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Cyberpink #1
Pickle Pie
Cyberpink. Blood Runs Pink.
Hunger Games meets GLOW in this bloody mess of a sport story.
When a bankrupt armourer gets offered a chance to own a second-rate player, he decides to go for it. But will he manage to even turn a profit, when he knows little about the game and its seedy world, when the opponents play dirty on and off the field, and when the game's popularity grows with every player injury and death?
Do you wanna watch the bloody game of Cyberpink? Do you wanna meet Pickle Pie? Then read this exciting story where popularity is queen and blood runs pink.
Hunger Games meets GLOW in this bloody mess of a sport story.
When a bankrupt armourer gets offered a chance to own a second-rate player, he decides to go for it. But will he manage to even turn a profit, when he knows little about the game and its seedy world, when the opponents play dirty on and off the field, and when the game's popularity grows with every player injury and death?
Do you wanna watch the bloody game of Cyberpink? Do you wanna meet Pickle Pie? Then read this exciting story where popularity is queen and blood runs pink.
- GenresScience FictionAudiobook
Unknown Binding
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73 people want to read
About the author
George Saoulidis
216 books596 followersGeorge Saoulidis writes sci-fi with a mythic twist—ancient Greek gods, cyberpunk futures, and the occasional romantic comedy. Based in Athens, he’s the creator of God Complex, Cyberpink, and dozens of quirky, unsettling stories. If it’s weird, witty, or a little icky, it’s probably his.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 20, 2019
Pickle Pie. A Cyberpink story.
Oh dear LOL, what have I gotten myself into this time? 😂
Strength. Speed. Strategy. Sexiness.
Okay, I had a pretty good idea after seeing the cover picture.
Heavily modified, sexy, covert ops specialist girl will kick someone's ass in this book. I have a friend who'd light up just from seeing the Badass Female Character score being over 9000 😘
As it turned out, judging a book by its cover was not a good thing to do. Again. Luckily, this time I haven't paid the price either. Wonder how much longer can I stay on this roll.
Let's get one thing straight from the start - this is an 18+ book. And so is this review. You've been warned ⚠️
It started slow. And I mean - slooooow. The narrator, Luke Rounda, seemed seriously "OMG what are you making me read" disinterested. Even the arena announcer sounded like a narrator.
Hm, arena announcer? Well, yes! This is actually a book about sport! A bloody sport. Very, very bloody.
Apparently, people in the distant future grew bored. The fact that we destroyed the planet and turned it into a giant dustball may or may not have something to do with it. Anyway, this dystopian society decided that the old Roman "blood and games" way of life was, in fact, awesome. But only if the girls fight. Semi-naked, if possible.
We hear The Drumbeat and the game begins. The Gorgon attacks. One of Pinup Girls defends. Tries, actually, and fails. Ends up with broken ribs. The Quick grabs the Skull and scores.
What?!
Yeah, me neither.
- "Let's jump in a poorly choreographed fight where nothing makes sense."
Yes, I get it, it's all cyberpunk and shit. But WTF?
I replayed that chapter one when I was finished with the book and everything made perfect sense! I loved it!
But I hated it when it was happening the first time, as I was completely unprepared for it. So don't be discouraged by listening and not having any idea what you're listening to 😅 Power through it!
Listen to Archer, he knows his shit.
The book is filled with mindfucks! The kinds of which make you pause the book due to extreme disbelief at the scene playing out. Turns out this is not by accident, but rather Saoulidis' trademark writing.
Many things are not being explained, but you figure them out by listening. Chapters are called Drops. There are internal ads within the book. For example, the arena announcer would yell: "And she's finished! Finished like work done by Woodchopping Enterprises. Order now!" I chuckled for real 🤣
Anyway, the book introduces us to a "But I just want to make armors, like my dad!" main character, Hector, who inherits one of the Cyberpink athletes by accident. Patty.
MC is a shmuck. Patty is a badass. Yes, Cyberpink is a fight with plastic and foamy weapons, but she's taking it very seriously. Indebted to her new owner now, she needs to play - and win - to make money to pay it off.
Hector has a pet armadillo. He's awesome and doesn't give a shit about anything.
Like when the evil guy Hector owes protection money shows up. The Evil Guy is gay. But not an ordinary gay. He fucks two boys at once and paints on another one with the blood of his enemies.
Ok Saoulidis, what the actual fuck!? 😲
Shock levels: Steady 100%
The book has so many naked women in there. So many naked men. So many gay naked men. And I realized it's just for the shock value. If that's his currency, Saoulidis is a millionaire.
"Drumbeat."
Oh, I learned this! Shit is about to happen. I started liking this book!
It took about 15 chapters, drops, to get to a second Greek reference - Ouzo! Nice! The writer wasn't going overboard. A huge plus.
There are some weird things, which I believe I caught to be fallacies, but they don't detract much from the overall experience. Like when MC counts money on hands, in the bank, winnings, debts... and comes up with weird math - You have left just as much as it's convenient to have. Fiiiiiine, I won't nitpick on that.
But when the drug addict he's known for years, and who is absolutely good-for-nothing dies, the state rejected his wish for cremation due to lack of funds. "Oh, OK, send the bill to me," Hector says. "I totally didn't just almost die as I couldn't pay the mafia protection money. Sure, let me pay for the model citizen's funeral."
Odd logic again. But guess what? I didn't mind again. After all the weirdness experienced I became genuinely interested in seeing how the story unfolds. There was no way to predict anything in this book!
They actually did the math for a minute in the Drop 47 and it was awesome. And correct 😉
Overall, the book was interesting, funny and shocking. An equal amount of everything, which shouldn't be healthy for anyone underage. There's no explicit sex, although implied, but the main story and humor are very much Adults Only.
The overall experience was dragged down a bit by, still, disinterested narrator, but I learned to like him and enjoy the book. So my, in fact, that I'm looking forward to reading Cherry Pie in the future!
If I'd have to pick one word to describe this book, it would be 'weird'. Or 'interesting'. I don't know, you decide. The book would have gotten 3* stars if it only weren't so weird. And interesting 😎
Thank you Mythography Studios for providing the Audible code for the book! ❤️ I'd say this qualifies as an honest review 😂
"The day was nice. The city was still shitty, but having a new purpose in life felt good."
Interesting fact #1: The first book which made me pause listening several times to think about the scene that just played out, trying to make sense of it. Loved it!
Interesting fact #2: I've used more curse words in this single review than in my Top5 combined. Probably not a good thing.
Interesting fact #3: The shortest chapter in the book was only 45 seconds long.
Pickle Pie (Cyberpink #1)
by George Saoulidis, Luke Rounda (Narrator)
Oh dear LOL, what have I gotten myself into this time? 😂
Strength. Speed. Strategy. Sexiness.
Okay, I had a pretty good idea after seeing the cover picture.
Heavily modified, sexy, covert ops specialist girl will kick someone's ass in this book. I have a friend who'd light up just from seeing the Badass Female Character score being over 9000 😘
As it turned out, judging a book by its cover was not a good thing to do. Again. Luckily, this time I haven't paid the price either. Wonder how much longer can I stay on this roll.
Let's get one thing straight from the start - this is an 18+ book. And so is this review. You've been warned ⚠️
It started slow. And I mean - slooooow. The narrator, Luke Rounda, seemed seriously "OMG what are you making me read" disinterested. Even the arena announcer sounded like a narrator.
Hm, arena announcer? Well, yes! This is actually a book about sport! A bloody sport. Very, very bloody.
Apparently, people in the distant future grew bored. The fact that we destroyed the planet and turned it into a giant dustball may or may not have something to do with it. Anyway, this dystopian society decided that the old Roman "blood and games" way of life was, in fact, awesome. But only if the girls fight. Semi-naked, if possible.
We hear The Drumbeat and the game begins. The Gorgon attacks. One of Pinup Girls defends. Tries, actually, and fails. Ends up with broken ribs. The Quick grabs the Skull and scores.
What?!
Yeah, me neither.
- "Let's jump in a poorly choreographed fight where nothing makes sense."
Yes, I get it, it's all cyberpunk and shit. But WTF?
I replayed that chapter one when I was finished with the book and everything made perfect sense! I loved it!
But I hated it when it was happening the first time, as I was completely unprepared for it. So don't be discouraged by listening and not having any idea what you're listening to 😅 Power through it!
Listen to Archer, he knows his shit.
The book is filled with mindfucks! The kinds of which make you pause the book due to extreme disbelief at the scene playing out. Turns out this is not by accident, but rather Saoulidis' trademark writing.
Many things are not being explained, but you figure them out by listening. Chapters are called Drops. There are internal ads within the book. For example, the arena announcer would yell: "And she's finished! Finished like work done by Woodchopping Enterprises. Order now!" I chuckled for real 🤣
Anyway, the book introduces us to a "But I just want to make armors, like my dad!" main character, Hector, who inherits one of the Cyberpink athletes by accident. Patty.
MC is a shmuck. Patty is a badass. Yes, Cyberpink is a fight with plastic and foamy weapons, but she's taking it very seriously. Indebted to her new owner now, she needs to play - and win - to make money to pay it off.
Hector has a pet armadillo. He's awesome and doesn't give a shit about anything.
Like when the evil guy Hector owes protection money shows up. The Evil Guy is gay. But not an ordinary gay. He fucks two boys at once and paints on another one with the blood of his enemies.
Ok Saoulidis, what the actual fuck!? 😲
Shock levels: Steady 100%
The book has so many naked women in there. So many naked men. So many gay naked men. And I realized it's just for the shock value. If that's his currency, Saoulidis is a millionaire.
"Drumbeat."
Oh, I learned this! Shit is about to happen. I started liking this book!
It took about 15 chapters, drops, to get to a second Greek reference - Ouzo! Nice! The writer wasn't going overboard. A huge plus.
There are some weird things, which I believe I caught to be fallacies, but they don't detract much from the overall experience. Like when MC counts money on hands, in the bank, winnings, debts... and comes up with weird math - You have left just as much as it's convenient to have. Fiiiiiine, I won't nitpick on that.
But when the drug addict he's known for years, and who is absolutely good-for-nothing dies, the state rejected his wish for cremation due to lack of funds. "Oh, OK, send the bill to me," Hector says. "I totally didn't just almost die as I couldn't pay the mafia protection money. Sure, let me pay for the model citizen's funeral."
Odd logic again. But guess what? I didn't mind again. After all the weirdness experienced I became genuinely interested in seeing how the story unfolds. There was no way to predict anything in this book!
They actually did the math for a minute in the Drop 47 and it was awesome. And correct 😉
Overall, the book was interesting, funny and shocking. An equal amount of everything, which shouldn't be healthy for anyone underage. There's no explicit sex, although implied, but the main story and humor are very much Adults Only.
The overall experience was dragged down a bit by, still, disinterested narrator, but I learned to like him and enjoy the book. So my, in fact, that I'm looking forward to reading Cherry Pie in the future!
If I'd have to pick one word to describe this book, it would be 'weird'. Or 'interesting'. I don't know, you decide. The book would have gotten 3* stars if it only weren't so weird. And interesting 😎
Thank you Mythography Studios for providing the Audible code for the book! ❤️ I'd say this qualifies as an honest review 😂
"The day was nice. The city was still shitty, but having a new purpose in life felt good."
Interesting fact #1: The first book which made me pause listening several times to think about the scene that just played out, trying to make sense of it. Loved it!
Interesting fact #2: I've used more curse words in this single review than in my Top5 combined. Probably not a good thing.
Interesting fact #3: The shortest chapter in the book was only 45 seconds long.
Pickle Pie (Cyberpink #1)
by George Saoulidis, Luke Rounda (Narrator)
Verdict Weird. WEIRD! But I'd do it all over again!
Runtime 04:26
Overall
Performance
Story
March 19, 2019
This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Boom.
Took a little while to get into the book, but once it got going this was quite fun. Plot was good, but the narration was a little annoying, especially the really odd sound effects.
I will be looking for the next book on Audible.
Took a little while to get into the book, but once it got going this was quite fun. Plot was good, but the narration was a little annoying, especially the really odd sound effects.
I will be looking for the next book on Audible.
March 23, 2019
I'm not a sports-lit fan by any stretch of the imagination, but I am definitely a SciFi/Fantasy genre geek, and when SF and sports intersected in Pickle Pie, I amazed myself by really liking it! There have been books like John Scalzi's Head On, or the short story, Z Ball by Will Swardstrom, and of course Seanan McGuire's stories about Roller Derby (found in her InCryptid series) that make my heart run fast, but those are the exceptions for me, not the rule... This book is one of those Glorious exceptions!
