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The Beam: The Complete Series
From the bestselling authors of the Invasion and Yesterday's Gone series comes The Beam , a disturbing philosophical exploration of the future of our hyperconnected world. This chilling, intricately-plotted series is set in a futuristic dystopia where politics and technology have widened the gap between haves and have-nots.
When all of humanity is connected, the network is the true power. In the year 2097, the only stable nation is the a dystopia exploding with new technologies and ruled by powerful, unchecked political parties. Above it all is The an AI-built computer network that serves every whim and connects citizens through implants and biological add-ons. It permeates everything. It is everywhere. But now the NAU's power is shifting. New powers are making their moves while others hang in the balance. ★★★★★ "A scary and hopeful book about hippies, AI, politics, greed, geeks climate change and musicians. Really. All of that in a smartly written SciFi world that is sure to become a classic. I cannot wait to read more books from this world!" -- The Swamp Thing ★★★★★ "Just finished the series, and I loved it! It was one of those series that kept you interested all the way to the end where you go "Oh!" I'm hoping that there will be more seasons to The Beam." -- Scott Oliver ★★★★★ "This is my favorite series of this author and I really hope more are released soon! Its the perfect telling of an unimaginable sy-fy future!" -- SLE ★★★★★ "Absolutely my favorite series by these authors. They are able to take current technology, social issues, and politics and project a future so vivid you feel like you are there." -- BOOKIT ★★★★★ "This series is one of my special favorites. I love how these authors extrapolate current technology and social situations into the future... These guys are right up there with the best sci fi authors." -- DBStevens Platt and Truant deliver deep political intrigue and incisive social commentary along with a generous helping of big philosophical themes through engaging, multifaceted characters and rich worldbuilding. If you enjoyed Altered Carbon and The Fifth Element , you'll feel right at home in the world of The Beam.
When all of humanity is connected, the network is the true power. In the year 2097, the only stable nation is the a dystopia exploding with new technologies and ruled by powerful, unchecked political parties. Above it all is The an AI-built computer network that serves every whim and connects citizens through implants and biological add-ons. It permeates everything. It is everywhere. But now the NAU's power is shifting. New powers are making their moves while others hang in the balance. ★★★★★ "A scary and hopeful book about hippies, AI, politics, greed, geeks climate change and musicians. Really. All of that in a smartly written SciFi world that is sure to become a classic. I cannot wait to read more books from this world!" -- The Swamp Thing ★★★★★ "Just finished the series, and I loved it! It was one of those series that kept you interested all the way to the end where you go "Oh!" I'm hoping that there will be more seasons to The Beam." -- Scott Oliver ★★★★★ "This is my favorite series of this author and I really hope more are released soon! Its the perfect telling of an unimaginable sy-fy future!" -- SLE ★★★★★ "Absolutely my favorite series by these authors. They are able to take current technology, social issues, and politics and project a future so vivid you feel like you are there." -- BOOKIT ★★★★★ "This series is one of my special favorites. I love how these authors extrapolate current technology and social situations into the future... These guys are right up there with the best sci fi authors." -- DBStevens Platt and Truant deliver deep political intrigue and incisive social commentary along with a generous helping of big philosophical themes through engaging, multifaceted characters and rich worldbuilding. If you enjoyed Altered Carbon and The Fifth Element , you'll feel right at home in the world of The Beam.
1688 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 23, 2019
About the author
Sean Platt
341 books823 followersSean loves writing books, even more than reading them. He is co-founder of Collective Inkwell and Realm & Sands imprints, writes for children under the name Guy Incognito, and has more than his share of nose.
Together with co-authors David Wright and Johnny B. Truant, Sean has written the series Yesterdays Gone, WhiteSpace, ForNevermore, Available Darkness, Dark Crossings, Unicorn Western, The Beam, Namaste, Robot Proletariat, Cursed, Greens, Space Shuttle, and Everyone Gets Divorced. He also co-wrote the how-to indie book, Write. Publish. Repeat.
With Collective Inkwell
Yesterday's Gone: Post Apocalyptic - LOST by way of The Stand
WhiteSpace: Paranoid thriller on fictitious Hamilton Island
ForNevermore: YA horror that reads nothing like YA Horror
Available Darkness: A new breed of vampire thriller
Dark Crossings: Short stories, killer endings
With 47North
Z 2134: The Walking Dead meets The Hunger Games
Monstrous: Beauty and the Beast meets The Punisher
With Realm & Sands
Unicorn Western: The best story to ever come from a stupid idea
The Beam: Smart sci-fi to make you wonder exactly who we are
Namaste: A revenge thriller like nothing you've ever read
Robot Proletariat: The revolution starts here
Cursed: The old werewolf legend turned upside down
Greens: Retail noir comedy
Space Shuttle: Over the top comedy with all your favorite sci-fi characters
Everyone Gets Divorced: Like "Always Sunny" and "How I Met Your Mother" had a baby on your Kindle
Sean lives in Austin, TX with his wife, daughter, and son.
Follow him on Twitter: http://twitter.com/seanplatt (say hi so he can follow you back!)
Together with co-authors David Wright and Johnny B. Truant, Sean has written the series Yesterdays Gone, WhiteSpace, ForNevermore, Available Darkness, Dark Crossings, Unicorn Western, The Beam, Namaste, Robot Proletariat, Cursed, Greens, Space Shuttle, and Everyone Gets Divorced. He also co-wrote the how-to indie book, Write. Publish. Repeat.
