Discordia: The Eleventh Dimension [Hardcover]

Dena K. Salmon (Author)

Book Description

Series: Discordia | Publication Date: April 14, 2009

For Lance (level 19 zombie sorcerer), and his friend, MrsKeller ( level 23 hobgoblin brigand), life’s a battle, and then you die. And then you rez. And then you battle again. At least that’s how it is in Discordia, the addictive online game that makes real life seem dreary in comparison.

At his new school, Lance feels weird and out of place, but in beautiful and complex Discordia, his zombie sorcerer is doing great: leveling fast, learning new skills, and making friends. He’s even met a level 60 toon, TheGreatOne, who has recruited him and MrsKeller into his guild: Awoken Myths. 

Lance wishes he could spend all his time in the game – until TheGreatOne transports Lance and MrsKeller to the real Discordia, the perilous world in the eleventh dimension which inspired the game. Before they’re allowed to leave, they must complete a high-level quest that may determine Discordia’s survival – and Lance’s, too.

 

If they don’t get out soon, Lance could permanently mutate into the character he plays in the game: a zombie. The friends accept TheGreatOne’s quest and meet Rayva, a runaway who may have been lured into Discordia against her will. The three make their way through a country on the brink of war, fighting monsters, traitors and spies – yet their greatest danger may be Lance himself.

Editorial Reviews

Review

To the detriment of his schoolwork, Lance Taylor spends every spare minute on his computer playing the game Discordia. His online gaming buddy, MrsKeller, whom he has never seen in person, is just as addicted as he is. One night while online, Lance and MrsKeller, who turns out to be male, are unexpectedly transported into another dimension where Discordia is a real place and they are actually living the game. They have been summoned by TheGreatOne, a zombie who needs their help to steal the wand of the powerful sorceress Alchemia. On their quest, Lance and MrsKeller meet Rayva, a slave girl who has managed to escape her cruel masters and who may be a gamer as well. After a long, dangerous journey, the three friends manage to secure the wand. But while frantically trying to pass through a portal to their home dimension, they become separated, and Lance ends up back in his bedroom in the "real" world while the other two, especially Rayva, may still be in dire straits. This novel's premise lacks originality, and its plot tends to unravel toward the end of the book. Nevertheless Salmon writes an electrifying adventure story that will keep readers captivated. Her disturbing, dreamlike images and graphic violence are best suited to older teens, especially those familiar with gaming. The cliffhanger ending will leave readers hooked and eager for the sequel. A helpful players' manual and a glossary of gaming terms for "noobs" are included at the end of the book. Reviewer: Dotsy Harland --VOYA

Review

Lance is your everyday New York City teen, juggling school and parents as best he can, but really living for the mystical online world of Discordia, where he comes alive as his alter ego, a level 17 zombie sorcerer. But the line between reality and online gaming blurs and then fades altogether when he and his friend MrsKeller are recruited to join the Awaken Myths Guild by TheGreatOne, a level 60 player. Suddenly, a snow day in the Big Apple becomes a journey though an unknown but oddly familiar landscape, where little-if anything-makes sense anymore. Using what they know from having played the game, they do their best to adapt to their circumstances and start a journey looking for answers. Separating friend from foe is only part of the challenge, especially after Lance finds himself slowly but surely turning into his zombie avatar. This is Alice in Wonderland turned upside down and made into a whiz-bang, nonstop read for the modern gamer. The only thing wrong with this book is its cliffhanger ending; readers will hope Salmon writes fast. (Science fiction. 10 & up)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (April 14, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1423111095
• ISBN-13: 978-1423111092
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,037,173 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing but slightly flawed, December 30, 2009

By 

James F. Booth "Book Chic" (Washington DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Discordia: The Eleventh Dimension (Hardcover)

While I am not an MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online) player, I still really enjoyed this novel. It can be a bit difficult to get into since it starts off with Lance playing the game and if it's not something you're used to, the plot can drag a bit, which it did for me. But once Lance has been pulled in, it becomes like a regular fantasy novel dealing with adventures and quests. The concept is really intriguing, especially in this age of WoW and other MMORPGs, and I loved how Salmon built the game world and the world that Lance gets pulled into (there are differences between the two).

The story is told in third person and it really feels that way- there's a distance between the reader and the characters and so I didn't feel like there was much depth in the characters; it's definitely more of a plot-driven novel than character-driven, which can be very good for reluctant readers, but not necessarily for avid readers (unless of course it's your preference).

I thought the ending was pretty rushed and everything came to an abrupt end in the last 15-20 pages. The story ends on a big cliffhanger, which definitely leaves me wanting more. Overall, I'd say it's an above average novel but nothing to write home about. If you're into fantasy and/or MMOs, this is the book for you. For people new to MMOs though, there is an introduction and user manual plus glossary in the front and back of the book, respectively.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable..., August 7, 2009

By 

Randolph Carter - See all my reviews

This review is from: Discordia: The Eleventh Dimension (Hardcover)

A friend of mine gave me a copy of this book and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I've played massively multiplayer online games for quite some time now and found Salmon's spin on the genre fascinating. She's done her homework. That's for sure.

I would certainly recommend this novel to anyone who has ever been curious about what the experience is like playing an MMO. She captures the excitement and addictive aspects of the experience perfectly.

This is the kind of story I would have really enjoyed as a teenager. It's nice to know not much has changed all these years later.

Like most of the other reviewers here, I too am eagerly awaiting the sequel.

RC

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I was hooked on page 1!, June 18, 2009

By 

Bruce Felton (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Discordia: The Eleventh Dimension (Hardcover)

By her own admission, Salmon isn't much of a gamer, but she doesn't have to be when she can write a story and create a world as varied and textured as Discordia. I've never been big on fantasy fiction but totally lost myself in the magical, beautifully crafted and often frightening world of Salmon's imagination. (Reading the book on the subway, I forgot to look up and went two stops past my station.) I hope Salmon is working on a sequel--and I hope Lance and MrsKeller never kick their addiction to video games!