Review: 54. The Discovery of Socket Greeny by Tony Bertauski...

Title: The Discovery of Socket Greeny (Socket Greeny #1)
Author: Tony Bertauski
ISBN-10: 0982845200
eBook
Self-Published
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Tony Bertauski

drey's thoughts:
Socket Greeny is a teenager whose father is dead and mother works a ton and is never home. So he hangs out with his best friends Scooter and Chute all the time; but I imagine he'd still hang out with them all the time anyway. The three like playing in virtualmode, which is kinda like the next step for today's MMORPGS (massive multi-player online role-playing games)--it's virtual, there are multiple massive worlds, and everyone has avatars. But in virtualmode, you're there, and experiencing everything your sim does (within limits, of course). One day while in virtualmode, the three are attacked and Socket does something to save them.

Next thing you know, his mom's picking him up and taking him to a super-secret facility where he's poked and prodded. Talking droids offer him everything from advice to warnings. And he finds out that his mom works for the Paladin Nation, who're pretty much the entity that saves the world from ourselves, and he has special powers that the Paladin Nation is interested in.

The next section of the book details Socket's stay with the Paladin Nation, where he learns more about his father and meets new characters--some nice, some not so. Then he returns to the real world and finds out that the virtual sims (called duplicates) are mounting a coup, and it's a race against time to shut them off before the world as he knows it disappears (along with him in it).

The storyline jumps around in the beginning: here's Socket and his friends; wait, now there's Socket in the Paladin Nation. You bounce from his friends to unknown mind-readers and fantastical creatures. The story settles somewhat in the Paladin Nation while Socket makes his discoveries, then you're jumping back into reality where he's trying to patch up his friendships (well he had been gone for a while...). Overall, though, you'll enjoy meeting Socket and exploring the world where technology and science-fiction meet a stubborn teenager who's willing to mouth off if he thinks he can get away with it.

drey's rating: 3/5 Good: A bit lengthy in parts, but you'll be rooting for Socket and his friends.

April's FEATURED AUTHOR: Tony Bertauski and baseball..

Today I'm happy to have Tony Bertauski--April's Featured Author--stopping by with a guest post about that All-American sport--baseball, panic, and self-consciousness. In that order.

FROM THIRD TO FIRST

One hundred and thirty feet may as well be a mile.

In the summer, I’d throw a baseball against a brick wall for hours, fielding the grounders that bounced back. When my friends came over, we’d carry bats, balls and glove to an open lot and play until dark. The bases were dirt spots. A homerun was over the alley. We’d sneak into yards to get our baseballs back. That was half the fun.

I wasn’t the best ballplayer. Wasn’t the worst. I’d check the paper every day, read the Little League box scores. When I went 4 for 4, I swelled with pride. Hitless and my face sunk to the floor, convinced everyone in our small town was laughing. What the papers didn’t show was the thrill of a solid put-out, when a ground ball is hit over third base and I pick it with a clean backhand, plant and fire across the field in time to get the runner by a half step. No, the papers don’t show that. They can’t capture the flow a surfer feels when they connect with a wave or a skateboarder nailing a flawless trick. And they can’t capture the beauty of a graceful put-out.

But in high school, I discovered the power of the mind.

I was still playing third base. We were warming up. I was throwing thirty feet, putting the ball chest-high every time like I’d done a thousand times. It was effortless. I marveled how perfect each throw was. How I tossed the ball without thought. How it went right where I wanted it to go. Every time. Thirty feet, that’s a long way. I was suddenly conscious of my fingers on the seams. The leather texture. How my elbow bent and how far I took my arm back.

The next throw sailed twenty feet in the air.

I tried to forget it. But my mind had seized on it. My fingers became talons. My hand a claw. Forget third base, I couldn’t throw the ball ten feet! My teammates thought I was goofing. I didn’t know how to explain it. When I was at home, I went back to the brick wall, but the more I practiced, the harder I tried, the worse it got. Panic strangled me.

At some point, I threw sidearm. The ball came out perfect. I changed my motion, the follow-through, it broke the grip my mind had on my body. Now I just needed to keep my mind away from it. Mercifully, the coach moved me to second base where I ended my baseball career by the age of eighteen. And, unfortunately, happy to do so.

