Virtual War [Hardcover]

Gloria Skurzynski (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up

Brought up in an isolated computer-generated environment, fourteen-year-old Corgan, a genetically engineered warrior, teams up with Brig, a mutant military strategist, and Sharla, a computer decoder."

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Any teen who's ever been sucked into a video game or spent time in virtual worlds on the Net will be completely transfixed by this chilling, fast-paced novel. Fourteen-year-old Corgan was genetically engineered to be the fastest player on any electronic playing field. Every second counts, too, because Corgan is preparing for the big war: a bloodless, electronic battle to be waged against other doomed worlds. Always mindful of the Council's orders, Corgan has trained his whole life for this war, but--on the eve of the battle--he decides to break the rules for the first time. Do the Council members really know what's best for the Earth? Corgan needs to learn to think for himself, because everyone on the planet will be affected by his decisions.

From Publishers Weekly

"Taking place almost entirely in a shifting series of simulated environments," said PW, "this speed read could be just the ticket for cyberfiction enthusiasts." Ages 10-14.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing; 1st edition (June 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689813740
• ISBN-13: 978-0689813740
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,692,196 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Virtual War is the Best Science Fiction Book, February 16, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Virtual War (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a really good book. I used to hate Science Fistion Books but for school I had to read one. One of my friends told me to read it. It is a bout a fourteen-year-old boy who lives in Wyoming in the year 2080. After Earth is infected but many diseases there is a war over an island that is not infected. Corgan and two other people Sharla, and Brig. They have to help Corgan win the war. This is one of the best books I've read. If a 12-year-old girl tried it and liked it you should too. It is fun and exciting. It gets you hooked in the second chapter.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the best book in the world, October 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Virtual War (Hardcover)

This is a great book. I highly recremend it. The way it was written makes you feel like you're in the war and seeing it first hand. It was full of action and set in the future, and its plot introduced a creative way to think what the furure is going to be like. Even more important than the idea of what the future is going to be like was how they fought the war. The war was in virtual reality, which meant nobody actually died, even though the fighting felt very real. That is a great idea. Virtual War has suspense, action, great characters, and is extremely exciting. You've got to read it!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Weak Main Character, March 13, 2007

By 

A. Luciano (Lowell, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Virtual War: The Virtual War Chronologs--Book 1 (Mass Market Paperback)

Corgan has spent all of his fourteen years living in a box. Sure, the box can appear to be anyplace he wants. Virtual playmates and pets can be created for him. He has a virtual companion who teaches and nurtures him. But he is still in a box.

The problem, he has been told, is contamination. Ever since the Earth went through nuclear war, and ever since deadly diseases like Ebola and AIDS and hanta virus killed off all but about two billion people on Earth, everyone has had to live in sterile environments. Corgan is especially important, so he has never been exposed to any people or places that might cause him contamination. Corgan is a genius.

Corgan has a super developed sense of time. He can keep track of time down to hundredths of seconds, and he is aware without counting how much time has passed at any given moment. He also has a superior sense of touch--he can bring his hands to within a hair of something without touching it. Corgan's abilities will help his country to win the war.

In all of Earth, nowhere is left uncontaminated. Well, nowhwere until the Isles of Hiva are examined and it is found that they are without contamination. There will be a war to see which government will have control of these Isles and will be able to populate them. Corgan and two other children--Sharla, a super codebreaker, and Brig, a super strategist--will fight in this virtual war to determine possession of the Isles of Hiva.

I liked the concept of this book, and I liked the descriptions of a future in which Earth is contaminated to this degree. However, Corgan was too passive to be a good character. He should have rebelled more or at least questioned his life more. Also, his crisis of possibly losing his time-splitting abilities would have been an interesting side plot, but it is just dropped instead of examined.