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New Bizarro Author Series
The Cheat Code for God Mode
In a world where humanoid bulls patrol the street, wormholes and portals make up children's playgrounds, and flying turtles produce the most delicious bacon, Margy Plum and Victor Vance are quite content with playing old school video games and designing 8-bit chickens. When they find a cheat code to a strange game called Adamina, neither are prepared to see their video game exploits on the streets of their own town. To their horror, they have discovered a game that controls the universe.
Before they can even choose an alignment, their world erupts into madness-mutated memes terrorize the streets, clouds fall from the sky and giant balloon animals piss on park trees. Victor and Margy flee to the lands of the old internet, where the dunes are riddled with bandit viruses, the saloons are filled with Japanese porn, and Lolcats roam the dusty plains.
While there, they discover a secret. A secret that twists all they know and believe, one that threatens their entire existence. It's up to Victor and Margy, controlling the fate of everything and everyone, to find the equation at the heart of the universe before they're ripped from their lives.
Before they can even choose an alignment, their world erupts into madness-mutated memes terrorize the streets, clouds fall from the sky and giant balloon animals piss on park trees. Victor and Margy flee to the lands of the old internet, where the dunes are riddled with bandit viruses, the saloons are filled with Japanese porn, and Lolcats roam the dusty plains.
While there, they discover a secret. A secret that twists all they know and believe, one that threatens their entire existence. It's up to Victor and Margy, controlling the fate of everything and everyone, to find the equation at the heart of the universe before they're ripped from their lives.
116 pages, Paperback
First published October 20, 2013
1 person is currently reading
476 people want to read
About the author
Andy de Fonseca
4 books15 followersAndy de Fonseca is a geek. She has always been this way, despite numerous attempts throughout childhood to curb her love of anime, video games, dragons, and the unholy songs of science. She also likes Cheez-Its.
She currently resides in Chicago, IL with her husband Myles and tiny dog Sir Digby Chicken Caesar. Lover of science and exploration, she is employed at the Adler Planetarium, where she not only helps generate this passion in others, but gathers plenty of information for her works. Andy enjoys talking about herself in third person just as much as the next person enjoys a nail in the forehead.
Her newest book The Cheat Code for God Mode is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble online!
Visit her super fun website at www.cheatcodeforgodmode.com/
She currently resides in Chicago, IL with her husband Myles and tiny dog Sir Digby Chicken Caesar. Lover of science and exploration, she is employed at the Adler Planetarium, where she not only helps generate this passion in others, but gathers plenty of information for her works. Andy enjoys talking about herself in third person just as much as the next person enjoys a nail in the forehead.
Her newest book The Cheat Code for God Mode is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble online!
Visit her super fun website at www.cheatcodeforgodmode.com/
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 25, 2014
When Margy and Victor find a rare video game, Adamina, for an obsolete system in a pawn shop, little do they know the havoc they are about to unleash, for Adamina holds the key to the universe...
The New Bizarro Author series has been a favorite of mine for the last few years. Alas, I've let myself fall a bit behind.
Imagine playing Grand Theft Auto and being horrified when you find out that you're actually controlling someone in the real world and doing horrible things. That's kind of what The Cheat Code for God Mode is like.
Cheat Code reads like a mix between Snow Crash, Ready Player One, PKD, and every obnoxious internet meme you can think of. Margy and Victor inhabit a city on one of Jupiter's moons, a city with humanoid bulls acting as cops, animal people, portals, and flying turtles, a world where everyone is connected to the Infranet. When they find Adamina and activate it, all hell breaks loose.
The book explores questions about identity, even as Margy and Victor are confronted with dancing babies and rabbits with pancakes on their heads.
The Cheat Code for God Mode would be a good intro to Bizarro fiction, especially for video game and pop culture enthusiasts. While it's weird, it's weird in the vein of the Twilight Zone, not in the vein of talking penises running for president or people having sex with furniture. Four out of five stars.
The New Bizarro Author series has been a favorite of mine for the last few years. Alas, I've let myself fall a bit behind.
Imagine playing Grand Theft Auto and being horrified when you find out that you're actually controlling someone in the real world and doing horrible things. That's kind of what The Cheat Code for God Mode is like.
Cheat Code reads like a mix between Snow Crash, Ready Player One, PKD, and every obnoxious internet meme you can think of. Margy and Victor inhabit a city on one of Jupiter's moons, a city with humanoid bulls acting as cops, animal people, portals, and flying turtles, a world where everyone is connected to the Infranet. When they find Adamina and activate it, all hell breaks loose.
The book explores questions about identity, even as Margy and Victor are confronted with dancing babies and rabbits with pancakes on their heads.
The Cheat Code for God Mode would be a good intro to Bizarro fiction, especially for video game and pop culture enthusiasts. While it's weird, it's weird in the vein of the Twilight Zone, not in the vein of talking penises running for president or people having sex with furniture. Four out of five stars.
November 12, 2013
Wow. This was like, the Matrix meets 2nd Life.
It was also pretty impressive for a first book. It’s one of those books that if I get too deep into the plot, I’ll give the story away. So I won’t do that to you.
What I will say, is that if you’re into gaming culture at all you will love this book. There was also a chapter or two about “The Internet” that were hilarious. Andy takes the irritating aspects of the online experience and makes fun of them in some very clever ways. That may have been my favorite part of the books.
Recommended for n00bs.
It was also pretty impressive for a first book. It’s one of those books that if I get too deep into the plot, I’ll give the story away. So I won’t do that to you.
What I will say, is that if you’re into gaming culture at all you will love this book. There was also a chapter or two about “The Internet” that were hilarious. Andy takes the irritating aspects of the online experience and makes fun of them in some very clever ways. That may have been my favorite part of the books.
Recommended for n00bs.
January 1, 2014
I admit that I'm not nearly geeky enough for this book. I didn't quite get all the references mentioned, maybe 80% of them. That didn't detract from me enjoying the book.
This kind of like...I dunno...a sci-fi, bizarro, gaming world-differing realities-ummmm like the Sims meet the Matrix meets memes!
Like the title says, two friends buy an old video game, figure out the cheat code for god mode, and realize their world isn't quite what they think it is. They have to go between realities/worlds and figure out the code to fix their world.