The game is informally called Cyberpinks, after the nickname for the players, the young women who play the game, and often end up bleeding (or worse) as a consequence... and all of them, cybernetically enhanced! There's plenty of violence and gore, but it never seemed to tip too far into the excessively graphic, and I'm a relative light-weight about that stuff!
Luke Rounda proved to be a fine narrator too. I hope to hear more from him in the future! I'm currently waiting for the next book in the series (Cherry Pie) to hit audible. It should be a blast!
The game is informally called Cyberpinks, after the nickname for the players, the young women who play the game, and often end up bleeding (or worse) as a consequence... and all of them, cybernetically enhanced! There's plenty of violence and gore, but it never seemed to tip too far into the excessively graphic, and I'm a relative light-weight about that stuff!
Luke Rounda proved to be a fine narrator too. I hope to hear more from him in the future! I'm currently waiting for the next book in the series (Cherry Pie) to hit audible. It should be a blast!
November 9, 2020
Fun cyberpunk
Set in a future Athens, an armourer gets involved in a rollerball like sport, as he takes the ownership of a female athlete - and gets dragged in the dirty world of the sport.
Really enjoyed it.
Set in a future Athens, an armourer gets involved in a rollerball like sport, as he takes the ownership of a female athlete - and gets dragged in the dirty world of the sport.
Really enjoyed it.
February 4, 2020
“Pickle Pie (Cyberpink #1)” is a surprisingly intelligently written and entertaining story of a dystopian future. The characters are very well thought out, and I really enjoyed the narration.
There’s lots and lots of social commentary and black humor that establishes the world of the near future. We have corporations, ultra-rich cruel and perverted people, mobsters, and - at the heart of the story: crushing debt that forces people to participate in bloody sporting competitions for “entertainment”. Oh, and yes, many of the women forced to play on the teams are also forced to provide sexual favors for the owners and their friends.
As unappealing as this may sound; the author and the narrator made the story truly enjoyable, mainly because of the great characters that we enjoy being with. So yeah, it’s kind of an “us against the big cruel world” kind of story.
The main characters are Hector, an armor maker, and pickle-loving Patty, the cybernetic gladiator he is gifted by a client who owes him money. Hector is a bit of a doofus with a tendency to try to help people despite risks. Patty is a former journalism student who realized too late that doing well in classes and racking up student debt didn’t get her the jobs that her peers got by sleeping around. Now, she actually loves being a gladiatrix, though she doesn’t care for many of the women she fights with or against.
I picked the book up partly because of the mention of LGBT characters, btw…expecting some romance and/or after battle comforting by the gladiatrices. Nope - not so much, despite descriptions of “slut guards” and “transparent armor”! The main gay character is the over-the-top campy mobster “Canvas”, who travels with his two “fuck boys”.
Interactions between Hector and Patty with the many other very individually crafted characters are terrific. Sometimes hilarious, sometimes sweet, sometimes bittersweet, and often just plain violent! Oh - and Hector has an armadillo as a pet, so yes, pretty much everything in this book will surprise and entertain you!
“Pickle Pie” is available on KU, but I highly recommend the audiobook. The cover, btw, has been updated and I like the new cover more than the cover shown here on Goodreads. The sequel, “Cherry Pie” is also available on KU, but is not (yet?) available as an audiobook. There are also some short stories in the “Cyberpink” universe available, and I plan to listen to them all one day. 5*
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
My rating and my review was not in anyway affected by my having been provided a review copy.
There’s lots and lots of social commentary and black humor that establishes the world of the near future. We have corporations, ultra-rich cruel and perverted people, mobsters, and - at the heart of the story: crushing debt that forces people to participate in bloody sporting competitions for “entertainment”. Oh, and yes, many of the women forced to play on the teams are also forced to provide sexual favors for the owners and their friends.
As unappealing as this may sound; the author and the narrator made the story truly enjoyable, mainly because of the great characters that we enjoy being with. So yeah, it’s kind of an “us against the big cruel world” kind of story.
The main characters are Hector, an armor maker, and pickle-loving Patty, the cybernetic gladiator he is gifted by a client who owes him money. Hector is a bit of a doofus with a tendency to try to help people despite risks. Patty is a former journalism student who realized too late that doing well in classes and racking up student debt didn’t get her the jobs that her peers got by sleeping around. Now, she actually loves being a gladiatrix, though she doesn’t care for many of the women she fights with or against.
I picked the book up partly because of the mention of LGBT characters, btw…expecting some romance and/or after battle comforting by the gladiatrices. Nope - not so much, despite descriptions of “slut guards” and “transparent armor”! The main gay character is the over-the-top campy mobster “Canvas”, who travels with his two “fuck boys”.
Interactions between Hector and Patty with the many other very individually crafted characters are terrific. Sometimes hilarious, sometimes sweet, sometimes bittersweet, and often just plain violent! Oh - and Hector has an armadillo as a pet, so yes, pretty much everything in this book will surprise and entertain you!
“Pickle Pie” is available on KU, but I highly recommend the audiobook. The cover, btw, has been updated and I like the new cover more than the cover shown here on Goodreads. The sequel, “Cherry Pie” is also available on KU, but is not (yet?) available as an audiobook. There are also some short stories in the “Cyberpink” universe available, and I plan to listen to them all one day. 5*
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
My rating and my review was not in anyway affected by my having been provided a review copy.
March 13, 2019
I went into Pickle Pie knowing absolutely about it and ended up being very pleasantly surprised by this super fun read! The description describes it as GLOW meets Hunger Games, which is a decent description (at least the GLOW part, Hunger Games works for the brutalness of the fighting but that's about it), but doesn't totally fit. I felt like it was smarter than both of those and it reminded me of a super dark, extra snarky idiocracy.
Pickle Pie is about a bankrupt armorer that inherits the bonds of a Jugger girl who he nicknames Pickle. Pickle is a cyborg (only about 20% cyborg) that's trying to pay off her crippling debt with brutal team battling in the form of a game called Jugger. This book is trashy, rude, and doesn't give a f about it. It's also an interesting take on what a future full of gangs, corrupt leaders, and ridiculous debt might look like. I already picked up the next book for Kindle Unlimited and I'm super excited to start it!
And if you're a fan of audiobooks, I was very impressed with the narration. Luke Rounda did a great job, a wide variety of voices, good cadence, and just the right amount of sound effects to keep me enthralled all through work.
Pickle Pie is about a bankrupt armorer that inherits the bonds of a Jugger girl who he nicknames Pickle. Pickle is a cyborg (only about 20% cyborg) that's trying to pay off her crippling debt with brutal team battling in the form of a game called Jugger. This book is trashy, rude, and doesn't give a f about it. It's also an interesting take on what a future full of gangs, corrupt leaders, and ridiculous debt might look like. I already picked up the next book for Kindle Unlimited and I'm super excited to start it!
And if you're a fan of audiobooks, I was very impressed with the narration. Luke Rounda did a great job, a wide variety of voices, good cadence, and just the right amount of sound effects to keep me enthralled all through work.
March 18, 2019
Pickle Pie is the reason you should not judge a book by its cover, or by its title for that matter. The Story was compelling and the plot was interesting and well paced. However, the true winner and the thing that drew me in and did not let me put this book down were the characters. I have to admit, that when I saw how short this book was I doubted that it could be more then a fun, dystopian, si-fi sojourn whose only purpose was entertainment. Yes, that is mostly true, it is highly entertaining, but this book stands out. It is easily head and shoulders above others that attempt the same thing and flawlessly combines entertainment and quality. This is a well written work that is endearing, exciting, and disturbing. A fantastic short read that is truly worth your time. I am looking forward to the next one.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning- this book contains everything. Sex, sexuality, language, homosexuality rape, slavery, drugs, pornography, prostitution, cheating, violence, gluttony, murder etc. Note: that although some of this was disturbing it served more as a plot device to distinguish between good and evil.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning- this book contains everything. Sex, sexuality, language, homosexuality rape, slavery, drugs, pornography, prostitution, cheating, violence, gluttony, murder etc. Note: that although some of this was disturbing it served more as a plot device to distinguish between good and evil.
