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The Dark Herbalist #1
Video Game Plotline Tester
Would you be prepared to work for free? How would you like to bust your hump for a large corporation 60-plus hours a week without a wage or a single day off for the vague promise of some mysterious perks in the distant future?
You'd refuse point blank, wouldn't you?
But what if the job in question was playing a state-of-the-art fantasy MMORPG game? And what if this was the only thing you're really good at? Especially considering that your in-game partner is someone really special to you - and this person already lives a virtual life?
Knowing all this, would you consider the mysterious future bonus worth your while? I dare you to try it!
You'd refuse point blank, wouldn't you?
But what if the job in question was playing a state-of-the-art fantasy MMORPG game? And what if this was the only thing you're really good at? Especially considering that your in-game partner is someone really special to you - and this person already lives a virtual life?
Knowing all this, would you consider the mysterious future bonus worth your while? I dare you to try it!
565 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
513 people are currently reading
752 people want to read
About the author
Michael Atamanov
54 books549 followersMichael Atamanov was born in 1975 in Grozny, Chechnia. He excelled at school, winning numerous national science and writing competitions. Having graduated with honors, he entered Moscow University to study material engineering. Soon, however, he had no home to return to: their house was destroyed during the first Chechen campaign. Michael's family fled the war, taking shelter with some relatives in Stavropol Territory in the South of Russia.
Having graduated from the University, Michael was forced to accept whatever work was available. He moonlighted in chemical labs, loaded trucks, translated technical articles, worked as a software installer as well as scene shifter for local artists and events. At the same time he never stopped writing, even when squatting in some seedy Moscow hostels. Writing became an urgent need for Michael, driving him to submit articles to science publications, news fillers for a variety of web sites and a plethora of technical and copywriting gigs.
Then one day unexpectedly for himself he started writing fairy tales and science fiction novels. For several years, his audience consisted of only one person: Michael's elder son. Then, at the end of 2014 he decided to upload one of his manuscripts to a free online writers resource. Readers liked it and demanded a sequel. Michael uploaded another book, and yet another, his audience growing as did his list. It was his readers who helped Michael hone his writing style. He finally had the breakthrough he deserved when the Moscow-based EKSMO - the biggest publishing house in Europe - offered him a contract for his first and consequent books.
Having graduated from the University, Michael was forced to accept whatever work was available. He moonlighted in chemical labs, loaded trucks, translated technical articles, worked as a software installer as well as scene shifter for local artists and events. At the same time he never stopped writing, even when squatting in some seedy Moscow hostels. Writing became an urgent need for Michael, driving him to submit articles to science publications, news fillers for a variety of web sites and a plethora of technical and copywriting gigs.
Then one day unexpectedly for himself he started writing fairy tales and science fiction novels. For several years, his audience consisted of only one person: Michael's elder son. Then, at the end of 2014 he decided to upload one of his manuscripts to a free online writers resource. Readers liked it and demanded a sequel. Michael uploaded another book, and yet another, his audience growing as did his list. It was his readers who helped Michael hone his writing style. He finally had the breakthrough he deserved when the Moscow-based EKSMO - the biggest publishing house in Europe - offered him a contract for his first and consequent books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 205 reviews
July 6, 2023
I read this book six years ago, but the series wasn't finished. And to remember everything, I decided to read( listen) it again from the beginning.
I like LitRpg books and this author in particular.
The action in the story takes place in the future and the main character Timur struggles to look after his disabled sister after the death of their both parents. He tries to get a job as a tester in a gaming company playing as a goblin. In this book, he successfully passes through a probation period and is officially hired by the company for his unusual solutions during game quests by helping not only his colleagues but his NPC friends too. Next to him is playing his 14-year-old sister.
The book tells us only about the game in the initial location and at the end of it he is ready to move to the big game world.
If you played MMORPG yourself and know about the levelling game system, give this book a try and you will be rewarded with a good story.
I like LitRpg books and this author in particular.
The action in the story takes place in the future and the main character Timur struggles to look after his disabled sister after the death of their both parents. He tries to get a job as a tester in a gaming company playing as a goblin. In this book, he successfully passes through a probation period and is officially hired by the company for his unusual solutions during game quests by helping not only his colleagues but his NPC friends too. Next to him is playing his 14-year-old sister.
The book tells us only about the game in the initial location and at the end of it he is ready to move to the big game world.
If you played MMORPG yourself and know about the levelling game system, give this book a try and you will be rewarded with a good story.
January 7, 2021
I don't know whether it's the author or the translators fault (I'm going with both, personally) but this book is awful. Women are portrayed mostly as sex objects or dolts worthy of nothing but scorn, and even the sister, who is clever and capable in game, is little more than a burden to make the MC seem selfless and noble for not ditching her irl; the way her disability is portrayed is disgusting. The plot is flimsy and boring, especially in the real life segments where a woman described like a walking sex doll fawns over him for no reason, and the executives of this gaming company praise and encourage him for breaking their rules constantly. The dialogue is so fake it hurts, and even the gaming part is getting snoozy. I'm giving it a DNF AT 70%.
January 31, 2017
Originally written in Russian, this book was translated and re-published here. I'm not sure how much of the bad writing was because of that and how much was the author's fault.
The book was broken up into two parts, interwoven with each other: Inside a game, and the real world. The plot followed a man who was hired by a gaming company to play a character in their game. (The details of why they would do that were neither believable nor important.) As with all of these litrpg books, the game was virtual reality, so the man was actually inside the game for most of the book.
The scenes inside the game were what kept me reading. I believed it as a video game, and it was as fun to read about as it would be to play.
The scenes outside of the game were awful. I did not believe a single word of the dialogue, nothing was realistic at all, and beautiful women got naked for the main character and slept with him for no reason. (One just happened to meet him for the first time coming out of the shower, accidentally dropped the towel she had had wrapped around her, and had NO ISSUES with just standing there naked having a conversation with a stranger.)
The whole book had that issue: Whenever there was a problem, the main character was just handed the solution. The end had a seemingly great twist, but a moment later the character was handed a solution and fixed/reset it all.
The author/translator used "literally" way too often. Like during a conversation, someone paused for "literally two minutes" to think. The other guy just continued the conversation as if the other person hadn't stared blankly for that long...
All that being said, it was still a fun story, but only because I like video games so much. While I cannot at all recommend this book, if I spot the second book around somewhere, I'd probably give it a chance.
The book was broken up into two parts, interwoven with each other: Inside a game, and the real world. The plot followed a man who was hired by a gaming company to play a character in their game. (The details of why they would do that were neither believable nor important.) As with all of these litrpg books, the game was virtual reality, so the man was actually inside the game for most of the book.
The scenes inside the game were what kept me reading. I believed it as a video game, and it was as fun to read about as it would be to play.
The scenes outside of the game were awful. I did not believe a single word of the dialogue, nothing was realistic at all, and beautiful women got naked for the main character and slept with him for no reason. (One just happened to meet him for the first time coming out of the shower, accidentally dropped the towel she had had wrapped around her, and had NO ISSUES with just standing there naked having a conversation with a stranger.)
The whole book had that issue: Whenever there was a problem, the main character was just handed the solution. The end had a seemingly great twist, but a moment later the character was handed a solution and fixed/reset it all.
The author/translator used "literally" way too often. Like during a conversation, someone paused for "literally two minutes" to think. The other guy just continued the conversation as if the other person hadn't stared blankly for that long...
All that being said, it was still a fun story, but only because I like video games so much. While I cannot at all recommend this book, if I spot the second book around somewhere, I'd probably give it a chance.
April 5, 2017
Pretty disappointing. Has too many flaws to list but my favorite *objects* are:
Beautiful woman who is smart and competent, but has no legs so she is trash/useless in the real world.
Beautiful woman who has red hair, is a sex object, demonstrate to everybody how women are irrational.
Beautiful woman who is rich and succesful, but acts rashly and gets calmed down by a good slap.
Beautiful woman who doesn't mind getting raped daily multiple times, because you know its only a game (full sensory immersion game)
Some more in a compacted list. Mary-Sue MC. Plot going nowhere. 2d characters. Butt-hurt about Goonswarm. No real tension. No real conflict. Not a single innovation using game mechanics. Bugs of allegedly biggest and best game in the world. Ending that promises that no matter what, nothing bad/interesting is going to happen.
Beautiful woman who is smart and competent, but has no legs so she is trash/useless in the real world.
Beautiful woman who has red hair, is a sex object, demonstrate to everybody how women are irrational.
Beautiful woman who is rich and succesful, but acts rashly and gets calmed down by a good slap.
Beautiful woman who doesn't mind getting raped daily multiple times, because you know its only a game (full sensory immersion game)
Some more in a compacted list. Mary-Sue MC. Plot going nowhere. 2d characters. Butt-hurt about Goonswarm. No real tension. No real conflict. Not a single innovation using game mechanics. Bugs of allegedly biggest and best game in the world. Ending that promises that no matter what, nothing bad/interesting is going to happen.
October 27, 2018
😑😒🙄Did this book really give the MC a love interest both in real life and an NPC in the game
An interesting concept The errors in the code was quite unique because in other books the code was so refined that even if the player did something unexpected they would adjust like actual people
An interesting concept The errors in the code was quite unique because in other books the code was so refined that even if the player did something unexpected they would adjust like actual people
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2017
A bit bland
I must admit I was disappointed. Everything was handed to the mc with any skill, intelligence, or work on his part. There wasn't plot twists, nor did I connect with the characters. Still a lit rpg so might be worth reading if you need a fix and don't have high expectations.
I must admit I was disappointed. Everything was handed to the mc with any skill, intelligence, or work on his part. There wasn't plot twists, nor did I connect with the characters. Still a lit rpg so might be worth reading if you need a fix and don't have high expectations.
November 13, 2022
I loved this book. First, it's a goblin herbalist. I always loved herbalism and alchemy in rpg's, and the way he uses the skills, and coordinates with his friends just makes the story really great.
I did find it a little odd that instead of writing the dialog the author just told me what the characters said, and some of the minor choices in writing and plot were odd, but not enough to detract from the story.
I will definitely keep reading this one.
I did find it a little odd that instead of writing the dialog the author just told me what the characters said, and some of the minor choices in writing and plot were odd, but not enough to detract from the story.
I will definitely keep reading this one.
January 18, 2024
Taková milá a nenáročná oddechovka v žánru LitRPG. Jediné, co mi chybělo k větší spokojenosti je to, že hlavní hrdina příběhem proklouzává až moc snadno, případné problémy se vyřeší vždy poměrně rychle a jednoduše, bez větších zádrhelů. Děj je svižný, dobře se to čte. Pro fanoušky her a žánru super. A představa goblina bylinkáře je úsměvná :)
October 23, 2023
První kniha s tohoto žánru a jsme opravdu nadšená 👌
August 3, 2020
Timothyho život by se dal přirovnat ke hře v hardcore módu, na celém světě mu totiž zůstala už jen sestra na invalidním vozíku a láska k MMORPG . Navíc se na trhu se objevil nový fenomén využívající virtuální realitu, jenž postupně vytlačil všechny ostatní hry – včetně té, ve které hlavní hrdina učinil nemalé investice. Aby unikl dluhům a dokázal se postarat o sebe i o sestru, rozhodne se Timothy ucházet o místo právě v oné konkurenční společnosti coby herní tester. Leč i s prací pro Svět bez hranic se pojí jistá omezení, např. si musí pro svou postavu vybrat nepopulární rasu a povolání či propagovat svůj postup skrze videoherní kanál. Bohužel ho nečeká žádná pravidelná mzda, ale zato si může nechat převést herní peníze na opravdové. A tak se Timothy v kůži svého goblina/bylinkáře Amry vydává vstříc honbě za pokladem i senzačním dobrodružstvím.
~~~
Ruský autor Michael Atamanov si získal řadu fanoušků díky tetralogii Obránce perimetru, ve které kombinuje sci-fi s LitRPG. Temný bylinkář se však kloní spíše směrem k fantasy, příčinu samozřejmě skýtá herní prostředí - epické a magické zároveň, ve stylu World of Warcraft (akorát s mnohem lepší grafikou). Obě série přináší na pulty tuzemských knihkupectví nakladatelství Fantomprint. Český překlad nevychází z ruského originálu, nýbrž z anglické verze, odkud je převzata i pohádkově krásná obálka.
