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Vinestead Universe #3
Perion Synthetics
Welcome to Perion City, home to the largest beta test ever conceived. Though its roughly half a million residents all consider themselves human, nearly a third live with the knowledge that they were not born... they were manufactured. Sava Kessler has spent almost a decade protecting the public image of Perion Synthetics, the world's leading manufacturer of artificially intelligent, synthetic humans. In that time, she has elevated CEO James Perion to the role of national savior, a tech titan with the moral and financial fortitude to protect the country from maligned conglomerate Vinestead International. But now the savior is dying, and there is no guarantee that the next ruler of Perion City will share James Perion's vision of a synthetic utopia. To ensure the company's survival, Sava enlists a synthetic army to defend a vulnerable Perion Synthetics from corporate sabotage, media scrutiny, and insidious threats from all corners of the city. Will the world learn the true nature of the coming synthetic revolution? Can Sava keep inquisitive aggregators from the three largest media houses in the country from revealing the company's darkest secrets... and several of her own? Find out by visiting Perion City in the third novel by Science Fiction author Daniel Verastiqui. The Synthetic Revolution awaits.
- GenresScience FictionFiction
323 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 14, 2014
14 people are currently reading
718 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Verastiqui
13 books68 followersDaniel Verastiqui is a cyberpunk science fiction author based in Austin, Texas. With eight books published, he explores the intersections of technology and humanity in vivid, futuristic worlds. He is currently writing The Vinestead Anthology, a series of novels set in a shared universe yet standing alone as unique stories. His work offers a thrilling mix of suspense, action, and thought-provoking themes that delve into an alternate digital age where technology threatens the world and everyone in it.
His next book, House of Nepenthe, is scheduled for release in 2026. Visit danielverastiqui.com for more details.
His next book, House of Nepenthe, is scheduled for release in 2026. Visit danielverastiqui.com for more details.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 24, 2021
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway. I want to thank the author Daniel for giving me the chance to review the novel. I have not read the other books by this author yet but, thankfully, this one is a standalone tale within the overall world of his stories.
Perion Synthetics is a sci-fi novel with some mystery and thriller aspects. The plot focuses on the Perion Corporation and the impending death of its founder and CEO. The plot thickens as the synthetics and journalists come into play. Most of the story takes place within the city that Perion runs.
Daneil Verastiqui does a good job of world building and creating interesting characters who continue to develop over the course of the story. The dialog is solid, and the novel is easy to read. The plot is full of twists and turns.
I enjoyed this book, but it had some flaws, which is why my rating is lower than it otherwise would be. I felt that the plot became weaker and less coherent/impactful during the latter half of the story. Also, I found it to break my immersion as a reader when suddenly nicknames were used for some of the characters outside of the character dialog sections. Usually, the characters were believable but there were some sections where their actions/thoughts/motivations seemed forced and not well transitioned into or explained. Finally, there were some minor typos or slipups on facts (…tea has caffeine. Unless your character in that line meant herbal tea and just did not specify.), but in all fairness, these have likely been corrected in later versions.
Overall it is an engaging story and worth giving a try!
Perion Synthetics is a sci-fi novel with some mystery and thriller aspects. The plot focuses on the Perion Corporation and the impending death of its founder and CEO. The plot thickens as the synthetics and journalists come into play. Most of the story takes place within the city that Perion runs.
Daneil Verastiqui does a good job of world building and creating interesting characters who continue to develop over the course of the story. The dialog is solid, and the novel is easy to read. The plot is full of twists and turns.
I enjoyed this book, but it had some flaws, which is why my rating is lower than it otherwise would be. I felt that the plot became weaker and less coherent/impactful during the latter half of the story. Also, I found it to break my immersion as a reader when suddenly nicknames were used for some of the characters outside of the character dialog sections. Usually, the characters were believable but there were some sections where their actions/thoughts/motivations seemed forced and not well transitioned into or explained. Finally, there were some minor typos or slipups on facts (…tea has caffeine. Unless your character in that line meant herbal tea and just did not specify.), but in all fairness, these have likely been corrected in later versions.
Overall it is an engaging story and worth giving a try!
May 2, 2018
This is the first book I read by Daniel and my favorite. It motivated me to read all his other books too. This remains my favorite with the best story, concepts, and action.
