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Going Shogun
Lovable loser Chris waits tables by day and dreams of making something better of himself by night. Dreams of starting a café that he can call his own. Dreams of climbing the social ladder, maybe finding a girl. Falling in love. But under the almighty, oppressive rule of The Board and their divisive caste system, it's nearly impossible. That is until his super-geek pal and fellow waiter, Forklift, hits upon a foolproof scheme: steal their employer's ultra-popular, top secret recipes and sell them on the internet.
The mysterious death of a local hacker shatters their surefire plan, sending them on a fast-paced adventure through the city's seedy underground, where they hope to salvage what's left and avoid going to prison for the one crime they didn't commit.
When they're joined by Bingo, the one that got away, doubt grows in Chris's mind about what he truly wants out of life.
Will it be the bond of human connection, or the luxury of the upper classes with a friend that may be hiding an earth-shattering secret?
The mysterious death of a local hacker shatters their surefire plan, sending them on a fast-paced adventure through the city's seedy underground, where they hope to salvage what's left and avoid going to prison for the one crime they didn't commit.
When they're joined by Bingo, the one that got away, doubt grows in Chris's mind about what he truly wants out of life.
Will it be the bond of human connection, or the luxury of the upper classes with a friend that may be hiding an earth-shattering secret?
224 pages, Paperback
First published May 26, 2012
21 people are currently reading
251 people want to read
About the author
Ernie Lindsey
52 books183 followersErnie Lindsey grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of southwest Virginia, working on the family farm and reading, and has spent his life telling stories to anyone that will listen. He currently works as a freelance writer and is the author of five Mystery & Suspense novels and numerous short stories. When he's not writing, you can find him tackling the gigantic To Be Read list on his Kindle or the never-ending stack of books in his office.
Ernie and his family live in Oregon, along with a multi-fingered Hemingway cat named Luna.
Head over to Ernie's site where you can pick up some free Kindle books. Join him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ErnieLindseyFiction.
Ernie and his family live in Oregon, along with a multi-fingered Hemingway cat named Luna.
Head over to Ernie's site where you can pick up some free Kindle books. Join him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ErnieLindseyFiction.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 1, 2014
A Review of the Audiobook
Audiobook version published in 2014
Performed by DJ Holte
Duration: 6 hours, 19 minutes.
Set in a future America with strict caste system, Going Shogun is a buddy story and a heist story with a bit of romance thrown in.
Chris and Forklift are waiters at Wishful Thinking, a trendy restaurant that mixes odd combinations of flavors like gravy-flavored ice cubes, banana mustard and wintergreen tomato popsicles. The customers can't seem to stop coming in and business booms every night. But, Chris and Forklift (especially Chris) want to move up in in this strict caste system and they think they have developed the perfect plan - steal the recipes from their boss, sell them online and use their new found wealth to "ascend" and maybe take the hot waitress with them on the way up the social ladder.
But, this is more complicated than you might think. Everything, including the internet is tightly regulated so Chris and Forklift have to find a hacker to get them online before they steal the recipes and that is where the trouble starts. Unexpected trips, the surprise return of an old flame and a dead body make this a night that changes everything...
The world imagined by Ernie Lindsey is certainly an interesting twist on a science fiction staple - the ultra-stratified future society (imagine Brave New World but much sloppier, much less regimented).
At first this story is confusing. Forklift has an odd style of speaking with a series of unique slang words and phrases and it took me the first two hours of a six hour audiobook experience just to get the hang of his personal way of communicating. It took me almost as long to get a strong feel for the structure of this future society. Because it took so long for me to get "up and running" I nearly didn't finish this story.
But, I continued on because of the voice work of the reader, DJ Holte...
Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2014/...
Audiobook version published in 2014
Performed by DJ Holte
Duration: 6 hours, 19 minutes.
Set in a future America with strict caste system, Going Shogun is a buddy story and a heist story with a bit of romance thrown in.
Chris and Forklift are waiters at Wishful Thinking, a trendy restaurant that mixes odd combinations of flavors like gravy-flavored ice cubes, banana mustard and wintergreen tomato popsicles. The customers can't seem to stop coming in and business booms every night. But, Chris and Forklift (especially Chris) want to move up in in this strict caste system and they think they have developed the perfect plan - steal the recipes from their boss, sell them online and use their new found wealth to "ascend" and maybe take the hot waitress with them on the way up the social ladder.
But, this is more complicated than you might think. Everything, including the internet is tightly regulated so Chris and Forklift have to find a hacker to get them online before they steal the recipes and that is where the trouble starts. Unexpected trips, the surprise return of an old flame and a dead body make this a night that changes everything...
The world imagined by Ernie Lindsey is certainly an interesting twist on a science fiction staple - the ultra-stratified future society (imagine Brave New World but much sloppier, much less regimented).
At first this story is confusing. Forklift has an odd style of speaking with a series of unique slang words and phrases and it took me the first two hours of a six hour audiobook experience just to get the hang of his personal way of communicating. It took me almost as long to get a strong feel for the structure of this future society. Because it took so long for me to get "up and running" I nearly didn't finish this story.
But, I continued on because of the voice work of the reader, DJ Holte...
Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2014/...
April 3, 2015
ABR's full Going Shogun audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
You are either going to really get a kick out this book or hate it. Lindsey has put an enormous amount of energy into creating a strange and lighthearted dystopia. The world sucks, but everyone finds a way to make it work for themselves. It was tough going to at first, but sticking with the story was worth the effort. One of the main characters, “Brick” has created a language that no one understands, even you dear listener. Can that get annoying? You bet. But keep going and you will understand, eventually.
The plot is purposefully ridiculous. Three losers are bent on stealing the recipes to the wildly popular restaurant where they work(ed). But as the plot unfolds, you the listener, learn that Going Shogun is not really about that at all; it is love story and a bromance. Which clearly saves the book. This is a book about young people stuck in their parents’ nightmare society. How do they fit in, how can they make it their own? It is funny, and gently poignant. Something like Generation X in the 21st Century. Lindsey has clearly stuck his neck out, you will either bend forward and give him a kiss or take a whack with a sword.
The narration is by DJ Holte who does an outstanding job. All the characters are clearly differentiated. They sound like what you would expect. His range is wide and he brings a lighthearted dystopia to life without a flaw.
One can sense the possibility of a sequel or a series based on the characters or plot. There isn’t one as of this writing. But if you enjoy this book, you will likely want to continue on. Ernie Lidsey has a distinctive style and unique way of describing his imaginative worlds. Humor and dystopian science fiction do go together.
Audiobook provided for review by the narrator.
You are either going to really get a kick out this book or hate it. Lindsey has put an enormous amount of energy into creating a strange and lighthearted dystopia. The world sucks, but everyone finds a way to make it work for themselves. It was tough going to at first, but sticking with the story was worth the effort. One of the main characters, “Brick” has created a language that no one understands, even you dear listener. Can that get annoying? You bet. But keep going and you will understand, eventually.
The plot is purposefully ridiculous. Three losers are bent on stealing the recipes to the wildly popular restaurant where they work(ed). But as the plot unfolds, you the listener, learn that Going Shogun is not really about that at all; it is love story and a bromance. Which clearly saves the book. This is a book about young people stuck in their parents’ nightmare society. How do they fit in, how can they make it their own? It is funny, and gently poignant. Something like Generation X in the 21st Century. Lindsey has clearly stuck his neck out, you will either bend forward and give him a kiss or take a whack with a sword.
The narration is by DJ Holte who does an outstanding job. All the characters are clearly differentiated. They sound like what you would expect. His range is wide and he brings a lighthearted dystopia to life without a flaw.
One can sense the possibility of a sequel or a series based on the characters or plot. There isn’t one as of this writing. But if you enjoy this book, you will likely want to continue on. Ernie Lidsey has a distinctive style and unique way of describing his imaginative worlds. Humor and dystopian science fiction do go together.
Audiobook provided for review by the narrator.
January 25, 2013
Going Shogun is a white knuckle roller coaster ride through an almost comic book dystopia. It was like Brave New World and 1984 got slapped upside the head with a heap of Catcher in the Rye and Marvel Comics. It's humorous and witty, but sophisticated on another level.
Mr. Lindsey has a way of turning prose into an almost visual art. The characters are almost unbelievable, except he just simply makes you believe. You get into the heart, mind, and soul of the protagonist, and his com-padres. He paints a picture with his words, to the extent that you feel like you are right there, as if sitting in a theater watching the book unfold before you. He throws enough references to our popular culture, and history, that he makes you feel like this our future. Maybe it is.
Honestly, the first chapters or two are a little heavy, but it's absolutely necessary for the setting, much like the starting gate of a roller coaster. However, as it ramps up to speed, it takes twist and turns, races to the top, drops to the ground, and comes back fighting for more. In the end it finishes with a big loop de loop that'll leave you reeling.
If you are a fan of Orwell, Huxley, or Bradbury, or just plain good romp, then you absolutely will not be disappointed with Going Shogun. You'll probably even beg your friends to read it.
Mr. Lindsey has a way of turning prose into an almost visual art. The characters are almost unbelievable, except he just simply makes you believe. You get into the heart, mind, and soul of the protagonist, and his com-padres. He paints a picture with his words, to the extent that you feel like you are right there, as if sitting in a theater watching the book unfold before you. He throws enough references to our popular culture, and history, that he makes you feel like this our future. Maybe it is.
Honestly, the first chapters or two are a little heavy, but it's absolutely necessary for the setting, much like the starting gate of a roller coaster. However, as it ramps up to speed, it takes twist and turns, races to the top, drops to the ground, and comes back fighting for more. In the end it finishes with a big loop de loop that'll leave you reeling.
If you are a fan of Orwell, Huxley, or Bradbury, or just plain good romp, then you absolutely will not be disappointed with Going Shogun. You'll probably even beg your friends to read it.
July 15, 2012
Read this book shortly after its release. It's style and genre run outside my norm, but I was immediately taken with it, and had a wonderful time with it to the end. Hope your experience is the same.
September 8, 2012
Going Shogun is a dystopian-set thriller, abound with varying speech styles and multiple sub-cultures. Lindsey does an excellent job quickly spinning up a post-modern era complete with a corrupt citizen ranking system that dictates how people live their lives.
The story centers on Forklift and Brick and their quest to utilize pirate internet access to buy their way into a higher citizen rank. They have a great plan together when their initial contact turns out to be problematic. Everything from there is a wild ride through the drudges of this future's humanity to try to piece together there dreams.
As is typical from Lindsey, the character development is excellent. Brick/Chris, the primary protagonist is both likeable and frustrating, all at once. At times he shows remarkable strength through the journey, and at times he is the reluctant hero. The ending to the story was as unexpected for the reader as it was for Brick. Overall, an excellent read that I would recommend to anyone.
The story centers on Forklift and Brick and their quest to utilize pirate internet access to buy their way into a higher citizen rank. They have a great plan together when their initial contact turns out to be problematic. Everything from there is a wild ride through the drudges of this future's humanity to try to piece together there dreams.
As is typical from Lindsey, the character development is excellent. Brick/Chris, the primary protagonist is both likeable and frustrating, all at once. At times he shows remarkable strength through the journey, and at times he is the reluctant hero. The ending to the story was as unexpected for the reader as it was for Brick. Overall, an excellent read that I would recommend to anyone.
September 29, 2012
This was a very good book! I got it as a free offering and took a chance. The characters, plot, and pacing combined to make an immersive story that I could not put down. To me it feels like a young adult version of a Guy Ritchie / Quentin Tarentino / film noir mashup. The concept of the dystopian world is a nice unique twist and there is a nod to Bradbury and FAHRENHEIT 451 in there too. Lots of fast action and intrigue with a dash of poignancy and brave heroism thrown in for good measure. So glad I read this!
January 2, 2016
What a great story! Sort of The Parker Grey Show mixed with Ready Player One and bits of Cloud Atlas. Could definitely be a Quentin Tarantino movie.
Read
August 20, 2013I didn't even know he was a local writer when I selected this book (Bend, OR)!
Hope it's fun. My current read (which is about to be moved to another column) is somewhat disappointing.
Having a REALLY hard time getting into this book. I want to like it (support local artists!), but I'm just not feeling any of the characters. Still plowing through...
Hope it's fun. My current read (which is about to be moved to another column) is somewhat disappointing.
Having a REALLY hard time getting into this book. I want to like it (support local artists!), but I'm just not feeling any of the characters. Still plowing through...
February 8, 2015
Very creative story and I did not want to stop reading to sleep. Interesting twists and turns affecting well created characters.
It's the future, and yet good old human nature still exists, so we have all the greed, desire, betrayal, etc, that makes us tick. Seems strange but it really isn't. I love the weaving of history into the "why's" of this world.
Thanks for a great read, Ernie.
It's the future, and yet good old human nature still exists, so we have all the greed, desire, betrayal, etc, that makes us tick. Seems strange but it really isn't. I love the weaving of history into the "why's" of this world.
Thanks for a great read, Ernie.
June 6, 2019
William Gibson meets Anthony Bourdain
In a dystopian future an aspiring waiter decides to stage a heist for most of the wrong reasons in company with friends. A rollicking cruise down a language hipster highway. Word smithing indeed, do yourself a solid and go.
In a dystopian future an aspiring waiter decides to stage a heist for most of the wrong reasons in company with friends. A rollicking cruise down a language hipster highway. Word smithing indeed, do yourself a solid and go.
July 16, 2012
Some typical dystopian themes and unsubtle references to oil dependency, etc. But not heavy-handed. Entertaining read.
July 19, 2022
Excellent book!!!
February 5, 2013
WOW! was the only way I could describe this book. It has an amazing plot that I wish the book was longer. I love the dialogue in this book. It is amazing.
October 10, 2012
fantastic pacing with some nice slight of hand plot twists.
February 11, 2020
I was very surprised by this book. It's short yet somehow packs a big story in. I love the dialog, especially by the character Forklift. Very entertaining to read
December 14, 2017
Really got a kick out of Forklift's invented language. Linguists will love this book :-).
Read
February 3, 2016Due to "slang" I dropped reading this book. Not worth the trouble to read further.
Tastes may vary.
Tastes may vary.
January 23, 2015
loved it!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews