I ended up getting this on Amazon and audible. For some reason the book was free for me in audible, even without using a credit. Looking forward to reading it.
Multiple series. The second series is called The Cruel Equations and takes place on a frontier world that runs afoul of the agency responsible for keeping the mortality rates sufficiently high.
Bought it, will start reading it right after this comment actually.
That said.
Hate.
Absolutely hate that cover.
For how flavourful and captivating the blurb was, that cover almost completely fails to convey any of that promise.
It's painfully generic.
One exception though, the Biostellar lettering is stellar!
Real iconic looking, you can plaster that sucker across all Biostellar works and it'll look great and instantly recognisable! Fantastic work.
Anyway that's this teller's small but annoyingly persistent gripe, chances are people won't be as bothered as him.
It was mostly the contrast of how standout the blurb was and how bland the cover was, admittedly carefree plainclothes/training uniform students sitting in sci-fi chairs that are supported by an indistinct stylised mountain of corpses while the uncaring alien stars look down could be going too far, but it really was jarring what was there instead...
Here's the tailend of that stellar blurb;
"The cadets who enter the Academy arrive believing they understand what is asked of them. They do not. True understanding can only come later, in the crucible of training, in the weight of choices that permit no easy answers and the recognition that someone must ensure the sacrifice of millions is not made in vain.
This is their story."
Bam, bam, intro music swells! Especially after the paragraphs before it.
Then three generic spacesuits wearing people with what looks like their helmets off in outside space.
It hurt.
Anyway the blurb sold this teller completely on it!
Already a bestseller in one category, hopefully it can be one in multiple!
I see it, too, and I agree on the stellar (heh) font choices. And the blurb-! Bravo! I might even be willing to pay hard money to read the thing on an itty-bitty phone screen, which is saying a lot.*
One ought not criticize covers, though. Especially not during an announcement. Ask me how I know. 🙄😳😬🤐 Take a look at it in thumbnail: If it works there (it does) it'll do the job on 'Zon searches.
Not more than a few minutes after posting, this teller regretted it. On multiple levels for a number of factors, the complaint was pointless to raise, and thus a needless bother.
You are quite right and the point on the thumbnail too is strong!
Read it in one sitting on Friday night. Well written, excellent plot, great world, and it is already at the standard of the condominium or Drakas. That implies it is very very good and it is has one virtue lost in modern YA books: heroism.
Bought it, about 3/4 done, and will read a second time to review. First thoughts: the setup was well-paced; drama, romance, and action picked up. Following An Incident, action and suspense go beyond lightspeed. There are some obvious and concealed story lines leading to other books. Great to read!
It reads like a series by Niven and Pournelle, set in Pournelle's Co-Dominium and Imperial future.
It literally cannot get any cooler than that. Machines straight out of science fiction, writing science fiction. I'm seeing it happen in real time, I've DONE it, and I still have difficulty believing it.
I ended up getting this on Amazon and audible. For some reason the book was free for me in audible, even without using a credit. Looking forward to reading it.
That's great!
By chance is this going to be a series?
Multiple series. The second series is called The Cruel Equations and takes place on a frontier world that runs afoul of the agency responsible for keeping the mortality rates sufficiently high.
Got it. Will be purchasing. Thank you Vox for giving us alternative entertainment that is quality.
In fairness, this is JDA's baby. I'm just along for the science and the ride.
JDA I tip my hat to you sir! Glad you tagged along Vox. Btw have you wrote a sequel to A Throne of Bones?
Yes. It's called A SEA OF SKULLS.
SUMMA ELVETICA & OTHER STORIES are also set in the same fantasy universe.
Saw Vox Day's blogpost on it, real interesting!
Bought it, will start reading it right after this comment actually.
That said.
Hate.
Absolutely hate that cover.
For how flavourful and captivating the blurb was, that cover almost completely fails to convey any of that promise.
It's painfully generic.
One exception though, the Biostellar lettering is stellar!
Real iconic looking, you can plaster that sucker across all Biostellar works and it'll look great and instantly recognisable! Fantastic work.
Anyway that's this teller's small but annoyingly persistent gripe, chances are people won't be as bothered as him.
It was mostly the contrast of how standout the blurb was and how bland the cover was, admittedly carefree plainclothes/training uniform students sitting in sci-fi chairs that are supported by an indistinct stylised mountain of corpses while the uncaring alien stars look down could be going too far, but it really was jarring what was there instead...
Here's the tailend of that stellar blurb;
"The cadets who enter the Academy arrive believing they understand what is asked of them. They do not. True understanding can only come later, in the crucible of training, in the weight of choices that permit no easy answers and the recognition that someone must ensure the sacrifice of millions is not made in vain.
This is their story."
Bam, bam, intro music swells! Especially after the paragraphs before it.
Then three generic spacesuits wearing people with what looks like their helmets off in outside space.
It hurt.
Anyway the blurb sold this teller completely on it!
Already a bestseller in one category, hopefully it can be one in multiple!
I see it, too, and I agree on the stellar (heh) font choices. And the blurb-! Bravo! I might even be willing to pay hard money to read the thing on an itty-bitty phone screen, which is saying a lot.*
One ought not criticize covers, though. Especially not during an announcement. Ask me how I know. 🙄😳😬🤐 Take a look at it in thumbnail: If it works there (it does) it'll do the job on 'Zon searches.
Not more than a few minutes after posting, this teller regretted it. On multiple levels for a number of factors, the complaint was pointless to raise, and thus a needless bother.
You are quite right and the point on the thumbnail too is strong!
Heh. If they ever *ask* though, I have resources! 😋
Read it in one sitting on Friday night. Well written, excellent plot, great world, and it is already at the standard of the condominium or Drakas. That implies it is very very good and it is has one virtue lost in modern YA books: heroism.
Picardo is such a joke in Academy.
Everyone else is just phoning it in, but my guy looks like he thinks he’s doing Shakespeare or some shit.
As a consequence, it looks like he overacts in every single scene.
Bought it, about 3/4 done, and will read a second time to review. First thoughts: the setup was well-paced; drama, romance, and action picked up. Following An Incident, action and suspense go beyond lightspeed. There are some obvious and concealed story lines leading to other books. Great to read!
It reads like a series by Niven and Pournelle, set in Pournelle's Co-Dominium and Imperial future.
Congrats on the book!
The logo is excellent. Love the holographic geneometry (it's a word), and the lighting sliding right off of the letters looks terrific.
And how much of the book was written by AI? Please say none.
100 percent. Both JDA and I are at the forefront of utilising textual AI.
That's why you'll see the next book out far faster than you would imagine possible.
And if you prefer organic fiction, I'll have my next purely organic book done in 3-4 years.
Personally I think its awesome you guys are using AI. No issues whatsoever.
Anyone complaining about using AI TO WRITE SCIENCE FICTION is no lover of science fiction.
I mean, HOW COOL IS THAT?
It literally cannot get any cooler than that. Machines straight out of science fiction, writing science fiction. I'm seeing it happen in real time, I've DONE it, and I still have difficulty believing it.
I will definitely be reading this. BTW, do you know if/when Vox Day may be releasing book 3 of the Arts of Dark and Light series?
In 3-4 years, most likely. It's going to take a while.
Looking forward to it
Apparently I'm going to have to wait, has anyone else been having trouble buying things on audible?