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The Northern Star #1-3
The Northern Star Trilogy
The Omnibus Edition of The Northern Star science fiction saga includes The Beginning, which Examiner hailed as "One of The Top 5 Indie-Published Books You Haven't Read, But Should," Civil War, which the Midwest Book Review stated was "military sci-fi and futuristic cyber-reality at its best," and the just released final novel, The End, which Portland Book Review said was "extremely well-written . . . a fantastic book to read."
2058. As superpowers squabble over the remaining oil, and civilization limps on in a virtual universe, a cunning and ruthless genius uses the digital connectivity of our world to manipulate governments, subliminally sway the masses - and even kill - in his quest for immortality.
The first bionic soldier - now mentally broken, a prodigy hacker abused as a weapon, a psychopath seeking redemption, and the CEO who created the cyber universe - and unwittingly - the means to rule both, are all that stands in his way.
2058. As superpowers squabble over the remaining oil, and civilization limps on in a virtual universe, a cunning and ruthless genius uses the digital connectivity of our world to manipulate governments, subliminally sway the masses - and even kill - in his quest for immortality.
The first bionic soldier - now mentally broken, a prodigy hacker abused as a weapon, a psychopath seeking redemption, and the CEO who created the cyber universe - and unwittingly - the means to rule both, are all that stands in his way.
- GenresScience Fiction
905 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 2015
58 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Mike Gullickson
8 books34 followersMike Gullickson writes science fiction and fantasy novels. He lives in Manhattan Beach, California with his wife and two children. His debut novel, the cyberpunk bestseller "The Northern Star: The Beginning," was hailed by Examiner in 2013 as one of "The Top 5 Indie Published Books You Haven't Read But Should." For its sequel, the Midwest Book Review stated " . . . it's military sci-fi and futuristic cyber-reality at its best." The final novel in the trilogy, "The Northern Star: The End," is out now. To learn more go to www.mikegullickson.com
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 8, 2015
I really enjoyed this. The correct amount of tension was maintained throughout. All the characters served the plot. The book(s) are well written. The author can paint the scene using colorful and imaginative prose. The dialogue, inner and outer, fit nicely.
I appreciated that profanity did not take even the slightest role in the dialogue. It was not required and only mildly used when necessary.
I appreciated that profanity did not take even the slightest role in the dialogue. It was not required and only mildly used when necessary.
May 25, 2015
Last Two Thirds
I had already read the first volume of this trilogy when this omnibus became available at a reduced price so this review is based on the last two thirds.
It's about our world being run by a corporation and cyborg soldiers who rebel against the corporation.
I had already read the first volume of this trilogy when this omnibus became available at a reduced price so this review is based on the last two thirds.
It's about our world being run by a corporation and cyborg soldiers who rebel against the corporation.
May 27, 2015
Very interesting read!
Dystopian yet full of hope and promises of redemption. I loved every second of reading this series. Give it a try.
Dystopian yet full of hope and promises of redemption. I loved every second of reading this series. Give it a try.
July 5, 2015
I have read and reviewed the individual books of this series. While each has its own faults, the sum of the books is greater than any single part. This is ne that fans of this genre should not miss.
July 2, 2018
This is a real satisfying journey
I was sceptical of this was going to be my mind of story. I like space travel and science fiction exploration more than dystopian bear future, usually, but this was unlike any story I had read of that genre. This is a rich world of fully developed characters. I was rather disappointed with the editing, part 2 has a lot of faults and silly mistakes. All in all well worth the time.
I was sceptical of this was going to be my mind of story. I like space travel and science fiction exploration more than dystopian bear future, usually, but this was unlike any story I had read of that genre. This is a rich world of fully developed characters. I was rather disappointed with the editing, part 2 has a lot of faults and silly mistakes. All in all well worth the time.
March 8, 2018
My New Favorite Trilogy
I am bummed that I finished the series already. I had not heard of this author before, but I will now read any & everything he writes. The technological advances the series is about are fantastical yet probably very close to being upon us. Th characters draw you in and the twists & turns keep you reading all night.
I am bummed that I finished the series already. I had not heard of this author before, but I will now read any & everything he writes. The technological advances the series is about are fantastical yet probably very close to being upon us. Th characters draw you in and the twists & turns keep you reading all night.
January 15, 2018
Very Good Story
I enjoyed these books very much. Good plot, interesting characters, good action. Interesting view of a possible future world. I think, though, that author spent a little too much time sharing his views of the world condition..