But that moment started a new chapter of self-consciousness. I was afraid of my mind. And eventually became a prisoner of that fear. The only way out was to embark on a journey of understanding. After twenty-some years of meditation and practice, some of that self-consciousness has transformed into self-awareness. I’ve learned the difference between thoughts and presence.

Still, when I see a third baseman field the last out of the World Series, plant his foot and throw 130' to first base, I’m amazed at the grace with which he does it.

Thank you for stopping in this month, Tony. I've enjoyed your posts & your As to my Qs! Come and visit us again soon.

To keep up with Tony, check in on his blog: In the Self-Centered Dream.

April's FEATURED AUTHOR: Books Tony reads...

Good morning, y'all! Today, April's Featured Author Tony Bertauski shares what he likes to read--and why...

My grandpa was uneducated. He spent most his life in a steel mill outside Chicago. When he wasn’t working, he was reading. It was mostly paperback sci-fi novels, easy ones he could rip through in a day. When he was finished with one, he’d put it on one of many bookshelves throughout the house. I remember sneaking through his closet filled with retired books and the smell of old paper. The spines creased, splitting names like Asimov and Anthony.

I read a lot of those musty books. Dune is the one I remember most. Herbert created this entire universe and philosophy. I couldn’t imagine how someone would make up something that complex and detailed. I went back to it when I was older, ended up reading every book in the series.

However, I didn’t share my grandpa’s reading addiction. In fact, I’m more likely to put a book down than finish it. I don’t feel a need to plow through something that I’m not enjoying. I want a book to carry me on its wings, not make me climb a mountain.

I give most books 50 pages, but I usually know if I like it on the first couple. It’s the voice, mainly. Style, too. It’s the whole “show, don’t tell” thing that makes writing hard. The concept sounds easy until you try it. It’s easy to tell the reader your character is sad or angry or emotionally unstable, but it's much harder to demonstrate that with a scene or dialog that’s not extraneous. But when the writer can parse his or her words and capture the essence of the character, make me feel what’s going on, then they have my full attention.

Lately, I’ve been putting a lot of books down. Many are well-written, just not my flavor. In the last year, I started reviewing each book on Goodreads, LibraryThing and Amazon. As a writer, I’m sensitive to the author, not that many of them read reviews. Keep it constructive, not necessarily positive. Because of that, I’m much more open to my own reviews, which aren’t always positive but usually constructive.

Nowadays, I’m usually reading YA. Books that I’ve read to the end? Unwind by Neal Shusterman sits firmly on top my YA sci-fi list. Well-crafted. The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson takes a close second. The entire Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins was an enjoyable ride.

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness was an interesting read. There were aspects that made it difficult to read, in particular the style of dialog. But it was engrossing. However, I got to the end of book three, The Monsters of Men, which was over a thousand pages into the trilogy, and I quit with 50 pages to go, speed-reading at light speed to the last page. It was too long. Felt repetitive, at times. I was exhausted by the characters and just wanted it to be over.

My favorite writing style this year? The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Based on reviews, it appears to be a love or hate style. It’s metaphor rich, and not all of them make sense. But it’s the first book that had flavor.

My favorite voice this year? Years ago, I discovered what voice meant in writing when I read Pulitzer Prizing winner The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. This year is was Laurie Halse Anderson. I read Wintergirls and Speak, not my usual fare but came recommended by my daughter. In my opinion, one of the best YA writers out there. Like Sean Penn disappears into Harvey Milk and Tom Hanks into Forrest Gump, Anderson transforms into the voice of a teenage girl. It’s mesmerizing, no matter what the topic.

Reading something that good makes me a better writer. Just a little bit.

Thanks for your thoughts, Tony! I loved The Book Thief, and made it through every single Dune book (at least, till the ones his son put out). Anderson is on my list of authors to pick up, I just haven't gotten there yet. And you've added to my to-read pile now, thanks. (yes, that was sarcasm...)

April's FEATURED AUTHOR: Tony's books!

Today's spotlight is on our Featured Author Tony Bertauski's books, which are YA sci-fi novels about a sixteen-year-old whose life changes irrevocably. The Discovery of Socket Greeny is a 2011 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award quarter-finalist in the Young Adult Fiction category!

The Discovery of Socket Greeny is the first book in a young-adult scifi trilogy that explores love, angst and Zen-like acceptance of true nature in kick ass fashion. Reluctant readers, especially boys, will find this story compelling, enlightening, entertaining, and, yes, even emotional.

Work comes first for 16-year old Socket Greeny's mother ever since his father died. That was 11 years ago. Now, in this tech-driven futuristic society, he's zoned on energy drinks and living in virtual worlds because Mom rarely comes home. He doesn't know what she does for a living. The bills get paid and the refrigerator is full, so why bother with details? His only real world thrill is fighting. He doesn't always win, but that's not the point. Breaking skin is a reality rush.

But a world can change in a single moment.

It's a school day like any other, until Socket starts hearing other people's thoughts. He's hallucinating, maybe brain rot from too much virtualmode. Even when time seems to stop, he ignores it. The mind playing tricks. But when his mom arrives at school, he knows it's for real. She's there to take him to work.

The Paladin Agency.

He discovers an evolved race of humans that have existed for centuries, where thoughts can be heard. And felt. They are people that can manipulate time through the body's metabolism. They protect the rest of humankind and strive to bring them understanding of their full potential. But some Paladins see humankind as inferior. Imperfect. Cancer.

Socket soon finds himself in the center of controversy when he's anointed a Paladin prodigy. He didn't ask for the "blessing" of psychic powers and the ability to timeslice, he just wants to go home and be normal again. But, sometimes, life doesn't give us that privilege, his mom tells him. And when humankind is threatened and the Paladins are forced into the public eye, Socket discovers what his mother means. If he doesn't embrace his true nature, the world will change forever.

Purchase at Amazon: paperback, Kindle

Book 2 in the Socket trilogy. A year has passed since the Paladin Nation was exposed to the public. Their mission is still to protect humanity from whatever may threaten them. Previously, it was the human duplications, but now that they've been extinguished their biggest challenge is dealing with the complications of public image. Socket Greeny, now 17 years old, has been a Paladin cadet for the past year and is nearing the final test. But that's the least of his problems. He's trying to live two lives: one as a superhero while hanging onto his normal life. While fearlessly dealing with his masochistic trainer, he's trying to salvage his deteriorating relationship with his girlfriend back home. But Socket's greatest challenge is to find his true enemy. He discovers that fear has many faces.

Purchase at Amazon: paperback, Kindle

Book 3 in the Socket trilogy. The Paladin Nation is rebuilding. Socket Greeny is leading them into a new era of compassion and understanding. But when Pike returns, Socket discovers nothing is what he expected, that his life has been planned from the beginning. He is faced with ultimate betrayal. In the end, he won't be asked to save the world. It'll be the entire universe.

Purchase at Amazon: paperback, Kindle

Have you read Tony's books? What did you think?

April's FEATURED AUTHOR: Meet Tony Bertauski!

Hello everyone! Can you believe it's April already? o.O And with a brand new month, we have a brand new author to introduce. Please welcome Tony Bertauski, who'll be hanging around here this month. *grin*

drey: Hello and welcome to drey’s library, Tony! Thank you for taking the time to visit us this month.

I'll start off easy. Who is Tony Bertauski?

Tony: I’ve been asking the same question since I was a kid. Who am I and why am I here and what happens when I die? Unfortunately, these profound questions didn’t make me any smarter or life any easier.

Right now, I’m a husband, a father, a college teacher, and a part-time writer. I enjoy walks on the beach and a cozy warm fire. Actually, no I don’t. I live near the beach but don’t dig it. Sand gets in everything. I’d rather watch a good movie with my wife or drink a good beer. And I’m still interested in knowing what this is all about.

drey: Well, when you figure that out, let me know. I could use all the help I can get!

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Tony: I suppose it was high school, although you wouldn’t know it from my grades. One of my friends had this natural ability to write. He’d pass notes in class that were hilarious or write a paper the night before it was due and get an A. It was ridiculous. I wanted to do that.

I had to work long and hard to write coherently. It took me forever to finish a Masters’ thesis. Most of my early efforts were technical, such as trade magazines and textbooks. I wrote fiction in my spare time but in hindsight it was abysmal. I read and studied the craft for years before I got recognition with a short story in the South Carolina Fiction Project (2008).

Much of my writing is seen in a bi-weekly gardening column (Post and Courier, Charleston, SC). The past six years I’ve worked personal anecdotes into an otherwise technical column about gardening that has gained regional popularity.

drey: Tell us about Socket Greeny and his books.

Tony: This sounds cliché, but it’s true. Swear to God.

I started writing a story for my son when he was young because he hates reading. My daughter started reading before she could read. I’m not kidding. She’d sit there with a book propped on her knees and make up words as she turned the pages. But my son, he hated it. So I figured maybe I could write something he’d get into.

I failed. Miserably.

But then I got hooked on the character, Socket Greeny. Don’t even remember how I came up with the name. All I had was this character, this teenager that was struggling with the meaning of his life. I can’t say the story was easy to write – I must have written dozens of drafts – but I thoroughly enjoyed the writing experience. There was frustration when I got stuck, but then the story would unfold in my head while I was in the shower or lying in bed and I’d rush to a pen and paper to jot down the details.

In the end, it was a three-book journey of self discovery in kickass fashion.

drey: Kickass is always good! *grin*

Where do you find inspiration for Socket Greeny?

Tony: I suppose the inspiration really came from my own life. By the time I hit my 20s, I was struggling with daily life. Call it depression. I worked through it in counseling, but it was Zen practice that really allowed me to make some sense out things.

My first efforts at the Socket Greeny story were preachy. Disgustingly so. Blech. I wanted readers, especially males, to relate to the struggle and perhaps find some inspiration to seek meaning in their own lives. But without the preaching. Besides, I’m no Zen master.

The story eventually transformed into something entertaining and fun and exciting while holding a trace of Zen and the Search without bashing the reader over the head with it. In the end, it makes you ponder what life is really about. Are we just a collection of thoughts and memories? Are we something more? What?

drey: What do you do to recharge your batteries?

Tony: Daily meditation. An absolute must. And a good cappuccino doesn’t hurt.

drey: Smackdown: Your favorite character faces off against a Marvel superhero. Who’s the character, which superhero, who wins, and why?

Tony: I liked superheroes before they became movie stars. I was a big fan of Frank Miller’s Batman because it was gritty and all too human. But in the movie, Batman just seemed to be a strange dude wearing a costume that wouldn’t kill anyone but wasn’t opposed to breaking every bone in their body.

But if I got to pick a superhero, it’s Spawn. He’s a superhero, right? I mean, he works for Satan, sort of, but doesn’t seem to like it. But the cape and the chains are just badass.

Socket wins.
Every. Single. Time.

Why?

He has the ability to stop time through accelerated metabolism. How can you fight that?

drey: What’s up next for you?

Tony: Lately, I’ve been writing columns and posting on my blog. As far as fiction, I’m focused on marketing the Socket Greeny trilogy. One of these days I’ll get to Socket prequels. I’d love to flesh out how some of the characters in Socket’s life came to be.

drey: And, last but not least, the quickie 5:

1. Favorite movie? Blade Runner
2. What should you never forget to take to the beach? Reclining beach chair. Best place for napping.
3. Yoga or tai chi? Any but yoga!
4. Jazz or alternative rock? Old school alt rock. Jane’s Addition. Pixies.
5. Chocolate: Solo or paired (& if paired, with what)? Chocolate, peanut butter and cold milk.

Thank you so much for swinging by! I hope you enjoy your visit with us this April, Tony. :)


Everyone, find Tony online at his website, http://bertauski.com/, and on his blog In the Self-Centered Dream.

Giveaway!
Tony has one hard copy and one e-copy of The Discovery of Socket Greeny for you, if you live in the US or Canada. To enter, fill out the form below before 6pm CST April 28th. Good luck!