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Massively Multiplayer
When Andrew Hunter logs in to his favorite online game, he's escaping the pressure of school and family. In the world of Crucible, Andrew doesn't have to worry about what major to pursue, or whether he should get a summer job. All he has to worry about is whether or not he'll get eaten.
For programmer Wolfgang Wallace, though, Crucible isn't just a game; it's his job. So when a mysterious hacker begins using the game servers to transfer huge amounts of encrypted data, Wolfgang needs to act fast, before the FCC, the FBI, or the Better Business Bureau shut down his company for good. Unfortunately, the hacker seems to know all that, and has taken pains to lock Wolfgang out of his own system.
What Wolfgang needs is a player on the inside of the game. What Andrew needs is a reason to play or to stop playing. What the hacker needs is anyone's guess, but it's his game, and until they figure out the rules, they're going to have to play for their lives.
For programmer Wolfgang Wallace, though, Crucible isn't just a game; it's his job. So when a mysterious hacker begins using the game servers to transfer huge amounts of encrypted data, Wolfgang needs to act fast, before the FCC, the FBI, or the Better Business Bureau shut down his company for good. Unfortunately, the hacker seems to know all that, and has taken pains to lock Wolfgang out of his own system.
What Wolfgang needs is a player on the inside of the game. What Andrew needs is a reason to play or to stop playing. What the hacker needs is anyone's guess, but it's his game, and until they figure out the rules, they're going to have to play for their lives.
327 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2010
2 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
P. Aaron Potter
2 books39 followersBanished to Darkest Oregon, Aaron Potter grew up a Geek in the Wilderness. Star Trek, Tolkien, and TRS-80ii BASIC kept him (mostly) out of trouble until college, where he finally encountered enough nerds to know he wasn't alone.
Though his brain is clotted with D&D modules and Monty Python skits, he somehow netted a Ph.D. in literature and cultural studies and a cushy job lecturing at a university in sunny so-Cal. Astoundingly, he tricked The Smartest Person in the World into marrying him. He knows darn well he doesn't deserve her.
When not writing or teaching, Aaron is usually coming up with new ploys to ensure his kids grow up as geeky as he did.
Though his brain is clotted with D&D modules and Monty Python skits, he somehow netted a Ph.D. in literature and cultural studies and a cushy job lecturing at a university in sunny so-Cal. Astoundingly, he tricked The Smartest Person in the World into marrying him. He knows darn well he doesn't deserve her.
When not writing or teaching, Aaron is usually coming up with new ploys to ensure his kids grow up as geeky as he did.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
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April 21, 2012I WRITED YOU A BOOK.
July 18, 2012
Apparently "MMO Cyberthriller" is a real genre now, which is pretty rad. "Massively Multiplayer" had a believable near-future setting with highly immersive gaming technology and raised some interesting questions about the implications of the tech on coming of age and corporate responsibility. For the most part it was plotted and paced well and was a generally enjoyable read.
That said, I have a few criticisms. The Kindle edition (which seems to be the only edition) was full of errors; a lot of the commas (and possibly emdashes) rendered on my Kindle as ampersands and there were also a fair number of typos that would've been caught by a good editor ("taught" where "taut" was intended, etc.). Since this was self-published I'm willing to cut some slack, but fixing the errors would really help the flow for the reader. MINOR SPOILERS BEGIN HERE I thought the interactions between the protagonist and his family (especially his little sister) were great and wish they'd been a larger focus of the storytelling. On the flip side, the (vaguely) romantic subplot with Wolfgang was largely unnecessary and never really went anywhere. Calloway, most of the in-game characters (with the exception of Malcolm, who got no denouement), and Ms. Sumter were all fairly shallow characters and seemed more like plot devices than fully realized personas.
The other thing that bugged me was the way the programmers and other tech people talked to each other. It seems that in this type of book the writer has two options: either assume the reader knows enough about how systems and networks work to just let the characters talk to each other normally and casually, or provide loads of background info (whether in dialogue or not) on how stuff works in an attempt to educate the reader. Neal Stephenson's really good at the former, Cory Doctorow is really good at the latter. Massively Multiplayer tried to walk the line between the two and it ended up a bit clunky -- programmers and system administrators just don't talk to each other the way that the programmer and sysadmin characters talked to each other. It's probably not really noticeable to non-techie readers but I'd think that geeks (like myself) were the primary audience of the book.
Within the genre, I liked it more than "Reamde" and less than "Ready Player One", "For the Win", or Suarez's "Daemon" books. If you've read those and want something in a similar vein, "Massively Multiplayer" is worth a look. I'll be keeping an eye out for future books by Potter but am hopeful he'll get a (better?) editor for his next project.
That said, I have a few criticisms. The Kindle edition (which seems to be the only edition) was full of errors; a lot of the commas (and possibly emdashes) rendered on my Kindle as ampersands and there were also a fair number of typos that would've been caught by a good editor ("taught" where "taut" was intended, etc.). Since this was self-published I'm willing to cut some slack, but fixing the errors would really help the flow for the reader. MINOR SPOILERS BEGIN HERE I thought the interactions between the protagonist and his family (especially his little sister) were great and wish they'd been a larger focus of the storytelling. On the flip side, the (vaguely) romantic subplot with Wolfgang was largely unnecessary and never really went anywhere. Calloway, most of the in-game characters (with the exception of Malcolm, who got no denouement), and Ms. Sumter were all fairly shallow characters and seemed more like plot devices than fully realized personas.
The other thing that bugged me was the way the programmers and other tech people talked to each other. It seems that in this type of book the writer has two options: either assume the reader knows enough about how systems and networks work to just let the characters talk to each other normally and casually, or provide loads of background info (whether in dialogue or not) on how stuff works in an attempt to educate the reader. Neal Stephenson's really good at the former, Cory Doctorow is really good at the latter. Massively Multiplayer tried to walk the line between the two and it ended up a bit clunky -- programmers and system administrators just don't talk to each other the way that the programmer and sysadmin characters talked to each other. It's probably not really noticeable to non-techie readers but I'd think that geeks (like myself) were the primary audience of the book.
Within the genre, I liked it more than "Reamde" and less than "Ready Player One", "For the Win", or Suarez's "Daemon" books. If you've read those and want something in a similar vein, "Massively Multiplayer" is worth a look. I'll be keeping an eye out for future books by Potter but am hopeful he'll get a (better?) editor for his next project.
March 14, 2017
I don't really think this book was "AMAZING", but I gave it an extra star for doing a good job of messing with my expectations. I've been reading nearly 30 years now so it's very hard for an author not to fall into the trap of various tropes that leads me to be able to guess the plots of most books before they get to their twist. (With the exception of noir or detective novels and some POV books like ASOIAF because the characters have an extra-limited perception of what's going on)
This book, however, was quite timely for me to read now as I just heard the Fresh Air interview about the book Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked in which he mentions how some MMOs like World of Warcraft use psychology to keep us coming back to the games almost against our wills. That's not exactly the plot of this book, but it's not too far off.
Speaking of that, I got this book as part of a bundle and most of the other books in the similar vein focus on either the players or the designers. This one focuses on both and actually does a good job of not drowning under too many characters. Everyone's set up well and has a pretty good arc. Even the most one-dimensional character, CEO secretary Mrs Hernandez, ended up being one of my favorite characters because of how her portrayal made me think of secretaries differently. It was also neat to get glimpses of the side characters' real lives because it gives an idea of the diversity of gamers and how their real lives affect their gameplay.
I also like how the book is layered - both the players of the MMO and the employees are playing games and in each case, those who understand the game mechanics best do the best in their respective games.
Finally, let me add that P. Aaron Potter (hopefully old enough not to have been teased about that surname) has done a pretty good job on the realism of everything and everyone. The parents are pretty realistic parents, not YA book parents. The gamers seem pretty realistic compared to gamers I know. The feds are portrayed pretty realistically as far as fiction goes. Shoot, the author even avoids all the stupid NSA tropes and more or less seems to understand what the agency does (and how it differs from the CIA and FBI).
Excellent all the way through and so far the best of this genre that I've come across.
This book, however, was quite timely for me to read now as I just heard the Fresh Air interview about the book Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked in which he mentions how some MMOs like World of Warcraft use psychology to keep us coming back to the games almost against our wills. That's not exactly the plot of this book, but it's not too far off.
Speaking of that, I got this book as part of a bundle and most of the other books in the similar vein focus on either the players or the designers. This one focuses on both and actually does a good job of not drowning under too many characters. Everyone's set up well and has a pretty good arc. Even the most one-dimensional character, CEO secretary Mrs Hernandez, ended up being one of my favorite characters because of how her portrayal made me think of secretaries differently. It was also neat to get glimpses of the side characters' real lives because it gives an idea of the diversity of gamers and how their real lives affect their gameplay.
I also like how the book is layered - both the players of the MMO and the employees are playing games and in each case, those who understand the game mechanics best do the best in their respective games.
Finally, let me add that P. Aaron Potter (hopefully old enough not to have been teased about that surname) has done a pretty good job on the realism of everything and everyone. The parents are pretty realistic parents, not YA book parents. The gamers seem pretty realistic compared to gamers I know. The feds are portrayed pretty realistically as far as fiction goes. Shoot, the author even avoids all the stupid NSA tropes and more or less seems to understand what the agency does (and how it differs from the CIA and FBI).
