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Glitch #1
Whispers in the Code
A haunted airship made from living people…
Nineteen-year-old hacker Tim Zaytsev is a traitor, but he never expected his betrayal would earn him the highest honor among the international community—a place among the Camaraderie’s elite council.
Ushered into a glamorous lifestyle of fancy airships and a chance to use his programming skills to better the world, Tim is assigned the task of finishing their secret Legion Spore project—a living airship made from shapeshifters.
Inside the Legion Spore, dozens of humans have been forcibly hooked to the vessel’s computer, but fragments of their memories reside in the airship’s internal code as glitches. Their faces appear in the walls, and their whispers invade the code of the Camaraderie’s base. Tim’s ability to telepathically connect with computers means that he’s the only one who can make the ship fully functional.
But programming a computer is one thing. Dealing with a haunted, living airship will not only test Tim’s wit, but his sanity. If he can’t learn to trust himself and his abilities, his mind will be trapped in the Legion Spore as just another whisper in the code.
Nineteen-year-old hacker Tim Zaytsev is a traitor, but he never expected his betrayal would earn him the highest honor among the international community—a place among the Camaraderie’s elite council.
Ushered into a glamorous lifestyle of fancy airships and a chance to use his programming skills to better the world, Tim is assigned the task of finishing their secret Legion Spore project—a living airship made from shapeshifters.
Inside the Legion Spore, dozens of humans have been forcibly hooked to the vessel’s computer, but fragments of their memories reside in the airship’s internal code as glitches. Their faces appear in the walls, and their whispers invade the code of the Camaraderie’s base. Tim’s ability to telepathically connect with computers means that he’s the only one who can make the ship fully functional.
But programming a computer is one thing. Dealing with a haunted, living airship will not only test Tim’s wit, but his sanity. If he can’t learn to trust himself and his abilities, his mind will be trapped in the Legion Spore as just another whisper in the code.
- GenresScience Fiction
169 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 8, 2018
26 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Flint
41 books57 followersHello, and thanks for visiting my Goodreads page. :-)
Though all my new works should show up on this page, please visit my Stephanie Bibb account if you want to see what I've read or follow my reviews.
Also, I have a Wordpress blog where I talk about writing and book cover design here. Or you can visit my Twitter to see my latest posts here.
Feel free to ask me questions through Ask the Author, and I'll get to them as I can. :-)
Thanks!
Stephanie Flint
~
Stephanie Flint (formerly Stephanie Bibb) graduated from the University of Central Missouri with a Bachelor of Science in photography and a minor in creative writing. She merged the two interests into book cover design and photographic illustration, but she particularly enjoys writing speculative fiction and plotting her stories in the form of table-top RPGs with her husband, Isaac. They cofounded Infinitas Publishing in June 2015.
Though all my new works should show up on this page, please visit my Stephanie Bibb account if you want to see what I've read or follow my reviews.
Also, I have a Wordpress blog where I talk about writing and book cover design here. Or you can visit my Twitter to see my latest posts here.
Feel free to ask me questions through Ask the Author, and I'll get to them as I can. :-)
Thanks!
Stephanie Flint
~
Stephanie Flint (formerly Stephanie Bibb) graduated from the University of Central Missouri with a Bachelor of Science in photography and a minor in creative writing. She merged the two interests into book cover design and photographic illustration, but she particularly enjoys writing speculative fiction and plotting her stories in the form of table-top RPGs with her husband, Isaac. They cofounded Infinitas Publishing in June 2015.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 3, 2018
Quite am interesting read that I found hard to put down. The characters are well written with a storyline that moves along at a very nice pace. I'm quite intrigued about the Legion Spore and look forward to reading more about it in the next book.
June 9, 2019
I loved the programming part and how Tim could manipulate the code. The other powers are so cool. The book is totally awesome. I am so thrilled to read the next books.
April 20, 2018
Inverting the trope of an exceptional teenager defying an evil government, the authors craft a tale of a young man struggling to find his place in a tyrannical but potentially necessary regime.
This book is set after the events of Distant Horizon. Risk of spoilers ahead.
Nineteen-year-old Tim Zaytsev fled his home to join the rebellion against the Camaraderie, a tyrannical supranational government. Then he betrayed both the rebellion and his friends to follow a girl to the Camaraderie. But, horrified by the casual sadism of his new superior, he killed her. Imprisoned for his actions, he expects to be killed or worse. Instead, he is offered both her place on the council and a chance to use his superhuman ability with computers to complete her final project: an airship built of mind-linked shapeshifters. At first the elevation seems almost a miracle, but the ongoing threats of both international politics and a network that can trap you in its nightmares might be greater horrors than any sentence.
While the book is described as the first in a series, it is a continuation of Tim’s arc from Distant Horizon, and assumes knowledge of key things mentioned in that book. The narrative opens with Tim facing judgement, but no explanation of who the various groups are or details of why he has betrayed them. As a result, readers who have not read the previous book—or at least not recently enough to remember—may struggle to work out which side is which. This risk is amplified by Tim having moved between the Community, Coalition, and Camaraderie and the authors’ decision to sometimes abbreviate one of these to CoE without clear indication of which this is.
This assumption of prior knowledge continues throughout the book. While this does avoid the implausibility of people discussing things they already know, it also weakens the reader’s understanding of how things fit together, preventing a visceral experience of risks. Therefore, while readers who are merely picking the world up after a break are likely to orient themselves after the opening, this book may not be a suitable entry point for new readers.
Readers who do orient themselves will find an interesting blend of superhero fiction and dystopian thriller. Unlike many young adult novels, this is not a simple question of scrappy revolutionaries defeating an evil regime; there are indications that the consequences of not having strong and strict leadership might be worse than the moral compromises it requires.
This focus on a pragmatism rather than absolutism is likely to either remove or amplify the issue of Tim’s sudden promotion to joint ruler of nations: depending on the reader’s perspective, it is either a sign that youth is not a barrier if one is the best person for the job, or a discordant note of teenage-protagonist exceptionalism in an otherwise complex world.
As might be expected of a young adult story, the majority of the plot is focused on Tim’s immediate dilemmas rather than wider issues. Although there are threads that deal with the political, military, and metaphysical struggle for the world, they often take a second seat to Tim’s efforts to maintain a relationship, overcome his doubts over his current loyalties, and avoid becoming merely a puppet of established politicians.
Readers who accept the premise of the book will find Tim a sympathetic protagonist, striving to balance the concerns of a teenager with the duties and risks of political station. However, those unfamiliar with Distant Horizon might find his willingness to accept the forced genetic manipulation of criminals and innocents alike to be either implausible or off-putting.
The supporting cast are well-crafted. Fellow members of the Camaraderie appear pleasant and helpful enough to support a well-intentioned protagonist siding with them, but also display a ruthlessness that fits with an organisation that would transform humans into biological machinery. Those few characters Tim encounters outside the Camaraderie are plausibly antagonistic, adding to the feeling that the current rulership isn’t the worst option.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I recommend it to readers seeking a fast-paced excursion into young adult dark fantasy.
I received a free copy from the authors with a request for a fair review.
This book is set after the events of Distant Horizon. Risk of spoilers ahead.
Nineteen-year-old Tim Zaytsev fled his home to join the rebellion against the Camaraderie, a tyrannical supranational government. Then he betrayed both the rebellion and his friends to follow a girl to the Camaraderie. But, horrified by the casual sadism of his new superior, he killed her. Imprisoned for his actions, he expects to be killed or worse. Instead, he is offered both her place on the council and a chance to use his superhuman ability with computers to complete her final project: an airship built of mind-linked shapeshifters. At first the elevation seems almost a miracle, but the ongoing threats of both international politics and a network that can trap you in its nightmares might be greater horrors than any sentence.
While the book is described as the first in a series, it is a continuation of Tim’s arc from Distant Horizon, and assumes knowledge of key things mentioned in that book. The narrative opens with Tim facing judgement, but no explanation of who the various groups are or details of why he has betrayed them. As a result, readers who have not read the previous book—or at least not recently enough to remember—may struggle to work out which side is which. This risk is amplified by Tim having moved between the Community, Coalition, and Camaraderie and the authors’ decision to sometimes abbreviate one of these to CoE without clear indication of which this is.
This assumption of prior knowledge continues throughout the book. While this does avoid the implausibility of people discussing things they already know, it also weakens the reader’s understanding of how things fit together, preventing a visceral experience of risks. Therefore, while readers who are merely picking the world up after a break are likely to orient themselves after the opening, this book may not be a suitable entry point for new readers.
Readers who do orient themselves will find an interesting blend of superhero fiction and dystopian thriller. Unlike many young adult novels, this is not a simple question of scrappy revolutionaries defeating an evil regime; there are indications that the consequences of not having strong and strict leadership might be worse than the moral compromises it requires.
This focus on a pragmatism rather than absolutism is likely to either remove or amplify the issue of Tim’s sudden promotion to joint ruler of nations: depending on the reader’s perspective, it is either a sign that youth is not a barrier if one is the best person for the job, or a discordant note of teenage-protagonist exceptionalism in an otherwise complex world.
As might be expected of a young adult story, the majority of the plot is focused on Tim’s immediate dilemmas rather than wider issues. Although there are threads that deal with the political, military, and metaphysical struggle for the world, they often take a second seat to Tim’s efforts to maintain a relationship, overcome his doubts over his current loyalties, and avoid becoming merely a puppet of established politicians.
Readers who accept the premise of the book will find Tim a sympathetic protagonist, striving to balance the concerns of a teenager with the duties and risks of political station. However, those unfamiliar with Distant Horizon might find his willingness to accept the forced genetic manipulation of criminals and innocents alike to be either implausible or off-putting.
The supporting cast are well-crafted. Fellow members of the Camaraderie appear pleasant and helpful enough to support a well-intentioned protagonist siding with them, but also display a ruthlessness that fits with an organisation that would transform humans into biological machinery. Those few characters Tim encounters outside the Camaraderie are plausibly antagonistic, adding to the feeling that the current rulership isn’t the worst option.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I recommend it to readers seeking a fast-paced excursion into young adult dark fantasy.
I received a free copy from the authors with a request for a fair review.
February 9, 2018
Will send your imagination soaring.
This story does not ease you into the narrative. First two chapters, you are given phrases and descriptions that are plain confusing. But if you are patient and continue on, you find yourself in an almost magical world of science and fantasy, and reading a very good story with characters who really stand out in your imagination.
Shape-shifters, telepaths, people who have been changed into “beasts” against their will, and live only at the whim of their owners, characters who can teleport them selves or others instantly, one with the power of “Persuasion”… Not a dull moment. Stephanie and Isaac Flint have a unique voice in their storytelling, and laid the groundwork for what I hope will lead to many more books in the near future.
This is likely classified as a YA novel. I left that period behind over forty years ago, and I loved the book.
Meanwhile, I hope to track down what is already available, and get it safely onto my Kindle for a time when all I want is a chance to sit down and enjoy a day or two of reading, confident that none of that time will be wasted.
This story does not ease you into the narrative. First two chapters, you are given phrases and descriptions that are plain confusing. But if you are patient and continue on, you find yourself in an almost magical world of science and fantasy, and reading a very good story with characters who really stand out in your imagination.
Shape-shifters, telepaths, people who have been changed into “beasts” against their will, and live only at the whim of their owners, characters who can teleport them selves or others instantly, one with the power of “Persuasion”… Not a dull moment. Stephanie and Isaac Flint have a unique voice in their storytelling, and laid the groundwork for what I hope will lead to many more books in the near future.
This is likely classified as a YA novel. I left that period behind over forty years ago, and I loved the book.
Meanwhile, I hope to track down what is already available, and get it safely onto my Kindle for a time when all I want is a chance to sit down and enjoy a day or two of reading, confident that none of that time will be wasted.
May 20, 2018
Enter a world of sci-fi where humans intergrate with machines and computers. Where humans interact dirctly with computers. A world of telepathy, telekinesis, mind probes, electrical stimulation. Either you find this magical thinking or a thing of nightmare. Already nowhere I walk outside my apartment in my own home am I free from monitors, the only difference here is that the super can’t interact with them mentally. Visit a camera site online and watch the ads start appearing on the other web sites you visit. As usual good sci-fi is not that far from advanced reality. Log onto the right web cam and you can watch Putin cross Red Square. The thought of living in a ship capable of absorbing human flesh is somewhat creepy.
The book needs further editing but otherwise not a bad read.
The book needs further editing but otherwise not a bad read.
October 28, 2018
Whispers in the Code had an interesting storyline, as well as some unique concepts, but I struggled to wrap my mind around the main narrative. The pace is fast, and in some places came across as slightly rushed. It was an entertaining read, but I found it difficult to follow along and fully immerse myself in the action. Being intended as a companion series, not having read anything prior to this work felt as though I was missing the beginning of the story. Perhaps a friendly warning to new readers would help in this regard.
November 12, 2019
I did enjoy this book BUT it tends to read more like a film script than a novel. There's a lot of description surrounding appearances, than there is explaining plot (ie: how did earth end up like this? How did people end up with powers? What happened to the planet that this was the best way to govern it?) You have to just carry on in the hope that it things will suddenly make sense, or be explained properly. Even though that doesn't really happen, I still really enjoyed it. Will definitely give the next one a go.
July 23, 2018
Welcome to a world where the lines between man and machine blend together. I really enjoyed reading this novel, it was interesting how the author managed to keep the storyline flowing, full of action and adventure. It was a little slow at first, but then picked up and didn't stop until the end. I think that you will enjoy this novel if you are into dystopian worlds where things are never what they look like.
July 14, 2022
It felt as if the authors were in a massive hurry, jumping from scene to scene. They lingered too long on dull interactions and rushed through action sequences. All that nestled uncomfortably in the most unlikely poor-boy/success tale I've ever had the unfortunate luck to stumble across. Even the writing felt off, perhaps immature is the kindest word (although "crappy" is more accurate). I gave it one star but, on Lori Rating Scale (LRS), it gets 4 Ughs.
January 23, 2019
very interesting book. Tim a computer hacker becomes a member of the camaraderie due to his expertise. He is also a telepath and falls in love with Val who has other powers but is also a member of the Group. Tim is groomed by Commander Rick to control the Legion Spore an airship composed of human and beast Brains. However, there more than meets the eye. Very good reading.
November 28, 2020
It's different
I am still not sure if I liked it. The characters seen well rounded until a turn of word boots them out of character. The story line itself twists quite a bit. If you like darker novels, this is for you
I am still not sure if I liked it. The characters seen well rounded until a turn of word boots them out of character. The story line itself twists quite a bit. If you like darker novels, this is for you
March 1, 2021
Good Start
Little bit of tech woven into it and a bit of steampunk flavor. Add in transformation of People in to beasts with a long running revolution and the author weaves an interesting story.
Little bit of tech woven into it and a bit of steampunk flavor. Add in transformation of People in to beasts with a long running revolution and the author weaves an interesting story.
January 26, 2019
I found this book disturbing! Humans forcibly made to do things against their will.
Whispers in the code it's written in a way where your drawn in with no escape. Great read!
Whispers in the code it's written in a way where your drawn in with no escape. Great read!
October 26, 2020
An exciting sci fi fantasy story! Be immersed in a world where humans mix with animals & machines! Great idea, well written YA story! I did enjoy this & will look for more by this writer!
June 18, 2021
Confusing
The book has interesting ideas but it doesn't provide background or context, so it ends up being confusing and boring.
The book has interesting ideas but it doesn't provide background or context, so it ends up being confusing and boring.
July 26, 2021
So many unique elements, though it felt more like an episode in a longer story than a complete book.
August 31, 2021
I'm usually not a sci-fi fan, so this was an unusual departure for me ~ and I am happy to say I was quite intrigued! The characters were pretty good; the story was interesting . . . why 4 stars? It's just not quite "there", yet. I'm hoping book #2 will be, though! Going to read it now!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews