What do you think?
Rate this book
Squadcom-13 #1
The Cadet
The near future. A UFO appears on Earth’s orbit. Ignoring all contact attempts, it showers the planet with priceless artifacts. perfect health, ten million dollars, or seven years in prison as per the new amendment.
The night of the Meteor Shower, Paul and his friends run around the city, engaging in quick fights with citizens gone crazy, trying to obtain one of the artifacts.
But is it really selfless help the mysterious aliens are offering? What awaits a human who holds a precious crystal in his hand? Where will he wake up tomorrow? What if the first thing he sees when he opens his eyes will be the blinking line of “Loading virtual training ground Kubinka-Digital. Welcome, cadet! You’re now space fighter pilot!
The night of the Meteor Shower, Paul and his friends run around the city, engaging in quick fights with citizens gone crazy, trying to obtain one of the artifacts.
But is it really selfless help the mysterious aliens are offering? What awaits a human who holds a precious crystal in his hand? Where will he wake up tomorrow? What if the first thing he sees when he opens his eyes will be the blinking line of “Loading virtual training ground Kubinka-Digital. Welcome, cadet! You’re now space fighter pilot!
210 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 5, 2016
139 people are currently reading
296 people want to read
About the author
D. Rus
46 books546 followersD. Rus is a young Russian author whose books took the Russian literary market by storm in 2013. AlterWorld - the first novel of his Play to Live series - made him a bestselling author overnight as critics now credit him with single-handedly creating a new science fiction genre: LitRPG. Set in the virtual reality of MMORPG - Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games - his books tell stories of real people who'd become stuck in the game and are forced to follow its rules while preserving their intergrity and fighting to make their new world a better place. The five books of the series have created a huge following as more authors followed suit, making LitRPG the latest bestselling Russian genre that merges science fiction, fantasy and gaming conventions. D. Rus has been nominated for Start, one of Russia's prestigious literary prizes for the best debut science fiction novel. The first two novels of the Play to Live series - AlterWorld and The Clan - have been translated into English, and talks are under way to have the rest of the series published on Amazon.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
December 18, 2016
First, I have to give allowance for the fact that this book was translated by the author.
The Good:
The world is unique and interesting.
I like that the game elements aren't all virtual reality.
The Bad:
Really chauvinist. Like, a lot. I hope some of it was just the translation.
The worst problem, though, is that it's very uneven. The first fifth is really a prologue. Things don't even start making sense until half way through. The last fifth, I don't even know what happened. Literally. Everything changes and nothing is explained.
I won't be reading the rest of this series, but still might give the fantasy series a try.
The Good:
The world is unique and interesting.
I like that the game elements aren't all virtual reality.
The Bad:
Really chauvinist. Like, a lot. I hope some of it was just the translation.
The worst problem, though, is that it's very uneven. The first fifth is really a prologue. Things don't even start making sense until half way through. The last fifth, I don't even know what happened. Literally. Everything changes and nothing is explained.
I won't be reading the rest of this series, but still might give the fantasy series a try.
December 14, 2018
Совершенно наивное и простенькое произведение. Прочитал - как будто посмотрел видео на YouTube о том, как кто-то играет в компьютерную игру. Местами (редко) разбавлена подобием философских размышлений и эротических вставок (на один-два абзаца).
Плюс сюжет напомнил шаблон, набивший оскомину после в целом неплохой серии "Играть, чтобы жить". Но там настолько все "по рельсам", что к концу серии стало просто скучно :)
В общем, если есть желание развеяться и разгрузить голову чем-то легким, плюс вы фанат компьютерных игр и вселенных, то почитать можно. Но если вы любите что-то серьезное, то не стоит тратить время...
Плюс сюжет напомнил шаблон, набивший оскомину после в целом неплохой серии "Играть, чтобы жить". Но там настолько все "по рельсам", что к концу серии стало просто скучно :)
В общем, если есть желание развеяться и разгрузить голову чем-то легким, плюс вы фанат компьютерных игр и вселенных, то почитать можно. Но если вы любите что-то серьезное, то не стоит тратить время...
March 19, 2019
While I thought the idea was interesting, the book itself did not really live up to its promise. There were several gaps that made it a bit hard to follow. More than that, however, I hated the attitude of the protagonist. Chalk it up to cultural differences or whatever you like but he came off as a pompous, chauvinist. Every time I, as the reader, was made privy to his thoughts I wanted to smack him. There's a huge amount of sexism in this book. That, plus the jarring nature of the missing information, made it so that I rather regret the few hours I spent reading this work.
June 4, 2020
I had read D. Rus previously and really enjoyed the first several volumes of his Live to Play series, and was eager to read this "new" (at least to English readers) series.
He's good at world building, giving you a high tech - yet gritty and hard scrabble feel to it with an authenticity that makes you feel you're really there - even if you don't always understand what half the gadgets are or what they're for.
However, the sexual politics of this book are uniform, and they are terrible. I had observed this in the last half of his Live to Play series, but it's amped up on steroids in this new series. It turned what was a contender for 5 *'s into something that just barely qualified for 3 *'s. The only saving grace from this is that no "on screen" sexual violence occurred in this book. (Though of course there were a few instances where it was clear we were in the immediate lead up to it, before the heroes interrupt it.)
I'm gonna take a break and read some other stuff before I make up my mind about whether I'll read the sequel.
He's good at world building, giving you a high tech - yet gritty and hard scrabble feel to it with an authenticity that makes you feel you're really there - even if you don't always understand what half the gadgets are or what they're for.
However, the sexual politics of this book are uniform, and they are terrible. I had observed this in the last half of his Live to Play series, but it's amped up on steroids in this new series. It turned what was a contender for 5 *'s into something that just barely qualified for 3 *'s. The only saving grace from this is that no "on screen" sexual violence occurred in this book. (Though of course there were a few instances where it was clear we were in the immediate lead up to it, before the heroes interrupt it.)
I'm gonna take a break and read some other stuff before I make up my mind about whether I'll read the sequel.
November 29, 2016
Note: I had an opportunity to read this book prior to release due to an offer by the Author.
I've read all of D.Rus' Live to Play series and I thought that this was an interesting addition to his bookshelf, with a few "quirks" providing a new experience and not a direct copy of what he did with his other series.
Pros: A new concept with interesting characters and a wealth of potential
Cons: Sometimes the terminology that gets thrown at you breaks you from the story and leaves you wondering what it was/is in the context of the story.
Overall I thought the pacing held well to provide an interesting read, not slowing down and making me wish things to move forward, but making me wonder how the concept would apply to LitRPG as a genre. It gets there, it just takes a bit to introduce you.
I'm looking forward to the next book in the series to see what develops.
I've read all of D.Rus' Live to Play series and I thought that this was an interesting addition to his bookshelf, with a few "quirks" providing a new experience and not a direct copy of what he did with his other series.
Pros: A new concept with interesting characters and a wealth of potential
Cons: Sometimes the terminology that gets thrown at you breaks you from the story and leaves you wondering what it was/is in the context of the story.
Overall I thought the pacing held well to provide an interesting read, not slowing down and making me wish things to move forward, but making me wonder how the concept would apply to LitRPG as a genre. It gets there, it just takes a bit to introduce you.
I'm looking forward to the next book in the series to see what develops.
November 15, 2020
This was a really engaging book with interesting ideas. Just like "Play to Live" D.Rus engages with the concept of what is the line between virtual and reality, this time in a sci-fi setting. Really looking forward to book 2.
BTW D.Rus if you read this for some reason book 6 of Play to Live is not available on amazon. books 1 and 2 you have to pay for and the rest are available for kindle unlimited including book 7.
BTW D.Rus if you read this for some reason book 6 of Play to Live is not available on amazon. books 1 and 2 you have to pay for and the rest are available for kindle unlimited including book 7.
July 31, 2020
Awesome
A really amazing sci-fi book with a few little RPG elements and that really heavy on the Syfy terms and conditions throughout the book I really loved it it was awesome read definitely one of the best books I've read that a long time for Syfy highly recommended to any sci-fi litRPG fan
A really amazing sci-fi book with a few little RPG elements and that really heavy on the Syfy terms and conditions throughout the book I really loved it it was awesome read definitely one of the best books I've read that a long time for Syfy highly recommended to any sci-fi litRPG fan
July 11, 2017
I must admit, I didn't enjoy this book nearly as much as I hoped I would. I've read alterworld before, which was perfect, but this was a very different writing style and it just didn't work for me. A pity, as I was looking forward to it quite a bit :/
December 5, 2016
Good book
Can't wait for the next one.
Looking forwards to rereading this one.
Go d.rubs.
Now just have to wait I guess.
Can't wait for the next one.
Looking forwards to rereading this one.
Go d.rubs.
Now just have to wait I guess.
December 24, 2016
Exciting and confusing read!
Thank you D. Rus for a exciting and confusing read for me kept me on my toes and turning pages . A new fan.
Thank you D. Rus for a exciting and confusing read for me kept me on my toes and turning pages . A new fan.
July 23, 2017
Not a bad read, but extremely chauvinistic. Such a trait for MC would be ok, but the world seems to comply quite a bit to much in my opinion.