Excellent all the way through and so far the best of this genre that I've come across.
July 31, 2010
Massively Multiplayer was a pleasant surprise for this reader. Although I have over the years enjoyed reading books set in worlds of high fantasy I have never been much of a fan of playing MMORPGs. Most of the game tie-in books that I have read (or perhaps I should say, I tried to read) were simply attempts to set a story in the shared world(s) of the MMORPGs with, at most, a small or not well constructed level of interaction with the non-virtual world. However, in Massively Multiplayer, Potter has layered two nested stories within the shared gaming universe and two separate but intersecting stories in the “real” world. Potter also does quite a nice job of creating the near future in which these imagined MMORPGs are functioning as well as a future in which believable computer developments in the now and near future have resulted in believable changes in American life and culture. By the time I was half way through the book I had a clear sense of what Crucible (the MMORPG around which the book is written) was like for those who wanted to play. More importantly I had a good idea as why different types of people would be interested in plunging into this shared universe. In the end I found myself enjoying the parts of the book set in the world of Crucible as much as I did the parts set in “our” world.
In short, a fun read and one that might help many a person who doesn’t quite get MMORPGs to look at them in a different way. The events in the real world are believable given the history of the commercial use of media and of the growing trend towards monetizing audiences. The bad guys have good reasons for acting as they do and the good guys are neither too good nor too smart to allow for a pleasant suspension of disbelief.
And Potter goes on my list of new authors to keep an eye on.
In short, a fun read and one that might help many a person who doesn’t quite get MMORPGs to look at them in a different way. The events in the real world are believable given the history of the commercial use of media and of the growing trend towards monetizing audiences. The bad guys have good reasons for acting as they do and the good guys are neither too good nor too smart to allow for a pleasant suspension of disbelief.
And Potter goes on my list of new authors to keep an eye on.
June 29, 2010
"Massively Multiplayer" is a boring title for a Young Adult sci-fi novel that is anything but boring. Aaron Potter deftly weaves three plots together without dropping any of the story lines, while developing a satisfying end for the reader.
"Massively Mulitplayer" explores the premis that as digital worlds become more robust and inclusive, the actions in the real world and digital ones will affect each other in significant - and often unexpected - ways. Potter's book provides a fast-paced and gripping proof that it could happen.
I recommend "Massively Multiplayer" for anyone who enjoys adventure.
(I received a free digital copy for review.)
"Massively Mulitplayer" explores the premis that as digital worlds become more robust and inclusive, the actions in the real world and digital ones will affect each other in significant - and often unexpected - ways. Potter's book provides a fast-paced and gripping proof that it could happen.
I recommend "Massively Multiplayer" for anyone who enjoys adventure.
(I received a free digital copy for review.)
October 12, 2018
This book was fine, but no more. There was a lack of dramatic tension, the characters were bland, and I just...didn't really care. I love litRPG, but this was not it. 1.5 stars.
September 3, 2014
Реших да се разнообразя с този кибертрилър. За мое учудване не съм срещал кой знае колко книги на български език в този жанр, което е малко разочароващо, но пък затова реших да прочета малко indie литература на английски. Имам смесени чувства към тази книга, но нека първо ви разкажа за какво става въпрос.
Книгата разказва за близкото бъдеще, в което по-голямата част от хората намират ново занимание в свободното си време – играта на MMORPG игри посредством очила и аксесоари, които предоставят реални усещания, нещо като по-напреднала версия на Oculus Rift. Сюжетните линии в този свят са няколко, те се развиват и пресичат паралелно, което прави книгата доста динамична.
От една страна имаме гигантска корпорация, която притежава една от най-развитите MMORPG игри „Crucible“. Компанията е купена от нов собственик, който поема контрол върху играта. Идеята на новата управа е да създаде най-реалистичната и най-въздействащата игра, ъпгрейдвайки „Crucible“ до версия 4.0. Част от висшестоящите служители обаче разбират, че нещо не е съвсем наред с данните на играта.
Другата сюжетна линия разказва за младия Андрю Хънтър, играч в „Crucible“, който започва ново приключение, но едва ли би подозирал каква ключова роля ще изиграе за бъдещето на играта и компанията.
Историята се заплита, когато се забъркват куп привидно несвързани събития: особени премествания на файлове и бази от данни, една поредица от странни куестове в играта, мистериозната поява на неписани от програмистите зони, както и едно разследване на ФБР и Агенцията за национална сигурност на САЩ.
Една огромна и невидима заплаха е настъпила във виртуалния свят, но нейните мащаби се простират и доста отвъд него.
Книгата наистина е динамична, но ми се струва, че не е добре написана. Личното ми впечатление е, че едната сюжетна линия се развива не съвсем с темпото на другата. На моменти ми ставаше скучно да чета за действието в „Crucible“, исках да чета за паралелните събития. Нещата не бяха много добре свързани, а развръзката дойде прекалено късно, чак в последните глави на книгата. Да си призная дори пропусках някои страници, за да мога да напредна със следващата сюжетна линия.
Авторът е положил усилия да включи максимален брой елементи, които биха се харесали на всички: интрига, мистерия, виртуални приключение и конспирация. Но въпреки всичко книгата ми се стори леко повърхностна. Очаквах нещо в стила на Филип Дик или Уилям Гибсън, но явно целевата група е била тийнейджъри.
Книгата е интересна дотолкова, че е идеална за лятно четиво. Но не бих я прочел пак!
Книгата разказва за близкото бъдеще, в което по-голямата част от хората намират ново занимание в свободното си време – играта на MMORPG игри посредством очила и аксесоари, които предоставят реални усещания, нещо като по-напреднала версия на Oculus Rift. Сюжетните линии в този свят са няколко, те се развиват и пресичат паралелно, което прави книгата доста динамична.
От една страна имаме гигантска корпорация, която притежава една от най-развитите MMORPG игри „Crucible“. Компанията е купена от нов собственик, който поема контрол върху играта. Идеята на новата управа е да създаде най-реалистичната и най-въздействащата игра, ъпгрейдвайки „Crucible“ до версия 4.0. Част от висшестоящите служители обаче разбират, че нещо не е съвсем наред с данните на играта.
Другата сюжетна линия разказва за младия Андрю Хънтър, играч в „Crucible“, който започва ново приключение, но едва ли би подозирал каква ключова роля ще изиграе за бъдещето на играта и компанията.
Историята се заплита, когато се забъркват куп привидно несвързани събития: особени премествания на файлове и бази от данни, една поредица от странни куестове в играта, мистериозната поява на неписани от програмистите зони, както и едно разследване на ФБР и Агенцията за национална сигурност на САЩ.
Една огромна и невидима заплаха е настъпила във виртуалния свят, но нейните мащаби се простират и доста отвъд него.
Книгата наистина е динамична, но ми се струва, че не е добре написана. Личното ми впечатление е, че едната сюжетна линия се развива не съвсем с темпото на другата. На моменти ми ставаше скучно да чета за действието в „Crucible“, исках да чета за паралелните събития. Нещата не бяха много добре свързани, а развръзката дойде прекалено късно, чак в последните глави на книгата. Да си призная дори пропусках някои страници, за да мога да напредна със следващата сюжетна линия.
Авторът е положил усилия да включи максимален брой елементи, които биха се харесали на всички: интрига, мистерия, виртуални приключение и конспирация. Но въпреки всичко книгата ми се стори леко повърхностна. Очаквах нещо в стила на Филип Дик или Уилям Гибсън, но явно целевата група е била тийнейджъри.
Книгата е интересна дотолкова, че е идеална за лятно четиво. Но не бих я прочел пак!
October 20, 2015
I enjoyed reading this book. However my MMO gaming days are over. I enjoyed the vision of yet another variant of VR. The story was well told and I liked the parallel developments in-game and iRL. But ... the final twist was just a little bit too much for me. I think for the length of this story a conflict or two less would have been fine. I liked the characters but if you stick something like "he's always humming classical music" on someone and it never once becomes relevant to the plot, it's just a gimmick. So all in all the story was well told and if you are into MMOs or gaming and stories involving virtual realities, go read it.
September 19, 2014
This book started out well with a fascinating setting in an mmorpg world that was very well thought out and just enough pseudo science to explain how the technology worked. In my opinion it was let down in two ways. First, there wasn't a clear bad guy to root against and that made the whole book seem like it was lacking direction at times. Secondly, although Andrew was set up as the main character in the beginning, he seemed to become less and less important as the story developed until one of the other characters basically said he shouldn't have even been in it.
Overall I enjoyed reading this book but I think to some extent a fascinating universe was wasted on a vague and only mildly interesting plot.
Overall I enjoyed reading this book but I think to some extent a fascinating universe was wasted on a vague and only mildly interesting plot.
September 24, 2014
I really enjoyed this book, which I wasn't expecting. Potter did a great job of intertwining the 'real' world storylines with the MMORG Crucible storyline. I noticed a couple of minor grammatical and spelling errors but not enough to detract from the book.
Want to read
May 18, 2010THIS IS MY BROTHER IN LAWS BOOK!
Read
April 21, 2012I WRITED YOU A E-BOOK.
February 13, 2015
Enjoyable read. Would it appeal to non-gamers? I'm not so sure it would, but since I speak that language, I thoroughly enjoyed this piece.
nope
May 9, 2018Not awful, just dull.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews