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Office Wars #1
Office Wars: The Mailroom Clerk
Bran was one of the first to purchase a full immersion Virtual Reality Pod that he calls the Coffin, but over a century later, ironically, he finds himself part of the 1% that does not live virtually. He sleeps in a real bed and eats real food and only jumps into Neuroma to work.
All he wanted was to log in, work and log out and live in general obscurity. Getting the attention of a CEO, meeting a stranger in real life, and forced to play in a secret game of corporations were not penciled into his calendar. While that was bad, he started to question whether Odditek was still in control, or had their complacency created the noose tightening around their neck.
Bran was not yet aware of the choice before him. He could no longer stand back and watch, and he had to pick a side and fight before he lost the ability to choose. Would he recognize the inevitable in time? Was it possible to make a ‘correct’ choice, or had the lines blurred so much that hero and villain were indistinguishable?
This novel is part of an Odditek series and is a LitRPG novel. I realize it’s the first Odditek series, but more are coming.
This series started as a companion series to a book called Lantern Online. I wanted a way to build up the world as it now exists, and to explain what Odditek is. Neuroma and Nerves are mentioned in Lantern Online, and I felt all that information was taking away from my story and is mostly not relevant, but good to know information. I took a lot of it out and added it to this series.
Anyway, out of that came Office Wars. I hope it's different than most LitRPG you will read, and brings another dimension to the genre.
Explicit language! I will not lie, there is a satirical nature to this story, and a lot of the language and scenarios are morally questionable on purpose. In this story and I use a lot of curse words and controversial commentary. Just look on Facebook or any half a dozen social media sites, and you will see similar language, conversations, and other nonsense. If we all moved into a digital world, this is how I view that world.
All he wanted was to log in, work and log out and live in general obscurity. Getting the attention of a CEO, meeting a stranger in real life, and forced to play in a secret game of corporations were not penciled into his calendar. While that was bad, he started to question whether Odditek was still in control, or had their complacency created the noose tightening around their neck.
Bran was not yet aware of the choice before him. He could no longer stand back and watch, and he had to pick a side and fight before he lost the ability to choose. Would he recognize the inevitable in time? Was it possible to make a ‘correct’ choice, or had the lines blurred so much that hero and villain were indistinguishable?
This novel is part of an Odditek series and is a LitRPG novel. I realize it’s the first Odditek series, but more are coming.
This series started as a companion series to a book called Lantern Online. I wanted a way to build up the world as it now exists, and to explain what Odditek is. Neuroma and Nerves are mentioned in Lantern Online, and I felt all that information was taking away from my story and is mostly not relevant, but good to know information. I took a lot of it out and added it to this series.
Anyway, out of that came Office Wars. I hope it's different than most LitRPG you will read, and brings another dimension to the genre.
Explicit language! I will not lie, there is a satirical nature to this story, and a lot of the language and scenarios are morally questionable on purpose. In this story and I use a lot of curse words and controversial commentary. Just look on Facebook or any half a dozen social media sites, and you will see similar language, conversations, and other nonsense. If we all moved into a digital world, this is how I view that world.
271 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 15, 2017
71 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
James G. Patton
5 books12 followersI grew up a Missouri boy, but have lived in Ohio and Georgia at different times in my life. I was born in St. Louis, MO and now live in the Kansas City, MO area.
I have always had a passion for writing and now I am acting on that. I appreciate my reader support, and I hope you find all my work entertaining. Beware the bad puns, they are really bad.
I am an author, more details here:James G Patton's Author Site. You can also purchase my books here: My Amazon Author Page.
I have always had a passion for writing and now I am acting on that. I appreciate my reader support, and I hope you find all my work entertaining. Beware the bad puns, they are really bad.
I am an author, more details here:James G Patton's Author Site. You can also purchase my books here: My Amazon Author Page.
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 3, 2017
I have encountered this book by a chance. A tiny bit of pure luck. Good luck, too. It is a marvelous piece of reading - for every single science-fiction fan.
Even though, the book belongs to a very popular nowadays so-called litRPG genre, I would be far from containing or limiting it to it. The story reminded me some good, old William Gibson's or Philip K. Dick's stories. Please, let me be understood - I do not mean the delivery or the general mood - this is book is full of hilarious and witty dialogues and quips as well as situational humour. What I mean is the overall theme.
If I were to point out who is the protagonist of the story, there are at least two of them. Both are very special. Each in their own way. I will allow a curious reader to discover their secrets on their own. However, if I were to point out the most appealing side of the world described, it would be the interactions between technology, the humankind, and the sentient technology. The borders between the latter two is difficult to assess, which is very so very much Gibson-ish and Dick-ish at times. For once, what is the difference between the human serphs and sentient intelligence, whence the latter is given more freedom then the former? There are quite a lot of more such flavours Mr. James G. Patton signalizes, starts to explore and... allows the reader to continue on their own. Which I am very thankful for. It is quite refreshing to read a SF/Fantasy genre book providing more such questions than answers. I, too often, get the impression the the authors nowadays rush to give all the(ir) answers right now, right there - leaving nothing to the curious and thoughtful reader.
I suppose that as a part of a review I should say something about the plot, but I wouldn't like to provide any spoilers. Instead I would like to encourage everybody and anybody to give this book a try. There is a really small chance you will regret it.
PS. I've read the second installment. It gets better - though, the cliffhanger is a bit irritating there ;)
Even though, the book belongs to a very popular nowadays so-called litRPG genre, I would be far from containing or limiting it to it. The story reminded me some good, old William Gibson's or Philip K. Dick's stories. Please, let me be understood - I do not mean the delivery or the general mood - this is book is full of hilarious and witty dialogues and quips as well as situational humour. What I mean is the overall theme.
