Wagga: Alpha Physics, Book 1

An enjoyable read - I've downloaded and started the next one! Though not a page-turner to the extent that I couldn't go to sleep for needing to know what was going to happen next, it has definitely been fun to read. The best point about this book, I think, is that it is slightly different from others I've read in this genre for three main reasons.First, it's set in Australia. Reading a post-apocalyptic gamelit story which takes place somewhere other than the US is definitely refreshing and, for me, added an immediate bit of interest.Second, the interface (the way the character interacts with the System) is intriguingly different from other books I've read. Neither a clear separate individual being (like a dungeon fairy) or simply a technological structure enabling the character to see their stats, the interface in this book has clearly been thought through carefully. I'm curious to see whether the hints about sentient/sapient are going to lead anywhere...Third, the character is married with a family who he desperately wants to get back to. Most of the books I've read in this genre either have a MC who is single or who loses his family in the first parts of the book. While I can understand authors' desires for a 'clean slate', as it were, the desperation of the character in this book to find his family, along with the very human fears of what might have happened to them, add a bit of originality for me. To be noted here is the fact that the MC is far from perfect, and, apart from the luck which he seems to have been blessed with, has somewhat more realistic characterisation than others I've read (Dave Willmarth's Shadow Sun series is one of my favourites, but no one can argue that Alastair is realistic...)In short, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it.

Clever idea needs to slow down a bit to fully enjoy, when you've read it I'm sure you will understand.

Not what I thought that it would be, like reading my way through a computer game but thoroughly enjoyed the new direction, looking forward to the rest.

The writing style and slow pace made the first 30% of this book a slog. You get the MCs thoughts and actions combined with vague feelings and images from the interface all jumbled into one big heap. The last half of the book went by in a flash though, and I'm continuing the series even though I was considering dropping the book earlier.First 30-50%: 2/5, rest of the book: 4/5.

It starts relatively slowly and takes some perseverance to become engrossed in the challenges facing the main character. He is a somewhat unprepossessing individual who is not easy to like, but makes the right moral choices. By the end he has evolved sufficiently to be a dangerous player. I am interested in seeing how the story develops and have already got the next book.

I am a repeat reader of this genre so the waffle with the stats and progression gets a bit bemusing. On the whole the story has a strong backbone. A word of caution for the writer...please don't repeat stuff as I will get bored.

I'm liking the characters and story more as I read along. There are some mistakes here and there but they are just bumps in the road of a good story. I will be downloading the next one as soon as it comes out as I need to know what happens next. Cheers!

Amongst the glut of such stories out there, this author manages to be refreshing and exciting, pulling you along page after page till you sadly realise you've reached the end of the book.