March 12, 2023
In this scaled-down Lingerie League or League of Legends mixed with Arena Football with practice weapons from Medieval Times, they use light filters for both the stadium lights and the cameras. The cameras broadcast the action wherever it wants to be received. The filters color the blood spilled pink for both the television audience and the live spectators. The players are women. Five to a team with armor, and they play because they are in debt for some reason. There are many choices for a good-looking woman to make money in the seedy side of almost any society. These women choose this bloody sport versus other activities, knowing almost anything they do will put them in a compromised position. So it goes, someone with money buys their debt, and like in the past, they are in debtor’s prison but able to walk around and have fans if the owner of their debt wants them to. Even though they face injury and death on the field, they are still turned out to the highest bidder(s) or made to service their owner. Now Hector did not know of this world and how it worked. He was an armorer who knew how to create unseen bullet-resistant clothes like the best tailers could create a business suit. Or he could make a not-so-invisible suit of armor or pieces thereof to meet the customer’s request. And when one of his long-time clients, not a good one any longer, tried to barter the key to the blockchain debt of some woman, Hector told his friend to pawn it and at least bring him a portion of the money he owed. But, when his friend, Diego, died that night, Diego left him a note to take care of his woman and where to find the key. Hector found the key and dived into the metaphorical rabbit hole to see how seedy this business model was.
The world-building left a lot to be desired, but the snarky, irreverent, and sometimes teasing interaction between our main characters was appropriately distracting from the lack of their surroundings.
Do you like cyberpunked science fiction with a touch of romance and a lot of action and adventure? Then you just may like this read. I give it five stars out of five stars.
The world-building left a lot to be desired, but the snarky, irreverent, and sometimes teasing interaction between our main characters was appropriately distracting from the lack of their surroundings.
Do you like cyberpunked science fiction with a touch of romance and a lot of action and adventure? Then you just may like this read. I give it five stars out of five stars.
February 15, 2019
Wow! I love this book. I was searching for a science-fiction, sports theme book for a while and did not find anything to my liking before this one. The world of Cyberpink (and the sports Jugger) is very interesting and reminded me a bit of the dystopian fun that is Judge Dredd (my personal favorite). The pacing of the story is amazing and the writing style is simple and to the point. The characters are very well done and some depth is constantly being added throughout the story. The girls are the real stars here and they are phenomenal to say the least. The ratio of actual sport action scene versus character development and story driven scene leans more toward the latter but for me it was perfect. The main character Hector is a real good guy and it's quite refreshing to see in a dystopian future. Also the setting of the story is Athen, Greece, which is new for me. So I'm already reading the next one and could not be happier to have found this series/author.
March 16, 2019
( Format : Audiobook )
"Rats in expensive clthes."
Futuristic Athens and the 'fastest game ever', Cyberpink. Meet the girls, five to a team, and the game itself, a dirtier, faster, more vicious game even than Rollerball. And one girl in particular, known later as Pickle, and her impoverished owner, an expert armourer, who'd known nothing about the game before acquiring her contract.
As so often with Mr.Saouliditis, expect a visual barrage set in an horrendous world of gratuitous survival. Always unexpectedly immaginative, this one dazzles. Sardonic voiced narrator Luke Rounda picks up and runs with the story with great delivery and intonation and additional sound effects (from Freesound.org) contribute to build atmosphere.
I am indebted to the rights holder of Pickle Pie, who, at my request freely gifted me a complimentary copy, via Audiobook Boom. Crazy characters, terrifying 'game' and great fun. Thank you. I will certainly be looking for more.
"Rats in expensive clthes."
Futuristic Athens and the 'fastest game ever', Cyberpink. Meet the girls, five to a team, and the game itself, a dirtier, faster, more vicious game even than Rollerball. And one girl in particular, known later as Pickle, and her impoverished owner, an expert armourer, who'd known nothing about the game before acquiring her contract.
As so often with Mr.Saouliditis, expect a visual barrage set in an horrendous world of gratuitous survival. Always unexpectedly immaginative, this one dazzles. Sardonic voiced narrator Luke Rounda picks up and runs with the story with great delivery and intonation and additional sound effects (from Freesound.org) contribute to build atmosphere.
I am indebted to the rights holder of Pickle Pie, who, at my request freely gifted me a complimentary copy, via Audiobook Boom. Crazy characters, terrifying 'game' and great fun. Thank you. I will certainly be looking for more.
June 29, 2022
Unusual!
So I was unsure of this book at the start due to the constantly changing perspectives but it settled after a few chapters and I started to enjoy it. Sports lit is not something I knew existed but the combo of lit elements to a very violent sport and the MC knowing as little as us of the world made an interesting read as we were learning with him. A lot of exploitation, violence and disregard for women in the world. If you are unable to deal with that this is not a book for you, personally I am glad that there was an author who did not shy away from it but also didn’t glorify the behaviour but called out the disgusting nature of it! Am looking forward to book 2.
So I was unsure of this book at the start due to the constantly changing perspectives but it settled after a few chapters and I started to enjoy it. Sports lit is not something I knew existed but the combo of lit elements to a very violent sport and the MC knowing as little as us of the world made an interesting read as we were learning with him. A lot of exploitation, violence and disregard for women in the world. If you are unable to deal with that this is not a book for you, personally I am glad that there was an author who did not shy away from it but also didn’t glorify the behaviour but called out the disgusting nature of it! Am looking forward to book 2.
December 5, 2018
Great yarn
Good storyline, great characters, nicely paced.
There is a conclusion, but it is not weighty enough, the novel desrves more.
This is a 5 star book but for its weak ending. It certainly isnt the worst, and I still recommend the book but a better ending would have completed my reading pleasure.
I may well buy the next in the series when its released.
Good storyline, great characters, nicely paced.
There is a conclusion, but it is not weighty enough, the novel desrves more.
This is a 5 star book but for its weak ending. It certainly isnt the worst, and I still recommend the book but a better ending would have completed my reading pleasure.
I may well buy the next in the series when its released.
April 18, 2020
Cyberpink Fight Game Adventure!
Unusual look at futuristic female fighters in the seedy Greek underground. Hector, softhearted
maker of custom armor, inherits female fighter Patty Rue and is immersed into the shady fight world. This is the first in the series and I look forward the next book. Enjoy!
I received an advance copy and am happy to leave my honest review.
Unusual look at futuristic female fighters in the seedy Greek underground. Hector, softhearted
maker of custom armor, inherits female fighter Patty Rue and is immersed into the shady fight world. This is the first in the series and I look forward the next book. Enjoy!
I received an advance copy and am happy to leave my honest review.
November 11, 2018
This is really something!
I must admit, all expectations to the contrary, I really enjoyed this book, enough that I'll buy the next one immeaditaly. You all really need to get it & read it yourself.
I must admit, all expectations to the contrary, I really enjoyed this book, enough that I'll buy the next one immeaditaly. You all really need to get it & read it yourself.
June 13, 2018
I had to abandon this book
January 26, 2019
This was just so much fun.
January 29, 2019
Liked the premis. Would probably have really enjoyed it as well as continued with the series - if it was not so very explicit...
February 25, 2019
Slow start but amazing
Omg loved this book at first it was a little hard to get into the swing of text but I loved it so much already got cherry pie so I'm stoked
Omg loved this book at first it was a little hard to get into the swing of text but I loved it so much already got cherry pie so I'm stoked
September 8, 2019
Loved it
Finally something with a different plot...not very long but easy fun read...looking forward to more in this story line soon
Finally something with a different plot...not very long but easy fun read...looking forward to more in this story line soon
February 21, 2020
Funny will gladly read the next chapter.
October 30, 2023
Better than expected. Hard to be a nice guy in that atmosphere. Prefer the other cover.
March 31, 2019
Review – Pickle Pie: A Cyperpink story by George Saoulidis
Disclaimer I as given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
I quite enjoyed this book which I listened to on audible. The book itself is a mix between roller derby/Whip It/rollerball and a futuristic/cybernetic Gladiator movie. Given the description of the novel I was unsure whether this would be another Harem novel but was pleasantly surprised when it was not. The main character is an armourer who “inherits” an indentured player in a blood sport and revolves around his and her relationship in this blood sport while trying to remain afloat financially. The story itself is quite good and the book is short, I also enjoyed the fact that the novel is set in a futuristic version of Athens. My one complaint with the audio book is the awful sound effects used throughout the novel during the matches. They were really distracting and sounded like the matches were taking place in a tin bathtub. Otherwise I quite enjoyed the book and would definitely pick up the second book in the series.
4 stars of of 5
Disclaimer I as given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
I quite enjoyed this book which I listened to on audible. The book itself is a mix between roller derby/Whip It/rollerball and a futuristic/cybernetic Gladiator movie. Given the description of the novel I was unsure whether this would be another Harem novel but was pleasantly surprised when it was not. The main character is an armourer who “inherits” an indentured player in a blood sport and revolves around his and her relationship in this blood sport while trying to remain afloat financially. The story itself is quite good and the book is short, I also enjoyed the fact that the novel is set in a futuristic version of Athens. My one complaint with the audio book is the awful sound effects used throughout the novel during the matches. They were really distracting and sounded like the matches were taking place in a tin bathtub. Otherwise I quite enjoyed the book and would definitely pick up the second book in the series.
4 stars of of 5
September 28, 2019
An enthralling Cyberpunk GameLit fantasy!
Pickle Pie (A Cyberpink Story) by George Saoulidis and narrated by Luke Rounda is an entertaining and crazy good cyberpunk tale sure to keep you interested from start to finish. Strongly recommend if you enjoy Cyberpunk/GameLit or just looking for something new in the genre.
What’s it about? Hector unintentionally becomes owner of a part cyborg athlete named Patty, who plays for the Pinup Girls in Cyberpink. Cyberpink is a brutal, almost anything goes, popular sport (Google Jugger if you’re not familiar with the sport). From there Hector learns to navigate the sleazy, violent world he is now a part of, despite being reluctant do to so (the extent of his bad boy self is making armor for the local organized crime). Not long in, you will find yourself rooting for Hector and the girls.
Some of the other elements of the story: game stats, debt bondage, Greek mythology (nicely reimagined), humor, cryptocurrency/blockchain, tech, violence, death, repairing cyborgs, friendships, villains, ARO (augmented reality object), hackers, the responsibilities/moral dilemmas of owning an athlete, blood (pink blood- wait, what? Read/listen to the book), robotic mule, and swearing.
The added sound effects are perfect- not too much, not too little. Instead of chapters, it’s told as drops. The first couple drops set up the story, so stick with it if you’re a bit muddled- it will all make sense shortly (not saying more due to spoilers). I listened in one session.
The narrator, Luke Rounda, was a perfect fit for this one. He nailed the voices and effects.
Overall I strongly recommend. It’s nicely written and it’s clear there was a lot of thought put into fleshing out this world.
Parental advisory/trigger warnings: read the warning for the ebook. If you read it and are still wondering if you should read/listen to it, the answer is yes.
“I was given this book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.”
Pickle Pie (A Cyberpink Story) by George Saoulidis and narrated by Luke Rounda is an entertaining and crazy good cyberpunk tale sure to keep you interested from start to finish. Strongly recommend if you enjoy Cyberpunk/GameLit or just looking for something new in the genre.
What’s it about? Hector unintentionally becomes owner of a part cyborg athlete named Patty, who plays for the Pinup Girls in Cyberpink. Cyberpink is a brutal, almost anything goes, popular sport (Google Jugger if you’re not familiar with the sport). From there Hector learns to navigate the sleazy, violent world he is now a part of, despite being reluctant do to so (the extent of his bad boy self is making armor for the local organized crime). Not long in, you will find yourself rooting for Hector and the girls.
Some of the other elements of the story: game stats, debt bondage, Greek mythology (nicely reimagined), humor, cryptocurrency/blockchain, tech, violence, death, repairing cyborgs, friendships, villains, ARO (augmented reality object), hackers, the responsibilities/moral dilemmas of owning an athlete, blood (pink blood- wait, what? Read/listen to the book), robotic mule, and swearing.
The added sound effects are perfect- not too much, not too little. Instead of chapters, it’s told as drops. The first couple drops set up the story, so stick with it if you’re a bit muddled- it will all make sense shortly (not saying more due to spoilers). I listened in one session.
The narrator, Luke Rounda, was a perfect fit for this one. He nailed the voices and effects.
Overall I strongly recommend. It’s nicely written and it’s clear there was a lot of thought put into fleshing out this world.
Parental advisory/trigger warnings: read the warning for the ebook. If you read it and are still wondering if you should read/listen to it, the answer is yes.
“I was given this book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.”
October 15, 2019
Wow, definitely hooked my interest! Pickle Pie is set in a futuristic society where those with debt can be sold, essentially as slaves, to the highest bidder. Although a strange tale, it is a rather believable path that society could eventually take. Entertaining from the start, it left me itching to read the follow-up and keep up with these characters' stories. Well done, George!
The audio production and narration were impeccably done. Awesome sound effects and voices.
I received this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
The audio production and narration were impeccably done. Awesome sound effects and voices.
I received this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
August 6, 2019
recently reminded that I read this a while back, remember it being very cool, with couple or more surprises, n that I laughed out loud
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