I enjoyed these books very much. Good plot, interesting characters, good action. Interesting view of a possible future world. I think, though, that author spent a little too much time sharing his views of the world condition..
March 9, 2018
Outstanding read.
Fantastically thought provoking. A glimpse of the hell that may well await us. Wonderfully horrific descriptive writing. A must read.
Fantastically thought provoking. A glimpse of the hell that may well await us. Wonderfully horrific descriptive writing. A must read.
July 17, 2018
Yuck
Like a boring Hollywood movie.
It takes the science out of science fiction.
I cannot in good conscience recommend this book
Like a boring Hollywood movie.
It takes the science out of science fiction.
I cannot in good conscience recommend this book
October 2, 2015
The Virtual World Turns Evil
Mike Gullickson brings a thrilling, yet ominous portrayal of a possible future based on a megalomaniac scientist, his bionic armies and the immersive internet they use to take over everything.
I always knew that if the internet became a 3D virtual world, that many people would simply stay indoors, becoming, so to speak, inside people. This trilogy takes that concept as a starting point and runs with it. Pointing out, as long as the masses are entertained they won't care about disease, genocide, mass murder or disaster in a far off part of the world. They will notice the misfortune of others, maybe, and go back to a rich virtual life of electronically connected friends, games, gossip and porn very soon afterwards. After all, fully interactive, virtual sex is available to everyone, no matter what you want, or what you look like after twenty years of sitting on the net indoors. Ewwwww!
Don't get the wrong idea, this is not a thinly veiled attempt to gloss over net porn with a plot. Instead, it is a rich character study of people creating or caught in sweeping historical events. Some of the characters will leave their mark for future generations, while others will be the unsung heroes and villains. All are so well drawn, so human, so flawed that you would swear you know people like them. The characters drive the story. It is their changing needs that make these three interconnected stories so powerful. I just loved the characters of WarDog, Sabot, Cynthia, John, Tiffany, Evan, Kove, Chao and Mike. I included heroes and villains because it was so much fun to wish the bad, ugly dudes misfortune.
There are so many borderline evil characters that get hoisted on their own petards: politicians, military, diplomats, global leaders, CEOs, spies, etc. This is one of those series where very few are left standing at the end. The total death count has to be in the billions.
Between the personal battles, the army battles, the creation of new weapons and the hunt for terrorists, the action for the characters is non-stop. The pace is lively, the tension is high and I read the omnibus straight through to find out the ultimate fate of my favorite characters.
This book does give new meaning to the phrase, "Bomb them back to the Stone Age".
If you love military sci-fi, you will be thrilled with this trilogy. Between the creation of new generations of bionic men, the constant battles, strategy and tactics, you will be satiated. If you instead like stories of human depth and understanding, the trilogy is driven by them.
Now, if you are looking for that hard science, you won't find it here. The virtual net technology was not explained to any great degree, even though the features of that technology provide the framework for the trilogy. It would be nice to have virtual immersive worlds in a private setting, but to put that capability in the hands of a corporation as described, is asking for disaster. The problem is, I don't believe it is feasible or plausible to have the technology work with the features described in these books. My only complaints are the tech had features that didn't make sense, also a few people had capabilities that, when coupled with the net, simply wouldn't happen. Brain differentiation or not, no one unconsciously writes code, especially someone who has no technical background. I had to work very hard when reading the first book not to call bullshit on the entire premise, and stop reading. When Justin was introduced to the net, I came to a screeching halt: brake dust flying, rotors heating and tires leaving those lovely black stripes. I had to make a conscious decision. Do I go on in the face of such gross fallacies? Is the story worth my time?
My answer: Yes.
The characterization, the plotlines, the writing all helped me put blinders on to a few features, and stretch my credulity. I just treated it like I would magic in a fantasy and kept going. I can honestly say I had a good time reading this trilogy.
Bottom Line: If you love a good sci-fi, apocalyptic yarn with an original premise, you will love this omnibus. Just don't expect high tech explanations. Great character driven story with personal growth, lots of battles, bionic armies and virtual, interactive internet. Nice ending too.
Mike Gullickson brings a thrilling, yet ominous portrayal of a possible future based on a megalomaniac scientist, his bionic armies and the immersive internet they use to take over everything.
