The Scriptlings

by Sorin Suciu

Existing ISBN. We have redesigned the cover and having read the rules listed at https://www.goodreads.com/help/show/8... I am hoping to combine the editions and use this new cover.

Thank you,
Sorin Suciu

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, Humor, Urban Fantasy

372 pages, Paperback

First published September 2, 2013

About the author

A gamer by vocation and an office dweller by dint of circumstance, Sorin lives in beautiful Vancouver with his wonderful wife and their vicious parrot.

Born in Romania, Sorin stubbornly resisted the temptation to learn English for well over twenty years. When he finally gave in, it was not work or video games that weakened his resolve, but rather the mindboggling discovery of Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams and Monty Python. With such teachers, it is no wonder that, much in the same way some lucky people learn to ride before they walk, Sorin learned to be funny before being fluent (even if he says so himself).

A late bloomer, Sorin Suciu made his literary debut in 2013 with The Scriptlings, a tongue-in-cheek contemporary fantasy aimed at geeks and mortals alike.

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sorin Suciu has done something that I thought damn near impossible. He has taken a very Pratchett like sense of humor and pacing and placed it quite well in a modern setting.

"The Scriptlings" centers on two protagonist, each "Scriptlings" or students of magic.

Merkin is a natural, born to magic the same way a tigress is born to the hunt. She is the Scriptling of Master Dung, a paranoid, plagiarizing magician who steals his scriptlings work and calls it his own, has a fould temper and is all around as nice as a moldy piece of lunch meat served with tepid, algae laced water. Having had enough of him, after he had "grounded" her, Merkin uses a spell she devised in this magic system, based on computer code and syntax, and a plan involving a poor pizza delivery boy being murdered by Master Dung and kills him, fainting away as she does so. After a sereis of events involving two policemen and another man, she finds herself the scriptling of a new master, Master Sewer..

Then there is Simon. Simon has a degree in computer science and works at 'Second Cup' a coffee house. He is also about as magical as a stick of gum. Simon receives an email with a job offer, and decides to check it out. He goes to the supplied address to find a door with a computer mouse for a knocker. Using his keen gamer instincts he double clicks the mouse and the door is answered. The man who answers takes what Simon believes to be a geiger counter and scans him. Handing his a sheet of paper with some writing on it, the man ask Simon to decipher it. It's in latin, Simon know as much latin as a 3rd century Chinese Cat tamer, but he recognizes the writing as similar to computer code. As he is about to tell the man this, he is shot through the heart with a miniature crossbow, and dies. He wakes to a strange version of Toronto, and a talking staple with eyes hovering over him. Things progress, and "Stapley" the personal assistant informs him that he is being reconfigured by Master Loo. He wakes, Master Loo informs him that he is now his scriptling, telling him about magic and what not. After a bit of drinking, to celebrate this event, Loo informs Simon that he must pick a magician name, and offers the name Wart. Simon says that he will think of a name later, or if he doesnt' and wakes with a hangover, his magicians name will be the first thing he says when he wakes. In the morning, Loo wakes him and the first words out of his mouth are "Buggeroff". Say hello to the Scriptling, Buggeroff.

The rest of the novel involves a goat that thinks it's a snake, A world traveling Tribe, and the Ultimate computer virus. I fear of telling too much, due to spoilers and what not, but trust me, it's well worth the read.

I would venture as far as to call Mr. Suciu a budding Pratchett of North America, but somehow I don't think even Sir Terry could work the word, "BEYOTCH!" into one of his Discworld novels.

I really hop this is the beginning of a long and healthy series from Sorin Suicu. I would be first in line for a sequel.

Well Done!!

[Laura May · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've just reread this book, and the only conclusion I can possibly draw from my previous four-star rating is that I am mentally deficient. You'll be glad to know though that I've made significant recovery, realised the error of my ways, and am now giving this book 5 stars.

The Scriptlings is basically a magical land of awesomeness. (Yes, yes I've been out the last two nights. Don't expect an erudite review!) It combines witty dialogue, well-written characters and a solid plot with IT jokes, puns, and sheer smart-arsery. It makes me happy. I would whole-heartedly recommend this book to any fans of Terry Pratchett or Douglas Adams, and/or anybody who's every wondered what it would be like to have Microsoft's Clippy inside your head and helping you with your magic talents.

10/10 (which is the same as 5/5, but sounds better).

[Garrett Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, ladies and gents, it's not often that this happens, but I come to you absolutely SMITTEN by my favorite new find. It's a book called The Scriptlings, by indie authors Sorin Suciu.

You know it's good because it's got 1337-speak in the title

Okay, so here's a measure of how good this book is: I can think of no other way to begin this book review than by comparing it to Terry Pratchett. It's exactly that flavor of insouciant, laugh-out-loud fantasy. It's definitely not Pratchett—it's slightly more "Americanized" (odd, because it's set in Canada) with a bit more violence, a bit more almost-profanity (again, odd in Canada) and a whole lot more sex. It's like Pratchett if Pratchett was American instead of British.

I found this book thanks to the authors contacting me through my book review line. I must admit, I had been considering removing my book review line. Most books I get through that line feel like a chore to read—they're not bad, necessarily, but they're not great. I will tell you unequivocally—I though this book was great with a capital GREAT. Now, I say that with some caveats. It's a nerd's book. It has lots of in-jokes from contemporary pop culture and fantasy, and more than a few computer geek/programmer jokes. Those are what this book is all about—if that's not your cup of tea, you might not enjoy it as heartily as I did.

The premise of the book is that, in modern day, Magicians live among us. Magicians take apprentices from time to time, and these apprentices are called Scriptlings (hence, the title). Magic is dependent on code, similar to computer code, but it can only be rendered in dead languages (Latin, Sumerian, etc.). Over the last little while, magic has been slowly seeping out of the world, resulting in a decline in the number of Magicians out there. The brand-new Scriptling Buggeroff (more on that in a moment) is caught up in a plot to reverse this decline and restore balance to the world, all while contending with his own magical education.

MAIN CHARACTERS

(By the way, it's a testament to the skill of Suciu that I was able to write this section without needing to refer back to the book once. Very unusual in my book review posts).

BUGGEROFF: I suppose I should let you know right off the bat that, in the Scriptlings universe, Magicians choose dirty words for their "magic names." Such is the case with Buggeroff, a brand new Scriptling apprenticed to Master Loo (see below). Buggeroff is brought quite unwillingly into the world of Magicians and magic, and while simultaneously beginning his magical education under Master Loo, he is caught up in the plots of Merkin and Master Sewer to restore the balance of magic to the world. Awkward, bumbling and yet intensely brilliant with magic due to his prior knowledge of computer programming, Buggeroff is a charming protagonist who had me laughing my ass off from his first appearance on the page.

MERKIN: As the book's second paragraph states, "If you know what a merkin is, then shame on you. if you don't then, suffice it to say, it is a nasty word." Merkin is a young Scriptling apprenticed to Master Dung. She leaves his employ for reasons I will not reveal here (spoilers, after all) and becomes the apprentice of Master Sewer instead. Merkin is an exceptionally brilliant young Scriptling whose command of magic often rivals or even surpasses her masters. She has a dark history to run from, one that is tantalizingly fed to the reader piece by piece as the story progress. At once prideful (and therefore fallible), hypersexual, and possessed of a certain naivety about the world, Merkin is a fantastic female character who I thoroughly enjoyed journeying with. My one complaint is that she is the only female human character in this cast of five. But no matter. Feminism aside, the book is a fantastic read and Merkin provides enough excellent character for multiple women. She is certainly the best character in the book in terms of entertainment value, backstory and development, and plot agency.

MASTER LOO: Master Loo is the old, doddering, frighteningly forgetful master who brings Buggeroff into his Scriptlingship (as stated before, quite unwillingly and unpleasantly). Far from a tyrannical or overbearing master, however, we really get the sense that he only did it as an odd experiment to see what would happen. That feeling is further developed through the course of the rest of the book. Master Loo is as entertaining as any other member of the cast, very smart (when he can keep his mind on the matter at hand) and a wonderful mentor figure to Buggeroff.

MASTER SEWER: Master Sewer is a former Scriptling of Master Dung's, and therefore is only too willing to help Merkin once she escapes from under his dominion. Master Sewer is incredibly attracted to Merkin, though he tries his damnedest to restrain himself due to their Master/Scriptling relationship. Though a powerful Magician in his own right, he finds himself constantly surprised at the tenacity and brilliance of the younger Merkin as he attempts to instruct her in all things Magical.

MASTER DUNG: A terrible, smelly, ugly and cruel old man, Master Dung makes life miserable for all of his Scriptlings. He is forcibly left by Merkin early on in the story, and becomes obsessed with revenge when she joins forces with Master Sewer afterwards. Pursuing his quest for vengeance across the rest of the novel, Master Dung schemes, connives, and subjugates the will of semi-intelligent helper entities to get what he wants.

PROS AND CONS: This is a tough section. There is nothing about this book that I can easily consider a "con," other than the minor point of only a single female major character. So instead, I guess we'd better just go over the Pros.

PRO: Hilarious. This is every bit as hilarious as some Discworld novels, complete with footnotes that link together quite nicely in the Kindle version of the book that I received. I haven't laughed out loud this often and this hard since...well, since the last Pratchett novel I read.

PRO: Magic System. Suciu's magic system is intensely intriguing, and will be even more so to anyone with even the vaguest smattering of programming or general computer knowledge (as I have).

PRO: Great characters who only slightly slide into stereotypical archetypes. Each has their own quirks, vices and differences in manner and appearance that make them appealing to a reader. Again, very Pratchett-like.

OVERALL RATING: 5 out of 5 STARS

Seriously. Go buy this book. Currently it's only available in paperback, but I don't believe that you'll regret paying for a paperback. The author has notified me that it's coming out on Kindle in the near future (I believe he said in the next month).

[Stewart Tame · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fans of Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett should get a kick out of this humorous fantasy novel. Before I start: a word about the character names. Magicians, tradition decrees, must choose a new name for themselves, and the name must be disgusting. As the book begins, Merkin, a scriptling, is furious with her teacher, Master Dung. Meanwhile, Master Loo is engaged in an experiment to grant magical abilities to a mortal. Simon, the mortal in question, is unaware that part of the process involves his dying ... Wonder of wonders, the experiment works, and he becomes Master Loo's scriptling, adopting the name of Buggeroff. And his new powers come with a helpful mental assistant, a sort of user interface facilitator named Stapley. And I haven't even mentioned Gertrude, the sometimes invisible goat who thinks she's a snake ...

There's more to this book than just wacky characters, some of whom have scatological names. There's a threat to the entire planet that needs to be stopped, for one thing. The story is told in oodles of short chapters, each from a different character's point of view. Those with some background in Latin (or Russian. Or Sumerian.) will get a kick out of the spell texts. Suciu does provide a complete list--with translations--at the back of the book. I've been pitching this book to folks who ask me what I'm reading as, "Magicians as tech geeks." It's a wonderfully wonky fantasy, and the good news is that Suciu is already working on a sequel. Recommended!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sorin Suciu’s debut novel,
The Scriptlings , is unlike anything I have read, except for one random Terry Pratchett story. I am also not a game player and my knowledge of computers - although increasing - is still quite minimal. All of these “deficiencies” made me wonder if I would understand “The Scriptlings”, let alone enjoy it. I am delighted to say that not only did I like it, but I hope there is more to come from this talented writer, for I would love to read more of the characters introduced in this book.

Scriptlings are apprentice magicians and the two featured in this very amusing novel are known as Merkin and Buggeroff. In their earlier lives, they were called Silvia and Simon, but on becoming “enrolled”, they are given their magic names. Merkin is a very talented young scriptling, who is not afraid to use her many feminine attributes if it is to her advantage. Becoming a scriptling was rather a surprise for Buggeroff, but he, too, shows great promise as a magician.

Merkin’s first master is Master Dung, a thoroughly unpleasant magician, who steals many of Merkin’s ideas. It is with considerable speed that he receives his comeuppance at the hands of his scriptling, who then becomes novice to Master Sewer. Her new master is more than attracted by her charms, but he also recognises her skill in the magical arts and sets her a challenge to create a computer virus.

Master Loo has Buggeroff to train as a magician and of all the masters, he is the one that I prefer. He has some odd ways, but, on the whole, seems to have “dear Buggeroff”’s wellbeing at heart. He is also the “owner” of a goat who thinks she is a snake and can become invisible! Another character which amused me is Buggeroff’s Personal Assistant, Stapley, who lives inside his head and can assume different modes of speaking.

There are several intertwining plot threads, but to try to explain them would definitely spoil this novel - and also take too long! Had I known more about computer games and computers in general, I probably would have “got” many more of the jokes, but I still found that I had many chuckles. I can recommend this to anyone who has enjoyed Terry Pratchett; also if the 3Ms appeal! My 3Ms are Magic, Mayhem and Madness - more please, Mr. Suciu.

I received this as an ARC from the author, in return for an honest review. Thank you, Sorin Suciu!

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Scriptlings is the unlikely, yet strangely charismatic lovechild you would expect if Magic and Science were to have one too many drinks during a stand-up comedy show in Vegas.”

That description intrigued me enough to want to read The Scriptlings. It’s really more like a cross between computer science and magic but that doesn’t matter much because the outcome is still entertaining.

The idea behind this novel is that computers run on a miniscule amount of magic. I’ve always suspected that could be true and wouldn’t be surprised to hear the same for microwave ovens. When more and more computers are created, some magicians realize that magic is an exhaustible resource. They notice there are fewer magicians around in these modern times and their powers aren’t as great as they once were. They blame computers for taking too much of their magic away. Their solution is to come up with the ultimate virus to wipe out all computers while restoring magicians to their rightful place in the world.

Scriptlings are magicians in training. I enjoyed the Buggeroff character and Stapley actually made me feel nostalgic after a while. The fact that the old Microsoft icon becomes a character made me like this book even more.

Merkin is the other Scriptling in addition to Buggeroff. She uses her looks and the promise of sex to her full advantage. It would have been nice to see her character develop a little more. The presence of the only other woman in the novel (Ina) could have offset this, but she doesn’t appear until toward the end. My favorite characters ended up being Master Loo and of course, the semi-invisible goat.

To the author’s credit, even though he set the stage with two Scriptlings trained by magicians, they don’t enter into a predictable competition. I thought that might be where the novel was heading at first and was happily surprised when that didn’t turn out to be the case.

I loved the whole idea of the Tribe of master magicians who kept circumnavigating the globe while reincarnating themselves. They would whisper a few secrets here and there to regular people, which explains certain things like the magic of The Beatles or electricity.

Computer programmers, video game players, Dungeons & Dragons fans, and anyone who ever watched Dr. Who or played Risk will love this book. I’m sure there are all kinds of inside jokes that went over my head, but The Scriptlings still made me laugh a lot.

[Loren Szendre · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a unique, quirky and interesting book! Knowing the ins and outs of programming and the development of operating systems is almost a requirement to get the most out of this book. My Sumerian is not as advanced as my Latin or Russian, but it was a lot of fun to read the spells :) The humor is constant and clever, and shows the quirky and quick mind of the author.

The start of the book was stronger than the finish. The "tribe" thing was interesting at the start, especially the details of their language. But the whole book ending on it wasn't very satisfying. There were many moments in the last hundred pages where I looked forward to the book ending.

I was looking for something shorter and off-beat after reading the 5-volume Lightbringer series, and this book did not disappoint. The fact that the author's first language is not English only adds value. The author is a genius and an clear observer of people and culture.

There is always a danger of linking your art to so many artifacts of recent culture. It definitely results in some big laughs, but many will not share the same knowledge and culture, and it won't be as funny or interesting for them.

I see that many readers have given this book 5 stars. I understand their enthusiasm - but do they realize that they are equating this book with A Tale of Two Cities, Les Miserables, The Brothers Karamazov and The Way of Kings? This book is a gem among the crowded throng of books trying to garner attention. There are many thousands of mediocre books being published these days. Fortunately, this book is not one of them. Highly recommend it to nerds and all those who know what a nerd is.

LIBER.LECTIO(NUNC)!

[Gregory Lamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humor and Word Play and Fun Plot

I'm not sure I have the words in my lexicon that best describe "The Scriptlings," but I sure had a fun time reading it. Just when I thought I had a sense for this author's humor and just when I thought I could anticipate what he'd try to surprise me with next, I turned the page to discover real surprise.

Suciu has a flair for words and punny metaphor. Starting with the names of the characters as they were each introduced, I laughed out loud. I loved this story and really enjoyed looking forward to the end of my daily grind to return to reading "Scriptlings," knowing it would evoke a laugh and a good unwind at the end of a work day.

Let yourself be surprised and read this one - you won't want to stop reading, because you'll be eager for the next bolt out of the blue when one of Suciu's characters says or does the unexpected.

Good on you Sorin - write us another one like "Scriptlings."

[Liliana Negoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admit I was tempted to read this book first of all because of its name. A friend of mine told me about it, and its name won my heart from the beginning. I mean, an author who names his book "The scriptlings" simply HAS to have the necessary and sufficient dose of imagination that would make me want to read it.
And then came page 1. And 2. And 3. And I found myself unable to put it aside. It's funny, amusing, smart, the words are chosen perfectly for each scene, the character names are very intelligently picked, there are symbols beyond symbols and meanings beyond meanings. And I loved it. I still love it. My guess is, I'll never stop loving it :). Which is why I expressed my hope in a sequel.
Sorin Suciu may be just at the beginning of his writing career - but with such a beginning, I can't wait to see his next step!

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Terry Pratchett fan I really enjoyed this book. The writing is funny and witty, I loved the characters, there is a generous amount of amusing foot notes and a lot of geek references. I found myself laughing from the first pages.

The beginning is a little slow, however as it is dedicated to introducing the characters and the world that is understandable.

There are a lot of references to programming though and if you are not familiar with the basic notions you may not understand them. Nonetheless I don't believe it will prevent you from enjoying the book.

It is amazing that this is the author's first novel and I can't wait to read the sequel.

[Jay Cutts · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for an as yet undiscovered fantastic author, this is the right place. I'm fairly critical when it comes to independent authors, being one myself (Death by Haggis and Annie Gomez and the Gigantic Foot of Doom), and so I was delighted to get a copy of the Scriptlings and wend my way through the story. Sorin Suciu uses English like a finely tuned storytelling tool. The story itself is quite sophisticated and intriguing - an imaginative blend of ancient magic and modern computerisms. If you like fantasy with a strong twist of humor, this is for you.

[Joel Bethell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Scriptlings' pervasive wit and charm is a love letter to Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett. The theme of modern day wizards felt fresh and original, and I very much enjoyed how the author subverted a lot of the tropes around fantasy literature. I strongly recommend this thoroughly interesting and humorous novel — especially to my fellow geeks for whom this was written; however, everyone will feel charmed by the cleverness of The Scriptlings.

[Val Vogel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Scriptlings was full of surprises and brought many a sudden chuckle and/or guffaw! Quite engaging and the right mix, (to my taste), of suspense and humor. The characters were also engaging and entertaining, and, well, even kind of sexxy! All in all, this was a great pleasure and I do hope the story continues!

[Hobart · Rating 3 out of 5]

For reasons I can't quite put my finger on (it may have something to do with all the Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett references I saw when reading about the book), I came to The Scriptlings with a degree of trepidation. But it didn't take long for the book's charm and wit to get me past that and buy into its premise and style.

Scriptlings are apprentice magicians. Magicians are born gifted -- either from a magician parent or two, or the occasional child of muggle parents. Well, until now, anyway, but that's not for me to say. For reasons that aren't sufficiently described (and don't need to be), each magician picks a name for themselves, the more disgusting the better. So we focus two Scriptlings and three Masters -- Buggeroff, Merkin, Master Loo, Master Dung, and Master Sewer. Yeah, some of those names you really don't want to spend that much time dwelling on, but thankfully, they quickly lose their typical connotation and just become strange names like something you'd find in any fantasy novel.

I should also mention Gertrude. The sentient and magical goat (Loo's familiar) who occasionally thinks that she's snake, and acts accordingly. At first, I thought she'd be a quick throwaway joke that we'd move on from quickly, but in the end, Gertrude's a pivotal character, and brings a lot of the emotional weight to the plot.

It's dangerous to try to quantify things like this (aside from actual word counts), but I'd wager that 1/3 of this book is made up of character and story, the other two thirds are style, attitude and jokes. I should stress this isn't a complaint, or at least not a big one, anyway. Generally, I'd prefer that ratio to be 50/50 at least, but it works for this book. So yes, the plot is pretty slight -- but you're too busy being amused to worry about that. I should add that I really liked his use of footnotes, he's not quite as good at it as Josh Bazell or Lisa Lutz, but who is?

I've seen the blending of magic and computers before, but not quite like Suciu has formulated it. That was clever enough in and of itself -- you surround that with his humor and you've got yourself a fun way to spend a couple of hours. Ignore the Adams and Pratchett comparisons, think more Christopher Moore in Bloodsucking Fiends or You Suck. If you liked that, you'll likely enjoy this.

This is billed as the first of a trilogy, I'm not sure I see where Suciu is headed, but I'm interested in seeing it.

-----

Note: The author was kind enough to provide me a copy of this book by the author in exchange for a review.

[Ioan · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an enthusiast for both comic and sci-fi/fantasy literature, I find the mixture of the two one of the best ways to keep your synapses clicking (in a fun way). The Scriptlings was definitely no exception, as it turned out to contain a captivating story sprinkled in abundance with witticism. Some passages were so surprisingly funny that I found myself placing bookmarks so I can easily find them later, a thing that I haven’t done with any other book until now.

There were some aspects of the World imagined by Mr. Suciu that I would have liked to see developed more, like the computers-magic connotation or the gaming inspired magicians’ leveling up, which I found maybe a little too forced. I would have expected to get a feeling of how computers and video games were inspired by magic, but instead the book left me with the opposite impression. Therefore, I was happy to read in the ending note that a sequel is already on its way; maybe Mr. Suciu will show us more of this fantastic Universe he had envisioned.

All-in-all, this is a book I would certainly recommend. Halfway through the The Scriptling actually, I realized it could make a nice birthday gift to one of my avid-genre-reader friends, so I ordered another copy which arrived in the same day I finished the book. By that time, I was already positive it was the perfect choice; I hope she will enjoy it as much as I did.

[Madalina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Considering that this is the first book from a series, I believe Sorin did a good job introducing us to the main characters and developing a new magical system, where all spells are written in code and compiled in the magician's brain, before being spoken.

As I said, this is the first book in a series, so don't expect too much character development. Buggeroff is still naive and a bit silly, albeit a bit wiser by the end, and Merkin, although a real floozy throughout the book, seems to have calmed down a bit and renounced her ways.

Master Sewer is a suave character, but, as a villain, he is lacking. His motivations are never really expanded upon and the consequences of what he plans to do are not properly explained.

Stapley is a clever, new addition to the fantasy world, although, at times, you wish to see Buggeroff struggle to find a solution to the conundrum he is facing, and not having it handed to him on a silver plateau.

Despite these small drawbacks, the characters are endearing, especially Master Loo, with his tragic back-story and his kooky ways.

All in all, the book is extremely fun and compelling to read, with a Pratchett-esque sense of humour, and I am looking forward to the next instalment in the series.

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sorin Suciu fairly and humbly acknowledges in the last pages of The Scriptlings his sources of inspiration but this is not sufficient to explain the sheer ingenuity evident, and the adroit equilibrium of subtle and blatant humour.

Sorin disclaims English as his native language but his multilingual aptitudes combined benefit the novel’s narrative and dialogue. And, I suspect somehow account for Buggeroff’s witty malapropisms. Sorin’s refreshing employment of English vernacular and idiom to formulate and produce an accomplished novel, with also a second in the works, leads me to conclude writing magic has been conjured.

Sorin assembles a bunch of characters of just the right mix and colour. Like a top-notch bouquet from a fancy florist the protagonists stay in bud tensioned to unfurl with the right degree of release and bloom just at the right time. Each of them engaging in their own way I liked them just enough to be pleasantly unsettled by Sorin’s infusion of doubt as to the characters’ characters. The only individual I never doubted the whole way through was Stapley who immediately assigned himself as my favourite.

I received a free copy (at my request) in exchange for an honest review.

[Katharine (Ventureadlaxre) · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The Scriptlings' by Sorin Suciu follows two young apprentice magicians, known as Scriptlings in their world - called Merkin and Buggeroff. From their names alone you can tell this shall be amusing and satyrical. This blends magic with science in a modern world and always leaves you with a surprise - just when you think you have things figured out, the book manages to surprise you again after the next turn of a page.

This is one of those hard books to give summary to. It's funny and clever, and it bucks trends and cliches well - this is a nerd's book, in the best way possible. This is like Redshirts by John Scalzi and Ready Player One by Ernest Cline - where the readers it's aimed at are those who are overly familiar with the style and isn't dumbed down or written generically for the masses.

The only con I have with this book is a lack of excellent female characters in the plural. Pros far outweigh the cons, which is good - and not all books have to have an abundance of female characters for sure, but it would have been good to see more than one, to make it a truly excellent five out of five book for me.

This is highly recommended to fans of Douglass Adams, Terry Pratchett and Tansy Rayner Roberts.

[Ching Huang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now this book all the key ingredients of a delicious read: laugh-out-loud and witty-side-snicker humour, characters who are flawed yet nonetheless wholly lovable, well-timed plot points with unexpected twists and lots of `gems' for the computer literate geeks.

As with all well-written fiction, the author managed to convince me that the story could be real! The characters could be everyday people I see in this city with hidden skills and identities. We love our computers so much and believe they're amazing creation anyways, so yes, in a way technology IS magical.

I remain very impressed by the writing. The plot is complex yet the pieces are so well woven together that all confusion is avoided. The pace is well timed, which is tricky considering the volume of fantastic witty remarks the author managed to squeeze in. Anyone acquainted with the mundane work life involving project management and wishes they could find a shortcut to richness should experience The Scriptlings.

Oh, and I took some notes on how to deal with mortal men from one of the main characters, Merkin. At 19, she's a master of both magic and seduction so I bow to her greatness!

[Michael Schaefer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book a while ago, and I had 'write a review' on my todo-list ever since, but I just didn’t get around to actually do it. Well, better late than never:

This book achieved something that I would have thought to be completely impossible in this plane of existence: It made me *like* Clippy, the animated paperclip that was the never-helpful-but-always-annoying 'assistant' in Microsoft Office for a number of years. Only in this case, it is Stapley, a talking staple, and it resides in the protagonist’s head.
In addition to this laudable achievement, it is a very funny, clever and highly creative book about magicians obsessed with power, the absolutely brilliant concept of casting spells based on dead languages and computer code syntax, a mysterious tribe, an invisible goat, and a plan that threatens to destroy life as we know it.

'The Scriptlings' is filled with puns, references to classic computer games, lovable madness, quirky characters, and a story that makes you want to find out what happens next. What more could anyone ask for?

Read it, you won’t regret it.

[Laura May · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review keeps disappearing, but this book is awesome so I'm gonna keep reposting it:

I've just reread this book, and the only conclusion I can possibly draw from my previous four-star rating is that I am mentally deficient. You'll be glad to know though that I've made significant recovery, realised the error of my ways, and am now giving this book 5 stars.

The Scriptlings is basically a magical land of awesomeness. (Yes, yes I've been out the last two nights. Don't expect an erudite review!) It combines witty dialogue, well-written characters and a solid plot with IT jokes, puns, and sheer smart-arsery. It makes me happy. I would whole-heartedly recommend this book to any fans of Terry Pratchett or Douglas Adams, and/or anybody who's every wondered what it would be like to have Microsoft's Clippy inside your head and helping you with your magic talents.

10/10 (which is the same as 5/5, but sounds better).

[K.D. Keenan · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are many different modes within the fantasy genre, but if you're a fan of Terry Pratchett, Tom Holt, Douglas Adams, and Jasper Fforde, I guarantee you will love Sorin Suciu's "The Scriptlings." Although the book is rich with subtle (and not-so-subtle) references to computer programming, software, and gaming, you don't have to be a techno-geek to enjoy it thoroughly (though it doesn't hurt, either). There is a wealth of delightful wordplay that demonstrates the author's pleasure in and infatuation with his adopted language of English. (You would never believe from the fluency of his writing that he is not a native speaker.) Throw in memorable characters, a plot to destroy the world as we know it, and plenty of action, and you have a fun-house, roller-coaster of a book that makes you wish it would never end. I am looking forward to Suciu's next book with a great deal of anticipation.

[Shen Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

We at The Review Hart would like to disclose that we received this book for free in return for an honest review

This light contemporary fantasy pulls together a number of different subplots and points of view to produce an entertaining and well-written story. The characters are plays on very familiar ideas and tropes with their own twists and intricacies to make them interesting and individual personalities. There are a few little things thrown in to make it entirely its own story, and it’s all wrapped up with a well-paced plot. Altogether, it’s a very enjoyable read and a pleasant break from the more serious fantasies.

Full Review Available Here

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not, as the first page of the book calls it, programming-inclined, which immediately made me worry that I wouldn't enjoy this book, much less "get it". I was so wrong. While I knew I was missing some golden bits of humour and cheeky references, I found it more endearing than irritating. I could practically picture the author winking at me, daring me to google it. And I did :)

The story is well written, suspenseful, sexy, and hilarious. The characters are well defined and the book is peppered with footnotes of imaginative genius that will blow your mind long after you've finished it.

The Scriptlings is a wonderful, magical world that I couldn't help but lose myself in!

[Adnartm · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is great. It's not perfect. In fact, it's quite far from perfect. It shows and it's delightful. The passion of newcomers can be quite refreshing and this book certainly makes a point out of proving it.

The cynical re-interpretation of witchcraft, the lewd and punny names given to the characters as well as the easter eggs in the book, they will all elicit mixed feelings from the reader. But rest assured, they will not leave you indifferent.

Be warned, however: the story's weaved at a rather unusual pace and from seemingly unrelated threads. And, by the end of it, it will more than make up for the ride.

Overall, I heartily recommend this book.

[Jarod · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

This was an interesting story about magicians in the modern world using programming code syntax with dead languages.

There were some funny parts and very clever language describing the world of these magicians. All in all a pretty good story.

[Poly · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an awesome book! The author says he likes Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams and boy, does it show! Excellent humor throughout, interesting and novel magic system, deep characters, nice setting... The plot is a bit weak, but overall the book more than compensates for it. Will definitely be rereading this as I eagerly await the sequel(s).

[Fedor Podoprigora · Rating 5 out of 5]

The magic of programming and the programming of magic, conspiracy, assassinations and sex - all these are fun on their own, but this book puts such a twist on them that you can't help but laugh your heart out, regardless of your background.

[Porya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sorin has created a wonderful universe with The Scriptlings! Following the different characters around in this comical and unique world is pure entertainment. The only troubling thing about this book is trying to determine who your favorite character is! Enjoy this book, it's impossible not to.

[Cristian Englert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever, imaginative, funny! The sharp dialogue filled with witticisms keeps you going along the solid plot line.
Do you feel the magic of this world is fading? The scriptlings might have a solution to this, and you're definitely not going to like it...