Release Date: 02/02/12
SYNOPSIS:
Dagmar Shaw got out of the game . . . and into the movies. Sean is a washed-up child actor reduced to the lowest dregs of reality television to keep himself afloat. His life was a downward spiral of alcoholism, regret, and failure - until he met Dagmar. But Sean has secrets, dark even for the Hollywood treadmill of abuse, addiction, and rehab. And Dagmar is a cipher. There are dark rumors about her past - people tend to die around her. Now, she wants Sean for something. A movie, she says, but with her history, who knows what her real game is?
REVIEW:
This tale is one of love, betrayal, double dealing and of course abuse all melded together with an appearance (albeit quite small) of Dagmar whose previous two outings (Deep State and This is Not a Game) let you know that with Walter Jon Williams you can never be too sure on your footing. Unsurprisingly this tale proved to be no exception to the rule as he brought together almost two unlikely characters in this amalgamation of multiple genres with a good deal of murder as well as double dealing as the principle character, Sean seeks to deal with his own issues alongside with those thrust upon him by the plotline.
It’s quirky, it has its moments, but for me the tale as a whole didn’t quite mesh together as it should have done. Don’t get me wrong, the action was decent and the characters were fairly well fleshed out but what let this down was the improbability of the events within even though I really wanted it to work. Sadly for me, it’s not Walter’s best book to date but it is reasonable enough to warrant a read although a rent from a library may be the best option here.
Release Date: 03/02/11
SYNOPSIS:
Dagmar Shaw is one of the world's hottest designers of alternate reality games. She is the Puppetmaster and thousands of gamers are dancing on her strings. But when the campaign she is running in Turkey comes into conflict with the new, brutal regime, she realises that games can have very real consequences. When an old friend approaches Dagmar with a project so insane, so ambitious, she can't possibly say no, she is plunged into a world of spies and soldiers. A nation hangs in the balance and in a world of intrigue and betrayal, the master player must face the possibility that she has, herself, been played. Dagmar is the Puppetmaster, but when the bullets are real and her 'puppets' start dying, is any cause worth it?
REVIEW:
Whilst the original novel was not only fascinating but one to keep you glued to the last page, this one was more of a miss than a hit as it felt that it was more of a novella rather than a full length title. It was overdrawn, the characters nowhere near as fresh as the original title (This is Not a Game) and when looked at overall felt rather like a damp squib from Walter rather than his usual roaring lion.
All in, throughout this novel I kept hoping that the author would do something to save this title rather than just leave it to drag out for page after page, leaving me sadly disappointed by the final pages turning. Whilst I wouldn’t call it the authors best work, it is acceptable and will do what the blurb leads you to believe but if you want something hard hitting or even in the same league as the original then you’ll be sadly disappointed.
BOOK BLURB:
Once upon a time, there were four of them. And though each was good at a number of things, all of them were very good at games ...But when one of them is gunned down in a parking lot, the survivors become players in a very different kind of game ? one that is played for the highest stake of all. Now they must draw on all their resources ? not least millions of online gamers ? to track down the killer. Imagine a game with no boundaries. Waiting in a parking lot, sitting at your computer, walking down the street - you could be called at any moment, and you'd better be ready. This is not a game. This is a novel that will blow your mind.
REVIEW:
In a world that’s going to hell in a hand basket financially it is with perhaps interesting timing that the latest novel by Walter arrives on the UK shelves. A techno thriller that transcends the troubles of the world in an adventure that will take the reader on a rollercoater of a tale that really takes some beating. Well written, excellently crafted it’s a tale that will appeal to many readers and not just the typical reader of the genre. How do I know? I passed this onto my grandfather who devoured it with relish. If an 86 year old can get as much thrills and spills out of this tale as any other reader then you know that it has to be a quality read. Well done Walter.
Release Date: 02/02/12