With Collective Inkwell
Yesterday's Gone: Post Apocalyptic - LOST by way of The Stand
WhiteSpace: Paranoid thriller on fictitious Hamilton Island
ForNevermore: YA horror that reads nothing like YA Horror
Available Darkness: A new breed of vampire thriller
Dark Crossings: Short stories, killer endings
With 47North
Z 2134: The Walking Dead meets The Hunger Games
Monstrous: Beauty and the Beast meets The Punisher
With Realm & Sands
Unicorn Western: The best story to ever come from a stupid idea
The Beam: Smart sci-fi to make you wonder exactly who we are
Namaste: A revenge thriller like nothing you've ever read
Robot Proletariat: The revolution starts here
Cursed: The old werewolf legend turned upside down
Greens: Retail noir comedy
Space Shuttle: Over the top comedy with all your favorite sci-fi characters
Everyone Gets Divorced: Like "Always Sunny" and "How I Met Your Mother" had a baby on your Kindle
Sean lives in Austin, TX with his wife, daughter, and son.
Follow him on Twitter: http://twitter.com/seanplatt (say hi so he can follow you back!)
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 23, 2020
WOW!!
Not being a tech whizz, I wasn’t sure how easy I would find this series, but I loved it! Exciting, futuristic, and different to any other IT related story I’ve read. Had to go back over a couple of parts to get my head round it but couldn’t put it down. Almost hope there are more? Please?
Not being a tech whizz, I wasn’t sure how easy I would find this series, but I loved it! Exciting, futuristic, and different to any other IT related story I’ve read. Had to go back over a couple of parts to get my head round it but couldn’t put it down. Almost hope there are more? Please?
August 29, 2021
Very complex
This is difficult to rate. On one hand the writing is incredibly detailed and shows an amazing wealth of knowledge by the authors. On the other hand it is very complex to read and, although difficult to get in to, it still kept pulling me in. The ending seemed rather abrupt but did close the important issues.
This is difficult to rate. On one hand the writing is incredibly detailed and shows an amazing wealth of knowledge by the authors. On the other hand it is very complex to read and, although difficult to get in to, it still kept pulling me in. The ending seemed rather abrupt but did close the important issues.
April 29, 2020
Interesting
Political bullshit parallel to our own. In depth characters and a web of intricate deceit so hard to untangle that it keeps you guessing all way through.
Political bullshit parallel to our own. In depth characters and a web of intricate deceit so hard to untangle that it keeps you guessing all way through.
January 19, 2021
Web/Nerd Prefect
Good Read! Took awhile to get into understanding the flow of the writing but it was worth the read!!!! Great!!!
Good Read! Took awhile to get into understanding the flow of the writing but it was worth the read!!!! Great!!!
March 27, 2021
This was a massive piece of work. And given the theme of it, the length was not surprising.
Set around the late 22nd century with flashbacks, this is a story about a pivotal albeit ritualistic event called shift. In the late 21st century, most of the world is practically dead or has stopped advancing due to climate disaster and resulting social chaos. Only in the north american union (mexico, canada, US) is life anywhere near normal. The internet has evolved at least twice over and is a vital foundation of life.
There are a lot of characters each with their own plotlines. This is the kind of story which doesn't have a clearly defined protagonist and antagonist. Everyone has their motivations which will overlap and intersect.
I laud the attempt to create a setting which isn't too hard to believe as a possible future for our own reality. As far as the tech goes, i wasn't fully satisfied with the portrayals and explanations dealing with "the beam" (internet 3.xxx or more). I think too many liberties were taken.
I don't even know what to make of the way the story ends. There was an attempt to mesh all the varying storylines into a single point, but the resulting bang felt more like a whimper.
The story also tries to draw on patterns set by other stories in various media to build its own tension but it felt like a mishmash that didn't gel too well.
It is the characters that are the saving grace. Most of them anyway. Some felt unnecessary or their introduction was a little botched.
I like this book, and i enjoyed reading it. But it also left me feeling largely unsatisfied by the time I was done.
Set around the late 22nd century with flashbacks, this is a story about a pivotal albeit ritualistic event called shift. In the late 21st century, most of the world is practically dead or has stopped advancing due to climate disaster and resulting social chaos. Only in the north american union (mexico, canada, US) is life anywhere near normal. The internet has evolved at least twice over and is a vital foundation of life.
There are a lot of characters each with their own plotlines. This is the kind of story which doesn't have a clearly defined protagonist and antagonist. Everyone has their motivations which will overlap and intersect.
I laud the attempt to create a setting which isn't too hard to believe as a possible future for our own reality. As far as the tech goes, i wasn't fully satisfied with the portrayals and explanations dealing with "the beam" (internet 3.xxx or more). I think too many liberties were taken.
I don't even know what to make of the way the story ends. There was an attempt to mesh all the varying storylines into a single point, but the resulting bang felt more like a whimper.
The story also tries to draw on patterns set by other stories in various media to build its own tension but it felt like a mishmash that didn't gel too well.
It is the characters that are the saving grace. Most of them anyway. Some felt unnecessary or their introduction was a little botched.
I like this book, and i enjoyed reading it. But it also left me feeling largely unsatisfied by the time I was done.
November 12, 2019
The Beam Rocks the future
A scary and hopeful book about hippies, AI, politics, greed, geeks climate change and musicians.
Really. All of that in a smartly written SciFi world that is sure to become a classic.
I cannot wait to read more books from this world!
A scary and hopeful book about hippies, AI, politics, greed, geeks climate change and musicians.
Really. All of that in a smartly written SciFi world that is sure to become a classic.
I cannot wait to read more books from this world!
October 3, 2019
Ok
It wouldn't be an e book without bad grammar and spelling and this is no exception. A bit too drawn out let down by a week ending
It wouldn't be an e book without bad grammar and spelling and this is no exception. A bit too drawn out let down by a week ending
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews