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BetterWorld Cyberpunk #1
Sleep State Interrupt (1)
2017 Compton Crook Finalist for best debut science fiction novel!
In Sleep State Interrupt, a giant media corporation has taken over the Internet, created an addictive virtual reality called BetterWorld, and controls nearly all information. Politicians do their bidding and a brainwashed humanity serves a privileged few. Waylee Freid, an unemployed Baltimore journalist with ever-worsening bipolar disorder, is the only hope for a brighter future. She and her countercultural friends bust a notorious teenage hacker out of jail and sneak into a closed presidential fundraiser at the Smithsonian castle, where they hope to record incriminating admissions that will wake up the world. Hunted by Homeland Security, Waylee and her friends must reach a sufficient audience by broadcasting their video during the Super Bowl. But to do so, they'll have to break into one of the most secure facilities ever built.
In Sleep State Interrupt, a giant media corporation has taken over the Internet, created an addictive virtual reality called BetterWorld, and controls nearly all information. Politicians do their bidding and a brainwashed humanity serves a privileged few. Waylee Freid, an unemployed Baltimore journalist with ever-worsening bipolar disorder, is the only hope for a brighter future. She and her countercultural friends bust a notorious teenage hacker out of jail and sneak into a closed presidential fundraiser at the Smithsonian castle, where they hope to record incriminating admissions that will wake up the world. Hunted by Homeland Security, Waylee and her friends must reach a sufficient audience by broadcasting their video during the Super Bowl. But to do so, they'll have to break into one of the most secure facilities ever built.
318 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2016
23 people are currently reading
778 people want to read
About the author
T.C. Weber
10 books136 followersT. C. Weber has pursued writing since childhood, and learned filmmaking and screenwriting in college, along with physics and ecology. His published novels include Sleep State Interrupt (the first book of the near-future War for Reality cyberpunk trilogy), The Wrath of Leviathan (the second book of the trilogy), Zero-Day Rising (the trilogy finale), Born in Salt (a character-oriented alternate history novel), The Survivors (a post-apocalyptic cli-fi horror novella), and The Council (a satire of local government and politics). His latest novel is The Others, an undersea science fiction action-adventure set off the Florida Keys.
Mr. Weber is a member of Poets & Writers, the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association, the Horror Writers Association, and the Maryland Writers Association. By day, Mr. Weber works as an ecologist, and has had numerous scientific papers published. He lives in Annapolis, Maryland with his wife Karen. He enjoys traveling, hiking, and diving, and has visited all seven continents.
For book samples, short stories, and more, visit https://www.tcweber.com/
Mr. Weber is a member of Poets & Writers, the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association, the Horror Writers Association, and the Maryland Writers Association. By day, Mr. Weber works as an ecologist, and has had numerous scientific papers published. He lives in Annapolis, Maryland with his wife Karen. He enjoys traveling, hiking, and diving, and has visited all seven continents.
For book samples, short stories, and more, visit https://www.tcweber.com/
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 2, 2018
Review: SLEEP STATE
Whenever a government is oppressive, a society derails, or "the military-industrial complex hex" rules, a counterculture of like-minded individuals will arise to battle for justice. Such was true in 1789 France, in 1861 America, in 1917 Russia, in 1960's America. Such is the case in slightly futuristic Baltimore, when the porkbelly policies and business-gladhanding of a useless President have allowed a massive megacorporation to control what used to be known as the Internet. Journalist Waylee Freid loses her employment, receives a fractured skull, can't find employment because Baltimore no longer has any independent news sources. She still believes in an intelligent, ethical populace, though, so she and some cohorts spring a talented young hacker from juvenile detention. They're going to turn the tables and get the message of Truth to the People--no matter the risks.
Whenever a government is oppressive, a society derails, or "the military-industrial complex hex" rules, a counterculture of like-minded individuals will arise to battle for justice. Such was true in 1789 France, in 1861 America, in 1917 Russia, in 1960's America. Such is the case in slightly futuristic Baltimore, when the porkbelly policies and business-gladhanding of a useless President have allowed a massive megacorporation to control what used to be known as the Internet. Journalist Waylee Freid loses her employment, receives a fractured skull, can't find employment because Baltimore no longer has any independent news sources. She still believes in an intelligent, ethical populace, though, so she and some cohorts spring a talented young hacker from juvenile detention. They're going to turn the tables and get the message of Truth to the People--no matter the risks.
March 27, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Sleep State Interrupt by Ted Weber.
I was surprised by the ease with which Weber’s characters moved between this world we know and the cyber-world he has created. The journalist Waylee is the protagonist. The novel opens with her using digital eyeglasses, making live video recordings of a protest in Baltimore. Additional information on her video eyeglasses tell her how many followers are logged in, what media corporations are forwarding the video — and Waylee interprets the clusters of feedback to recognize when the media stream is being cut off, diverted, eliminated. And I, the reader, believe it. The intersection of worlds makes sense and aids the plot as it races from event to event. I was thoroughly surprised and delighted by the easy portrayal of the interface with future digital gadgets.
Sleep State Interrupt is good reading for what it is and for what it means. It is a fast paced tale of how societal cast offs: an out of work journalist along with a computer hacker who is sprung out of jail and a young innocent digital game addict - and other ostensible losers, all oppose the homogenization of thought by media through small but brilliant media interruptions. They crash the party with finesse, whether it’s at the Smithsonian castle or at the Super Bowl. They break the law without breaking moral boundaries (how do they do that?!) and I found myself wishing for their success and fearing their failure.
I live in Washington, DC and host a radio show based in Takoma Park, Maryland. My proximity to the places Weber’s novel visits gave his story an added appeal: Montgomery County, Prince Georges County, DC, and Northern Virginia — Sleep State Interrupt weaves through the map of my hometown.
You have to bring your morality with you to this text, almost as if the readers moral perspective is an additional unnamed character in the story.
And speaking of characters, the digital game addict, Kiyoko, is a fictional masterpiece in her combination of absorption within her computer world and capacity to use that world to create positive change in the world outside digital imagination.
I loved also that I couldn’t tell the race of the author. Characters were introduced in terms of style, clothes, coloring, hair - but after a while I found myself wondering if the author were black or white or Asian or an ethnic group, because Ted Weber’s way of introducing people didn’t emphasize or single out a particular type. I like that. I like this near future Baltimore and Washington, DC that makes us non-cyber freaks feel that we belong in this world to come.
I was surprised by the ease with which Weber’s characters moved between this world we know and the cyber-world he has created. The journalist Waylee is the protagonist. The novel opens with her using digital eyeglasses, making live video recordings of a protest in Baltimore. Additional information on her video eyeglasses tell her how many followers are logged in, what media corporations are forwarding the video — and Waylee interprets the clusters of feedback to recognize when the media stream is being cut off, diverted, eliminated. And I, the reader, believe it. The intersection of worlds makes sense and aids the plot as it races from event to event. I was thoroughly surprised and delighted by the easy portrayal of the interface with future digital gadgets.
Sleep State Interrupt is good reading for what it is and for what it means. It is a fast paced tale of how societal cast offs: an out of work journalist along with a computer hacker who is sprung out of jail and a young innocent digital game addict - and other ostensible losers, all oppose the homogenization of thought by media through small but brilliant media interruptions. They crash the party with finesse, whether it’s at the Smithsonian castle or at the Super Bowl. They break the law without breaking moral boundaries (how do they do that?!) and I found myself wishing for their success and fearing their failure.
I live in Washington, DC and host a radio show based in Takoma Park, Maryland. My proximity to the places Weber’s novel visits gave his story an added appeal: Montgomery County, Prince Georges County, DC, and Northern Virginia — Sleep State Interrupt weaves through the map of my hometown.
You have to bring your morality with you to this text, almost as if the readers moral perspective is an additional unnamed character in the story.
And speaking of characters, the digital game addict, Kiyoko, is a fictional masterpiece in her combination of absorption within her computer world and capacity to use that world to create positive change in the world outside digital imagination.
I loved also that I couldn’t tell the race of the author. Characters were introduced in terms of style, clothes, coloring, hair - but after a while I found myself wondering if the author were black or white or Asian or an ethnic group, because Ted Weber’s way of introducing people didn’t emphasize or single out a particular type. I like that. I like this near future Baltimore and Washington, DC that makes us non-cyber freaks feel that we belong in this world to come.
February 8, 2017
This book kept me reading non-stop until I finished it. The world that Weber has created not only pulls you in, but is also one that seems quite realistic. Weber's portrayal of political activists is easily the most authentic I have ever read. The futuristic technology he introduces seems just a few years away. All of this combines for a riveting story that makes you question until the end whether or not they will actually succeed. Weber clearly has a passion for politics, technology, and brings them all together quite successfully.
April 29, 2017
Captivating story. Too real!
Given the recent events in American politics, I had to check when this dystopian thriller was published. It's eerie how much the story is not a far cry from reality, though it is terrifying. I highly recommend this gripping yet fun story.
Given the recent events in American politics, I had to check when this dystopian thriller was published. It's eerie how much the story is not a far cry from reality, though it is terrifying. I highly recommend this gripping yet fun story.
August 8, 2020
Brief Synopsis
Sleep State Interrupt is a dystopian, science-fiction novel set a few decades into the future. In this world, the government has been taken over by corporate interests and America is suffering as the global elite loot the country for its wealth. An unlikely hero appears in the form of Waylee, an ex-reporter with a psychological condition, who is hell bent on bringing her tormentors to justice. It traces her winding journey as she assembles a (somewhat) reliable team and overcomes the raw power of the State to give America its last, and perhaps final, wake-up call.
Book Production
It's fine. I know that might sound dismissive, but there isn't anything jarring or eye-catching about the internal design of Sleep State Interrupt. The text is easy to read and the layout isn't distracting. Yet, it doesn't convey any sense of personality either. For some unknown reason (perhaps budget), chapters start immediately after each other and use a very simple, blocky font to indicate the change. Therefore, the novel feels like one single read rather than a series of discrete scenes broken up over time.
Unfortunately, this style of formatting doesn't help the flow of the narrative because there are some large time skips between events--time skips that the author only alludes to through unassuming dates at the start of some chapters. Yet it doesn't hurt it the tale too much because no one refers to those missing days during their conversations. This stays true despite the date system being inconsistent. The start of the novel uses a day of the week system: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and so on--but around halfway through the tale it changes to specific dates such as January 8, January 9 and January 11. So, after a few chapters, I stopped caring about the chronology and simply treated the structure as if it came from a light heist story. The sort of narrative that exists somewhere in a time void and progresses only when certain events take place, rather than a suspense novel which uses time as a tension-generator as tasks must be completed by a specific date or hour.
Sadly, the cover for the print edition (2016) looks better the farther away you are from it. At a distance, it seems pretty eye-catching: heavy blues with glowing lights indicate a techno-thriller featuring gunboats hunting a lone protagonist. However, once you get close, the appeal fades away. Poorly rendered 3D images are placed atop real-life photos to create a jarring representation of the novel. This is the most obvious on the back flap where each character is drawn. It's a nice touch to see how the cast was intended to look. Yet, its execution is lacking as the characters are stiffly posed and incorrectly lit for the scene they have been placed in. At best, you could say the cover was a series of good ideas that didn't quite work. At worst, you might say it's the work of someone who didn't know their limits as a graphic designer.
Personal Thoughts / Review
Sleep State Interrupt, despite the numerous promotional blurbs on the back, struggles to find its voice. For every one thing it does well, it flops about in another area. For example, its strongest point is its standard techno-thriller plot: a group of misfits team together to challenge the all powerful (and evil) State. This is done pretty well and the stakes are clearly outlined in the first chapter: Waylee, a journalist at the time, tries to film a police crackdown at a local newspaper, but ends up being assaulted by the officers and blacklisted by the last remaining media company. Therefore, it's clear to the reader that if the State goes unchecked, more terror and pain will be reigned down upon the average citizen of America without any ability for them to stop it. A good way to start a novel (especially in these heady times).
However, as the gang of misfits create more and more trouble for the Ministry of Terror, they become less and less in apparent danger. After a prison break in the first third of the novel, the State uses crafty techniques to infiltrate the gang and discover their hideout. Drones and police cars circle their residence, giving the reader a sense of palatable discovery ... but then ... after an extended chase scene and enormous amounts of damage to local police and Homeland Security, the group manages to drop off the grid entirely. It doesn't matter to the ALL POWERFUL STATE that Waylee and her crew are staying with people she already knows, and there's probably some record of them interacting together in their super database, there's no way the ALL POWERFUL STATE could locate this band of ingenious do-gooders. Subsequently, there are no more drones or patrols or cyber traps for the plucky crew after the story's halfway point, only a wishful three-million dollar reward the evil Empire hopes to tempt the weak with, so they reveal Waylee's location. In fact, the biggest danger the gang faces after the first act is getting kicked out by their hosts for being jerks.
And so begins the second good-bad part of the novel. Without a foreboding sense of dread or competent antagonist, T. C. Weber requires the characters' personalities and personal demons to drive the plot forward. It must become clear to the reader that these individuals, who are willing to embark on a task that will send them to jail for the rest of their foreseeable lives, cannot resist its allure. They are too driven by their personal foibles and weaknesses, too hounded by the voices in the dark, that they must launch themselves into oblivion. Unfortunately, there isn't a single member of the crew who seems this deeply compelled / motivated.
Yes, every character has a 'thing' outside of the plot they are interested in / have to deal with that serves as their primary motivator. Waylee has a mental condition she must fight and is the lead singer in a band. Pel (also a band member) is into technology and loves Waylee. M-pat has a family he wants to support and a community he wants to help rebuild. Kiyoko is into anime. Shanti loves nature and is interested in 'bad-boys'. And yet, each of these "hidden" depths, exist just enough to help the individual overcome an obstacle, but never enough to interfere with the main plot.
Waylee, who gets the most ink, is the most egregious. She has a mental condition that forces her into one of two states: either hyper-manic highs or despondent lows. We're lectured throughout the story about how notoriously unreliable she is. We're told she's crazy and unhinged. We're told she's unpredictable and no one ever knows when her depression is going to strike. We're told that the higher her ecstasy, the deeper her oblivion, and the longest she has ever been upbeat is about two months. Yet, not once does her depression manage to overwhelm her during an operation or upset their (slapdash) planning. Not once does the stress and doubt press down on her to the point she becomes a liability to the group and risks putting them all in jail. No. In fact, even when she falls into her depressive state, it only lasts a few days before she's back to her chirpy self.
Her mental condition, like all the "motivators" and "external interests" of the characters, are only there to be deployed when flavor needs to be added a scene. Waylee's depression suddenly springs onto the page when T. C. Weber wishes to generate tension between her and her boyfriend Pel. Then it goes away. Kiyoko's interest in anime streaks across the text when she suddenly needs money or a cool club to visit so she can evade the police. And then dissipates when she talks to people at the collective (because no anime fan ever manages to reference their favorite show in day-to-day conversation). M-pat's family emerge as motivators when he has to agree to a hurriedly concocted plan that reeks of amateur hour and would normally avoid.
Effectively, they are the forgettable pieces of a puzzle that have to be assembled for the final plan to work. Their lives sacrificed for the plot as they cannot deviate outside of it. They exist solely as foils the author can deploy to triumph over a hurdle he himself has created and brought into being. That is all. And this set of limitations leads to the final pro-con part of the novel: the writing.
Sleep State Interrupt is functionally written the same way bread is functionally a food. Although there's a regrettable 50 or so pages at the start that's typed out in an over-the-top William Gibon-esque way, the prose eventually settles into a steady rhythm. It adequately details a location, character or situation without an excess of style or rhetorical flourish and allows the story to take center stage. Unfortunately, this type of writing is not conducive to the limited 3rd perspective that the novel is composed in. Even though we are supposed to be "inside" different character's heads (each person is clearly labelled at the start of a section or chapter), the prose never changes from its stock-standard tone. And so, once again, the characterizations are flattened until they can be easily forgotten in lieu of the plot.
Summary
Sleep State Interrupt is a techno thriller that lacks a clear antagonist and / or threat for the main characters to overcome, therefore stripping away any hope of sustained suspense throughout the novel. T. C. Weber attempts to cover for this by driving the plot through character decisions and characterizations, but never fully commits to have their demons or interests affect the story he wished to write in the first place. As such, the novel becomes a passable experience that has some highs but just as many lows leaving it clearly in the middle of the genre. If you enjoy the escapism offered by stories with generic plots and characters with a single, story-required dimension, Sleep State Interrupt is for you. Once you've trudged past the first 50 or so pages, it'll help kill the time on a long train ride, but be forgotten as quickly as most summer blockbusters.
★★★ 1/2
Sleep State Interrupt is a dystopian, science-fiction novel set a few decades into the future. In this world, the government has been taken over by corporate interests and America is suffering as the global elite loot the country for its wealth. An unlikely hero appears in the form of Waylee, an ex-reporter with a psychological condition, who is hell bent on bringing her tormentors to justice. It traces her winding journey as she assembles a (somewhat) reliable team and overcomes the raw power of the State to give America its last, and perhaps final, wake-up call.
Book Production
It's fine. I know that might sound dismissive, but there isn't anything jarring or eye-catching about the internal design of Sleep State Interrupt. The text is easy to read and the layout isn't distracting. Yet, it doesn't convey any sense of personality either. For some unknown reason (perhaps budget), chapters start immediately after each other and use a very simple, blocky font to indicate the change. Therefore, the novel feels like one single read rather than a series of discrete scenes broken up over time.
Unfortunately, this style of formatting doesn't help the flow of the narrative because there are some large time skips between events--time skips that the author only alludes to through unassuming dates at the start of some chapters. Yet it doesn't hurt it the tale too much because no one refers to those missing days during their conversations. This stays true despite the date system being inconsistent. The start of the novel uses a day of the week system: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and so on--but around halfway through the tale it changes to specific dates such as January 8, January 9 and January 11. So, after a few chapters, I stopped caring about the chronology and simply treated the structure as if it came from a light heist story. The sort of narrative that exists somewhere in a time void and progresses only when certain events take place, rather than a suspense novel which uses time as a tension-generator as tasks must be completed by a specific date or hour.
Sadly, the cover for the print edition (2016) looks better the farther away you are from it. At a distance, it seems pretty eye-catching: heavy blues with glowing lights indicate a techno-thriller featuring gunboats hunting a lone protagonist. However, once you get close, the appeal fades away. Poorly rendered 3D images are placed atop real-life photos to create a jarring representation of the novel. This is the most obvious on the back flap where each character is drawn. It's a nice touch to see how the cast was intended to look. Yet, its execution is lacking as the characters are stiffly posed and incorrectly lit for the scene they have been placed in. At best, you could say the cover was a series of good ideas that didn't quite work. At worst, you might say it's the work of someone who didn't know their limits as a graphic designer.
Personal Thoughts / Review
Sleep State Interrupt, despite the numerous promotional blurbs on the back, struggles to find its voice. For every one thing it does well, it flops about in another area. For example, its strongest point is its standard techno-thriller plot: a group of misfits team together to challenge the all powerful (and evil) State. This is done pretty well and the stakes are clearly outlined in the first chapter: Waylee, a journalist at the time, tries to film a police crackdown at a local newspaper, but ends up being assaulted by the officers and blacklisted by the last remaining media company. Therefore, it's clear to the reader that if the State goes unchecked, more terror and pain will be reigned down upon the average citizen of America without any ability for them to stop it. A good way to start a novel (especially in these heady times).
However, as the gang of misfits create more and more trouble for the Ministry of Terror, they become less and less in apparent danger. After a prison break in the first third of the novel, the State uses crafty techniques to infiltrate the gang and discover their hideout. Drones and police cars circle their residence, giving the reader a sense of palatable discovery ... but then ... after an extended chase scene and enormous amounts of damage to local police and Homeland Security, the group manages to drop off the grid entirely. It doesn't matter to the ALL POWERFUL STATE that Waylee and her crew are staying with people she already knows, and there's probably some record of them interacting together in their super database, there's no way the ALL POWERFUL STATE could locate this band of ingenious do-gooders. Subsequently, there are no more drones or patrols or cyber traps for the plucky crew after the story's halfway point, only a wishful three-million dollar reward the evil Empire hopes to tempt the weak with, so they reveal Waylee's location. In fact, the biggest danger the gang faces after the first act is getting kicked out by their hosts for being jerks.
And so begins the second good-bad part of the novel. Without a foreboding sense of dread or competent antagonist, T. C. Weber requires the characters' personalities and personal demons to drive the plot forward. It must become clear to the reader that these individuals, who are willing to embark on a task that will send them to jail for the rest of their foreseeable lives, cannot resist its allure. They are too driven by their personal foibles and weaknesses, too hounded by the voices in the dark, that they must launch themselves into oblivion. Unfortunately, there isn't a single member of the crew who seems this deeply compelled / motivated.
Yes, every character has a 'thing' outside of the plot they are interested in / have to deal with that serves as their primary motivator. Waylee has a mental condition she must fight and is the lead singer in a band. Pel (also a band member) is into technology and loves Waylee. M-pat has a family he wants to support and a community he wants to help rebuild. Kiyoko is into anime. Shanti loves nature and is interested in 'bad-boys'. And yet, each of these "hidden" depths, exist just enough to help the individual overcome an obstacle, but never enough to interfere with the main plot.
Waylee, who gets the most ink, is the most egregious. She has a mental condition that forces her into one of two states: either hyper-manic highs or despondent lows. We're lectured throughout the story about how notoriously unreliable she is. We're told she's crazy and unhinged. We're told she's unpredictable and no one ever knows when her depression is going to strike. We're told that the higher her ecstasy, the deeper her oblivion, and the longest she has ever been upbeat is about two months. Yet, not once does her depression manage to overwhelm her during an operation or upset their (slapdash) planning. Not once does the stress and doubt press down on her to the point she becomes a liability to the group and risks putting them all in jail. No. In fact, even when she falls into her depressive state, it only lasts a few days before she's back to her chirpy self.
Her mental condition, like all the "motivators" and "external interests" of the characters, are only there to be deployed when flavor needs to be added a scene. Waylee's depression suddenly springs onto the page when T. C. Weber wishes to generate tension between her and her boyfriend Pel. Then it goes away. Kiyoko's interest in anime streaks across the text when she suddenly needs money or a cool club to visit so she can evade the police. And then dissipates when she talks to people at the collective (because no anime fan ever manages to reference their favorite show in day-to-day conversation). M-pat's family emerge as motivators when he has to agree to a hurriedly concocted plan that reeks of amateur hour and would normally avoid.
Effectively, they are the forgettable pieces of a puzzle that have to be assembled for the final plan to work. Their lives sacrificed for the plot as they cannot deviate outside of it. They exist solely as foils the author can deploy to triumph over a hurdle he himself has created and brought into being. That is all. And this set of limitations leads to the final pro-con part of the novel: the writing.
Sleep State Interrupt is functionally written the same way bread is functionally a food. Although there's a regrettable 50 or so pages at the start that's typed out in an over-the-top William Gibon-esque way, the prose eventually settles into a steady rhythm. It adequately details a location, character or situation without an excess of style or rhetorical flourish and allows the story to take center stage. Unfortunately, this type of writing is not conducive to the limited 3rd perspective that the novel is composed in. Even though we are supposed to be "inside" different character's heads (each person is clearly labelled at the start of a section or chapter), the prose never changes from its stock-standard tone. And so, once again, the characterizations are flattened until they can be easily forgotten in lieu of the plot.
Summary
Sleep State Interrupt is a techno thriller that lacks a clear antagonist and / or threat for the main characters to overcome, therefore stripping away any hope of sustained suspense throughout the novel. T. C. Weber attempts to cover for this by driving the plot through character decisions and characterizations, but never fully commits to have their demons or interests affect the story he wished to write in the first place. As such, the novel becomes a passable experience that has some highs but just as many lows leaving it clearly in the middle of the genre. If you enjoy the escapism offered by stories with generic plots and characters with a single, story-required dimension, Sleep State Interrupt is for you. Once you've trudged past the first 50 or so pages, it'll help kill the time on a long train ride, but be forgotten as quickly as most summer blockbusters.
★★★ 1/2
March 13, 2020
This book felt like a mix of the old Mission: Impossible TV show and Ready Player One. It's an odd mix and sometimes it works really well and other times it hits a speed bump. However, this author can write. His use of language and pacing are spot-on and slick. He's a true wordsmith. I can't think of a single passage that felt out of place.
There are many things to like about this book. The action sequences are high-tension and exciting, while the attention paid to Waylee's condition is sensitive and thoughtful. The author really excels when the scenes amp up and adrenaline gets pumping. My favorite parts of the book are the scenes set in the virtual world. I think if the balance of the book had leaned more toward Ready Player One and less to MI, I would have given it a higher rating, because I thoroughly enjoyed those bits.
The parts that didn't work so well for me all take place in the real world. I really disliked the heavy use of profanity and crude terms for women. I am not a prude and I've been known to say words my mother doesn't approve of, but I get so tired of seeing them in fiction. It felt like I was constantly tripping over the crudest language just as I was getting into the story.
There is a very heavy focus on politics here and the author has a definite agenda in mind. I sit right in the middle of the political spectrum, doing my very best to stay neutral on most subjects, but this book made me feel extremely right-wing. I had to laugh when the only middle-ground character in the entire book called Waylee a socialist and she got so offended. I don't know what else you would call her, but I found the politics so off-balance as to be off-putting.
To really nail down the coffin on my "prude" label, I also wasn't happy about all of the pot use. Legal or not, I don't think of smoking pot as the best thing to do in the middle of the heist.
At its core, this IS a heist book, and it's got all of the trappings: unusual characters, magical, rubber masks, convoluted plans, etc. The planning stage went on a little too long and I also was hoping for a twist. After all, if you tell me what you're going to do and then spend chapter after chapter showing me how you're going to do it, when you actually show the plan put in action, I've already experienced those events twice. Do I really need to hear about them a third time.
This is why most heist shows and books (Mission: Impossible, Leverage, Mistborn) tell you what will happen and then hold something back in reserve, so you don't know if the seeming failure is part of the plan or a bold twist they've kept from the audience.
Reading over my review, it doesn't sound like I liked this book as much as I did. It's a good book and will appeal to a wide audience - I just am not sure I'm the right audience for it - mostly because of the politics, the swearing, and the marijuana usage.
I recently read the five-book Jane Hawk series by Dean Koontz, which covers similar ground, and I kept comparing this to that. In many ways, the comparison is complimentary to Weber, which is saying a lot. Ultimately, though, I think Koontz and I have a more similar take on the world.
I don't just want to read about people doing exciting things. I want to read about people I can like who do exciting things. I just couldn't much like Waylee and her friends, and that's too bad, because they do some fun stuff.
There are many things to like about this book. The action sequences are high-tension and exciting, while the attention paid to Waylee's condition is sensitive and thoughtful. The author really excels when the scenes amp up and adrenaline gets pumping. My favorite parts of the book are the scenes set in the virtual world. I think if the balance of the book had leaned more toward Ready Player One and less to MI, I would have given it a higher rating, because I thoroughly enjoyed those bits.
The parts that didn't work so well for me all take place in the real world. I really disliked the heavy use of profanity and crude terms for women. I am not a prude and I've been known to say words my mother doesn't approve of, but I get so tired of seeing them in fiction. It felt like I was constantly tripping over the crudest language just as I was getting into the story.
There is a very heavy focus on politics here and the author has a definite agenda in mind. I sit right in the middle of the political spectrum, doing my very best to stay neutral on most subjects, but this book made me feel extremely right-wing. I had to laugh when the only middle-ground character in the entire book called Waylee a socialist and she got so offended. I don't know what else you would call her, but I found the politics so off-balance as to be off-putting.
To really nail down the coffin on my "prude" label, I also wasn't happy about all of the pot use. Legal or not, I don't think of smoking pot as the best thing to do in the middle of the heist.
At its core, this IS a heist book, and it's got all of the trappings: unusual characters, magical, rubber masks, convoluted plans, etc. The planning stage went on a little too long and I also was hoping for a twist. After all, if you tell me what you're going to do and then spend chapter after chapter showing me how you're going to do it, when you actually show the plan put in action, I've already experienced those events twice. Do I really need to hear about them a third time.
This is why most heist shows and books (Mission: Impossible, Leverage, Mistborn) tell you what will happen and then hold something back in reserve, so you don't know if the seeming failure is part of the plan or a bold twist they've kept from the audience.
Reading over my review, it doesn't sound like I liked this book as much as I did. It's a good book and will appeal to a wide audience - I just am not sure I'm the right audience for it - mostly because of the politics, the swearing, and the marijuana usage.
I recently read the five-book Jane Hawk series by Dean Koontz, which covers similar ground, and I kept comparing this to that. In many ways, the comparison is complimentary to Weber, which is saying a lot. Ultimately, though, I think Koontz and I have a more similar take on the world.
I don't just want to read about people doing exciting things. I want to read about people I can like who do exciting things. I just couldn't much like Waylee and her friends, and that's too bad, because they do some fun stuff.
July 17, 2020
A great book. It started off a little slow in places but definitely worth sticking with it to the end. It's set in a world where one media company and the president control the internet and the country. People have no rights and the government will destroy anybody who stands against them. One female journalist and her friends are all that stand against them. A fast paced thriller about standing up for what's right. The right to have a voice.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
November 13, 2017
"Sleep State Interrupt" captured my attention from the jump. I read the book in just about 2 days on and off planes. I found myself almost hoping the flight would be delayed so I could ensure I got to the finish. The deeper I got into the pages the more I was intrigued to see where the characters would eventually end up. Simultaneously, I grew concerned for my own reality as well. The story telling seemed very possible, like just a few steps from a bad decision on net neutrality and we are in the very existence that plays itself out in the chapters of "Sleep State Interrupt". I was impressed by T.C.'s futuristic understanding and his grasp of language. The pace never slowed, its definitely not for those who suffer from anxiety. I'd highly recommend "Sleep State Interrupt" for anyone who follows Elon Musk, is fascinated with Bitcoin, has ever gotten into a high speed chase, or spent time in Baltimore.
August 11, 2020
Weber's dystopian novel pulls the reader at once into a fast paced, and realistic tale of a very near future. Channeling his inner 'Gibson,' Weber weaves a story using incredibly well developed and believable characters in an eerily familiar world. What follows is a quest, led by protagonist Waylee Freid, and her band of rough around the edges companions as they attempt to open the eyes of the world to the ruling elite. Weber definitely hit the ground running with this break-out novel. It was almost impossible to put it down. Besides the characters and landscape, he clearly has his finger on the pulse of emerging technology and shows us, clearly, how easily that it can be manipulated. He has proven himself to be an incredibly talented author, and I sincerely look forward to seeing more from him in the future.
November 30, 2018
This is an excellent story about a group of young people, some community activists and some not, who feel compelled to act against their corrupt plutocratic government and their media conglomerate partner, Media Corp. The action is well written and engrossing, the characters are captivating and will have you rooting for them to succeed, and the world building is excellent in that it's realistic (based on Baltimore) and probable, based only a decade or two in the future. Whether or not you are a seasoned activist, someone who is frustrated with the state of politics today, or someone who hates to see the role corporate media plays in shaping our society and government, you will thoroughly enjoy this book.
July 16, 2018
That synopsis completely drew me in. I knew I wanted to read this novel and had high hopes for the story and writing.
A solid Sci-Fi Novel. The premise is unique, which made me excited to read it just from the synopsis. This is one of those stories that will start off with a bang and not let up until the very last page.
The plot was very well paced and while some parts were easy to predict, there were also plenty of surprises along the way and ultimately it led to a great read overall.
You will not be disappointed by the world Ted Weber has created and the action and adventure that has come from his imagination.
A solid Sci-Fi Novel. The premise is unique, which made me excited to read it just from the synopsis. This is one of those stories that will start off with a bang and not let up until the very last page.
The plot was very well paced and while some parts were easy to predict, there were also plenty of surprises along the way and ultimately it led to a great read overall.
You will not be disappointed by the world Ted Weber has created and the action and adventure that has come from his imagination.
April 27, 2017
I'm new to the Cyberpunk genre, and this was an excellent introduction!
Waylee Fried and her real misfit hacker friends are trying to save the world from corporation domination. They have one primary task, and that is to expose the government's "admissions." Throughout the book, the reader will see that this future may be nearer than we think. Weber does an excellent job describing a futuristic dystopian adventure filled politics and technology.
I hope Waylee succeeds :) Also, I highly recommend this book to those who are interested in the show Mr. Robot.
Waylee Fried and her real misfit hacker friends are trying to save the world from corporation domination. They have one primary task, and that is to expose the government's "admissions." Throughout the book, the reader will see that this future may be nearer than we think. Weber does an excellent job describing a futuristic dystopian adventure filled politics and technology.
I hope Waylee succeeds :) Also, I highly recommend this book to those who are interested in the show Mr. Robot.
February 23, 2019
Engrossing and thought-provoking.
T.C. Weber's tightly-written David-vs-Goliath tale drew me in quickly and held me through the exciting climax. Although, on one level, the book might be described as a dystopian, cyber-thriller, I would not have kept reading if I had not cared about the characters. And the reason I cared about these unusual, even flawed individuals, was the nuanced and compassionate portraits rendered by the author. The clear plot and complex characters will keep you engaged until the last page. Luckily, there is a sequel!
T.C. Weber's tightly-written David-vs-Goliath tale drew me in quickly and held me through the exciting climax. Although, on one level, the book might be described as a dystopian, cyber-thriller, I would not have kept reading if I had not cared about the characters. And the reason I cared about these unusual, even flawed individuals, was the nuanced and compassionate portraits rendered by the author. The clear plot and complex characters will keep you engaged until the last page. Luckily, there is a sequel!
August 5, 2016
Goodreads win
I did not realize ai was looking for a book like this until I started it. It was intriguing and written well. I do admit I am still waiting for a corporation to take over the interent. This book was a perfect imagining of this happening. A great read from a good author.
I did not realize ai was looking for a book like this until I started it. It was intriguing and written well. I do admit I am still waiting for a corporation to take over the interent. This book was a perfect imagining of this happening. A great read from a good author.
September 25, 2021
I received a free review copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
So, great concept for a dystopian novel! I love the parallels between this world and our reality. The rich and powerful controlling the media, internet, and eventually perhaps, our minds (though to great extents they already do in many ways, if we let them). I enjoyed the development of the characters, and felt that I knew each one just as much as was needed to enjoy the novel. I felt that Waylee, however, experienced an unnatural jump at the end as far as her character progression, as the entire ending felt rushed to me. I was expecting a more thorough resolution, which is part of the reason for my four star rating out of five. I also fetl that the book, while quite interesting, also felt at times as though I was just waiting for the next bit of action to happen and kind of slogging through some parts. Part of this is due to the fact that Science Fiction/Dystopian novels are just not my usual cup of tea.
Overall, great read, though the rushed ending left me feeling a bit dissatisfied with it. There is a sequel, so I'm sure a lot will be resolved in the second book, but I still think the ending of this one deserved more finality. I was surprised that the end had come when it did (though what didn't help this is that I was reading on my kindle, and the book actually ended at 95% instead of 100%, as there was a preview of the next book that I wasn't expecting).
So, great concept for a dystopian novel! I love the parallels between this world and our reality. The rich and powerful controlling the media, internet, and eventually perhaps, our minds (though to great extents they already do in many ways, if we let them). I enjoyed the development of the characters, and felt that I knew each one just as much as was needed to enjoy the novel. I felt that Waylee, however, experienced an unnatural jump at the end as far as her character progression, as the entire ending felt rushed to me. I was expecting a more thorough resolution, which is part of the reason for my four star rating out of five. I also fetl that the book, while quite interesting, also felt at times as though I was just waiting for the next bit of action to happen and kind of slogging through some parts. Part of this is due to the fact that Science Fiction/Dystopian novels are just not my usual cup of tea.
Overall, great read, though the rushed ending left me feeling a bit dissatisfied with it. There is a sequel, so I'm sure a lot will be resolved in the second book, but I still think the ending of this one deserved more finality. I was surprised that the end had come when it did (though what didn't help this is that I was reading on my kindle, and the book actually ended at 95% instead of 100%, as there was a preview of the next book that I wasn't expecting).
August 31, 2021
The first thing I noticed about this book was just how descriptive it is. You aren’t just watching everything unfold, you can almost hear and feel it too. Dystopia meets cyberpunk that fans of the Shadowrun series will be able to appreciate. I think the most terrifying part of this is that it isn’t hard to imagine it happening in our lifetimes. Waylee is an amazing character, and you can’t help but root for her from page one. There wasn’t a dull moment in this story, highly recommend.
July 7, 2018
A big media corporation has taken over the internet creating a whole new world on the Comnet known as BetterWorld where people can go and meet up and have a few drinks, a place to relax and have a good time or to relieve a little stress after a hard day’s work.
In reality BetterWorld is just a place for this big company and probably the government as well to help control people and to keep them occupied so that they will not get nosy and start investigating to see what they are really up to and what goes on behind the scenes.
Waylee wants to expose MediaCorp for what they really are and enlist the help of her comrades and friends. They break a world famous teenage hacker out of jail to help them expose MediaCorp to the world. They cover up their trail very well or so they believe until the police turn up on their doorstep which sends the group on the run and into hiding and depending on others to keep them safe and hidden but with a high bounty on their heads it is very hard to find someone to trust.
Waylee and crew jump from safe house to safe house trying to evade the law and stay out of jail. In the meantime Waylee still has plans to expose MediaCorp and has a plan but can she pull it off? Can she evade the police long enough to get the job done?
Sleep State Interrupt was a very enjoyable read that kept me turning the pages to see what Waylee and crew had up their sleeves. I am somewhat of a computer nerd myself and loved all the computer jargon.
I was rooting for Waylee and her friends hoping they wouldn’t get caught and that they would end up completing their agenda. I got to thinking, I am rooting for criminals, what am I doing? Then I thought are they wrong? Are they doing the right thing? The thing is that what MediaCorp is doing is not right either. So if MediaCorp is wrong then who is right? What MediaCorp is doing to the internet and the people maybe legal but is it morally right?
Sleep State Interrupt is a very interesting and intriguing story that is very close to what is going on in the world today. Do you like computer hacking? Do you love computers? Are you a conspiracy theorist? If so then you are going to love Sleep State Interrupt. Pick up your copy today to see if Waylee and crew complete their mission.
In reality BetterWorld is just a place for this big company and probably the government as well to help control people and to keep them occupied so that they will not get nosy and start investigating to see what they are really up to and what goes on behind the scenes.
Waylee wants to expose MediaCorp for what they really are and enlist the help of her comrades and friends. They break a world famous teenage hacker out of jail to help them expose MediaCorp to the world. They cover up their trail very well or so they believe until the police turn up on their doorstep which sends the group on the run and into hiding and depending on others to keep them safe and hidden but with a high bounty on their heads it is very hard to find someone to trust.
Waylee and crew jump from safe house to safe house trying to evade the law and stay out of jail. In the meantime Waylee still has plans to expose MediaCorp and has a plan but can she pull it off? Can she evade the police long enough to get the job done?
Sleep State Interrupt was a very enjoyable read that kept me turning the pages to see what Waylee and crew had up their sleeves. I am somewhat of a computer nerd myself and loved all the computer jargon.
I was rooting for Waylee and her friends hoping they wouldn’t get caught and that they would end up completing their agenda. I got to thinking, I am rooting for criminals, what am I doing? Then I thought are they wrong? Are they doing the right thing? The thing is that what MediaCorp is doing is not right either. So if MediaCorp is wrong then who is right? What MediaCorp is doing to the internet and the people maybe legal but is it morally right?
Sleep State Interrupt is a very interesting and intriguing story that is very close to what is going on in the world today. Do you like computer hacking? Do you love computers? Are you a conspiracy theorist? If so then you are going to love Sleep State Interrupt. Pick up your copy today to see if Waylee and crew complete their mission.
September 12, 2020
Solid. Like if C. Doctorow had a clue about what people who don't live near a Trader Joe's were like. Good characters, good energy, fantastic mix of politics, realism, VR-enabled fantasy, and thriller.
April 15, 2020
Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 1
This book reminded me a lot of 1984 but since I did not like that book I couldn't really enjoy this one.
Rating: 1
This book reminded me a lot of 1984 but since I did not like that book I couldn't really enjoy this one.
October 9, 2020
Great book. Extremely detailed and well realized world, great characters.
Read
May 10, 2022The description sounded like a book I would love, but it was difficult to get into the book. For reasons, I tapped out after 25 pages.
March 5, 2025
The cover isn’t too bad, but not sure it captures the essence of the story.
This is a YA book all the way. These kids, think of the group White Rose from World War Two, are attempting to expose the current governments corruption by breaking into the Superbowl Broadcast and play a tape outlining exactly what is going on in the government in hopes the masses will rise-up and run the corrupt administration out.
While it’s a familiar plot to a degree, I wasn’t a fan of the execution. Each time the story started to get interesting, you were thrown in to the virtual world of “Better World” or the pace is interrupted with a sex scene. Some were relevant while others weren’t.
The pace was okay, but way too slow for the build-up of releasing the film and when they do, for me, it was a flop. You never really know what was on the tape and how it affected the administration. Very disappointing.
The characters were well fleshed out, but at times, they fell out of character especially when it came to breaking into Media Corps headquarters and some of the action scenes. None of the characters came across as physically or mentally fit for the combat scenes, but hey, it is a work of fiction.
Very few grammatical issues which was refreshing compared to some of the stories I’ve read of late.
If you between the ages of say, ten to eighteen, you will truly enjoy this tale.
Three stars.
This is a YA book all the way. These kids, think of the group White Rose from World War Two, are attempting to expose the current governments corruption by breaking into the Superbowl Broadcast and play a tape outlining exactly what is going on in the government in hopes the masses will rise-up and run the corrupt administration out.
While it’s a familiar plot to a degree, I wasn’t a fan of the execution. Each time the story started to get interesting, you were thrown in to the virtual world of “Better World” or the pace is interrupted with a sex scene. Some were relevant while others weren’t.
The pace was okay, but way too slow for the build-up of releasing the film and when they do, for me, it was a flop. You never really know what was on the tape and how it affected the administration. Very disappointing.
The characters were well fleshed out, but at times, they fell out of character especially when it came to breaking into Media Corps headquarters and some of the action scenes. None of the characters came across as physically or mentally fit for the combat scenes, but hey, it is a work of fiction.
Very few grammatical issues which was refreshing compared to some of the stories I’ve read of late.
If you between the ages of say, ten to eighteen, you will truly enjoy this tale.
Three stars.
April 24, 2023
SLEEP STATE INTERRUPT by T.C. Weber billed as a Sci-Fi Technothriller, is an engaging read, though a bit of a slow-burn, was an enjoyable ride with characters you love and love to hate.
‘He shivered. It was the most terrifyingly beautiful thing he’d ever seen. Countless thousands of machines, each one anonymous, but together, in this blue twilight, shaping the thoughts of the world.’
Thank you, T.C. Weber, for providing me with an eBook of SLEEP STATE INTERRUPT at the request of an honest review.
‘He shivered. It was the most terrifyingly beautiful thing he’d ever seen. Countless thousands of machines, each one anonymous, but together, in this blue twilight, shaping the thoughts of the world.’
Thank you, T.C. Weber, for providing me with an eBook of SLEEP STATE INTERRUPT at the request of an honest review.
March 7, 2018
I have mixed feelings about this book. Though in the end I liked it more than disliked it.
I really like the concept of advanced technology in this book and how people react to it.
Each of the MCs has their own disturbing personality that make them not easily likeable. But, their personalities make them interesting and rather easy to differ as the story is told from each of the MCs point of view. However, some of the MCs are somewhat lack of development , which bothered me sometimes.
This book has a complex plot and the virtual and real world are somewhat blended in some parts that took me a while to follow.
Overall, this is an enjoyable read once I could get into the story.
**I received a free copy of this book in accordance with the terms of Librarything Members Giveaway program.**
I really like the concept of advanced technology in this book and how people react to it.
Each of the MCs has their own disturbing personality that make them not easily likeable. But, their personalities make them interesting and rather easy to differ as the story is told from each of the MCs point of view. However, some of the MCs are somewhat lack of development , which bothered me sometimes.
This book has a complex plot and the virtual and real world are somewhat blended in some parts that took me a while to follow.
Overall, this is an enjoyable read once I could get into the story.
**I received a free copy of this book in accordance with the terms of Librarything Members Giveaway program.**
Read
December 3, 2016The setting in T.C. Weber’s debut novel, Sleep State Interrupt, is a near future dystopia. A new, ‘better’ Internet is in the hands of one corporation, working hand in glove with the President and the party in power. All news and information flows from Media Corporation, perfect propaganda. Well, almost all: Waylee Freid, a young unemployed journalist, together with an eclectic group of hacker underground friends, do battle against the system to get the truth out.
Weber’s world is so plausible that when you close the book you’ll have to pinch yourself to make sure it’s not real. It’s a romp of a techno-thriller, and Waylee has further adventures ahead. Read it, look around, and which her well.
Weber’s world is so plausible that when you close the book you’ll have to pinch yourself to make sure it’s not real. It’s a romp of a techno-thriller, and Waylee has further adventures ahead. Read it, look around, and which her well.
July 7, 2018
This was an interesting story, addressing problems with political systems and media corporations. The characters were certainly colorful and driven to fight back against the system. I liked Waylee's drive and Charles's need to prove himself toward the end. My main issue was I had trouble getting into the action and understanding the BetterWorld scenes. This is still a good read however, especially for anyone into computers, dystopia, and freedom fighters. The ending left me wondering what's going to happen next with these characters, and I do want to find out.
October 6, 2016
T. C Weber's image of our cyber future is frighteningly realistic. I could feel his character's frustration as they struggled to stay one step ahead of their enemies. Waylee and her friends have lots of spirit. I hope we'll see another story in this world with these characters.
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