August 29, 2020
Neat premis
Nice twists and turns in this story. A bit light on explanations of how all the tech works. The writing is solid and the characters are decent.
Nice twists and turns in this story. A bit light on explanations of how all the tech works. The writing is solid and the characters are decent.
August 20, 2021
An incredibly disjointed story. Hard to keep the pieces stitched together. I gave up about page 80.
July 19, 2019
This is my assessments of this book Perion Synthetics by Daniel Verastiqui according to 6 criteria:
1. Too long and Strenuous action - exciting - 4 stars
2. Boring - fun - 5 stars
3. not difficult to read (as for non English native speaker] - 3 stars
4. predictable (common) - good story (unusual) - 5 stars
5. Shalow story - has a deeper meaning - 5 stars
6. The story is mass and Unfinished - The story is clear, understandable and well rounded story - 2 stars
Total 4.0 stars.
1. Too long and Strenuous action - exciting - 4 stars
2. Boring - fun - 5 stars
3. not difficult to read (as for non English native speaker] - 3 stars
4. predictable (common) - good story (unusual) - 5 stars
5. Shalow story - has a deeper meaning - 5 stars
6. The story is mass and Unfinished - The story is clear, understandable and well rounded story - 2 stars
Total 4.0 stars.
February 7, 2016
I thought Perion Synthetics was great. I'm glad I picked it up, since I'd been so busy that I'd stopped reading for a while. This book got me back into a feeling of excitement when it was time to go to bed and I'd pull it out.
I especially like how each of the author's books are independent (different time periods, different characters, different plots, etc), yet he's creating a unique universe where all of these stories take place.
Names like Vinestead, VNet, and now Synthetic Humans become regular parts of this universe. In that way, each book you read makes the others better because you feel a little more connected with this alternate reality.
In Perion Synthetics you finally get the first REAL rival to the evil and totalitarian Vinestead.
It's like Apple to Google. Or America to Germany during WWII.
With so much hope placed in this new savior of sorts -- Perion City -- you (and everyone else in the book) forget that "power corrupts".
Slowly things begin unraveling, and you start to see those who were on an almost holy quest to destroy the tyrannical Vinestead start to become tyrants themselves.
Even worse, in an "ends justify the means" mentality they take evil to another level, blurring the lines between all things human and machine.
I can't give anything away, but human rights are challenged, deep psychological and emotional manipulation is used, and by the end of the book you realize that at least one person with great power saw everybody and everything in the world as chess pieces that just needed to be set up right through whatever means possible -- so that he could save the world.
I love books that don't just entertain, but that also challenge my world view and leave me thinking. This book does that. Especially since we're moving into a time in our own world where some of these same ethics and assumptions are being challenged.
ONE RECOMMENDATION: Before you read this book, first read the author's short story "Guardian Angels". It's a quick read and it reveals quite a bit about one of the character's motives in Perion Synthetics.
I especially like how each of the author's books are independent (different time periods, different characters, different plots, etc), yet he's creating a unique universe where all of these stories take place.
Names like Vinestead, VNet, and now Synthetic Humans become regular parts of this universe. In that way, each book you read makes the others better because you feel a little more connected with this alternate reality.
In Perion Synthetics you finally get the first REAL rival to the evil and totalitarian Vinestead.
It's like Apple to Google. Or America to Germany during WWII.
With so much hope placed in this new savior of sorts -- Perion City -- you (and everyone else in the book) forget that "power corrupts".
Slowly things begin unraveling, and you start to see those who were on an almost holy quest to destroy the tyrannical Vinestead start to become tyrants themselves.
Even worse, in an "ends justify the means" mentality they take evil to another level, blurring the lines between all things human and machine.
I can't give anything away, but human rights are challenged, deep psychological and emotional manipulation is used, and by the end of the book you realize that at least one person with great power saw everybody and everything in the world as chess pieces that just needed to be set up right through whatever means possible -- so that he could save the world.
I love books that don't just entertain, but that also challenge my world view and leave me thinking. This book does that. Especially since we're moving into a time in our own world where some of these same ethics and assumptions are being challenged.
ONE RECOMMENDATION: Before you read this book, first read the author's short story "Guardian Angels". It's a quick read and it reveals quite a bit about one of the character's motives in Perion Synthetics.
April 3, 2014
Verastiqui is back and better than ever . . .
I was fortunate enough to receive an advance copy of Perion Synthetics, this soon to be released novel set in the Vinestead series. While this latest release is a stand alone novel, like those that have come before it, readers familiar with his earlier work will notice references to familiar names, places and entities. None of these references though take away from Perion Synthetics in any way or slow the momentum of this newest addition to Verastiqui's mythos.
You'll find the same strong character development that marked his earlier novels and a story that quickly pulls you in and builds in momentum all the way through the conclusion. Be prepared to read large swathes at once as there are few good points to stop and catch your breath once you've gotten started.
Perion Synthetics takes a much more hard science fiction approach to a number of key elements of the story. Verastiqui's vision for our near future is both startling in it's complexity and in the very believable possibility that many of the things that his characters take for granted as parts of their daily lives, may easily find their way off the pages and into our own in the not so distant future. It is this perhaps more than anything that distinguishes this novel from some of his earlier work.
Having read each novel in the Vinestead collection, I can honestly say, I can't wait for the next installment.
I was fortunate enough to receive an advance copy of Perion Synthetics, this soon to be released novel set in the Vinestead series. While this latest release is a stand alone novel, like those that have come before it, readers familiar with his earlier work will notice references to familiar names, places and entities. None of these references though take away from Perion Synthetics in any way or slow the momentum of this newest addition to Verastiqui's mythos.
You'll find the same strong character development that marked his earlier novels and a story that quickly pulls you in and builds in momentum all the way through the conclusion. Be prepared to read large swathes at once as there are few good points to stop and catch your breath once you've gotten started.
Perion Synthetics takes a much more hard science fiction approach to a number of key elements of the story. Verastiqui's vision for our near future is both startling in it's complexity and in the very believable possibility that many of the things that his characters take for granted as parts of their daily lives, may easily find their way off the pages and into our own in the not so distant future. It is this perhaps more than anything that distinguishes this novel from some of his earlier work.
Having read each novel in the Vinestead collection, I can honestly say, I can't wait for the next installment.
June 16, 2014
(Disclaimer: Daniel provided me with a free advanced copy for feedback and review purposes.)
To start with, I really appreciate receiving an advanced copy from the author. That was a first for me since I signed up with the program on Goodreads. On to the book review...
I thought that Verastiqui created an interesting story line and developed the characters well. There were many times while reading it that I had a tough time putting the book down. It was an interesting concept: a great innovator is dying and tries to build a replacement that he can transfer his mind into. I liked this part of the book.
What I didn't like was how quickly the characters bought into some of topics brought up in the book. There were times that the characters made 180 degree shifts in beliefs without the turmoil that usually comes with it. It frustrated me that they changed their deep down beliefs without any concerns. At one point, one of the characters tries to kill the other and without any 'making up', they work together at the end. Personally, I have a tough time believing that someone that tried killing me a half hour earlier, can now be my best friend if there wasn't something else that happened in the middle. That was a tough thing for me to get over and the only reason I dropped down the rating.
Overall, it was worth a read and if you can get over some of the major shifts I mentioned, it was an enjoyable read.
To start with, I really appreciate receiving an advanced copy from the author. That was a first for me since I signed up with the program on Goodreads. On to the book review...
I thought that Verastiqui created an interesting story line and developed the characters well. There were many times while reading it that I had a tough time putting the book down. It was an interesting concept: a great innovator is dying and tries to build a replacement that he can transfer his mind into. I liked this part of the book.
What I didn't like was how quickly the characters bought into some of topics brought up in the book. There were times that the characters made 180 degree shifts in beliefs without the turmoil that usually comes with it. It frustrated me that they changed their deep down beliefs without any concerns. At one point, one of the characters tries to kill the other and without any 'making up', they work together at the end. Personally, I have a tough time believing that someone that tried killing me a half hour earlier, can now be my best friend if there wasn't something else that happened in the middle. That was a tough thing for me to get over and the only reason I dropped down the rating.
Overall, it was worth a read and if you can get over some of the major shifts I mentioned, it was an enjoyable read.
April 20, 2014
Daniel Verastiqui has an obsession with giving his characters great big heaping gobs of amazing technology, and then watching them screw themselves with it. Perion Synthetics takes that to a new level.
James Perion, the Steve Jobsian titan of business and technology that built the world’s most innovative producer of synthetic humanoids from the ground up, is dying. And his life’s work is not yet done. The people closest to him all jockey for position while reporters from the world’s largest media houses each find different means to infiltrate the ultra-secret Perion City so they can find out just how far this dying man has gone toward the creation of truly synthetic life. It’s an exciting and unpredictable story with a large cast of characters, human and otherwise, that brings us back to the Vinestead universe of Daniel Verastiqui’s previous works. Check it out.
James Perion, the Steve Jobsian titan of business and technology that built the world’s most innovative producer of synthetic humanoids from the ground up, is dying. And his life’s work is not yet done. The people closest to him all jockey for position while reporters from the world’s largest media houses each find different means to infiltrate the ultra-secret Perion City so they can find out just how far this dying man has gone toward the creation of truly synthetic life. It’s an exciting and unpredictable story with a large cast of characters, human and otherwise, that brings us back to the Vinestead universe of Daniel Verastiqui’s previous works. Check it out.
August 3, 2016
(Disclaimer: I was given an advanced copy of Perion Synthetics for feedback and review)
Set in the not-too-distant-future, this latest novel from Daniel Verastiqui takes the reader on an exciting ride! Accommodating elements of science fiction, action, drama, and humor, the author creates a riveting story with excellent twists and turns, leaving nary a dull moment. Numerous times I found myself doing the "Wow, I can't stop there, I need to read the next chapter!" dance. Additionally, the content and style of the book does an admirable job of satiating a sci-fi fan like myself while maintaining an accessibility for the more casual reader.
So what's causing subbers to push the Perion City feeds through the ratings roof? Find out in Perion Synthetics!
Set in the not-too-distant-future, this latest novel from Daniel Verastiqui takes the reader on an exciting ride! Accommodating elements of science fiction, action, drama, and humor, the author creates a riveting story with excellent twists and turns, leaving nary a dull moment. Numerous times I found myself doing the "Wow, I can't stop there, I need to read the next chapter!" dance. Additionally, the content and style of the book does an admirable job of satiating a sci-fi fan like myself while maintaining an accessibility for the more casual reader.
So what's causing subbers to push the Perion City feeds through the ratings roof? Find out in Perion Synthetics!
March 30, 2014
i won this book from goodreads..... and im so glad i did
i didnt want to put this book down! the plot is awesome (with twist) the characters are great
this is the type of book i love .. you can see the story play in your head as you read and its one heck of a read!! his writing is amazing.. its hard for me to say something with out spoilers.. i dont want to give anything away..... can't wait to read more from Daniel Verastiqui.. the world he created in this book is great!! pick this one up ASAP
i didnt want to put this book down! the plot is awesome (with twist) the characters are great
this is the type of book i love .. you can see the story play in your head as you read and its one heck of a read!! his writing is amazing.. its hard for me to say something with out spoilers.. i dont want to give anything away..... can't wait to read more from Daniel Verastiqui.. the world he created in this book is great!! pick this one up ASAP
September 8, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I wouldn't normally choose a sci-fi, but I am glad that I took the time to read this one. It is interesting to think about the future and the possibility of having eternal life in a man-made body! I'm not sure I like the idea, but reading about it was okay. Also growing baby robots sounds crazy! If you are into sci-fi and future humanoids, this book is definitely for you.
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
April 2, 2014
What a privelage it was to receive an advanced copy of this book for review purposes.
Daneil Verastiqui hit another impressive home run with this book, I could not put it down as the story twists and characters kept my eyes glued to the pages.
His dynamic ability to paint a vivid picture with words came through clearly in his latest novel.
Cannot wait for his next adventure.
Daneil Verastiqui hit another impressive home run with this book, I could not put it down as the story twists and characters kept my eyes glued to the pages.
His dynamic ability to paint a vivid picture with words came through clearly in his latest novel.
Cannot wait for his next adventure.
April 2, 2014
What an amazing book... I was lucky enough to be provided an advanced copy of the book and it did not disapoint!
Not to give anything away, but by plot twist #12 I decided to stop trying to predict how this story would play out and just sat back and enjoyed the ride.
Cannot wait to see what Daniel writes next!
Not to give anything away, but by plot twist #12 I decided to stop trying to predict how this story would play out and just sat back and enjoyed the ride.
Cannot wait to see what Daniel writes next!
July 8, 2015
A very good transhumanist novel that, unfortunately, falls apart in the third act.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews