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MetaWars: The Dead are Rising

A change is happening in the Metasphere. Thanks to Jonah Delacroix, the avatars of the uploaded have been transferred to a dynamic new virtual world. But as the Uploaded grow in strength so does their desperate desire to be alive again. And in a world at war bot on and off-line, how can Jonah tell who is really on his side? On thing is for certain: he must find out fast because… the dead are rising – and nothing can stop them.

MetaWars: The Dead are Rising is the second book in the MetaWars series written by Jeff Norton. After the explosive start of the series in Fight for the Future this was definitely a series for me to watch. I recently received a copy of the second book and Jeff Norton continues the trend set in the first book to the fullest.

Just a short recap of what was going on in the first book. MetaWars takes place in a global dystopian setting, after the fall of the governments several privatized companies took to power. One person, Matthew Granger, created the Metasphere – an online VR world where citizens can plug into to have a better life, escaping real life. This was a second heavy theme in the first book – escaping reality. Matthew is the leader of the Millennials, who face off against the Guardians who want to make the Metasphere a free place. There were a lot of things happening in the first book on both sides and a third with Mr. Chang. The Dead are Rising picks up after what happened in Fight for the Future.
Compared to the first book there is a different tone in The Dead are Rising. The storyline felt broader and several aspects were more emphasized. Where there was a lot of action in the first book there is now more focus on Jonah’s character, showing his viewpoints better and his struggles to help at one point even 4 causes: that of the Millennials, Guardians, Mr. Chang and the Uploaded. The book in itself was used greatly in playing directly into the world that was created in its prequel and there is hardly time and pace wasted in a lot of explaining, there are some references but those made the story that more fluently.

Jonah Delacroix, the main protagonist, already had a hard time in the first book in trying to please everyone and everything. And in trying to do this he went to too many lengths. His actions played out for both better and worse. His struggles were shown neatly and he was still divided whether to join up with the Millennials or the Guardians. In the Dead are Rising, Jonah is still confronted by the many parties, and in my opinion, they both carry good arguments. But as the story now takes certain drastic turns you see Jonah really growing. He is becoming bolder by the events that surround him, very determined to reach his goals. There was a great interlude in the story featuring around Jonah where he rationalizes the action of the Millennials, Guardians and Mr. Chang. From that point he is a new Jonah setting his goals and showing a great flare of determination. Furthermore there was an introduction of the “Lakers” a gang in Santa Monica, in this encounter it felt that Jonah got a reality check where he first was mostly centred around the virtual world, he now sees the ruins and is confronted by the fact, if he thought he had it bad, it can get even worse. In this reality check you see Jonah taking the reign and being a “hero” to help them. Another character that played an important role in the first book was Samantha, the daughter of one of the Guardians, I did feel that her presence felt more in the background, which was quite a pity since she was great in Fight for the Future, standing up to Jonah and sometimes being a bit opposite and careful. I hope to see her voice more stronger in the third book.

In my review of Fight for the Future I mentioned Matthew Granger as more or less the bad guy. But still had reservations about whether to put the label on to him. And still with the second book finished I still cannot say who are the good guys, the Guardians or the Millennials and who are similarly the bad guys. With the introduction of Mr. Chang and the threat of the Uploaded some of the tables have turned for me. And coming back to the part of the book where every cause is running its own agenda. I think I will keep a divided opinion about the labels. For example, Mr. Chang wanted the Uploaded in the Metasphere, but did nothing when things got out of hand. And Matthew, was the only one trying to solve the problem of the Uploaded.

There was one part that I missed from the beginning, the offline world. The first part of the book dealt more with the direct results of the actions of Jonah’s in Fight for the Future, where the Island of the Uploaded was changed to the Changsphere. Though this part is worked out greatly and added a thriller element to the story. I just missed the offline world that was created in the first book. Luckily for me this part was picked up in the second half where Jonah among others got to meet up with the “Lakers” gang in Santa Monica.

Another part that I missed in this book was the references to the mother of Jonah. Jonah lost his mother by the hand of Matthew. Now that he is back with his father there is quite the emotional scene between them. Jonah lost his father in an airport bombing by the Guardians. I can understand Jonah, that he might be clinging to the one part that he can hold, his father and seeking to reunite. But Jonah did leave his mother in the building that got destroyed, I would have liked to have seen more on this past relation with his mother, with some flashbacks.

With MetaWars: The Dead are Rising, Jeff Norton continues the great MetaWars series. The second book in the series focuses more on the consequences that were set in motion by Jonah actions in the end of the first book, producing again a fast pacing and action filled plot but with a side-line. Jeff Norton took, to my pleasure, enough time to add an emotional tinge to the story between Jonah and his father. And in the short time that they got to spend together there was a great mind teaser: Jonah’s father said that the Guardians did not kill him… but then who did? Many questions, got answered but more were raised.

There are two corners left of the Metasphere still to be taken, but with the Uploaded now roaming the Metasphere and people not logging in I have no clue where the story may pick up. But there are many interesting leads especially with the unveiling of the many parties involved. Book three of the series, “Battle of the Immortal” is out in Spring 2013.


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