Review of Master Version 1.1
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Violet Devreaux
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Review of Master Version 1.1
[Following is a volunteer review of "Master Version 1.1" by Antanas Marcelionis.]
Master Version 1.1 by Antanas Marcelionis is an action novel set in a fictional version of the current conflict in Ukraine. In this world, streamers double as soldiers who make money by creating videos of their kills or captures and subsequently publishing them for viewing. The protagonist is one such streamer who possesses advanced technology, namely a cybernetic arm.
I thought the concept was an interesting one. However, the actual novel itself was not particularly enjoyable. The character writing falls into the ‘Mary Sue’ trap by creating a protagonist who is simultaneously a blank slate with no real personality and who also happens to excel at almost every task. There’s a romance between the protagonist and the scientist, Atari, that is underdeveloped and doesn’t feel natural. Lastly, the reading experience is comparable to watching a person play Fortnite. The protagonist takes one action after another with very little transition or character development. The novel doesn’t dive into the implications of streaming in a war zone like I expected it to do.
Personally, I think this book might have been better had the author not chosen to write it in the context of a real-world war. If you’re hoping to glean any insights into the war in Ukraine or its effects on neighboring countries like Poland or the Baltic states, this book is not for you! The book has watered down a real-world event into an action movie-style romp. It didn’t come off as very respectful to me as a reader, especially after having recently visited Lithuania and spoken to people there about their thoughts. That is, however, my own two cents.
If you’re a reader who enjoys flashy action movies, combat video games, and discussions of technology, you might enjoy this one. Some of the technology scenes are done well. I would caution readers who love traditional war stories that they are not the audience for this one. It’s not focused on the reality of war or its tragedies. This is solely a book for hard action-adventure readers.
Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t my cup of tea. I noted a couple of typos, but for the most part, it’s perfectly readable. A different type of reader might enjoy this one.
Overall, I would give this book two out of five stars. The first two stars are earned for minimal technical mistakes in the writing and readability. The remaining were detracted for issues with the writing flow and character development that I mentioned earlier in this review, as well as a general lack of depth. It was difficult to stay invested in this book.
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Master Version 1.1
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Master Version 1.1 by Antanas Marcelionis is an action novel set in a fictional version of the current conflict in Ukraine. In this world, streamers double as soldiers who make money by creating videos of their kills or captures and subsequently publishing them for viewing. The protagonist is one such streamer who possesses advanced technology, namely a cybernetic arm.
I thought the concept was an interesting one. However, the actual novel itself was not particularly enjoyable. The character writing falls into the ‘Mary Sue’ trap by creating a protagonist who is simultaneously a blank slate with no real personality and who also happens to excel at almost every task. There’s a romance between the protagonist and the scientist, Atari, that is underdeveloped and doesn’t feel natural. Lastly, the reading experience is comparable to watching a person play Fortnite. The protagonist takes one action after another with very little transition or character development. The novel doesn’t dive into the implications of streaming in a war zone like I expected it to do.
Personally, I think this book might have been better had the author not chosen to write it in the context of a real-world war. If you’re hoping to glean any insights into the war in Ukraine or its effects on neighboring countries like Poland or the Baltic states, this book is not for you! The book has watered down a real-world event into an action movie-style romp. It didn’t come off as very respectful to me as a reader, especially after having recently visited Lithuania and spoken to people there about their thoughts. That is, however, my own two cents.
If you’re a reader who enjoys flashy action movies, combat video games, and discussions of technology, you might enjoy this one. Some of the technology scenes are done well. I would caution readers who love traditional war stories that they are not the audience for this one. It’s not focused on the reality of war or its tragedies. This is solely a book for hard action-adventure readers.
Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t my cup of tea. I noted a couple of typos, but for the most part, it’s perfectly readable. A different type of reader might enjoy this one.
Overall, I would give this book two out of five stars. The first two stars are earned for minimal technical mistakes in the writing and readability. The remaining were detracted for issues with the writing flow and character development that I mentioned earlier in this review, as well as a general lack of depth. It was difficult to stay invested in this book.
******
Master Version 1.1
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Golden Manuscripts: A Novel by Evy Journey