If I were to point out who is the protagonist of the story, there are at least two of them. Both are very special. Each in their own way. I will allow a curious reader to discover their secrets on their own. However, if I were to point out the most appealing side of the world described, it would be the interactions between technology, the humankind, and the sentient technology. The borders between the latter two is difficult to assess, which is very so very much Gibson-ish and Dick-ish at times. For once, what is the difference between the human serphs and sentient intelligence, whence the latter is given more freedom then the former? There are quite a lot of more such flavours Mr. James G. Patton signalizes, starts to explore and... allows the reader to continue on their own. Which I am very thankful for. It is quite refreshing to read a SF/Fantasy genre book providing more such questions than answers. I, too often, get the impression the the authors nowadays rush to give all the(ir) answers right now, right there - leaving nothing to the curious and thoughtful reader.
I suppose that as a part of a review I should say something about the plot, but I wouldn't like to provide any spoilers. Instead I would like to encourage everybody and anybody to give this book a try. There is a really small chance you will regret it.
PS. I've read the second installment. It gets better - though, the cliffhanger is a bit irritating there ;)
July 29, 2017
A passion project and it shows
Honestly the first two chapters threw me off and I wasn't sure I liked were this was going, Then the story actually started and I was laughing (actually laughing not net lol but RL HAHAHAHAHA)
A pleasent sense of humor and an interesting storyline, it's one flaw... not enough Bob-servation puns!
Needs some proof reading to achieve bobdom! (yes I'm going to be doing that all day SUFFER THE WRATH OF MY BOBNESS!!!)
Honestly the first two chapters threw me off and I wasn't sure I liked were this was going, Then the story actually started and I was laughing (actually laughing not net lol but RL HAHAHAHAHA)
A pleasent sense of humor and an interesting storyline, it's one flaw... not enough Bob-servation puns!
Needs some proof reading to achieve bobdom! (yes I'm going to be doing that all day SUFFER THE WRATH OF MY BOBNESS!!!)
June 5, 2017
Serials...
I usually hate serials. Not enough content for the time/cost.
This one is different in that the story had a good conclusion with enough subplots to make me look forward to the next one.
I just hope that the author can keep it up or I'll get my stapler out!
I usually hate serials. Not enough content for the time/cost.
This one is different in that the story had a good conclusion with enough subplots to make me look forward to the next one.
I just hope that the author can keep it up or I'll get my stapler out!
May 19, 2017
Nice
This was a great twist on litrpg. Lots of fun.
I only found two mistakes and they are both after the 70% mark.
I highly recommend this book, it's a lot of fun.
This was a great twist on litrpg. Lots of fun.
I only found two mistakes and they are both after the 70% mark.
I highly recommend this book, it's a lot of fun.
May 27, 2017
Great read
For a while I wasn't sure where the book was headed, but once it got going... awesome. Great sense of humor too.
For a while I wasn't sure where the book was headed, but once it got going... awesome. Great sense of humor too.
June 7, 2017
Totally fantastic!
I really loved this book and can't wait for the next one. I was reading it on the bus home and couldn't help laughing out loud a few times. Five solid and well-earned stars.
I really loved this book and can't wait for the next one. I was reading it on the bus home and couldn't help laughing out loud a few times. Five solid and well-earned stars.
November 27, 2017
Intense
OK that was a fast forward rush of office space dungeon crawling. I feel a bit like I just walked out of a fun house of mirrors into the looking glass world. A very fast read and I want more. 2 hours just disappeared. Cool.
OK that was a fast forward rush of office space dungeon crawling. I feel a bit like I just walked out of a fun house of mirrors into the looking glass world. A very fast read and I want more. 2 hours just disappeared. Cool.
June 15, 2017
I want #2 Now!!
Great novel! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I hope the next installment gets released soon. Thank you Mr. Patton for taking the time to write such a good story.
Great novel! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I hope the next installment gets released soon. Thank you Mr. Patton for taking the time to write such a good story.
July 31, 2017
I almost gave up on this book because the beginning is really bad. Very confusing. However, I read a review that said it didn't take off until the second chapter and that reviewer was correct. Once it took off it really took off. At least that's my "Bob-servation." Looking forward to part two.
March 14, 2019
Well I got this book for free for the kindle. It was good, but I don't know that I would call it a litrpg. Their was little in the way of character development, and skill acquisition. Their was no world building, and few relationships past casual level. It was a good premise, and a different spin on this genre. If you like fantasy, and Office Space, you will probably enjoy this book. Not bad, not that long. It did have some bad editing, but the author actually mentioned this in his end notes. The biggest issue I have was with the story flow, the book ended arbitrarily in a location just shy of actually having a finale. I liked it, didn't love it.
May 13, 2021
Wow what a book
I have been reading lit rpg for a year or so and this is one of the most interesting books out there completely different and I loved it can’t wait to read the rest of them
I have been reading lit rpg for a year or so and this is one of the most interesting books out there completely different and I loved it can’t wait to read the rest of them
April 13, 2023
Unconventional concept but way to many inception layers for my taste. It is really hard to follow who is who or might be, what is real and what is not.
Nevertheless the office war itself is a funny dungeon.
Nevertheless the office war itself is a funny dungeon.
January 11, 2019
This book was very amusing. Love the various puns, and of course, who can resist all the poking fun at office politics? Great stuff here, and a great stress reliever too, since if you have any sense of humor at all, you'll be laughing all the way through this one.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews