Street: Empathy [Paperback]

Ryan A. Span (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 24, 2008

In the future, telepathy is no longer a fantasy; it's a job. Gina- just Gina- is a woman with no future, trying to make her living along the Street of Eyes, where people go to hire the desperate and the suicidal for their unique services. She is one of the sellers, the new underclass, who use "third eye" or "Spice"- a powerful drug that gives them the ability to read minds- as their way of making ends meet. The drug has only one downside- it drives the user insane. Gina no longer cares about the risks and is content to go on the way she has for years, not knowing fate has something very different in store for her when she accepts a mysterious job from an unusual buyer. Before she knows it, Gina finds herself embroiled in a dangerous mystery, hunted by gangs and madmen, consorting with hackers and assassins, and all the while trying to keep her mind from coming apart at the seams. Street: Empathy is the first volume of the acclaimed online series STREET.

Editorial Reviews

Review

While cyberpunk fans wait for the next Neuromancer or Blade Runner to get excited about, Street may be something to pique their interest. And who knows... in twenty years, somebody may write a cyberpunk novel or film a movie based on Street. -- Cyberpunk Review, March 27, 2008

About the Author

Ryan A. Span is a prolific science-fiction author with work on display all over the web. An active sport fencer and computer game designer, his current creative focus is Street, a serialised online novel series based on the old school of cyberpunk. Empathy is the opening volume of Street.

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: Gryphonwood Press (February 24, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0979573831
• ISBN-13: 978-0979573835
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,380,055 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good SF/Cyberpunk read, July 8, 2009

By 

TW Ervin II (Ohio, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Street: Empathy (Paperback)

Street: Empathy is a science fiction (cyberpunk) novel that's fast-paced and action-packed. It follows Gina, a person who sells her mind-reading services to any individual or corporate representative who wants them, much like a prostitute of today. The main drawback is the inevitable result of using the drug which allows one to read the minds of others. Eventual insanity.

A mysterious deal gone bad rockets Gina into a deadly cat and mouse game, one where she doesn't know the stakes or understand the rules--other than getting caught is a bad thing. Only her wits, quick learning and a bit of luck keeps her one step ahead of the bad guys (sometimes), all the while she strives to figure out exactly who involved is her friend, enemy, or simply using her.

The world and its depth that Ryan Span created to tell Gina's story holds together well, avoiding the inconsistencies (especially questionable logic) one sometimes encounters when reading science fiction novels containing future dystopian societies.

I'd give it a 4.5 stars, but since I can't do that here, bumped it up to five.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Kill, Kill, Faster, Faster, November 28, 2010

By 

Specklebang (Las Vegas NV) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Street: Empathy (Paperback)

I bought this book in 2008 for some unremembered reason and finally dragged it out last week and read it.

Hey, you know what? It's pretty good! The pacing is terrific, high body count and interesting characters.

I'm going to tag this book:Altered Carbon: A Takeshi Kovacs Novel (Takeshi Kovacs Novels) and Gideon's Fall: When You Don't Have a Prayer, Only a Miracle Will Do to give you an idea.

I'm going to buy the next book in the trilogy. Ah ha, it just arrived! The author has this entire series for free on his website but I want to support the author by buying the hard copies and giving them a permanent home in my library.

3.0 out of 5 stars Starts with a bang. Coasts to a dull landing across a very long runway., January 15, 2011

By 

JGBarnes - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Street: Empathy (Paperback)

Absolutely ZERO spoilers ahead.

The first 7 or 8 out of the 18 chapters were very good. I was connected. I was engaged. The story showed a lot of promise, coating the reader in intoxicating murals of wildly imaginative mind trips painted beneath the feet of vulnerable characters that are reeled into potentially massive plot revelations.

The entire time, I couldn't wait to find out what it all adds up to. What equally satisfying bombs will the writer drop on me later? Sadly, it seems, that after the first seven or so chapters, instead of maintaining that ramp, the story dips into an extrapolation of redundant exposition just to fill out pages as a means to the end of the first novel. While the writing is generally great and very smart, the story itself leaves much to be desired. While that might be enough for some readers, as special effects and big explosions might be enough for some movie goers, it never seems to go anywhere that's very fulfilling.

With all that said, it's easy to see that the story came from a genuine place. The lead character, Gina, is a very well thought out and endearing young woman. I felt the sexual tension with her was a tad forced and a bit too influenced by the testosterone of the writer, yet never ventured into unacceptable territory and generally seemed innocent. If it weren't for Gina, I would have put this novel down three chapters in.

The remaining characters were serviceable with spikes of a charm peppered throughout. It's unfortunate that right when things start to get bigger for the cast the novel ends. It's understandable that there are more books in the serial, but I don't find it to be a great excuse to sacrifice a satisfying read just to expand the universe in the next outing.

The more suspenseful scenes, I hate to say, were held together by way too many conveniences, therefor dulling the intensity I wanted to feel. Without spoiling anything, there were a lot of moments like "This door is locked, how do we get through? Good thing I have insert-convenient-device-here to assist us while I explain why this can't be convenient because now there will be a small paragraph of exposition supporting the plausibility of said convenience." Remember, this example is not literal.

All harsh criticisms aside, the final two chapters had me glued, including a final scene that felt refreshing and open, just the way foreshadowing the impending big adventures should feel. Street: Empathy is a smart read with a strong lead carrying some engrossing visual treats along her ride through various wonderfully realized locales, however there lacks a tasty meal beneath the colorful candy shell with a great conclusion that comes too little too late.