What do you think?
Rate this book
Digital Evolution #1
System Purge
Fourteen-year-old Tommy Philips doesn’t know where he comes from. He has questions that his foster parents can’t answer, questions about who he is and what makes him so different from everyone around him. When he stumbles across evidence that one of his teachers has been guarding him for years, Tommy begins an investigation that will uncover a history he never could have guessed.
Rowan Darren wasn’t just born to be a soldier, he was made to be one. The Nospious, a collection of twelve Houses of genetically-engineered humans, live in silent conflict, fighting quiet political wars against each other and the outside world, constantly trying to advance their interests to the detriment of anyone who gets in their way, while concealing their existence. Rowan, of the House of Aries, is no exception. After years overseas, expanding his House’s influence, Rowan is coming home, but the home waiting for him is anything but simple, and survival will require more than a few modified genomes.
Though he goes by Samuel, his name is ‘Three,’ and ever since The War claimed the lives of his siblings, he has been the oldest living synthetic lifeform on Earth. Maintaining control over the increasingly restless Society of Machines has always been difficult, but a second war has been brewing for years, and if Samuel doesn’t get in front of it in time, it will cost the Society both lives and the secrecy that they’ve cultivated for years.
Three lives moving in very different directions will all meet at a crossroads, and all three will be forever changed.
Rowan Darren wasn’t just born to be a soldier, he was made to be one. The Nospious, a collection of twelve Houses of genetically-engineered humans, live in silent conflict, fighting quiet political wars against each other and the outside world, constantly trying to advance their interests to the detriment of anyone who gets in their way, while concealing their existence. Rowan, of the House of Aries, is no exception. After years overseas, expanding his House’s influence, Rowan is coming home, but the home waiting for him is anything but simple, and survival will require more than a few modified genomes.
Though he goes by Samuel, his name is ‘Three,’ and ever since The War claimed the lives of his siblings, he has been the oldest living synthetic lifeform on Earth. Maintaining control over the increasingly restless Society of Machines has always been difficult, but a second war has been brewing for years, and if Samuel doesn’t get in front of it in time, it will cost the Society both lives and the secrecy that they’ve cultivated for years.
Three lives moving in very different directions will all meet at a crossroads, and all three will be forever changed.
- GenresScience Fiction
370 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2013
2 people are currently reading
375 people want to read
About the author
Ross Willard
12 books10 followersBorn in Michigan, raised in Texas, currently living in Colorado, Ross has set roots all over the country, and promptly ripped them out.
A lifelong bibliophile, Ross has been writing almost as long as he has been reading. He credits his love of the written word primarily to his parents' influence.
Though he intends to become a prolific and wealthy writer soon, at the moment he is practicing the 'starving artist' lifestyle. Yeah, that's the ticket, 'practicing.'
A fervent supporter of independent bookstores, he can often be found working on his next book at those coffehouses connected to small bookstores, despite the fact that he doesn't like coffee.
A lifelong bibliophile, Ross has been writing almost as long as he has been reading. He credits his love of the written word primarily to his parents' influence.
Though he intends to become a prolific and wealthy writer soon, at the moment he is practicing the 'starving artist' lifestyle. Yeah, that's the ticket, 'practicing.'
A fervent supporter of independent bookstores, he can often be found working on his next book at those coffehouses connected to small bookstores, despite the fact that he doesn't like coffee.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 31, 2013
Be warned, once you pick up this book, you will not put it down.
System Purge focuses on the life of a teenager with unbelievable intelligence, so much so, you know he’s not quite human. Sadly he is unaware of the fact, or the danger. In a world filled with AI, hidden from humans, various factions fight for supremacy.
This novel is filled with twists, turns, and action. A great, fast read that will stay with you long after you put the book down. Can’t wait for the next book in the series!
System Purge focuses on the life of a teenager with unbelievable intelligence, so much so, you know he’s not quite human. Sadly he is unaware of the fact, or the danger. In a world filled with AI, hidden from humans, various factions fight for supremacy.
This novel is filled with twists, turns, and action. A great, fast read that will stay with you long after you put the book down. Can’t wait for the next book in the series!
January 4, 2013
While told in a linear format, the plot is anything but. Three factions of clandestine societies living along side humanity come in conflict. The linchpin of it all seems to be a young boy super genius. More human than, is the moto of each group. PKD would be proud as the question of what is human is a subconscious debate throughout the novel.
Very action and advanced tech oriented. I'm not big on ebooks, yet, but this book has me waiting for the next in the series.
Very action and advanced tech oriented. I'm not big on ebooks, yet, but this book has me waiting for the next in the series.
October 6, 2016
Can sometimes be difficult to remember which character is which. The characters need tags, or unique traits that always get mentioned whenever they appear in a scene. This would help greatly in reminding the reader who is who, and help to make them more 3-dimintional.
Dialogue can sometimes sound the same between each character. They could use more personalized voices.
Descriptions could be more focused on what is unique about that room/person/object. Don't waste time describing the mundane. And don't use more than three traits. More than three tends to lose the reader's attention.
I really like how the three separate story lines eventually merge into one.
Really good opening to the book.
I'm already enjoying the second book. Thanks!
Dialogue can sometimes sound the same between each character. They could use more personalized voices.
Descriptions could be more focused on what is unique about that room/person/object. Don't waste time describing the mundane. And don't use more than three traits. More than three tends to lose the reader's attention.
I really like how the three separate story lines eventually merge into one.
Really good opening to the book.
I'm already enjoying the second book. Thanks!
June 5, 2015
Excellent read. No spoilers, but the book is like Matthew Broderick from War Games lost in The Terminator universe while having to deal with characters from The Godfather. However, instead of overweight men in silk suits, the mobsters are all trained killing machines.
Well worth the $.99. I would have paid more. I look forward to Mr. Willard's next book.
Well worth the $.99. I would have paid more. I look forward to Mr. Willard's next book.
August 15, 2015
(Full disclosure: my awesome and talented brother wrote this book, so I'm not 100% impartial) I reread this book recently, in anticipation of the end if the trilogy, and I loved it again. I find this world of AIs and genetically engineered soldiers oddly compelling (given thus I'm not typically a sci fi fan). The dialogue is a lot of fun. This book is a fast read and will be hard to put down!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews