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B. Barmanbek
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Culpa Innata Paperback – October 22, 2012

by B. Barmanbek (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 20 ratings
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Beneath the perfect world lie unspeakable sins.

Ever since the Great Meltdown, the most devastating economic depression the world has ever seen, a new global power has risen up: the World Union. Beyond that lie the Rogue States.

The World Union has ushered in an unprecedented era of self-interest and fulfillment. Prosperity is a science, self-interest and entitlement a new religion, peace is at hand and the future has never looked brighter. But does this perfect world hide darker secrets?

Phoenix Wallis has just been hired as Senior Agent of the Global Peace and Security Network inside the Union. She's grown up inside the Union, and ever since she was a child, she's trusted its sanctums. But when she is assigned a high-profile murder just one week on the job, she enters an investigation that compels her to question everything she's ever known, thus starts her battle for survival and sanity as she uncovers a series of deeply buried secrets within herself.

The original story behind the cult video game of the same name, B. Barmanbek's Culpa Innata, is set in a world with haunting similarities to our own. As Phoenix begins to ask questions for her assignment, she inadvertently triggers a series of shockwaves throughout the mighty Union, and realizes that there's a very fine line between what is real … and what is not.
Beneath the perfect world lie unspeakable sins.

Ever since the Great Meltdown, the most devastating economic depression the world has ever seen, a new global power has risen up: the World Union. Beyond that lie the Rogue States.

The World Union has ushered in an unprecedented era of self-interest and fulfillment. Prosperity is a science, self-interest and entitlement a new religion, peace is at hand and the future has never looked brighter. But does this perfect world hide darker secrets?

Phoenix Wallis has just been hired as Senior Agent of the Global Peace and Security Network inside the Union. She's grown up inside the Union, and ever since she was a child, she's trusted its sanctums. But when she is assigned a high-profile murder just one week on the job, she enters an investigation that compels her to question everything she's ever known, thus starts her battle for survival and sanity as she uncovers a series of deeply buried secrets within herself.

The original story behind the cult video game of the same name, B. Barmanbek's Culpa Innata, is set in a world with haunting similarities to our own. As Phoenix begins to ask questions for her assignment, she inadvertently triggers a series of shockwaves throughout the mighty Union, and realizes that there's a very fine line between what is real … and what is not.
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  1. Print length
    508 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    October 22, 2012
  4. Dimensions
    6 x 1.27 x 9 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1466472677
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1466472679
  7. See all details
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4.3 out of 5 stars
20 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book has a unique adventure with fascinating characters. They describe it as a brilliant mystery novel centered around Phoenix. The writing quality is described as well-written and realistic, with an excellent balance of dialogue and narration.

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6 customers mention "Pacing"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and a unique adventure. They describe it as a brilliant mystery novel centered around the protagonist Phoenix. The story is described as intriguing and provoking, with cliffhangers on almost every page that keep readers hooked.

"Culpa Innata is a brilliant mystery novel centered around protagonist Phoenix Wallis, an agent investigating the murder of a citizen from a peaceful..." Read more

"...Admirably conceived and powerfully engaging this is a provoking and fecund work that examines our social , emotional and political world." Read more

"...The game was fascinating, and really well done, but assembled in such a way that enormous pacing problems were almost inevitable...." Read more

"...Of course this is all fiction, and revolves around a good story.There are of course the "light bearers" who have the true power...." Read more

6 customers mention "Writing quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the writing quality. They find it well-written and realistic, with a good balance of dialogue and narration. The book is nice to read.

"...while the game was dialogue-heavy, the book does an excellent job at balancing dialogue and narration...." Read more

"...It was well written and for me had moments of "what will happen next" even though I had played the game." Read more

"...game are tied together MUCH more clearly, and the writing in the dramatic moments is top notch...." Read more

"...is very refreshing from other novels about the future, it is very well written but is more realistic than others I have read...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Anthony T
    5.0 out of 5 stars A phenomenal futuristic mystery novel
    Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Culpa Innata is a brilliant mystery novel centered around protagonist Phoenix Wallis, an agent investigating the murder of a citizen from a peaceful futuristic society. Based on the fantastic PC game released in 2007, the novel not only brings Phoenix to a new medium, but also re-introduces almost all of the PC game's original characters. Several characters who played minor roles in the PC game play much larger roles in the novel. You will learn much more about the pompous Julio and the resourceful Beverly. There are also many new characters in the novel who are so fascinating that they fit into the story perfectly.

    The novel is not merely a rehashing of the PC game. Barmanbek transforms the original story into a much more full-bodied work of art. Some gaps in the plot are filled in, and there are changes and additions to the original plot. Also, while the game was dialogue-heavy, the book does an excellent job at balancing dialogue and narration.

    Despite clocking in at almost 500 pages, the novel is fast-paced throughout, and there are cliffhangers on almost every other page, which kept me so close to the edge of my seat I nearly slid off. I would recommend playing the PC game before reading the book, but the novel is fantastic on its own.

    If you have any interest in murder mysteries, science fiction, or dedicated yet flawed female protagonists, then Culpa Innata is a must-read. Even if your interests differ, I would still recommend Culpa Innata for a compelling read. Ignore the drivel topping the NY Times Best Seller list and take a chance with Culpa Innata. Once you become a World Union citizen, you will never look back.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great Adaptation
    Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2013
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    I played the point and click adventure game that book is based on. The storyline of that game that I played years ago was excellent so I wanted to see how the book would stack up. I was not disappointed. It's a mystery set years into the future where there are no longer countries but one world state and rogue states. It was well written and for me had moments of "what will happen next" even though I had played the game.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Hayley
    5.0 out of 5 stars Smart Sophisticated Edutainment for Grown ups
    Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2013
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    Culpa Innata - Latin for Innate Sin or Innate Fault is a detective thriller based on the hugely successful computer game .

    It takes the genesis of an elitist utopian world then builds a canvas of limitless imagination as the protagonist Phoenix Wallis begins her search for the murder of a local citizen and unravels a web of dystopian intrigue.

    It works as a novel even if you are unfamiliar with the game as it has been adapted with depth care and absorbing intricacy.

    The characters are textured with undiffused singularity and translate easily into the folds of the story.

    At its heart the novel expresses several themes liberated through the use of plot structure and synergy with a definite creative co action between the ideas represented through the narrative and the characters used to enunciate those concepts .

    Comparisons to Huxley's Brave New World are inevitable but I think the visionary echoes of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz are closer to the mark , here vividly manifested in the final chapters of the book.

    Admirably conceived and powerfully engaging this is a provoking and fecund work that examines our social , emotional and political world.
    One person found this helpful
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  • William Bentrim
    3.0 out of 5 stars A Dismal Future
    Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2012
    Culpa Innata by B. Barmanbek

    This story is set in a future where the planet is dominated by the World Union. The World Union was created to stabilize the planet after a devastating global depression. Brave New World came to mind when reading the book. Phoenix a new, young global police force agent is assigned a murder that is well beyond her experience. What she uncovers may be the most potent threat to the World Union since it's inception.

    I saw part of this story as a coming of age for Phoenix. Although very bright and loaded with talent she is unable to perceive her own abilities and strengths. Her lack of self esteem is her biggest road block to success.

    The World Union does not read like a fun place to live. The author takes aberrant aspects of society and promotes them far beyond their Peter Principle. The germs of origin make them recognizable but just barely.

    This is a thought provoking book, more thought provoking than enjoyable for me. I had trouble getting into it and difficulty staying with it.
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  • Lake K
    5.0 out of 5 stars This would likely be a fun read even if you've never heard of the game
    Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2014
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    I assume most people who find this will be familiar with the related adventure game. The game was fascinating, and really well done, but assembled in such a way that enormous pacing problems were almost inevitable. The book manages to maintain everything that made the game so fascinating while completely smoothing over the trouble patches. The events of the game are tied together MUCH more clearly, and the writing in the dramatic moments is top notch. The story is largely the same until the ending, which is completely different and offers clear closure where the game did not.

    This would likely be a fun read even if you've never heard of the game.
    One person found this helpful
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  • AmberB
    5.0 out of 5 stars The settings and people are how I can imagine people to be years from now which is very different than trying to picture the wor
    Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    This book is very refreshing from other novels about the future, it is very well written but is more realistic than others I have read. The settings and people are how I can imagine people to be years from now which is very different than trying to picture the world in novels like 1984 or Brave New World. I am usually able to figure book endings out pretty quickly but this remained a mystery as to the ending. Good read to try out from a foreign author!
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  • Authenticated Amazon User
    2.0 out of 5 stars Ugh
    Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2013
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    This book did not hold my interest. Just not that well done. I kept waiting for something interesting to happen, or for me to care about a character. It didn't happen. When I read sci-fi I break it down as such. Is there a concept or idea being explored that is new, or at least looked at from a new perspective? I didn't find that here. I also didn't find it to be a book that stood up well in terms of writing style, characters etc. That is, as a book, and not just an idea.
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  • paubut
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2017
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    very good!
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 8, 2013
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    This is a novel set in the future where the world has gone past the brink of WW3 with total financial collapse and riots. The new world is the World Union where people are rated with a HDI (Human Development Index) which show their societal status. Greed is seen as a good personal trait and altruism as dangerous and foolish behaviour. The main character is senior peace agent Phoenix Wallis of the GPSN (Global Peace Security Network) and she is tasked with solving a murder of an individual in the rogue states (free thinking but wild non-World Union countries) who had immigrated to the World Union.
    It's a reasonably fast paced novel, well written and engaging. There are multiple plot twists and layers of complexity. For anyone interested in conspiracy theories, in NWO theories it will be an interesting fictional perspective. Science fiction enthusiast would also likely enjoy this nice long page-turner.
    This book also has an adventure style modern and high quality video game based on it which I would advise playing before reading so it doesn't ruin your game. The game has the same name and is available on Steam.
    One of the best books of the many I have read this year. Highly recommended!!
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  • Sam
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 14, 2013
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    I enjoyed reading this because it was well written, different and thought provoking. I hope this author will publish a sequel.
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  • David in Sussex
    3.0 out of 5 stars OK but it's not the game
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 28, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    The book is a reasonable but not great sci fi depiction of a dystopian near future. I bought the book because I so enjoyed the computer game of the same name and wanted more of the story. But oddly, while the book contains most of the scenes from the game, even word for word the same dialogue in places, it is not actually the same story and therefore was a let down after my enjoyment of the game. Starts with little details, we know what the heroine, Phoenix, looks like in the game with her short dark hair, so why is it shoulder length, blonde hair in the book. Phoenix in the game loves her home city & has lived there most of her life but in the book she hates it and has only recently and reluctantly returned. The explanation for the back ground mystery in the game, saving the world from destruction by the sun, doesn't exist in the book making the behaviour of our underground movement little more than meddling in society for no obviously justified reason. In the game Phoenix is a sympathetic everywoman, who can't put her finger on why she is disillusioned with her world, but carries on being as professional as possible in some increasingly bizarre situations. In the game she is isolated, near psychotic and even arrogant but we are supposed to admire her I think. Her success in the book is based on unlikely serendipity, befriending a super computer by chance, business investors willing to put up millions for no obvious good reason and a most unlikely character turning out to be an expert on mind control devices just when she needs one. The game had an intriguing, internally consistent plot and a likable lead character, the book throws all of this away. So after the game I'm afraid i found the book a serious disappointment.
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