MetaGame

Published in 2010, Metagame, by Sam Landstrom is a science fiction novel I found through my Pixel of Ink account. I held onto it for a while before really getting into it, though when I did, it seemed strange that I hadn't dove right in. The world Mr. Landstrom creates is fun, and believable.Opening these pages takes us far into the future, where The Game is everything. Think of your favorite MMORPG (massive multiplayer online role-playing game, for you noobs), but live, and ongoing at all times. That's pretty much how the world of MetaGame is. Micro-chipped brains can link everyone together, like trolling Facebook 24/7, but with better search parameters. Everything you do can be done for game points, and everything, including plants, people, and created objects are covered in nanosites, creating a "...three-dimensional map of the world that software could easily understand...marking moving objects in real time..."The more game points you have, the more prestige you carry, granting long-youth, long-life, and possibly even immortality. Points are earned for everything, including everyday "job" type duties, including software engineering/programming, medicinal research, law enforcement, etc, so every aspect of an individual's life has become a "game," thus creating "flow," in turn generating happiness for all. For those who like games as we know them today, they are available, though frowned upon from a societal stand-point, as they are thought of as lazy. These games are called Spank Games, and require literal, physical movement to play. "Sloth is a sin [therefore] spank games require physical movement [so they at least enhance physicality]..." To play spank games, one must jack into a world-wide virtual reality, where the game is played superimposed over the real world. Watching a spanker can be entertaining, as they typically look ridiculous while they're embarking on whatever game quest they happen to be involved with.Our main character, D_Light (many of the characters have gamer-tag-like names), is one of the top ranking gamers in his Family. After an intense Rule #7 (a randomly implemented game where any gamer is allowed to kill (literally) another, and be granted 1/5th the victims total game points), D_Light finds himself the #1 points earner for the day. This circumstance offers him the opportunity to be involved in a monthly MetaGame, (known also as Divine Quest or House Crusade); a game offered only to nobility. Comprised of a series of games, not even the participants know what the quests will be until they are starting them. More a cultural phenomenon than a traditional game, the MetaGames take place in the real world, versus the software constructs of the electronic worlds.Teamed up with Lyra & Djoser, the nobility invited to participate in the Metagame, along with their bodyguards, Amanda (a product, I thought of as a cybernetic robot) and Brian, a chip-on-his-shoulder meat-head type, we follow the group through their MetaGame, which leads them into the depths of the OverSoul's cultural constructs.What I really enjoyed about this book were the references to the reasoning behind the creation of the culture this book takes place in. Real psychology, like that of Mihaly Cskiszentmihalyi's idea of Flow, were used by Mr. Landstrom to create a very believable culture. I'm an origin story lover, so thoroughly enjoyed the chapter prefaces that told the back-story. Thinking about it more as I write this, I may not have enjoyed the novel without these insights...If you're a gamer, or a tech person, you may enjoy this novel just for the sheer joy of reading about the universe the story takes place in. I definitely did. If you like a good onion peel of social constructs, this could do it as well. There's even the hint of a love story, but not enough to overshadow the rest, and definitely the build-up of "what the hell is happening!" that will make you want to continue to the end.

As an avid reader, especially in the Sci-Fi genre, I've encountered a fair amount of original story-telling when envisioning a (dystoptian) future society, but I have to hand it to Sam for being particularly original in the vision he casts for earth in the future decades (if not hundreds) of years from now. He takes some pretty well known concepts like genetic manipulation, MMOG and and other fairly well known elements in our current culture and extrapolates them out into some pretty fun places in this future world. Aside from your standard Sci-Fi elements, there's also some good humor throughout, some clever and interesting dialog, and a variety of different types of action ranging from the geeky to the graphic. And, of course, like most good stories, this one has a few pretty nice plot twists that, especially the final one which I did not see coming.The story itself revolves primarily around one guy (D_Light) who's starting to ascend into the next level of success in his journey towards immortality - the goal of many in this future world where the Oversoul sees and governs all. Most of the action revolves around the title-referenced "MetaGame" which is basically a quest taking place in real life where the cost of winning or losing is very high and possibly the difference between death and immortality.The tale is split up into 3 unequally sized acts. The first act which lasts about 6-8 chapters sets the stage, the main players and introduces some important ground rules for the world you'll be reading about. This act is pretty strong for the most part and you are more or less thrown right into D_Light's life and are playing catch up for several (slightly bizarre but fun) chapters. There's a bit of a lull around this point, but then there's a very strong second act that lasts all the way up to about the 70%-75% point of the book and there's a lot to like about this act. It's paced well, progresses naturally and the events all make sense and do much to move the players to the next place in the story.Granted, it's not what I would consider "amazing" Sci-Fi, but what it lacks in polish and finesse, it makes up for in originality and unexpected turns in the story. The last act takes place largely in one location (Dr. Monsa's) and is very unevenly paced making some passages clumsy and even tedious to get through. There were also some questionable and/or confusing decisions that our protagonist makes, especially in this act, though the book does manage to refocus and end strongly in the last couple of chapters. Still, the problems in the last act didn't negate the overall quality of the book, just that I think the plotting and pacing of the events in this story could have used some more work.So, all in all this book has a little bit of everything from action/thriller to lots of Sci-Fi elements to horror and even some romance and philosophical ground is covered. For a first effort, this book definitely shows a lot of promise and I'll definitely be watching for more Sci-Fi goodness in the future from this author.

I read all genres and this book was quick to grab my interest. I have read a few science fiction books before and enjoyed them, I am not really into gaming but I thought I’d give this a try. I was caught by the storyline and setting right from the beginning. I agree with other reviewers that maybe a grown man, puking and crying in the shower is not the best start to a story but it got me hooked.The story is set in a slightly dystopian future version of earth and we follow D_Light and the world he lives in, which is quite literally a game. Both work and play are ‘missions’ in the virtual reality overly and the players earn points as they progress through life. The very best players are offered prestige and immortality as their rewards. D_Light has just completed a challenge that has earned him some major points and he finds himself being selected to take part in a Meta-Game. The Meta-Games take place in the real world, and while the risk is very real, so is the reward. Without giving too much away, we follow D_Light through the Meta-Game and meet a few interesting characters which shape D_Light and change his view on the world and life.For a science fiction book, I found this a nice, light read. I found the complex story easy to follow and I loved all the characters with their different strengths and weaknesses. I felt that the worlds and situations were described very clearly and I had no issues keeping up with what was happening. This book has been left open for a sequel, so I hope to be reading the next instalment one day.

This is a well-written piece of hard SF.I liked the way that the way the world worked and how it arose came gradually, without very much tedious exposition.It is an extrapolation of doable, or near doable present-day science, wrapped in a good story that keeps you interested in the characters.The ending is a little weak and feels as though the author has used up all his ideas and has nothing more to say but has to finish it anyway he can.

This is a top quality book. I bought it because I really enjoyed his app D_Light Games and the Wizard's Choice saga (also brilliant so worth trying). This book is massively different - a future in which gaming plays a key role. Even though it was not what I expected it was a great read and I am looking forward to his next book.

Like the previous cardiffreview, even though I'm not into gaming at all, I thought this book was fab and couldn't stop reading it. It's a light or delightful! read but the ideas are innovative and complex - that is, the dystopian world in the near future is very well developed and fascinating.

Really enjoyed this book, the story flows well and the central points of the world it depicts are explored with out resorting to tedious or condescension. The characters are well rounded and the plot moves at a good pace.