Okay, it's much more interesting then how I'm lamely describing it. It drew me in. I plan to do one of my rare re-reads on it, so I can understand it even better.
Just buy and read the book, dammit!
This kind of like...I dunno...a sci-fi, bizarro, gaming world-differing realities-ummmm like the Sims meet the Matrix meets memes!
Like the title says, two friends buy an old video game, figure out the cheat code for god mode, and realize their world isn't quite what they think it is. They have to go between realities/worlds and figure out the code to fix their world.
Okay, it's much more interesting then how I'm lamely describing it. It drew me in. I plan to do one of my rare re-reads on it, so I can understand it even better.
Just buy and read the book, dammit!
November 17, 2013
Every year, I look forward to the New Bizarro Authors Series, when I get to read new and untested voices in fiction. This series is all new authors, who have not previously had a published book, to test the waters for one year and see how well they are accepted by a wider audience.
I began this year by reading The Cheat Code for God Mode by Andy de Fonseca, which proved to be troubling. Not bad, just troubling, primarily because this book's greatest strength is also its biggest weakness which is what makes writing and scoring this review so difficult.
Margy Plum and Victor Vance live in an odd world, where portals and wormholes are everyday modes of transportation and 8-bit pets are programmed to their owners' needs. But something is amiss. First, Margy is having what she can only describe as psychotic episodes where she thinks she's someone else. Then the two of them discover a game that, after entering a special code, allows them to change and control the world around them. This catches the attention of some rather special people who have been trying to track this game down for a long time. Unfortunately, I can't say much more about the plot without giving away too much. This is part of the mystery of the book which I don't want to spoil.
The characters are well written and even sympathetic. As far as a bizarro book goes, it's also relatively tame, with any sexual references toned down or only implied. The editing is also very good, with few or no errors to pull the reader off the page. Which is good, because the plot is so involving.
Okay, those are the basics. To get more complicated, the book is just the right length. I know that sounds weird to say, but this is one of those instances where it fits. Sometimes I complain that these bizarro books are too short, and they feel like there is a lot more story left to tell. With The Cheat Code for God Mode, this is not the case. The author crams a lot of story into a fairly short space, and makes it work. What's even more interesting is that it's a complete story that doesn't feel rushed. You get a full, satisfying tale that doesn't leave many loose ends in a short space.
So, what's the problem? That takes some explaining. This book is a nerd's dream. It has tons of references to pop culture, science, and everything in nerdom. This made it a lot of fun as I read through it and could pick apart all the little things I recognized. Even a large chunk of the book is based on an actual scientific hypothesis of parallel universes.
This is where the problem comes in. When I review a book, I try to see it from more than one perspective when it comes to recommending it. I can tell if I enjoy a book, but I also try to imagine if it will be enjoyed by, well, not-me. And there's the rub. It 's actually very hard to tell if this would be enjoyed by not-me. While it calls out lots of things that will make a nerd giggle with glee, I can see not only the jokes going over the heads of those who aren't familiar with the subject, but possibly missing the point altogether. The book easily feels like it could have been a heavily hyperlinked ebook, or a heavily footnoted book like David Foster Wallace's Infinite Jest, just so that people who aren't familiar with the little nuances or the main subject could understand what they are and why they're there, although the humor might still be lost on them.
It makes a great start to this year's New Bizarro Authors Series While this book has compelling and sympathetic characters, a great and full story, and lots of little references and jokes that fit well in the context and aren't simply shoe-horned in, The Cheat God for God Mode gets a high recommendation but with grave reservations. If you're a nerd who's familiar with science and pop culture, you'll get a lot out of this. But if you don't, then you may end up feeling very lost in this strange universe.
The Cheat Code for God Mode by Andy de Fonseca earns 4 8-bit chickens out of 5.
I began this year by reading The Cheat Code for God Mode by Andy de Fonseca, which proved to be troubling. Not bad, just troubling, primarily because this book's greatest strength is also its biggest weakness which is what makes writing and scoring this review so difficult.
Margy Plum and Victor Vance live in an odd world, where portals and wormholes are everyday modes of transportation and 8-bit pets are programmed to their owners' needs. But something is amiss. First, Margy is having what she can only describe as psychotic episodes where she thinks she's someone else. Then the two of them discover a game that, after entering a special code, allows them to change and control the world around them. This catches the attention of some rather special people who have been trying to track this game down for a long time. Unfortunately, I can't say much more about the plot without giving away too much. This is part of the mystery of the book which I don't want to spoil.
The characters are well written and even sympathetic. As far as a bizarro book goes, it's also relatively tame, with any sexual references toned down or only implied. The editing is also very good, with few or no errors to pull the reader off the page. Which is good, because the plot is so involving.
Okay, those are the basics. To get more complicated, the book is just the right length. I know that sounds weird to say, but this is one of those instances where it fits. Sometimes I complain that these bizarro books are too short, and they feel like there is a lot more story left to tell. With The Cheat Code for God Mode, this is not the case. The author crams a lot of story into a fairly short space, and makes it work. What's even more interesting is that it's a complete story that doesn't feel rushed. You get a full, satisfying tale that doesn't leave many loose ends in a short space.
So, what's the problem? That takes some explaining. This book is a nerd's dream. It has tons of references to pop culture, science, and everything in nerdom. This made it a lot of fun as I read through it and could pick apart all the little things I recognized. Even a large chunk of the book is based on an actual scientific hypothesis of parallel universes.
This is where the problem comes in. When I review a book, I try to see it from more than one perspective when it comes to recommending it. I can tell if I enjoy a book, but I also try to imagine if it will be enjoyed by, well, not-me. And there's the rub. It 's actually very hard to tell if this would be enjoyed by not-me. While it calls out lots of things that will make a nerd giggle with glee, I can see not only the jokes going over the heads of those who aren't familiar with the subject, but possibly missing the point altogether. The book easily feels like it could have been a heavily hyperlinked ebook, or a heavily footnoted book like David Foster Wallace's Infinite Jest, just so that people who aren't familiar with the little nuances or the main subject could understand what they are and why they're there, although the humor might still be lost on them.
It makes a great start to this year's New Bizarro Authors Series While this book has compelling and sympathetic characters, a great and full story, and lots of little references and jokes that fit well in the context and aren't simply shoe-horned in, The Cheat God for God Mode gets a high recommendation but with grave reservations. If you're a nerd who's familiar with science and pop culture, you'll get a lot out of this. But if you don't, then you may end up feeling very lost in this strange universe.
The Cheat Code for God Mode by Andy de Fonseca earns 4 8-bit chickens out of 5.
September 12, 2014
First, for those unfamiliar with the intricacies of video game culture, "god mode" is the term used for a state of invincibility accessible by entering a secret code.
That aside, this was a lot of fun: a quick, slick exploration of hairy concepts such as computational realities and map/territory relations, all in the guise of an adventure romp. And it's funny too.
I would read more books by Andy de Fonseca.
That aside, this was a lot of fun: a quick, slick exploration of hairy concepts such as computational realities and map/territory relations, all in the guise of an adventure romp. And it's funny too.
I would read more books by Andy de Fonseca.
January 17, 2014
I loved this book. It combines science, video games and geekery with a surgeon's scalpel. Most of all, it's entertaining and the dialog is where the book shines. Margy is the most interesting character and you just want to give her a hug before she kicks you in the genitals. Cannot wait to read more of Andy's work. I am now a rabid fan.
- M.C.
- M.C.
July 7, 2014
A strong authorial debut from Andy de Fonseca. Video games, Internet culture, and humorous sci-fi collide in this entertaining novella, which reads something like The Matrix meets Wacky Wednesday. Great pacing, quirky characters, snappy dialogue, and an interesting fictional treatment of the simulated reality hypothesis all made for a fun, engaging read.
July 1, 2014
"That's not possible! Don't talk to me about what's possible and not possible if your possible is more impossible than the other impossibilities!"
Did ya get all that? This book is crammed full of pop-culture references and internet memes, and basically chock full of a ton of wonderful geekdom, which meant it appealed to me, like, instantly. It has Salad Fingers in it, for christ sake! If your inner geek is crying out to be sated in some way other than a video game or comic book shop, you need this book. It will tickle your fancy in places no other book can, that I promise.
The generic story here is a pair of besties discover a long lost video game at a thrift shop, complete with some secret code etched into the disc. Since they love playing video games so much, they squeal with joy at the chance to play something new. However, this video game proves to be WAY more than they bargained for. Then the story quickly, but gracefully, spirals into a race against time, 'can we save the world, and even if we can, should we?' type deal. Which might sound a little cliche, but I assure you it is not. I've seen reviews comparing it to Ready Player One (its way smarter than that), The Matrix (its just...way...well, less Keanu-Reeve-sy than that), and reviews saying that people that don't love pop culture may not like it. Those are all valid reviews, but I'm surprised no one compared it to eXistenZ (which still does not do it any justice whatsoever). Basically, I guess I'm suggesting you ignore all the comparisons, and if the summary sounds like something you might like, I can almost guarantee you'll love it.
Because this book is way different. The story line is more captivating, because, although short, de Fonseca has crafted some crazy good character development. Not only that, but she incorporates astronomically difficult concepts (like the meaning of life, the universe, and everything), and makes it all very reader friendly, while most importantly, NOT making her readers feel stupid. She really makes the reader care about Margy and Victor, and even Mort. By the last third of the book, you're practically biting your nails off in eager anticipation of what's going to come next. I had to keep telling myself to breathe, and not rush (hee-hee hoooo, hee-hee hoooo- that's gonna be my new 'thing' now). But for an author to pull off the break-neck speed of this piece without falling flat on her face in her debut novel is something very rare, and very appreciated. Its almost hard to believe this is her first piece, but I've come to expect nothing less from the New Bizarro Author Series.
Okay, so you're saying to yourself "Okay, well, this all sounds intriguing and whatnot, but what is the story actually about, at the crux?" Its about reality- how its defined, and by whom. Its about life- what exactly is it? Can love really be broken down into ones and zeroes? And the greatest part of this novella is that de Fonseca may bring up all these questions and more, but leaves it to the reader to decide exactly what the answers are. See...the whole kitsch is that Adamina, the game with the code etched onto it that I mentioned earlier? Well, let's just say that when Margy and Victor type in the code, they activate God Mode, and its a little more responsibility than they first thought. And that's where the existential stuff starts happening. Its really difficult to say more without completely ruining the plot, but suffice it to say, its original, brainy, and incredibly engaging.
Do yourself a favor and pick this one up. Its not incredibly long, so it only takes an hour or two to read, so its not like you'll be out a ton of time if you end up not liking it. Same with the price. Get this book instead of, say, a movie ticket. You'll get much more entertainment value here, I dare say. And then you'll understand why this is such as hard book to review. I swear, the NBAS keeps getting better every year, and this is no exception. I, personally, am dying to see more from Ms. de Fonseca, so buy a copy! I had heard so many good things about this one before I read it, and I can see what all the rave was about! Very solid debut that is NOT to be missed!!!
Did ya get all that? This book is crammed full of pop-culture references and internet memes, and basically chock full of a ton of wonderful geekdom, which meant it appealed to me, like, instantly. It has Salad Fingers in it, for christ sake! If your inner geek is crying out to be sated in some way other than a video game or comic book shop, you need this book. It will tickle your fancy in places no other book can, that I promise.
The generic story here is a pair of besties discover a long lost video game at a thrift shop, complete with some secret code etched into the disc. Since they love playing video games so much, they squeal with joy at the chance to play something new. However, this video game proves to be WAY more than they bargained for. Then the story quickly, but gracefully, spirals into a race against time, 'can we save the world, and even if we can, should we?' type deal. Which might sound a little cliche, but I assure you it is not. I've seen reviews comparing it to Ready Player One (its way smarter than that), The Matrix (its just...way...well, less Keanu-Reeve-sy than that), and reviews saying that people that don't love pop culture may not like it. Those are all valid reviews, but I'm surprised no one compared it to eXistenZ (which still does not do it any justice whatsoever). Basically, I guess I'm suggesting you ignore all the comparisons, and if the summary sounds like something you might like, I can almost guarantee you'll love it.
Because this book is way different. The story line is more captivating, because, although short, de Fonseca has crafted some crazy good character development. Not only that, but she incorporates astronomically difficult concepts (like the meaning of life, the universe, and everything), and makes it all very reader friendly, while most importantly, NOT making her readers feel stupid. She really makes the reader care about Margy and Victor, and even Mort. By the last third of the book, you're practically biting your nails off in eager anticipation of what's going to come next. I had to keep telling myself to breathe, and not rush (hee-hee hoooo, hee-hee hoooo- that's gonna be my new 'thing' now). But for an author to pull off the break-neck speed of this piece without falling flat on her face in her debut novel is something very rare, and very appreciated. Its almost hard to believe this is her first piece, but I've come to expect nothing less from the New Bizarro Author Series.
Okay, so you're saying to yourself "Okay, well, this all sounds intriguing and whatnot, but what is the story actually about, at the crux?" Its about reality- how its defined, and by whom. Its about life- what exactly is it? Can love really be broken down into ones and zeroes? And the greatest part of this novella is that de Fonseca may bring up all these questions and more, but leaves it to the reader to decide exactly what the answers are. See...the whole kitsch is that Adamina, the game with the code etched onto it that I mentioned earlier? Well, let's just say that when Margy and Victor type in the code, they activate God Mode, and its a little more responsibility than they first thought. And that's where the existential stuff starts happening. Its really difficult to say more without completely ruining the plot, but suffice it to say, its original, brainy, and incredibly engaging.
Do yourself a favor and pick this one up. Its not incredibly long, so it only takes an hour or two to read, so its not like you'll be out a ton of time if you end up not liking it. Same with the price. Get this book instead of, say, a movie ticket. You'll get much more entertainment value here, I dare say. And then you'll understand why this is such as hard book to review. I swear, the NBAS keeps getting better every year, and this is no exception. I, personally, am dying to see more from Ms. de Fonseca, so buy a copy! I had heard so many good things about this one before I read it, and I can see what all the rave was about! Very solid debut that is NOT to be missed!!!
December 22, 2013
ID SAYS:
000110110111010011011!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The code is all around us!! For Margy and Victor, video game addicted best friends, life is a daily dose of Up-Up-Down-Down-Left-Right-Left-Right-B-A-Starts. But shit gets wicked cool when they come across an extremely rare, retro gaming system at a thrift store with a sandbox-style game inside neither of them have played before. They take it home, plug it in, and start playing.
Oh fuck, then shit turns totally heinous when they realize everything they do in the game world is happening in the real world! They try to contain the mayhem, but when Victor’s parents accidentally get a hold of it they raise the fuckness by a factor of 10 (Luckily margy’s parents are in comas at the hospital so they can’t raise fuckness anywhere), and the noise they make in Sprinklesburgh, IL is loud enough to perk up the ears of the higher ups.
Margy finds herself in the middle of a conspiracy involving an Original Player and its original controller. From the city to the Infranet, to the dreaded desert wastelands of the Internet, she hunts for the equation that can save her world, her parents, and her Victor… Oh yeah, and her Victor’s chicken familiar, Mort, whatever the fuck that ugly thing is.
EGO SAYS:
I was delighted to discover a major theme of this book the characters were forced to deal with was that of identity. Not satisfied with merely skirting the edges of this difficult idea, Cheat Code follows in the footsteps of films likes The Matrix and books like Archelon Ranch in forcing the protagonist to question who they are and why they are.
Margy at first felt to me like a hapless heroine. She is haunted by recurring blackouts and the pain of dealing with not one but both her parents locked up in a asylum. Deep down, though, she feels that something is askew. A good portion of the book develops her intuition as she slowly comes to realize the truth to her.
Victor is her irritable boweled, best friend and, though he doesn’t arc as roundly as Margy, as I see it he is the deuteragonist of the story and nearly as important. His familiar Mort, a digitally constructed chicken, acts as a sort non-speaking counterpart to easily identify Victor’s thoughts/feelings in a particular moment.
I concluded that supporting roles include, Tyson, a seeker of the equation and the first gamer to use the Original Player capable of godlike creating/destructing in their world. He was caught and banished to the Internet wastelands by a group known only as The Panel. The Panel’s made up of various people invested in keeping the status quo, some being well known characters from actual video games. I would’ve liked to see more about this group, but as it stands in this short novel their presence is minimal.
SUPER-EGO SAYS:
Seeking the answer. It is what we all want. A simple, short, and clear expression of who/what/when/where/why that includes everything. Even life seems to be pondering, using evolution and mutation in its own code, DNA, to discover the secret of itself.
For the denizens of Sprinklesburgh and the world they inhabit, many do not question their lives. Victor seems totally content eating flying turtle bacon burgers and designing new pet familiars for people. Margy could live with her planetarium job and collection of video game systems, catridges, discs, and spare parts.
Ms. Fonseca uses a mixture of gaming terminology and subtle hints to pull the plot together as it races towards a big reveal. Surprisingly it is not the reveal, but the reaction of Margy afterwards that completes this story and impressed this reader greatly.
As the line between real/unreal begin to merge, a sense of necessity and righteousness emerge. It’s like the very games Margy and Victor play, and the fate of the entire universe rests in their portable Opus system controlling hands.
000110110111010011011!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The code is all around us!! For Margy and Victor, video game addicted best friends, life is a daily dose of Up-Up-Down-Down-Left-Right-Left-Right-B-A-Starts. But shit gets wicked cool when they come across an extremely rare, retro gaming system at a thrift store with a sandbox-style game inside neither of them have played before. They take it home, plug it in, and start playing.
Oh fuck, then shit turns totally heinous when they realize everything they do in the game world is happening in the real world! They try to contain the mayhem, but when Victor’s parents accidentally get a hold of it they raise the fuckness by a factor of 10 (Luckily margy’s parents are in comas at the hospital so they can’t raise fuckness anywhere), and the noise they make in Sprinklesburgh, IL is loud enough to perk up the ears of the higher ups.
Margy finds herself in the middle of a conspiracy involving an Original Player and its original controller. From the city to the Infranet, to the dreaded desert wastelands of the Internet, she hunts for the equation that can save her world, her parents, and her Victor… Oh yeah, and her Victor’s chicken familiar, Mort, whatever the fuck that ugly thing is.
EGO SAYS:
I was delighted to discover a major theme of this book the characters were forced to deal with was that of identity. Not satisfied with merely skirting the edges of this difficult idea, Cheat Code follows in the footsteps of films likes The Matrix and books like Archelon Ranch in forcing the protagonist to question who they are and why they are.
Margy at first felt to me like a hapless heroine. She is haunted by recurring blackouts and the pain of dealing with not one but both her parents locked up in a asylum. Deep down, though, she feels that something is askew. A good portion of the book develops her intuition as she slowly comes to realize the truth to her.
Victor is her irritable boweled, best friend and, though he doesn’t arc as roundly as Margy, as I see it he is the deuteragonist of the story and nearly as important. His familiar Mort, a digitally constructed chicken, acts as a sort non-speaking counterpart to easily identify Victor’s thoughts/feelings in a particular moment.
I concluded that supporting roles include, Tyson, a seeker of the equation and the first gamer to use the Original Player capable of godlike creating/destructing in their world. He was caught and banished to the Internet wastelands by a group known only as The Panel. The Panel’s made up of various people invested in keeping the status quo, some being well known characters from actual video games. I would’ve liked to see more about this group, but as it stands in this short novel their presence is minimal.
SUPER-EGO SAYS:
Seeking the answer. It is what we all want. A simple, short, and clear expression of who/what/when/where/why that includes everything. Even life seems to be pondering, using evolution and mutation in its own code, DNA, to discover the secret of itself.
For the denizens of Sprinklesburgh and the world they inhabit, many do not question their lives. Victor seems totally content eating flying turtle bacon burgers and designing new pet familiars for people. Margy could live with her planetarium job and collection of video game systems, catridges, discs, and spare parts.
Ms. Fonseca uses a mixture of gaming terminology and subtle hints to pull the plot together as it races towards a big reveal. Surprisingly it is not the reveal, but the reaction of Margy afterwards that completes this story and impressed this reader greatly.
As the line between real/unreal begin to merge, a sense of necessity and righteousness emerge. It’s like the very games Margy and Victor play, and the fate of the entire universe rests in their portable Opus system controlling hands.
December 23, 2013
Video game references and bizarro seem to go hand-in-hand. I have a somewhat jaded approach when it comes to reading anything that involves video game bizarro or talking cats. I had to keep an open mind, especially because this book is from a “new” author. I’m glad I read this one.
There’s absolutely no explanation for anything that happens in the first sixty pages of this novel, and that’s a good thing. The premise is intriguing, and the chapter titles (particularly the last one), dared me to keep turning the page. The author laid out the plot and told me what to expect, but the quirky characters and the world’s comical reaction to the god-mode interjection into their universe provided some tongue-in-cheek laughter-appreciation. The relationship between Margy and Victor is interesting only because it seems as if the author has a relationship very similar to theirs; they are almost like brother and sister, but not quite; readers might want the Fox-Scully conclusion to their relationship to round out the plot somehow.
So now I’m at the part of this review where I have to stop writing about it, because the method by which the author wraps up the narrative is the story’s major victory. I can draw the similarities in my head, but if I explained them here, the spoilers would seem too obvious. You’ll probably see it coming, but the de Foncesca handles the philosophical element with far better ease than some of the narratives (and films) which convoluted their stories. It’s as if de Foncesca learned from the mistakes of those stories that contain similar elements, and simplified them so they were actually relevant to the narrative. There was also a clever line from one of the characters about the lack of unnecessary expositional information; the plot-dumb doesn’t occur until near the book’s conclusion, but it’s pulled off with character reactions rather than a drawn-out explanation by a dude with a very white beard sitting in a chair surrounded by monitors…
The very last page was the novel’s defining moment, and it’s an ending worth waiting for. The author doesn’t hit you over the head with the obvious philosophy that could easily have permeated this book with symbolic moment after symbolic moment. This isn’t a testament or tribute to video games, but rather the analysis of functional reality. I felt like I was playing old-school Zork games with a friend who knew what they were actually doing. IDDQD. IDKFA. Check this book out, because de Foncesca is going to be around for a while, and this book didn’t read like a “new author” book. The intelligent design behind the book’s composition is a display of narrative talent, and a deeper understanding of how these attributes can affect a story. Well done.
There’s absolutely no explanation for anything that happens in the first sixty pages of this novel, and that’s a good thing. The premise is intriguing, and the chapter titles (particularly the last one), dared me to keep turning the page. The author laid out the plot and told me what to expect, but the quirky characters and the world’s comical reaction to the god-mode interjection into their universe provided some tongue-in-cheek laughter-appreciation. The relationship between Margy and Victor is interesting only because it seems as if the author has a relationship very similar to theirs; they are almost like brother and sister, but not quite; readers might want the Fox-Scully conclusion to their relationship to round out the plot somehow.
So now I’m at the part of this review where I have to stop writing about it, because the method by which the author wraps up the narrative is the story’s major victory. I can draw the similarities in my head, but if I explained them here, the spoilers would seem too obvious. You’ll probably see it coming, but the de Foncesca handles the philosophical element with far better ease than some of the narratives (and films) which convoluted their stories. It’s as if de Foncesca learned from the mistakes of those stories that contain similar elements, and simplified them so they were actually relevant to the narrative. There was also a clever line from one of the characters about the lack of unnecessary expositional information; the plot-dumb doesn’t occur until near the book’s conclusion, but it’s pulled off with character reactions rather than a drawn-out explanation by a dude with a very white beard sitting in a chair surrounded by monitors…
The very last page was the novel’s defining moment, and it’s an ending worth waiting for. The author doesn’t hit you over the head with the obvious philosophy that could easily have permeated this book with symbolic moment after symbolic moment. This isn’t a testament or tribute to video games, but rather the analysis of functional reality. I felt like I was playing old-school Zork games with a friend who knew what they were actually doing. IDDQD. IDKFA. Check this book out, because de Foncesca is going to be around for a while, and this book didn’t read like a “new author” book. The intelligent design behind the book’s composition is a display of narrative talent, and a deeper understanding of how these attributes can affect a story. Well done.
August 31, 2015
I was sucked in on page one, and had to force myself to come up for air. Andy’s humor is as multidimensional as her protagonist’s journey. She doesn’t insult her readers by dumbing it down for the lowest common denominator. I thoroughly enjoyed every nerdgasm thrown at me! The blue moments, generally provided by Victor, are pitch perfect. Subtlety is clearly a strong suit here, and extra credit for the feather-touch nod to a certain pack of crazy in the bizarro multiverse.
She has put together a strange, but familiar landscape, without tedious over explanation. Margy is just the right kind of abrasive, and her strength is not undercut by falling into tropes. In fact, Andy doesn’t shy away from calling that opportunity out, and keeps her female fully capable to face her struggle. I couldn’t be a bigger cheerleader for this NBAS title, and can’t wait to see what other worlds Andy will take us to. 0100000100101011 (A+)
She has put together a strange, but familiar landscape, without tedious over explanation. Margy is just the right kind of abrasive, and her strength is not undercut by falling into tropes. In fact, Andy doesn’t shy away from calling that opportunity out, and keeps her female fully capable to face her struggle. I couldn’t be a bigger cheerleader for this NBAS title, and can’t wait to see what other worlds Andy will take us to. 0100000100101011 (A+)
October 24, 2014
I finished this book a couple weeks ago and really liked it. The characters are great and the plot is exciting (read the book description if you don't believe me). I rated this book 4 stars (not 5) because there were a few times when the world became unbelievable. For instance, with the advancement of technology of the world, the League (Panel? Whatever the agency chasing the protagonists were called) should have been able to easily identify the protagonists... They knew everything about them but lacked a photo. Wouldn't a photo of the "hackers" be SUPER easy for them to get their hands on given their power and the world's technology? There are a few things like this that took me out of the world. But besides those few moments, the book was fantastic. A great debut and one of the better NBAS books this year.
March 11, 2014
Matrix-level revelation with the melancholy sensibilities of Cowboy Bebop. Andy de Fonseca has prepared here what I feel is the strongest of the seven from this year's NBAS.
Margy and Victor stumble onto an obscure game called Adamina wherein they manage to gain control of the universe, but this power doesn't come without antagonists who are unhappy about their discovery.
Andy's love of scientific discovery shines through on several occasions to remind us that all new technology begins as science fiction. I understand she's been working on an epic fantasy novel for much of her young life, so I'm interested to see where she goes with that, as well as her burgeoning career as a promising Bizarro author.
Margy and Victor stumble onto an obscure game called Adamina wherein they manage to gain control of the universe, but this power doesn't come without antagonists who are unhappy about their discovery.
Andy's love of scientific discovery shines through on several occasions to remind us that all new technology begins as science fiction. I understand she's been working on an epic fantasy novel for much of her young life, so I'm interested to see where she goes with that, as well as her burgeoning career as a promising Bizarro author.
November 9, 2015
Imagine if life became a sandbox game and you were the player. Imagine the mayhem, the consequences, the existential dread. That's what you have here.
Let me get this out of the way: yes, there are a bunch of video game references. But this ain't no Meet the Spartans. de Fonseca is paying tribute to video games, not simply referencing them, and what she's made here is a quality, self-contained, and thoroughly intriguing science fiction universe that is built around them. More than that, the characters are freakin' adorable. No damsels in distress here, but lots of quality undertones. If you like good characterization and unusual sci-fi, this story is for you.
Let me get this out of the way: yes, there are a bunch of video game references. But this ain't no Meet the Spartans. de Fonseca is paying tribute to video games, not simply referencing them, and what she's made here is a quality, self-contained, and thoroughly intriguing science fiction universe that is built around them. More than that, the characters are freakin' adorable. No damsels in distress here, but lots of quality undertones. If you like good characterization and unusual sci-fi, this story is for you.
August 4, 2018
Funny, lighthearted and entertaining, with quite a few nice ideas, even though the premise is (of course) far from being new. Quite well-written, but a bit short, I thought. And if the price doesn't go down, I'd hesitate to recommend getting it...
April 30, 2014
The Cheat Code For God Mode is what Ernest Cline's Ready Player One SHOULD have been, but wasn't. Whereas Cline's book was content to play on our sense of nostalgia and use fond memories to cover up lazy writing, de Fonseca invokes the same rich tapestry of pop cultural memories by creating its own unique mythology. The tropes and references in Cheat Code are just far enough removed from our reality to be sharply satirical. Andy could have gone the lazy route and dropped in the ostriches from Joust but instead we get a delightful 8-bit chicken named Mort. It's touches like this that make the book sing.
At the same time, The Cheat Code For God Mode is also what The Matrix COULD have been, if that trilogy had a sense of humor about itself and didn't end up disappearing up its own butt as it hobbled along. Instead of Keanu spouting neologisms about the internet, we get an interesting science-minded protagonist, her hilarious best friend, and an amazing barking chicken. We get roaming herds of LOLcats. We get All Your Base memes and turtle bacon. We get originality and a razor sharp ear for witty dialogue.
The story goes like this: Victor and Margy find an old video game system with a scribbled on disc that controls their universe. Needless to say, figuring this out is half the problem, as they cut a Grand Theft Auto style swath of destruction through their town. They need to travel to the old internet to find answers, and there they meet Tyson, a gunslinger type who has his own mysterious connections to the game. Of course there are also shadowy, dangerous people looking for the game and the people who are wielding it. From there on out, the story is anything but typical, however. Through clever use of this basic premise, de Fonseca ends up exploring the idea of who and what her protagonists are in the world and the very nature of reality.
There is one section of the book that gets a bit heady, when de Fonseca turns to some real talk about the singularity, quantum mechanics and many worlds theory. She keeps the densest parts of the topic brief, however, and is in and out leaving behind just enough information to set up further action in the narrative. It could have been difficult or off-putting, but thanks to some skillful and well-paced storytelling, it's a lot like Neil deGrasse Tyson is sitting on the couch playing video games with you while you're both stoned. It's through this clever writing that the story really comes to life.
This book is part of the New Bizarro Author Series, and as such is subject to a word limit, but the pacing is perfect and the story never feels rushed or like it's out of the author's control. There are moments of hilarity, laughing out loud on the bus stuff, especially when Victor and Margy get into their fugues of scrappy wordplay. There are also moments of genuine emotion. I have never felt so strongly the fate of an 8-bit chicken. Trust me when I say you don't need to have an encyclopedic knowledge of gaming culture, the internet, or quantum physics to enjoy this. It's a delightful tale well told, which makes it perfect for any reader who wants to think, laugh and maybe even learn something about invincibility.
At the same time, The Cheat Code For God Mode is also what The Matrix COULD have been, if that trilogy had a sense of humor about itself and didn't end up disappearing up its own butt as it hobbled along. Instead of Keanu spouting neologisms about the internet, we get an interesting science-minded protagonist, her hilarious best friend, and an amazing barking chicken. We get roaming herds of LOLcats. We get All Your Base memes and turtle bacon. We get originality and a razor sharp ear for witty dialogue.
The story goes like this: Victor and Margy find an old video game system with a scribbled on disc that controls their universe. Needless to say, figuring this out is half the problem, as they cut a Grand Theft Auto style swath of destruction through their town. They need to travel to the old internet to find answers, and there they meet Tyson, a gunslinger type who has his own mysterious connections to the game. Of course there are also shadowy, dangerous people looking for the game and the people who are wielding it. From there on out, the story is anything but typical, however. Through clever use of this basic premise, de Fonseca ends up exploring the idea of who and what her protagonists are in the world and the very nature of reality.
There is one section of the book that gets a bit heady, when de Fonseca turns to some real talk about the singularity, quantum mechanics and many worlds theory. She keeps the densest parts of the topic brief, however, and is in and out leaving behind just enough information to set up further action in the narrative. It could have been difficult or off-putting, but thanks to some skillful and well-paced storytelling, it's a lot like Neil deGrasse Tyson is sitting on the couch playing video games with you while you're both stoned. It's through this clever writing that the story really comes to life.
This book is part of the New Bizarro Author Series, and as such is subject to a word limit, but the pacing is perfect and the story never feels rushed or like it's out of the author's control. There are moments of hilarity, laughing out loud on the bus stuff, especially when Victor and Margy get into their fugues of scrappy wordplay. There are also moments of genuine emotion. I have never felt so strongly the fate of an 8-bit chicken. Trust me when I say you don't need to have an encyclopedic knowledge of gaming culture, the internet, or quantum physics to enjoy this. It's a delightful tale well told, which makes it perfect for any reader who wants to think, laugh and maybe even learn something about invincibility.
January 16, 2014
Remember when you were a kid and used cheat codes to dominate videogames? Well bizarro newcomer Andy de Fonseca takes this idea and sends it through a bizarro filter in her debut novella, The Cheat Code for God Mode.
It’s starts off with Margy and Victor who are good friends that share a love for videogames. They find an old game system and stumble across a cheat code for a game called Adamina. This leads to the mind-blowing discovery that whatever they do in this game directly affects the universe.
Margy and Victor must dive into the “old” internet which is full dangerous memes, Lolcats, and viruses, in order to save time and quite possibly the universe.
Let me tell you this is a funny ass book. Once the characters entered the internet, I couldn’t help but stay up later than I planned to before falling asleep. Fonseca is able to take popular internet fads that initially serve as humor points, but end up becoming a nice springboard for social commentary.
Fonseca’s writing is clean and crisp. Plus, I love the conspiracy theory feel the plot gives off. It hooked me and drew me deeper into the story.
The Cheat Code for God Mode is a fantastic debut from a new author brimming with talent. Think the Matrix meets all of your favorite games mixed in a blender with internet phenomena for good measure.
The bizarro genre is mostly comprised of male writers, but Fonseca and others like her, make me wish there were more women whipping up bizarro goodness.
It’s starts off with Margy and Victor who are good friends that share a love for videogames. They find an old game system and stumble across a cheat code for a game called Adamina. This leads to the mind-blowing discovery that whatever they do in this game directly affects the universe.
Margy and Victor must dive into the “old” internet which is full dangerous memes, Lolcats, and viruses, in order to save time and quite possibly the universe.
Let me tell you this is a funny ass book. Once the characters entered the internet, I couldn’t help but stay up later than I planned to before falling asleep. Fonseca is able to take popular internet fads that initially serve as humor points, but end up becoming a nice springboard for social commentary.
Fonseca’s writing is clean and crisp. Plus, I love the conspiracy theory feel the plot gives off. It hooked me and drew me deeper into the story.
The Cheat Code for God Mode is a fantastic debut from a new author brimming with talent. Think the Matrix meets all of your favorite games mixed in a blender with internet phenomena for good measure.
The bizarro genre is mostly comprised of male writers, but Fonseca and others like her, make me wish there were more women whipping up bizarro goodness.
February 13, 2014
Damn, Andy de Fonseca is juggling writing like a maestress. I really dug this book on so many levels. I won't go into details what the book's about since the blurb is enough to making you wanna read it. So here I go. First, I really like Andy's creativity, how she managed to create a real fun and magic setting that threw me into its world and engaged me fully. Even though I don't know every reference there was, but who cares. Magic world is a magic world. This book is a book that I'd been waiting for to be written for so long, being a dude growing up in the early 80's, a Nintendo 8-bit freak who stayed in playing when sun shone outside etc. But the thing is that Andy de Fonseca really captured the essence of that feeling for me, being devoured in the world of videogames, and making it an 100%, never-a-boring-moment-adventure! YEES!
Onto the other things I like about The Cheat Code for God Mode. De Fonseca's language is really flowing, and really beautiful. I got lost in several paragraphs that was wonderfully poetic, without losing pace of narrative. And there's loads of suspense built into it, which made me squirm as I read it, wishing for Victor and Margy to not get caught. Oh, man...there's so much. Finished it this morning, and I love this book. I wanna' read more Andy de Fonseca...Now!
You need to read this book!
