The Game by Lee Pletzers is available on Kindle for just $.99.
Description:
An SJV award nominated novel (2010):
Phillip McKenzie has invented the most anticipated online game ever, with literately millions of gamers waiting on the game servers to allow connection. His daughter, Lisa, uses virtual reality to escape life with Phillip's ex-wife, a recovering junkie. Naturally Phillip sends his daughter free access to the game and a visor that is needed to play it.
However something dark is lurking in the game, a living virus, and when Lisa's brother Timmy is pulled into the game she has to play in order to save him.
While Lisa and a group of gamers battle to save Timmy, Phillip tries to come to terms with the unexpected computer glitch, it's not looking good.
Lisa's team soon discover that not all online gamers want to play the good guy, and the living virus has it's own allies.
Can the McKenzies with a little help from friends stop the virus from escaping to the real world?
From the Reviewers:
Phillip McKenzie has invented the most anticipated online game ever, with literately millions of gamers waiting on the game servers to allow connection. His daughter, Lisa, uses virtual reality to escape life with Phillip's ex-wife, a recovering junkie. Naturally Phillip sends his daughter free access to the game and a visor that is needed to play it.
However something dark is lurking in the game, a living virus, and when Lisa's brother Timmy is pulled into the game she has to play in order to save him.
While Lisa and a group of gamers battle to save Timmy, Phillip tries to come to terms with the unexpected computer glitch, it's not looking good.
Lisa's team soon discover that not all online gamers want to play the good guy, and the living virus has it's own allies.
Can the McKenzies with a little help from friends stop the virus from escaping to the real world?
From the Reviewers:
"I just finished reading Lee Pletzers's novel, The Game, the ultimate horror novel for gamers. Not only was it packed with virtual horror excitement, but also with characters' situations that felt real. We get inside the head of a junkie hooker, an underage girl being raped by her coke-head mom's boyfriend and her subsequent horror at her little brother's abduction by the nemesis, a woman not human, and her huge demon slave ready to beat anyone into the dust who goes against his master's wishes. I've never read a novel like this before, and I definitely recommend it."
--A. R. Braun
"Phillip McKenzie has invented the most anticipated online game ever, with literately millions of gamers waiting on the game servers to allow connection. His daughter, Lisa, uses virtual reality to escape life with Phillip's ex-wife, a recovering junkie. Naturally Phillip sends his daughter free access to the game and a visor that is needed to play it. However something dark is lurking in the game, a living virus, and when Lisa's brother Timmy is pulled into the game she has to play in order to save him. While Lisa and a group of gamers battle to save Timmy, Phillip tries to come to terms with the unexpected computer glitch, it's not looking good. Lisa's team soon discover that not all online gamers want to play the good guy, and the living virus has it's own allies. Can the McKenzies with a little help from friends stop the virus from escaping to the real world?
"Strangely, after wondering where I would find some kiwi Authors to review, my last two articles, including this one, have been on novels by New Zealanders. Which just goes to show you should be careful what you wish for in horror. I had previously run across Lee Pletzers via the excellent novel The Last Church so was eagerly anticipating the new novel when it surfaced on the review pile. However a novel about a demonic entity trapped in a computer game really shouldn't work, and hadn't we already seen this idea previously? I adopted a “let's see if Pletzers can impress me” approach and dived into the book. So how did the relationship go?
"Lee Pletzers once again delivers a strong piece of writing, and doesn't short change the reader by simply pumping out another book. We are probably all aware of Authors working in the dark genre who habitually write just another novel to pretty much just see their name on the cover. The Game shows a wealth of imagination, wrapped in outstanding prose, and leaves the Reader with a sense of satisfaction when they reach the final page. The Author paces well, we get enough description to imagine the game and real world settings without getting bogged down, develops his ideas well, and springs some surprises for those naive enough to think they are getting a free ride in the outback of horrordom. The novel is well written and takes some risks.
"While the idea of a sentinel computer entity that doesn't have humanity's best interests at it's core is a recurrent theme in horror, fear of technology perhaps? - Lee Pletzers spins the notion in a fairly novel, no pun intended, fashion. The virtual world is well conceived, but doesn't devolve into an omnipresent antagonist who is defeated by some miraculous, and highly unbelievable, means. Pletzers mixes in the requirement of all games, achieving set goals to advance levels, with enough horror to have fans of the genre happy with life. Sure there are some plot developments that stretch the relationship, would down town Wellington be deserted because everyone is either playing the online game or keeping a low profile, but not enough to take you out of The Game. At no stage was I left thinking a plot twist happened because the plot required it or the internal rules had been broken due to the Author writing himself into a corner. There's some strong ideas going down for those wanting more out of their meal than simple take-out, Pletzers delivers some sizzle with a rather good steak.
"Be warned The Game does turn nasty in some instances and may offend some readers, which after all is a requirement of a dark genre outing in all reality. There are surprisingly two rape scenes involved in the novel, one in the real world where a character actually disappears from the narrative after some virus intervention, and the second in the virtual world that is far more brutal and likely to have the ire of a number of groups happening. It should be noted the Pletzers isn't being exploitative in anyway and the two rape scenes no doubt go toward some deeper meaning that naturally escaped me. We aren't looking at writing that seeks to satisfy the cravings of the lowest common denominator, always a danger with Writers that have a poor handle on the whole dark genre thing, but equally the scenes in question are not for those who want to read safe and reserved parlour fiction that doesn't seek anything other than to mildly titillate a generally female audience.
"Once again Lee Pletzers delivers a solid horror read that takes the reader off the well trodden dark genre road over the moors and into fairly unique territory. About the only issue with the novel I had was with the “virus” not being as well conceived demoniacally as I might have liked. Then again that could well have been Pletzers game plan, so a minor quibble. I had a good time in the novel's world and look forward to Lee Pletzers next novel. If you like a little horror mixed in with cyber punk leanings, then dive right in, the water is mighty fine, virtually or otherwise.
"The Game is available from Triskaideka Books direct for a low $17.95 (USD) plus P&H. Excellent price right there, you could also check Amazon I would imagine. The Author is in the process of building a new web presence but is responsible for Masters Of Horror for those wanting to check things out. Sorry a bit too social network for this geek, but faceborg fans will no doubt get a kick out of joining and taking advantage of all the options. And before anyone asks, no ScaryMinds does not have a Facebook page and no we are never ever going to get one. Hey we do sporadically twitter.
"ScaryMinds Rates this read as...an engaging cyber punk nightmare.
--Australian Horror Writers Association Scaryminds review
"Phillip McKenzie has invented the most anticipated online game ever, with literately millions of gamers waiting on the game servers to allow connection. His daughter, Lisa, uses virtual reality to escape life with Phillip's ex-wife, a recovering junkie. Naturally Phillip sends his daughter free access to the game and a visor that is needed to play it. However something dark is lurking in the game, a living virus, and when Lisa's brother Timmy is pulled into the game she has to play in order to save him. While Lisa and a group of gamers battle to save Timmy, Phillip tries to come to terms with the unexpected computer glitch, it's not looking good. Lisa's team soon discover that not all online gamers want to play the good guy, and the living virus has it's own allies. Can the McKenzies with a little help from friends stop the virus from escaping to the real world?
"Strangely, after wondering where I would find some kiwi Authors to review, my last two articles, including this one, have been on novels by New Zealanders. Which just goes to show you should be careful what you wish for in horror. I had previously run across Lee Pletzers via the excellent novel The Last Church so was eagerly anticipating the new novel when it surfaced on the review pile. However a novel about a demonic entity trapped in a computer game really shouldn't work, and hadn't we already seen this idea previously? I adopted a “let's see if Pletzers can impress me” approach and dived into the book. So how did the relationship go?
"Lee Pletzers once again delivers a strong piece of writing, and doesn't short change the reader by simply pumping out another book. We are probably all aware of Authors working in the dark genre who habitually write just another novel to pretty much just see their name on the cover. The Game shows a wealth of imagination, wrapped in outstanding prose, and leaves the Reader with a sense of satisfaction when they reach the final page. The Author paces well, we get enough description to imagine the game and real world settings without getting bogged down, develops his ideas well, and springs some surprises for those naive enough to think they are getting a free ride in the outback of horrordom. The novel is well written and takes some risks.
"While the idea of a sentinel computer entity that doesn't have humanity's best interests at it's core is a recurrent theme in horror, fear of technology perhaps? - Lee Pletzers spins the notion in a fairly novel, no pun intended, fashion. The virtual world is well conceived, but doesn't devolve into an omnipresent antagonist who is defeated by some miraculous, and highly unbelievable, means. Pletzers mixes in the requirement of all games, achieving set goals to advance levels, with enough horror to have fans of the genre happy with life. Sure there are some plot developments that stretch the relationship, would down town Wellington be deserted because everyone is either playing the online game or keeping a low profile, but not enough to take you out of The Game. At no stage was I left thinking a plot twist happened because the plot required it or the internal rules had been broken due to the Author writing himself into a corner. There's some strong ideas going down for those wanting more out of their meal than simple take-out, Pletzers delivers some sizzle with a rather good steak.
"Be warned The Game does turn nasty in some instances and may offend some readers, which after all is a requirement of a dark genre outing in all reality. There are surprisingly two rape scenes involved in the novel, one in the real world where a character actually disappears from the narrative after some virus intervention, and the second in the virtual world that is far more brutal and likely to have the ire of a number of groups happening. It should be noted the Pletzers isn't being exploitative in anyway and the two rape scenes no doubt go toward some deeper meaning that naturally escaped me. We aren't looking at writing that seeks to satisfy the cravings of the lowest common denominator, always a danger with Writers that have a poor handle on the whole dark genre thing, but equally the scenes in question are not for those who want to read safe and reserved parlour fiction that doesn't seek anything other than to mildly titillate a generally female audience.
"Once again Lee Pletzers delivers a solid horror read that takes the reader off the well trodden dark genre road over the moors and into fairly unique territory. About the only issue with the novel I had was with the “virus” not being as well conceived demoniacally as I might have liked. Then again that could well have been Pletzers game plan, so a minor quibble. I had a good time in the novel's world and look forward to Lee Pletzers next novel. If you like a little horror mixed in with cyber punk leanings, then dive right in, the water is mighty fine, virtually or otherwise.
"The Game is available from Triskaideka Books direct for a low $17.95 (USD) plus P&H. Excellent price right there, you could also check Amazon I would imagine. The Author is in the process of building a new web presence but is responsible for Masters Of Horror for those wanting to check things out. Sorry a bit too social network for this geek, but faceborg fans will no doubt get a kick out of joining and taking advantage of all the options. And before anyone asks, no ScaryMinds does not have a Facebook page and no we are never ever going to get one. Hey we do sporadically twitter.
"ScaryMinds Rates this read as...an engaging cyber punk nightmare.
--Australian Horror Writers Association Scaryminds review
About the Author:
Lee Pletzers is a writer who is very active in the genre world, online and off. He has three novels published: The Last Church (2009), The Game (2010), and The Armageddon Shadow (2011). He has over 50 short stories published online and in print. He is also a member of AHWA (Australian Horror Writers Association), Fictioneers and a founding member of SpecFicNZ. He has edited 4 anthologies, worked as editor and reviewer for Sinisteria horror magazine, has translated one novel from Japanese to English and edited several novels for small press authors.
Lee Pletzers is a writer who is very active in the genre world, online and off. He has three novels published: The Last Church (2009), The Game (2010), and The Armageddon Shadow (2011). He has over 50 short stories published online and in print. He is also a member of AHWA (Australian Horror Writers Association), Fictioneers and a founding member of SpecFicNZ. He has edited 4 anthologies, worked as editor and reviewer for Sinisteria horror magazine, has translated one novel from Japanese to English and edited several novels for small press authors.