I always knew that if the internet became a 3D virtual world, that many people would simply stay indoors, becoming, so to speak, inside people. This trilogy takes that concept as a starting point and runs with it. Pointing out, as long as the masses are entertained they won't care about disease, genocide, mass murder or disaster in a far off part of the world. They will notice the misfortune of others, maybe, and go back to a rich virtual life of electronically connected friends, games, gossip and porn very soon afterwards. After all, fully interactive, virtual sex is available to everyone, no matter what you want, or what you look like after twenty years of sitting on the net indoors. Ewwwww!
Don't get the wrong idea, this is not a thinly veiled attempt to gloss over net porn with a plot. Instead, it is a rich character study of people creating or caught in sweeping historical events. Some of the characters will leave their mark for future generations, while others will be the unsung heroes and villains. All are so well drawn, so human, so flawed that you would swear you know people like them. The characters drive the story. It is their changing needs that make these three interconnected stories so powerful. I just loved the characters of WarDog, Sabot, Cynthia, John, Tiffany, Evan, Kove, Chao and Mike. I included heroes and villains because it was so much fun to wish the bad, ugly dudes misfortune.
There are so many borderline evil characters that get hoisted on their own petards: politicians, military, diplomats, global leaders, CEOs, spies, etc. This is one of those series where very few are left standing at the end. The total death count has to be in the billions.
Between the personal battles, the army battles, the creation of new weapons and the hunt for terrorists, the action for the characters is non-stop. The pace is lively, the tension is high and I read the omnibus straight through to find out the ultimate fate of my favorite characters.
This book does give new meaning to the phrase, "Bomb them back to the Stone Age".
If you love military sci-fi, you will be thrilled with this trilogy. Between the creation of new generations of bionic men, the constant battles, strategy and tactics, you will be satiated. If you instead like stories of human depth and understanding, the trilogy is driven by them.
Now, if you are looking for that hard science, you won't find it here. The virtual net technology was not explained to any great degree, even though the features of that technology provide the framework for the trilogy. It would be nice to have virtual immersive worlds in a private setting, but to put that capability in the hands of a corporation as described, is asking for disaster. The problem is, I don't believe it is feasible or plausible to have the technology work with the features described in these books. My only complaints are the tech had features that didn't make sense, also a few people had capabilities that, when coupled with the net, simply wouldn't happen. Brain differentiation or not, no one unconsciously writes code, especially someone who has no technical background. I had to work very hard when reading the first book not to call bullshit on the entire premise, and stop reading. When Justin was introduced to the net, I came to a screeching halt: brake dust flying, rotors heating and tires leaving those lovely black stripes. I had to make a conscious decision. Do I go on in the face of such gross fallacies? Is the story worth my time?
My answer: Yes.
The characterization, the plotlines, the writing all helped me put blinders on to a few features, and stretch my credulity. I just treated it like I would magic in a fantasy and kept going. I can honestly say I had a good time reading this trilogy.
Bottom Line: If you love a good sci-fi, apocalyptic yarn with an original premise, you will love this omnibus. Just don't expect high tech explanations. Great character driven story with personal growth, lots of battles, bionic armies and virtual, interactive internet. Nice ending too.
October 9, 2015
I received a copy of the book directly from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
A fast paced, detailed, action packed, masculine story.
Mike Gullickson creates a world in the near future that is realistic and, frankly, frightening. It's a dystopic world destroyed by the hunger for power of one man in a virtual reality/cyber universe but also has very real implications in the real world Gullickson has masterfully crafted.
Don't miss out on this trilogy. You can also check out my reviews on each of the three books, for more detailed thoughts of each.
A fast paced, detailed, action packed, masculine story.
Mike Gullickson creates a world in the near future that is realistic and, frankly, frightening. It's a dystopic world destroyed by the hunger for power of one man in a virtual reality/cyber universe but also has very real implications in the real world Gullickson has masterfully crafted.
Don't miss out on this trilogy. You can also check out my reviews on each of the three books, for more detailed thoughts of each.
June 1, 2015
A marathon read
This series has a lot going on. The imagination it took to create this future world is phenomenal. From the mindlink universe to the enslavement of the real world and the new, improved army of not-quite-human tank majors, minors and bonics, this is truly a wild new world. The changes and reversal of good and bad roles of the characters pulls you into this world and grips you.
This series has a lot going on. The imagination it took to create this future world is phenomenal. From the mindlink universe to the enslavement of the real world and the new, improved army of not-quite-human tank majors, minors and bonics, this is truly a wild new world. The changes and reversal of good and bad roles of the characters pulls you into this world and grips you.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews