familiars) and playing games to further your level and thus position in live was nice but not very worked out but what worked the least was the dystopian nature of the society. Murder and pillaging were apparently back in vogue and a class based society including all the poor treatment of the lower classes was being touted as the optimal way a human world could function. On top of that a very bleak moral seemed to be prevaling, people were there only for themselves and everything that works for bettering oneself is deemed as a good thing, even encouraged as the way to play the game. Now add sexslaves, mindless android cannon fodder and some other nasty developments to the mix and one is left with a particularly horrible picture of what life should be like. You see it's not being touted as a dystopian society, it is apparently the result of hundreds of years of distilling what the human race really needs and being kept in place because the system works for everyone. On top of that there were some truly disgusting things going on that were probably meant to shock the reader or something but that were just revulsive. For instance those familiars I mentioned earlier not only provided data etc but were also used as toilet paper, or rather as full service cleaning tools that happily took the role of toilet paper with their tongues...

So I hated this book not just because it wasn't RPO, I wasn't really expecting it to be, but because I never cared about anyone I was reading about. I didn't care about the main character who was basically just as a**hole and I didn't care about the story which was shoddy at best. I wanted to stop reading at a few points but the only thing that this book had going for it was it's brevity. So I was already at 40% when the thought of stopping first occured to me and decided to see if it got better, it didn't. Anyways don't read this book, am sure some people enjoyed it but I just don't quite see how ...more

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Jun 23, 2013 Xan Shadowflutter rated it really liked it

This really isn't quite a 4, but I enjoyed it so much in spite of its problems, that I feel anything less does not do the book justice.

Metagame is the second "gamer" or "game-world" book I have read. The first was "Ready Player One," which I thoroughly enjoyed. I thought "Metagame" was wild and imaginative. Having said that, I'm not a gamer, and my knowledge of current quest games is limited, so an experienced gamer's reaction might be quite different than mine.

"Metagame" is a first effort by S This really isn't quite a 4, but I enjoyed it so much in spite of its problems, that I feel anything less does not do the book justice.

Metagame is the second "gamer" or "game-world" book I have read. The first was "Ready Player One," which I thoroughly enjoyed. I thought "Metagame" was wild and imaginative. Having said that, I'm not a gamer, and my knowledge of current quest games is limited, so an experienced gamer's reaction might be quite different than mine.

"Metagame" is a first effort by Sam Landstrom. Humanity, having suffered near extinction at the hands of a genetically modified virus, is saved by the "Oversoul." The Oversoul restores order and economy by turning life into a series of quests. Here is a world where work has been replaced with gaming and corporations and families have been replaced with houses (probably best described as large game teams). Everyone plays games. Even life is a game, a quest, in which a mistake can cost you your life.

Gaming is the means of all production; even law enforcement is conducted as a game. Cops don't engage "demons" (criminals) directly. They send their "products" (avatars) to catch (or kill) them. One wins points like one does in any game, and if you win enough points, and reach a high enough level, you can attain immortality. Like with most games, there are no friendships, only alliances, and alliances last only as long as its members find them profitable. This is a world where loneliness would be too much to bear if its inhabitants only knew something other than loneliness. Life has no meaning, but the games do. Intimacy is a relic of the human past. Everyone is a hustler.

Landstrom, a Microsoft tech writer, has a fertile imagination. He has built a crazy, imaginative world. I can't see how he can go back to writing technical manuals after creating this world of genetic and technical marvels.

There is a lot going on here, and that is the one problem with the book. Landstrom takes on too much. It is difficult to build a world, develop detailed, believable characters, and tell a good story in 400 pages. But that is what this first time author attempts to do, and I think it is too much for him. The story is bit jumbled -- world building mixed with plot -- and the characters suffer as a result. I wasn't vested in their lives the way I needed to be. Unfortunately, almost nothing is revealed until the last 40 pages.

I'm not much for those ubiquitous writer rules like "Show don't Tell" or "Don't use adjectives." I figure if you are good at using adjectives or at telling, then that is what you should do. Having said that, this story suffers from a little too much telling. Much of the book is devoted to explaining, and that is why the characters never fully develop and why nothing is revealed until the very end.

Still, I enjoyed the story and can't wait to read Landstom's next effort. I hope he gets better with experience. He's definitely on my watch list.

Shadow
...more

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Jul 31, 2016 Mark rated it really liked it

Good Book. Enjoyed the story. it's funny how a half dozen glaring typos can decrease my enjoyment of an otherwise good read.

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Feb 16, 2011 Heather rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: Fans of hard scifi

Shelves: books_2011

I was a little nervous going into Sam Landstrom's debut, METAGAME, because the description reminded me a bit of Neal Stephenson's SNOW CRASH, of which I'm not particularly a fan. (I found it dry, cluttered and dull.) However, METAGAME proved to be an entirely different reading experience, one that I immensely enjoyed.

Set some time in the future, METAGAME tells the story of a changed world, one where life is, quite literally, a game. Grinder games function as their version of jobs, while spank ga I was a little nervous going into Sam Landstrom's debut, METAGAME, because the description reminded me a bit of Neal Stephenson's SNOW CRASH, of which I'm not particularly a fan. (I found it dry, cluttered and dull.) However, METAGAME proved to be an entirely different reading experience, one that I immensely enjoyed.

Set some time in the future, METAGAME tells the story of a changed world, one where life is, quite literally, a game. Grinder games function as their version of jobs, while spank games are purely for entertainment. Points accrued from either type are then used as currency, and all players in the Game (discounting side-liners, who live on the fringes of society and have opted out of play) have a chip embedded in their necks which telepathically connect them to each other and to the Cloud (their global network). Players also have familiars, animal-shaped robots who serve various functions, the most significant of which is to record every conscious moment of a player's life.

D_Light is a talented young player from the House of Tesla. He's invited to play a Meta Game (competitive, often brutal high-stakes games that typically span a set period of time) with the house's royalty, Mother Lyra and Father Djoser -- which, for the somewhat opportunistic D_Light, sounds like a great chance to score some figurative points, as well as actual ones. But D_Light doesn't expect to fall for a mysterious woman he meets a long the way -- and he certainly doesn't foresee just how this particular Meta Game will end.

Landstrom did an excellent job at world-building, and takes readers on a clever, fun journey with interesting, complex characters. The story is quite provocative for its take on the degree to which technology has begun to impact our lives. Landstrom's cyberpunk world is one that's eerily familiar and frighteningly plausible, even in its shocking extremes. That's a sign of great science fiction.

Highly recommended. Can't wait for the prequel and sequel, both of which the author is currently writing. ...more

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Nov 05, 2014 Kendra Le rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: cyberpunk-nanopunk, sci-fi

This book is an enjoyable twist on the classic cyberpunk genre, with some more updated/modern additions. Unlike other reviewers, I didn't have a problem at all with Landstrom's pacing; it has its moments of suspenseful action, alternating with more contemplative downtime--both of which make sense in the context of the plot and character development.

The characters were interesting and I cared about most of them, and many of the concepts this novel tackles are intriguing: what it means to be huma ...more

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Apr 24, 2010 Kitty rated it really liked it

Shelves: science-fiction

Okay, the truth is that I probably only enjoyed this book enough to give it three stars, but... even though it wasn't really my cup of tea (I don't read a lot of Sci-Fi), I definitely think it was worthy of four stars . It's the sort of story that stays with you after you finish it. I imagine I'll still be thinking about this book for a while, which should earn it an extra star.

What I liked: it had a good pace, and held my attention from beginning to end. It was an unusual story - never knew wha ...more

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Feb 13, 2014 ReaderSP rated it really liked it

I read all genres and this book was quick to grab my interest. I have read a few science fiction books before and enjoyed them, I am not really into gaming but I thought I’d give this a try. I was caught by the storyline and setting right from the beginning. I agree with other reviewers that maybe a grown man, puking and crying in the shower is not the best start to a story but it got me hooked.

The story is set in a slightly dystopian future version of earth and we follow D_Light and the world ...more

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Jan 03, 2013 Kim Pallister rated it liked it · review of another edition

Metagame is a scifi thriller that takes place in and around MMO-type games. In this vein, it's similar to Snowcrash, Rainbows End, Ready Player One, and many others.

I found it to be a very engaging story, with some provocative bits technology futurism. I give the book a 3/5 or so rating because it was in dire need of editing. There were parts that were too long and should have been left on the chopping block, and there were parts that could have used cleanup, and some poor choice of language tha ...more

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Dec 20, 2011 Hali Sowle rated it liked it

Shelves: science-fiction, dystopia, gaming

What if the human condition became only applicable if viewed as through "the game"? What if the only work that was done was to live in the game and to make the game happen and your family was not the people you related to but a loosely gathered group of people who worked together to create a game within the game? And what if the game didn't just reward you but could kill you if you weren't fast enough, strong enough or smart enough?

Welcome to the world of MetaGame where people live in what appea ...more

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Apr 08, 2010 Goronmon rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: gamers

As a gamer myself I have to say that it was hard not for me to enjoy this book quite a bit. It explores gaming taken to the extreme where just about everything we do is integrated into some form of gameplay and Landstrom does a great job building a rather complex and fascinating world for the book to take place in.

Unfortunately, in many cases, this "world-building" seems to replace a more developed storyline along with more fleshed out characters, especially when it comes to their relationships ...more

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Sep 03, 2012 Daniel rated it it was ok · review of another edition

The debut novel of Sam Landstrom is decent at best. His ideas (like his tech-twist on the fantasy familiar), though not wholly original in the realm of sci-fi, are interesting. Actually, the most interesting, and best, part of this book is its ideas as the execution of narrative, plot, and characters are all equally dismal.

In the beginning of nearly every chapter, Landstrom adds some text from fake books, sermons, or interviews from the world of MetaGame in order to expand its universe, and the ...more

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Oct 04, 2013 Stanley rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: e-book

An interesting book that takes place in a world where everyone lives and works in a Metagame.

The main character D_Light has just had to kill someone he thought wanted to be with him after she attacked him and is left thinking about greater things.

When he is invited to join two of the highest ranking members of his house for a high society, high stakes game, he is astounded. However, he meets a girl along the way that he falls head over heels for and wants to help.

The group journey through a few ...more

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May 22, 2015 Nick rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-challenge, kindle-editions, owned, fiction, science-fiction, cyberpunk, dystopia

Sam Landstrom creates an interesting future where the entire concept of humanity as we know it is morphed into a multibillion person computer game. Normal day-to-day functions such as child raising and law enforcement are transformed into "grinder games" where players are jacked into the network and earn points based on their performance. Players belong to great houses (read Guilds) where status is determined by your point totals. It is in this world where a group is called to play a Meta-Game. ...more

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Jun 10, 2013 Irene rated it liked it

Shelves: science-fiction, social-commentary

This futuristic novel depicts a world of astonishing scientific advances combined with a world-wide society governed by "The Game of Life." The Game provides everything to all of humankind - points earned are the currency used to purchase whatever a person needs, the OverSoul is the "God" who is worshipped in churches, and the government operates entirely within The Game.

This book is full of unfamiliar jargon which was quite confusing at first. The main character, D_Light, was so self-centered, ...more

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Jan 23, 2012 Jose rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi

MetaGame takes place in a futuristic world where biotech, nanotech, gaming, and "religion" merge to blur the lines between fantasy and reality.

Another dystopia but this one is disguised by the apparent freedom most people are given. But its all virtual.
Mankind is distracted daily in their virtual reality games, winning and spending points as currency, being ruled by an OverSoul that's not really understood or revealed. The main goal is immortality, though. That's a fantastic endgame, if you rea ...more

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