April 9, 2019
I give it a 3.5. I wouldnt want a future like this!
April 18, 2019
Great read
Wow had me on the edge of my seat reading page after page got told off from the wife to put it down a get some sleep well just one more chapter please dear
Wow had me on the edge of my seat reading page after page got told off from the wife to put it down a get some sleep well just one more chapter please dear
February 15, 2020
Чёрт возьми, классный сюжет.
September 18, 2020
Very confusing writing. Story is good tho
No second part since 2016...
No second part since 2016...
January 2, 2022
2 раза
May 31, 2017
Pretty good. I think I got lost a few times due to a bit of translation issues, but it got better as the story progressed. I'm sure I will check out the next one if it is available on Kindle Unlimited.
December 23, 2016
Awesome - Enjoyed every bit (it got even better the further I read)
Translation this time is spot on. Nearly perfect without jarring mistakes and especially no nonsense sentences like some bad translations in the late Alterworld books. There are a few Russian ideoms though, that would benefit from explanations in footnotes for non-Russian language speakers.
Some views of the MC may not be politically correct (though the MC seems that more authentic, "real" and interesting) and some are Russian centric/ Russian patriotic, but I neither especially liked nor did I dislike that.
That also gave the story a different perspective than stories written with other backgrounds (e.g. American) and I enjoyed the difference.
Though I read reviews where some have particularly strong views, so much so that they would not enjoy the story, because of their differences in opinion with the views of the main character.
Translation this time is spot on. Nearly perfect without jarring mistakes and especially no nonsense sentences like some bad translations in the late Alterworld books. There are a few Russian ideoms though, that would benefit from explanations in footnotes for non-Russian language speakers.
Some views of the MC may not be politically correct (though the MC seems that more authentic, "real" and interesting) and some are Russian centric/ Russian patriotic, but I neither especially liked nor did I dislike that.
That also gave the story a different perspective than stories written with other backgrounds (e.g. American) and I enjoyed the difference.
Though I read reviews where some have particularly strong views, so much so that they would not enjoy the story, because of their differences in opinion with the views of the main character.
November 23, 2016
Ich habe das Buch gratis im Gegenzug zu einer ehrlichen Review bekommen.
Ich mag die Geschichte als solches sehr dafür 4 Sterne.
Allerdings fand ich auch, dass es Parallelen zu "Edge of Reality Phantom Server #1 von Andrei Livadny", gibt. Auch fand ich die Informationsflut teilweise überwältigend, sodass ich nicht mehr durchgeblickt habe und dadurch auch nicht verstanden, was der Autor mir eigentlich sagen möchte. Deshalb wäre ein wenig mehr Hintergrundinformation oder einfach ein, ein wenig ausschweifenderer Still unterhaltsamer gewesen. Deshalb habe ich einen Stern abgezogen.
Die Übersetzung ist, soweit ich als nicht Muttersprachler, das beurteilen kann ganz gut. Es lässt sich flüssig lesen, zwar sind kleinere Fehler vorhanden, aber nichts das mich aus dem Lesefluss gebracht hat.
Ich mag die Geschichte als solches sehr dafür 4 Sterne.
Allerdings fand ich auch, dass es Parallelen zu "Edge of Reality Phantom Server #1 von Andrei Livadny", gibt. Auch fand ich die Informationsflut teilweise überwältigend, sodass ich nicht mehr durchgeblickt habe und dadurch auch nicht verstanden, was der Autor mir eigentlich sagen möchte. Deshalb wäre ein wenig mehr Hintergrundinformation oder einfach ein, ein wenig ausschweifenderer Still unterhaltsamer gewesen. Deshalb habe ich einen Stern abgezogen.
Die Übersetzung ist, soweit ich als nicht Muttersprachler, das beurteilen kann ganz gut. Es lässt sich flüssig lesen, zwar sind kleinere Fehler vorhanden, aber nichts das mich aus dem Lesefluss gebracht hat.
November 22, 2016
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author D. Rus. I was not obliged to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed herein are strictly my own.
With that said, I enjoyed the book. The pace was fast and once I started, I read the book non-stop till the end. What was disappointing, was I wanted more. This is a Sci-Fi story with a few weird elements, a mixture of RPG, Nanotech, and other sci-fi elements. Though the author tells us the skills and points Paul earns, the story is without the tell-tale blue screens showing the advancements or “level ups”. And for me to tell you why would / could ruin the story for you. The ending is pure evil on the author's part though not a cliff hanger.
I will definitely be getting the next book in this series.
