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.