Onto the other things I like about The Cheat Code for God Mode. De Fonseca's language is really flowing, and really beautiful. I got lost in several paragraphs that was wonderfully poetic, without losing pace of narrative. And there's loads of suspense built into it, which made me squirm as I read it, wishing for Victor and Margy to not get caught. Oh, man...there's so much. Finished it this morning, and I love this book. I wanna' read more Andy de Fonseca...Now!
You need to read this book!
October 9, 2014
I won this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway, and I was completely unprepared for the enjoyable experience awaiting me.
Other reviewers are right in saying it's hard to talk too much about this book without spoiling the plot. The author starts her heroes out in an admirably strange world (rife with flying turtle bacon and 8-bit familiars) which only gets stranger as the story unfolds. At not quite 100 pages, Cheat Code is a fast read, but it's densely packed with thoughtful ruminations on the nature of existence. An adventure of ideas, if you will.
As I progressed through the book, I was propelled along on wave after wave of references and jokes steeped in nerd culture and internet arcana... some of which I even understood! The scientific/astronomical aspect of Cheat Code was enjoyable as well.
The compressed length of the book may have kept the story from reaching its true potential. But overall, I ended up feeling a bit light-headed while reading, which was probably due to the realization that ALL MY BASE ARE BELONG TO ANDY DE FONSECA.
Other reviewers are right in saying it's hard to talk too much about this book without spoiling the plot. The author starts her heroes out in an admirably strange world (rife with flying turtle bacon and 8-bit familiars) which only gets stranger as the story unfolds. At not quite 100 pages, Cheat Code is a fast read, but it's densely packed with thoughtful ruminations on the nature of existence. An adventure of ideas, if you will.
As I progressed through the book, I was propelled along on wave after wave of references and jokes steeped in nerd culture and internet arcana... some of which I even understood! The scientific/astronomical aspect of Cheat Code was enjoyable as well.
The compressed length of the book may have kept the story from reaching its true potential. But overall, I ended up feeling a bit light-headed while reading, which was probably due to the realization that ALL MY BASE ARE BELONG TO ANDY DE FONSECA.
October 7, 2014
A book about two geeks in a journey to save the Universe with a world-controlling video game? Sign me up for that!
Margy and Victor find a old video game with a disc stuck inside it. The disc was for a game called "Adamina", and there was a code scribbled on it. They punch in the code, and the God Mode is activated. They gain control of the OP (original player), and then find themselves caught in the center of a massive conspiracy.
This book is highly entertaining, and it raises some very intelligent questions about the nature of our existence. I can say more, or else I'll enter spoiler territory. It's Intelligent Bizarro, and very well written by Andy de Fonseca. It doesn't read like a first book. I think Mrs. de Fonseca success will continue within the Bizarro community
Margy and Victor find a old video game with a disc stuck inside it. The disc was for a game called "Adamina", and there was a code scribbled on it. They punch in the code, and the God Mode is activated. They gain control of the OP (original player), and then find themselves caught in the center of a massive conspiracy.
This book is highly entertaining, and it raises some very intelligent questions about the nature of our existence. I can say more, or else I'll enter spoiler territory. It's Intelligent Bizarro, and very well written by Andy de Fonseca. It doesn't read like a first book. I think Mrs. de Fonseca success will continue within the Bizarro community
January 19, 2014
Let's imagine THE MATRIX and Super Mario Bros. had a baby delivered by a scientist in a meme hospital. Yeah, bizarre. That's what CHEAT CODE FOR GOD MODE is.
Ridiculous. Hilarious. Clever.
Mixed with the geeky humor is some commentary on creation, evolution, and what it means to be human. But mostly this is an insanely fun read that moves at breakneck speeds. Fun is the word to best describe this book.
Fun, fun, fun.
If you're a geek, that is. Or at all into social networking or video games. If not, you may be a bit in the dark. But who's to say you won't still enjoy this awesome sauce cooked up by the newly discovered Andy de Fonseca? I'm not going to say that. Hell no.
Read and laugh hysterically.
Ridiculous. Hilarious. Clever.
Mixed with the geeky humor is some commentary on creation, evolution, and what it means to be human. But mostly this is an insanely fun read that moves at breakneck speeds. Fun is the word to best describe this book.
Fun, fun, fun.
If you're a geek, that is. Or at all into social networking or video games. If not, you may be a bit in the dark. But who's to say you won't still enjoy this awesome sauce cooked up by the newly discovered Andy de Fonseca? I'm not going to say that. Hell no.
Read and laugh hysterically.
July 15, 2014
Bizarro Adventure With Nods to Game And Net Culture
This is a fast-paced adventure with a twist that I feel like I should have seen coming, but totally did not see coming. To avoid spoilers, I'll just say that the author deals quite deftly with various layers of reality. More importantly, she has fun working in nods to videogame and Internet culture that add a lot of laughs to the action. If there's a weakness it's that there's such a focus on action that the relationship between the two main characters is neglected a bit, and possibly more time could have been spent exploring the importance of that long-standing friendship.
This is a fast-paced adventure with a twist that I feel like I should have seen coming, but totally did not see coming. To avoid spoilers, I'll just say that the author deals quite deftly with various layers of reality. More importantly, she has fun working in nods to videogame and Internet culture that add a lot of laughs to the action. If there's a weakness it's that there's such a focus on action that the relationship between the two main characters is neglected a bit, and possibly more time could have been spent exploring the importance of that long-standing friendship.
September 11, 2015
This book made my nerdy heart explode via awesomeness. It is Ready Player One with current references to modern day life and media... meets The Matrix. I LOVE a good paradox, and even more so when one slaps me in the brain in a way that makes me want to high five the universe. Cheat Code for God Mode is hilarious, fun, and over all an addicting read from start to finish.
>readnow.cmd
>readnow.cmd
May 7, 2014
Another great installment in the 2013 NBA Series.
Very much enjoyed this one, but it did get a little deep at the end. And by deep, I mean biblical-deep.
Great ideas, great storytelling, and a fantastic cast of characters all around. I thoroughly enjoyed this read.
Very much enjoyed this one, but it did get a little deep at the end. And by deep, I mean biblical-deep.
Great ideas, great storytelling, and a fantastic cast of characters all around. I thoroughly enjoyed this read.
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