With that said, I enjoyed the book. The pace was fast and once I started, I read the book non-stop till the end. What was disappointing, was I wanted more. This is a Sci-Fi story with a few weird elements, a mixture of RPG, Nanotech, and other sci-fi elements. Though the author tells us the skills and points Paul earns, the story is without the tell-tale blue screens showing the advancements or “level ups”. And for me to tell you why would / could ruin the story for you. The ending is pure evil on the author's part though not a cliff hanger.
I will definitely be getting the next book in this series.
December 15, 2016
Confusing. Disjointed. Lots of potential but fell short
I loved this authors other series but this was so bad. It had tons of potential but was so choppy and disjointed that at multiple parts I had to go back and read sections making sure I didn't miss something. I would have stopped reading partway in if I didn't respect the author so much. Around the 50% Mark until 80% or so was an enjoyed read. The rest was brain damage and disappointment. With a MAJOR overall of the beginning and ending this could become on par with his other works. In its current form I would highly recommend passing on it
I loved this authors other series but this was so bad. It had tons of potential but was so choppy and disjointed that at multiple parts I had to go back and read sections making sure I didn't miss something. I would have stopped reading partway in if I didn't respect the author so much. Around the 50% Mark until 80% or so was an enjoyed read. The rest was brain damage and disappointment. With a MAJOR overall of the beginning and ending this could become on par with his other works. In its current form I would highly recommend passing on it
January 29, 2016
Приходится признать, темпоральная фантастика в глубоком кризисе. Для неё в России даже термин придумали с неблагозвучным названием Попаданцы. Наблюдательный читатель сразу замечает весь юмор словообразования. Это уже не путешествия во времени, а лишь описание, как некто в очередной раз несёт свою попу кому-то в дань. Собственно, главный герой цикла «Комэск-13» соотносится с определением подобного попаданца; никак его не причислишь к вершителям исторических процессов.
(c) Trounin
(c) Trounin
Read
December 13, 2016I thought the book was quite good overall, but like with several of his other books I find myself having trouble making heads or tails of what is going or understanding the story when it goes from one point to another along with the universe around the characters. Lot of time the author just gives you the a gist of the setting or universe. And not until much later does it start to make since. Sometimes wish they would just tell us that a bright light transported the character and they passed out, instead of the character all of a sudden being there.
December 8, 2016
I like the book overall. The author could have been more creative with naming the characters instead of reusing many of the names from his other series. The thing that bothered me the most in this book and kept me from rating the story five stars was the misogynistic attitude The author usually has his main character display as well as The main characters tendency to go off on Frequent tangents that really don't move the storyline forward. I do plan on reading the next book.
December 6, 2016
I'm a little disappointed with this book. Despite the cover and description, there's no space battles to be found in this first installment. It's mostly just simulation and infantry survival gameplay, with a surprising but confusing end. Hopefully the next books will provide more details on the setting.
December 14, 2016
Good but
A good story but not quite up to the same standard as play to live.
Several times I found myself often being lost and not quite sure what was going on.
It could simply be the lack of a dedicated translator as he apologized for. If that is the Case then i hope that for the next one he returns to what he did with ptl its worth it.
A good story but not quite up to the same standard as play to live.
Several times I found myself often being lost and not quite sure what was going on.
It could simply be the lack of a dedicated translator as he apologized for. If that is the Case then i hope that for the next one he returns to what he did with ptl its worth it.
December 6, 2016
Great read
Once again D Rus gives us a story of triumph over overwhelming odds. The 13th is trying hard to get through their training and oh boy its a doosey!
Once again D Rus gives us a story of triumph over overwhelming odds. The 13th is trying hard to get through their training and oh boy its a doosey!
December 7, 2016
Interesting read
Ok the author is Russian, and there are definitely quite different view points on a few things. But it was never the less an interesting read. On to the next.
Ok the author is Russian, and there are definitely quite different view points on a few things. But it was never the less an interesting read. On to the next.
December 18, 2016
Far from his Play to Live series.
March 26, 2017
Seemed like parts were missing
It was an okay book, but I couldn't help but feel stuff was missing. It just seemed that the pace jumped around a lot. On one page the book is talking about getting gifts from aliens and then a few pages later the MC is waking up on a military ship. It wasn't even an explanation. The MC and his associates wake up not understanding what's going on multiple times and sp did I as a reader.
It was an okay book, but I couldn't help but feel stuff was missing. It just seemed that the pace jumped around a lot. On one page the book is talking about getting gifts from aliens and then a few pages later the MC is waking up on a military ship. It wasn't even an explanation. The MC and his associates wake up not understanding what's going on multiple times and sp did I as a reader.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews