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The Chronotrance Sequence #1
Into the Vast
The Institute is all Adan knows. And the scientists who run it don't seem to know or even care who he might have been before he came there. But the strange technology they've fused inside of him and his missing memories are only the beginning as he finds himself swept up into a conflict between the researchers and the last remnants of humanity untouched by their experiments.
Into the Vast is the high-tech exploration of humanity at the pinnacle of innovation and achievement, a time when science has made virtually anything possible. But in getting there, something has been lost along the way. And perhaps the only person who knows what that is, is the one who doesn't know anything at all.
Step into the journey of one man to rediscover his identity and in the process to save humanity from its greatest enemy: itself.
Into the Vast is the high-tech exploration of humanity at the pinnacle of innovation and achievement, a time when science has made virtually anything possible. But in getting there, something has been lost along the way. And perhaps the only person who knows what that is, is the one who doesn't know anything at all.
Step into the journey of one man to rediscover his identity and in the process to save humanity from its greatest enemy: itself.
436 pages, Paperback
First published September 18, 2012
11 people are currently reading
352 people want to read
About the author
D.J. Edwardson
13 books62 followersDJ Edwardson traveled a lot when he was younger. These days he’s busy crafting exotic destinations of his own. Although he has written both Science Fiction and Fantasy novels, he likes to say he writes in the “genre of imagination.”
He has a degree in English from Cornell College where his emphasis was on the works of Shakespeare. He’s tried his hand at both acting and directing in the theater, but these days is happiest with a pen in his hand. He lives in Tennessee with his family amidst an ever-growing library of wonderful books.
You can find out more about DJ, his books, and all the crazy things he's invented in his head at www.djedwardson.com.
He has a degree in English from Cornell College where his emphasis was on the works of Shakespeare. He’s tried his hand at both acting and directing in the theater, but these days is happiest with a pen in his hand. He lives in Tennessee with his family amidst an ever-growing library of wonderful books.
You can find out more about DJ, his books, and all the crazy things he's invented in his head at www.djedwardson.com.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 19, 2017
This book had its ups and downs - part of me really liked it and wanted to rate if a 4 out of 5 stars, and parts of it were really strange or mindless and I wanted to rate it a 2 out of 5 stars.
To start off with the good, the author has an interesting concept of a future society, which is a little like a version of the Planet of the Apes, but instead of Apes we have people that are cast out with super humans trying to control the remains of society telepathically. You have the typical ensuing struggle of good vs. evil and the ensuing battle.
For the less than good, the author tends to drone on and on in what appears to be an attempt to make the book longer which was quite frustrating. There is also quite a bit of future technology that I had a hard time wrapping my arms around and wanted to shout out "b.s." as it wasn't very believable or had not been explained very well.
The ending just leaves you hanging, and if there is a sequel I haven't decided yet if I am going to give it a try.
To start off with the good, the author has an interesting concept of a future society, which is a little like a version of the Planet of the Apes, but instead of Apes we have people that are cast out with super humans trying to control the remains of society telepathically. You have the typical ensuing struggle of good vs. evil and the ensuing battle.
For the less than good, the author tends to drone on and on in what appears to be an attempt to make the book longer which was quite frustrating. There is also quite a bit of future technology that I had a hard time wrapping my arms around and wanted to shout out "b.s." as it wasn't very believable or had not been explained very well.
The ending just leaves you hanging, and if there is a sequel I haven't decided yet if I am going to give it a try.
August 13, 2016
Adan wakes up in the Institute with no memory of who he is. He soon realizes that he has awaken in a cold, unfeeling world. When Adan is abducted by a man named Will, Adan is swept up in Will's plot to undermine the Institute, though all Adan really wants is to find out who he was and where he came from before his identity was stolen from him.
My favorite thing about Into the Vast is the world that D.J. Edwardson has created. Like Adan, we are thrust into the story without prior knowledge of the world, so we learn alongside him. This was a great way to learn the terminology, technology, and culture of the world. My favorite bit of "tech" was the bioseine, which is like a mix of telepathic powers, a life support machine, and Google that all of the people in the city of Oasis have inside of their bodies. Though it has many cool functions, the bioseine also has a sinister, unpredictable undertone to it.
Reading from Adan's point-of-view reminded me of reading from Nick Carroway's point-of-view in The Great Gatsby because both Adan and Nick are participants in a story that unfolds around them.
I enjoyed Adan's childlike innocence at the beginning of the novel and his subsequent growth as he learns more about the world around him. At first, Adan must rely on Will a lot, for he doesn't know anything. Will is a great friend to Adan, patiently teaching him and even giving him opportunities to back out of the plot to destroy the Institute.
Besides Will, Gavin was my favorite character (sorry, Adan... the narrator is rarely my favorite character). I liked his mysteriousness and his dogged faithfulness to truth. I'm hoping to get to know him a little better in Book 2.
Sometimes Into the Vast could be confusing. There is a lot of unfamiliar terminology and, sometimes, the author's way of explaining things could be confusing, too, if I wasn't paying close attention. I returned often to the glossary at the end of the book. It was very helpful!
Into the Vast is everything I enjoy in a novel: great setting, wonderful prose (my favorite chapter was Chapter 35: On the Threshold), characters that you can feel for, adventure and action, and all with a slight sci-fi undertone (even if the novel is supposed to be more of a dystopian). I can't wait to continue the adventure in Through the Viscera!
My favorite thing about Into the Vast is the world that D.J. Edwardson has created. Like Adan, we are thrust into the story without prior knowledge of the world, so we learn alongside him. This was a great way to learn the terminology, technology, and culture of the world. My favorite bit of "tech" was the bioseine, which is like a mix of telepathic powers, a life support machine, and Google that all of the people in the city of Oasis have inside of their bodies. Though it has many cool functions, the bioseine also has a sinister, unpredictable undertone to it.
Reading from Adan's point-of-view reminded me of reading from Nick Carroway's point-of-view in The Great Gatsby because both Adan and Nick are participants in a story that unfolds around them.
I enjoyed Adan's childlike innocence at the beginning of the novel and his subsequent growth as he learns more about the world around him. At first, Adan must rely on Will a lot, for he doesn't know anything. Will is a great friend to Adan, patiently teaching him and even giving him opportunities to back out of the plot to destroy the Institute.
Besides Will, Gavin was my favorite character (sorry, Adan... the narrator is rarely my favorite character). I liked his mysteriousness and his dogged faithfulness to truth. I'm hoping to get to know him a little better in Book 2.
Sometimes Into the Vast could be confusing. There is a lot of unfamiliar terminology and, sometimes, the author's way of explaining things could be confusing, too, if I wasn't paying close attention. I returned often to the glossary at the end of the book. It was very helpful!
Into the Vast is everything I enjoy in a novel: great setting, wonderful prose (my favorite chapter was Chapter 35: On the Threshold), characters that you can feel for, adventure and action, and all with a slight sci-fi undertone (even if the novel is supposed to be more of a dystopian). I can't wait to continue the adventure in Through the Viscera!
February 4, 2013
This was a captivating read. I mostly enjoyed it because it was so different from anything I've ever read before. Although the story starts out a little slow, the main character pulls you into his story and you soon find yourself wanting to know who he is every bit as much as he does. The twists at the end were surprising, and although I sort of had an inkling about the big one coming, there were others that took me completely by surprise.
When Adan wakes up, he has no idea who he is. His memories have been erased, and he is a blank slate. The reader follows Adan through his recovery, his "escape" from the people who have stolen his memories, and out into a wilderness that he is completely unprepared to face. Will, the man who orchestrates his escape, has an agenda that he needs Adan's help with in order to complete...
One of the things that struck me as being very neat about this book is that Adan is very like a child who has just been born. Everything is new to him. He is an adult, and has the motor skills and ability to communicate of an adult, but in everything else he is like a child. He has no context for anything, no experience, no memories. As you follow him on his adventure, this can at times be frustrating for the reader because the author has been very careful to describe everything Adan sees as if he is seeing it for the first time, with no context to draw from as he looks at things. And yet, despite the fact that this can be frustrating - it makes the world a little hard to imagine - it is also incredibly brilliant, and really helps you understand Adan and the way he thinks and why he is the way he is. His deepest yearning is to retrieve his memories. He has no idea who to trust and who not to trust. The person he bonds the most with is a young child. All of this makes sense if you can remember who Adan is and what has happened to him.
Overall, this was a very interesting read and I hope the author finishes the series so I can find out how the story ends!
When Adan wakes up, he has no idea who he is. His memories have been erased, and he is a blank slate. The reader follows Adan through his recovery, his "escape" from the people who have stolen his memories, and out into a wilderness that he is completely unprepared to face. Will, the man who orchestrates his escape, has an agenda that he needs Adan's help with in order to complete...
One of the things that struck me as being very neat about this book is that Adan is very like a child who has just been born. Everything is new to him. He is an adult, and has the motor skills and ability to communicate of an adult, but in everything else he is like a child. He has no context for anything, no experience, no memories. As you follow him on his adventure, this can at times be frustrating for the reader because the author has been very careful to describe everything Adan sees as if he is seeing it for the first time, with no context to draw from as he looks at things. And yet, despite the fact that this can be frustrating - it makes the world a little hard to imagine - it is also incredibly brilliant, and really helps you understand Adan and the way he thinks and why he is the way he is. His deepest yearning is to retrieve his memories. He has no idea who to trust and who not to trust. The person he bonds the most with is a young child. All of this makes sense if you can remember who Adan is and what has happened to him.
Overall, this was a very interesting read and I hope the author finishes the series so I can find out how the story ends!
March 7, 2013
This is a true sci-fi novel that really has it all - dystopian society, futuristic technology, a planet with a harsh & alien landscape, survival of mankind in jeopardy, reluctant heroes up against insurmountable odds. If you haven't watched the book trailer it is AMAZING!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jYCRs...
What I really liked about the novel is how the reader gets to discover the world along with Adan. He wakes up in the Institued with no memory of who he is, no knowledge of the world, facing a very uncertain future. At first the new words/technology can feel a bit overwhelming (there is a glossary at the back which I didn't discover until the end! But it is super helpful) but what I like is that we get to really feel what it is like to be the character by things being so unfamiliar.
The author has created a world that feels very real and characters who are incredibly likeable and sympathetic. Their sorrows become the readers sorrows and it feels really good to root for characters that you are emotionally invested in.
The battle to save humanity at the end is nothing short of Biblical. It is an awesome, epic battle and the ending leaves you hoping the author will pen the 2nd installment very, very soon.
Amazing book - hard to believe this is a first time author!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jYCRs...
What I really liked about the novel is how the reader gets to discover the world along with Adan. He wakes up in the Institued with no memory of who he is, no knowledge of the world, facing a very uncertain future. At first the new words/technology can feel a bit overwhelming (there is a glossary at the back which I didn't discover until the end! But it is super helpful) but what I like is that we get to really feel what it is like to be the character by things being so unfamiliar.
The author has created a world that feels very real and characters who are incredibly likeable and sympathetic. Their sorrows become the readers sorrows and it feels really good to root for characters that you are emotionally invested in.
The battle to save humanity at the end is nothing short of Biblical. It is an awesome, epic battle and the ending leaves you hoping the author will pen the 2nd installment very, very soon.
Amazing book - hard to believe this is a first time author!
February 17, 2016
Enthralling read in a mystical future world. Plot driven, authentic characters, set in a dark and futuristic world. Loved it!
November 3, 2023
Interesting saga
I stuck through with it even when it was confusing with so many changes of characters switching from knowledgeable to blank minds and back. Will see if Adam trees more as time moves forward.
I stuck through with it even when it was confusing with so many changes of characters switching from knowledgeable to blank minds and back. Will see if Adam trees more as time moves forward.
February 15, 2022
Good story, very tedious read.
January 7, 2013
“Into the Vast (The Chronotrace Sequence)” by DJ Edwardson is not my usual choice of book but I came across it on a review website and decided to step outside my comfort zone for once. The story is about Adan, an ‘experiment’ - if you so will - in a scientific institute of a fantasy world where humans are being abducted to for mind control in the wider sense (I don’t want to be any more specific than that to preserve your own experience and discovery of this world).
I was impressed at how long the author could keep the suspense and mystery of what was happening to Adan in the laboratory for so long, making me very impatient to find out where the story was going. The story follows his aided escape across the Vast to human settlements and then continues with the (occasionally literal, sometimes strategic) battle between the powers behind the institute and its enemies. Issues of trust and deception, bravery and moral principles come into play and despite really not being much of a science fiction fan I found myself compelled reading on. The characters have been set up so carefully and convincing that their personal struggles are beyond common cliques and I ended up really caring for them. The battle scenes were brilliantly done, Edwardson’s talent for description mastered this challenge effortlessly and there are enough turns and twists towards the end of the book to save it from predictability.
This was a great effort, not without minor details I would personally have liked to be different, such as the made up science vocabulary, but these things come down to personal taste and would not stop me from recommending this book to any fan of the science fiction and fantasy genre.
I was impressed at how long the author could keep the suspense and mystery of what was happening to Adan in the laboratory for so long, making me very impatient to find out where the story was going. The story follows his aided escape across the Vast to human settlements and then continues with the (occasionally literal, sometimes strategic) battle between the powers behind the institute and its enemies. Issues of trust and deception, bravery and moral principles come into play and despite really not being much of a science fiction fan I found myself compelled reading on. The characters have been set up so carefully and convincing that their personal struggles are beyond common cliques and I ended up really caring for them. The battle scenes were brilliantly done, Edwardson’s talent for description mastered this challenge effortlessly and there are enough turns and twists towards the end of the book to save it from predictability.
This was a great effort, not without minor details I would personally have liked to be different, such as the made up science vocabulary, but these things come down to personal taste and would not stop me from recommending this book to any fan of the science fiction and fantasy genre.
January 10, 2013
ebook (edit)
review “Into the Vast (The Chronotrace Sequence)” by DJ Edwardson is not my usual choice of book but I came across it on a review website and decided to step outside my comfort zone for once. The story is about Adan, an ‘experiment’ - if you so will - in a scientific institute of a fantasy world where humans are being abducted to for mind control in the wider sense (I don’t want to be any more specific than that to preserve your own experience and discovery of this world).
I was impressed at how long the author could keep the suspense and mystery of what was happening to Adan in the laboratory for so long, making me very impatient to find out where the story was going. The story follows his aided escape across the Vast to human settlements and then continues with the (occasionally literal, sometimes strategic) battle between the powers behind the institute and its enemies. Issues of trust and deception, bravery and moral principles come into play and despite really not being much of a science fiction fan I found myself compelled reading on. The characters have been set up so carefully and convincing that their personal struggles are beyond common cliques and I ended up really caring for them. The battle scenes were brilliantly done, Edwardson’s talent for description mastered this challenge effortlessly and there are enough turns and twists towards the end of the book to save it from predictability.
This was a great effort, not without minor details I would personally have liked to be different, such as the made up science vocabulary, but these things come down to personal taste and would not stop me from recommending this book to any fan of the science fiction and fantasy genre.
review “Into the Vast (The Chronotrace Sequence)” by DJ Edwardson is not my usual choice of book but I came across it on a review website and decided to step outside my comfort zone for once. The story is about Adan, an ‘experiment’ - if you so will - in a scientific institute of a fantasy world where humans are being abducted to for mind control in the wider sense (I don’t want to be any more specific than that to preserve your own experience and discovery of this world).
I was impressed at how long the author could keep the suspense and mystery of what was happening to Adan in the laboratory for so long, making me very impatient to find out where the story was going. The story follows his aided escape across the Vast to human settlements and then continues with the (occasionally literal, sometimes strategic) battle between the powers behind the institute and its enemies. Issues of trust and deception, bravery and moral principles come into play and despite really not being much of a science fiction fan I found myself compelled reading on. The characters have been set up so carefully and convincing that their personal struggles are beyond common cliques and I ended up really caring for them. The battle scenes were brilliantly done, Edwardson’s talent for description mastered this challenge effortlessly and there are enough turns and twists towards the end of the book to save it from predictability.
This was a great effort, not without minor details I would personally have liked to be different, such as the made up science vocabulary, but these things come down to personal taste and would not stop me from recommending this book to any fan of the science fiction and fantasy genre.
November 11, 2013
This is a *real* science fiction that is built on advanced yet reasonable scientific concepts at a future time when world is filled with hazardous environments, savageness, and inhuman technology. The descriptions are so vivid and detailed that reading the book is not very different from watching a movie. The author has obviously put a lot of effort in exploring the boundary of the technology and its consequence on human life and ethics. Yet what determines the fate of the human race in the end is love, friendship, faith, rather than technology itself.
The concept of the esolace sometimes reminded me of the movie MATRIX, which makes us question about the differences between illusion and reality, or whether these are indeed two different things. The science is not told as a matter of fact. Rather, it is gradually revealed through dramatic conflicts, and even mystery detection. In the end the plot became kind of complicated that I was sometimes confused by what the hero was supposed to do (according to someone else’s plan for him), what he intended to do, vs. what he actually did (it solved the problem in a rather unexpected way).
Except some awkward phrases and repeated narratives, this book is on a par with most of the contemporary sci-fi bestsellers.
The concept of the esolace sometimes reminded me of the movie MATRIX, which makes us question about the differences between illusion and reality, or whether these are indeed two different things. The science is not told as a matter of fact. Rather, it is gradually revealed through dramatic conflicts, and even mystery detection. In the end the plot became kind of complicated that I was sometimes confused by what the hero was supposed to do (according to someone else’s plan for him), what he intended to do, vs. what he actually did (it solved the problem in a rather unexpected way).
Except some awkward phrases and repeated narratives, this book is on a par with most of the contemporary sci-fi bestsellers.
May 28, 2013
I received a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.
Into the Vast is different from something I would normally read, but I couldn't put it down once I got into it. It is very science fiction-y, which I'm normally not a huge fan of, but the writing was exceptional. Adan, the main character who wakes up in a lab unsure of who or what he is, is quirky and charming in his own uncertain way. He sees everything in a very unique way that draws you into his world, though the science side of it can get a tad confusing. The secondary characters may be secondary, but I still found myself hoping for the best for Will, Gavin, and the whole group. There are lots of mysteries to be uncovered in this story, and I won't give anything away, but they will keep you guessing.
Overall, it really was the writing that won me over in this story. I think people who are looking to try something different should definitely give this a shot, because they won't be disappointed. 4/5 stars.
Into the Vast is different from something I would normally read, but I couldn't put it down once I got into it. It is very science fiction-y, which I'm normally not a huge fan of, but the writing was exceptional. Adan, the main character who wakes up in a lab unsure of who or what he is, is quirky and charming in his own uncertain way. He sees everything in a very unique way that draws you into his world, though the science side of it can get a tad confusing. The secondary characters may be secondary, but I still found myself hoping for the best for Will, Gavin, and the whole group. There are lots of mysteries to be uncovered in this story, and I won't give anything away, but they will keep you guessing.
Overall, it really was the writing that won me over in this story. I think people who are looking to try something different should definitely give this a shot, because they won't be disappointed. 4/5 stars.
December 24, 2014
*Goodreads First Reads advanced copy*
For the most part Into The Vast was a story that I just could not get into. Most of the dialogue felt off to me. The characters, especially the main two, seemed undeveloped. The story itself just seemed to jump around. I found myself not really caring how the story ended.
It wasn't until the last 30 or so pages that the story began to make sense and the dialogue felt more natural. Still, I can not rate this more than a 2 1/2 stars. I'm not sure who to recommend the story to.
For the most part Into The Vast was a story that I just could not get into. Most of the dialogue felt off to me. The characters, especially the main two, seemed undeveloped. The story itself just seemed to jump around. I found myself not really caring how the story ended.
It wasn't until the last 30 or so pages that the story began to make sense and the dialogue felt more natural. Still, I can not rate this more than a 2 1/2 stars. I'm not sure who to recommend the story to.
February 19, 2013
Expertly written but the enormous talent that went into the world building started to overshadow the plot line for me!
The plot line is a fresh take on one of our generations greatest fears.
But dont believe me, get a copy and see Adan, a well formed protagonist fight the odds!
WaAr
The plot line is a fresh take on one of our generations greatest fears.
But dont believe me, get a copy and see Adan, a well formed protagonist fight the odds!
WaAr
Want to read
February 14, 2013Kindle freebie, 2/14/13
February 25, 2014
meh. Interactions and conversations seemed amateurish. The story didn't grab me and nothing about it makes me want to continue the series.
February 21, 2014
A good read but not sure if it was enough for me to get the 2nd book in the series.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews