Customer Reviews

Discordia: The Eleventh Dimension

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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

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!

I loved this book! Each time I sat down to read I would go into a fantasy world and be totally into the adventure.
Whether you are addicted to online video games or not, you will thoroughly enjoy this book.
It was hard to stop reading and I didn't want it to end. I intend to read this again and hope that there is a sequel. I will be first on line to purchase it.

Fast moving, imaginative, witty, this is a classic fantasy journey with a modern twist. Some readers (particulary pre-digital-agers) may be surprised by the gamer's setting, but portals between our world and other worlds are a staple of fantasy fiction (think as far back as the Narnia classics or the The Neverending Story). That traditional conceit is transformed here in a satisfyingly original way and it is tremendous fun -I won't spoil it by revealing too much. The story is full of vivid detail and has a witty tone that doesn't take itself too seriously. The land of Discordia feels more than real as the human characters adjust to their transformed selves in a new (and yes, dangerous) world. Look for incredible fun as they discover what loot really looks like and tastes like and find out how it feels to actually encounter a sobbing Banshee with one huge nostril. Anyone who enjoys fantasy science fiction will have a blast with this new and welcome addition to the genre.

Although Lance is still a n00b in the MMOG (massively multiplayer online game), Discordia, he feels much more at home in the online world of the game than in his new school and apartment building.

His zombie sorcerer, also named LANCE, has already reached level 17 with the help of his hobgoblin friend, MRSKELLER, and the two spend many hours flirting and going on quests. Things get even better when a level 60 zombie named THEGREATONE invites both LANCE and MRSKELLER to join in a guild dedicated to leveling up newer players, and then recruits them both for a dungeon quest.

Even though THEGREATONE seems to take the role playing a little too seriously, MRSKELLER points out that they can always leave the guild and ignore him if he turns weird on them.

But things turn a little too weird when, while running from the dungeon in the game, Lance wakes up in a strange land with blood on his hands, face-to-face with real life versions of MRSKELLER and the THEGREATONE.

Once Lance and MrsKeller get over their initial shock, TheGreatOne explains that he has pulled them both into the real world of Discordia, the land in turmoil that inspired the game. Lance and MrsKeller both have the innate ability to transport themselves to the eleventh dimension, and TheGreatOne now needs them to go on a real quest before he will tell them how to get back.

Left with little choice, Lance and MrsKeller embark on their quest, translating their knowledge of the game for use in the real world of Discordia as best they can. When they team up with a runaway slave named Rayva, they realize that they have limited time, because Discordia may claim them forever, along with Lance's humanity.

An interesting take on the blending of fantasy and reality, the author skillfully brings us into the land of MMOGs, making the terminology and actions accessible to those who have never played such games. Although any gamer would probably appreciate this fantastic tale, you don't have to be one to enjoy it.

Reviewed by: Allison Fraclose

I love this book! I couldn't put it down until I had read the whole thing. And, yes, I do play an online game similar to the one in the book. Can't wait for Dena's next book to come out!!!

If there's anything more addicting then real MMORPGS, it's this book. It's one of my favorite books, and this is coming from a fan of Bartimaeus, Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Harry Potter. It's witty, it has good action, and is extremely creative. Whether you're a fan of video games, or a fan of fantasy, or just a fan of good books, you will enjoy this one. READERS WARNING: Make sure you take some breaks for fresh air when reading this book! You may be up all night because you can't put it down.

Well no not exactly, but very close. I play an online game and have wondered "WHAT IF??"

Well this book goes a good way to answering the question. I could not put it down as I wondered what would happen to Lance and MRsKeller next.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who plays a video game online and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to have a good book to read. You don't need to be a game player to enjoy this...just a fan of good fantasy.