Vyprávění se odehrává v ich-formě minulého času a Atamanovův sloh hodnotím jako dynamický a čtivý. Postavy působí uvěřitelně (i ty, které mají být pouhým kouskem programového kódu!) a popisy věrohodně vykreslují tamní prostředí i atmosféru. Systémová hlášení prokládají děj ve správné míře a herní mechanismy jsou prezentovány jednoduše, aby je pochopil i úplný začátečník (ať už v žánru či ve hrách všeobecně), a přesto poutavě, že zvládnou zaujmout i zkušené pařmeny.
Příběh vyjma Timothyho ústřední motivace (tj. získat finanční prostředky, splnit firemní kvóty a přilákat diváky) provází též několik goblinových úkolů – od snahy přežít prvotní spawn přes budování reputace až po vyšetřování záhady. Oživujícím prvkem jsou i ženské elementy (viz Timothyho sestra v roli inteligentní a éterické nymfy, přátelská NPC goblinka z nedaleké vesnice nebo tajemná nezávislá testerka), zatímco napětí obstarávají děsivá stvoření lesa či nepřátelští PVP hráči. Bonusem budiž fakt, že protagonista není ve hře trvale uvězněn, pročež se může rozvíjet i dějová linka ze skutečného světa (Jak moc ovlivní Timothyho kariéra jeho osobní život - a naopak?).
Pokud bychom porovnali Herního testera s ostatními tituly z LitRPG řady Fantomprintu, nelze si nevšimnout některých shodných námětů. Přestože se Atamanov vyvaroval největšího klišé (tj. nemožnosti odpojit se z virtuální reality), zůstává výběr netypické postavy (Mahaněnko: šaman-klenotník, Korněv: nemrtvé NPC). Mně události v knize až příliš připomínají Kartosský gambit, jelikož se v obou vyskytuje smečka vlků, tajemná nestvůra útočící pod rouškou noci, hlavní hrdina na nízkém levelu čelící mocnému protivníkovi i nevraživosti celého klanu... No a do toho se úplnou náhodou přimotá do globálního scénáře.
Obávám se, že mohla být do textu více zakomponována péče o sestru; také bych uvítala rozvitější pasáže ohledně tvorby a správy Timothyho kanálu s nahrávkami. Nevýhodou se může jevit i pomalejší rozjezd, nedostatek navštívených lokací a absence vyloženě strhující zápletky (což ale pravděpodobně napraví další díl).
Ačkoliv autor není vždy originální, vynahrazuje to osobitostí – sympatický Timothy a jeho neotřelé nápady zaujmou i pobaví. Na své si přijdou jak čtenáři dychtící po akci, tak příznivci romantiky. Já jsem se navzdory pár drobnostem bavila a knihu mohu s čistým svědomím doporučit každému, kdo s tímto žánrem doposud nemá zkušenosti a rád by si ho vyzkoušel. Také se domnívám, že může posloužit jako kvalitní oddychová literatura fanouškům fantasy a sci-fi.
4,5/5*
Za recenzní e-book děkuji nakladatelství Fantomprint!
~~~
Ruský autor Michael Atamanov si získal řadu fanoušků díky tetralogii Obránce perimetru, ve které kombinuje sci-fi s LitRPG. Temný bylinkář se však kloní spíše směrem k fantasy, příčinu samozřejmě skýtá herní prostředí - epické a magické zároveň, ve stylu World of Warcraft (akorát s mnohem lepší grafikou). Obě série přináší na pulty tuzemských knihkupectví nakladatelství Fantomprint. Český překlad nevychází z ruského originálu, nýbrž z anglické verze, odkud je převzata i pohádkově krásná obálka.
Vyprávění se odehrává v ich-formě minulého času a Atamanovův sloh hodnotím jako dynamický a čtivý. Postavy působí uvěřitelně (i ty, které mají být pouhým kouskem programového kódu!) a popisy věrohodně vykreslují tamní prostředí i atmosféru. Systémová hlášení prokládají děj ve správné míře a herní mechanismy jsou prezentovány jednoduše, aby je pochopil i úplný začátečník (ať už v žánru či ve hrách všeobecně), a přesto poutavě, že zvládnou zaujmout i zkušené pařmeny.
Příběh vyjma Timothyho ústřední motivace (tj. získat finanční prostředky, splnit firemní kvóty a přilákat diváky) provází též několik goblinových úkolů – od snahy přežít prvotní spawn přes budování reputace až po vyšetřování záhady. Oživujícím prvkem jsou i ženské elementy (viz Timothyho sestra v roli inteligentní a éterické nymfy, přátelská NPC goblinka z nedaleké vesnice nebo tajemná nezávislá testerka), zatímco napětí obstarávají děsivá stvoření lesa či nepřátelští PVP hráči. Bonusem budiž fakt, že protagonista není ve hře trvale uvězněn, pročež se může rozvíjet i dějová linka ze skutečného světa (Jak moc ovlivní Timothyho kariéra jeho osobní život - a naopak?).
Pokud bychom porovnali Herního testera s ostatními tituly z LitRPG řady Fantomprintu, nelze si nevšimnout některých shodných námětů. Přestože se Atamanov vyvaroval největšího klišé (tj. nemožnosti odpojit se z virtuální reality), zůstává výběr netypické postavy (Mahaněnko: šaman-klenotník, Korněv: nemrtvé NPC). Mně události v knize až příliš připomínají Kartosský gambit, jelikož se v obou vyskytuje smečka vlků, tajemná nestvůra útočící pod rouškou noci, hlavní hrdina na nízkém levelu čelící mocnému protivníkovi i nevraživosti celého klanu... No a do toho se úplnou náhodou přimotá do globálního scénáře.
Obávám se, že mohla být do textu více zakomponována péče o sestru; také bych uvítala rozvitější pasáže ohledně tvorby a správy Timothyho kanálu s nahrávkami. Nevýhodou se může jevit i pomalejší rozjezd, nedostatek navštívených lokací a absence vyloženě strhující zápletky (což ale pravděpodobně napraví další díl).
Ačkoliv autor není vždy originální, vynahrazuje to osobitostí – sympatický Timothy a jeho neotřelé nápady zaujmou i pobaví. Na své si přijdou jak čtenáři dychtící po akci, tak příznivci romantiky. Já jsem se navzdory pár drobnostem bavila a knihu mohu s čistým svědomím doporučit každému, kdo s tímto žánrem doposud nemá zkušenosti a rád by si ho vyzkoušel. Také se domnívám, že může posloužit jako kvalitní oddychová literatura fanouškům fantasy a sci-fi.
4,5/5*
Za recenzní e-book děkuji nakladatelství Fantomprint!
October 2, 2017
This is pretty much identical to Alexey Osadchuk's "Project Daily Grind". Both are about impoverished people starting work in a virtual world to make enough money to support his family and their medial needs. They both get lesser known/played races with a gathering primary profession but eventually upgrade to having some combat capability an exotic ranged weapon, though pets are their primary attack strength. Both are tasked with exploring less traveled areas and obtain rare flying mounts that start off as eggs. There are more but simply said, I had a lot of deja vu reading this.
All that out of the way, there are some area's where Atamanov does things better. His economy, for example, makes more sense than Osadchak's. His game, too, seems to be more rational in it's setup and function. While Osadchuk's main character is more likable and I feel more for his situation, Atamonov's is a close second, and his secondary characters are much better.
Besides that it's all pretty standard not bad, not great, and so gets an average score of 3/5
All that out of the way, there are some area's where Atamanov does things better. His economy, for example, makes more sense than Osadchak's. His game, too, seems to be more rational in it's setup and function. While Osadchuk's main character is more likable and I feel more for his situation, Atamonov's is a close second, and his secondary characters are much better.
Besides that it's all pretty standard not bad, not great, and so gets an average score of 3/5
September 28, 2018
Pro:
-interesting plot
-good "virtual world"
Con:
-The main character is either a retard when he is with his sister, she knows everything, as an extremely overpowered character when engaging with employees from the company that created the game, as a guy that can't decide if he likes women or does not like them or a genius when encountering obstacles when alone in the real world.
-constant contradictions e.g. the game company treats all players fair and employed players get no special treatment, the mc gets it, everywhere.
-you will not be able to believe the mc is out of work and broke when reading the book because literally everything falls in his lap and of course he is an ex-gymnast and has a good degree from a university
Conclusion:
The main character is becoming overpowered and the development is unbelievable. The idea of the game is good and enjoyable but the time, where I could slip into the main character and live his life by reading, is limited to small fractions of the book.
-interesting plot
-good "virtual world"
Con:
-The main character is either a retard when he is with his sister, she knows everything, as an extremely overpowered character when engaging with employees from the company that created the game, as a guy that can't decide if he likes women or does not like them or a genius when encountering obstacles when alone in the real world.
-constant contradictions e.g. the game company treats all players fair and employed players get no special treatment, the mc gets it, everywhere.
-you will not be able to believe the mc is out of work and broke when reading the book because literally everything falls in his lap and of course he is an ex-gymnast and has a good degree from a university
Conclusion:
The main character is becoming overpowered and the development is unbelievable. The idea of the game is good and enjoyable but the time, where I could slip into the main character and live his life by reading, is limited to small fractions of the book.
February 7, 2017
Overall, this isn't a bad book. There are some items that seem to come to easily. There isn't enough stress put on the mc after he gets handed a crappy character build. Every time something bad occurs abdominal you start to think, oh here we go, the author slaps out with the god hand to fix it for the mc. For example, Keeper is just toooo convenient.
Go ahead and read this one, but just know up front that this is not going to be a literary classic.
Go ahead and read this one, but just know up front that this is not going to be a literary classic.
April 11, 2018
I quite enjoyed this book, which I listened to on Audible. I found the mixing of weird game character and struggles in the real world to be interesting. I'm not sure who I recommend this to, but I really liked it.
December 4, 2018
Wow, Russia sucks. That said, the story was engaging, the characters and world building fresh enough to push this up from three to four stars. Pre ordered book 4.
May 18, 2024
It is fun. It is the first book I've read in this genre. I think of it as watching the video of someone else playing the game, but you have the full fantasy freedom and no disturbing images. The book is written in light and hilarious manner, full of numbers, with only one proper character.
August 10, 2017
A very unique character build
I enjoyed the characters immensely in the Dark Herbalist and am on my way to Book 2 this very moment!
I enjoyed the characters immensely in the Dark Herbalist and am on my way to Book 2 this very moment!
February 7, 2019
*Need to Review
3.5 to 4 Stars. Will decide later.
3.5 to 4 Stars. Will decide later.
June 16, 2018
I love this new fantasy subgenre. The story was unique, and the characters were great fun!
February 8, 2021
Vynikající knížka! Musel jsem jí přečéít na jeden zátah! to už se mi dlouho nestalo! Opravdu doporučuju
July 24, 2017
Not a bad book, but not a great one. Though I am fairly interested to read the next in the series. I just felt like after reading 'The Land' that this couldn't compare.
June 10, 2017
Perfect! Exactly what I thought this would be, an excellent example of a Lit RPG genre. Fun, enjoyable, fast paced and well thought out. I'm so looking forward to the next book in the series...
March 4, 2018
This is uncommon for me but this one really deserves 4.5 stars. Such a large number of stars because we don't really need to accept too many things to believe the book:
- the character is not that powerful
- he's got a good reason to play
- he's trying to find the best solution and it's not always easy
- he tried to turn the location into a "generic" country (for example names and locations can refer to many countries).
The world is a little bit like "ready player one" in the fact that it's quite advanced and depressing.
At the same time translation was not always perfect leading to disastrous sentences (especially the incredibly funny 'girlfriends" instead of "friends who happen to be women" as it turned the whole paragraph into a lesbian fantasy).
(spoilers)
So why not 5/5? Well, maybe because we see again some Russian tropes:
1) "there is a plot in the company to steal people" (it's not as if we haven't seen something like that in may other books). Why don't we see just honest people doing their job (most of the people around me are like that).
2) There are some bad habits that are hard to forget: racketeers in the area (but why don't you call the police?) and they happen to be "arabs" (can't they be, for once, something else such as just racketeers not reduced to this single label).
3) Women women women...
4) WHERE IS THE SCHOOL? Your sister should go to the school. Yes you have a disability. So just go to school and learn! Given her age school is even probably mandatory. Just tell us for example that events take place during holidays.
- the character is not that powerful
- he's got a good reason to play
- he's trying to find the best solution and it's not always easy
- he tried to turn the location into a "generic" country (for example names and locations can refer to many countries).
The world is a little bit like "ready player one" in the fact that it's quite advanced and depressing.
At the same time translation was not always perfect leading to disastrous sentences (especially the incredibly funny 'girlfriends" instead of "friends who happen to be women" as it turned the whole paragraph into a lesbian fantasy).
(spoilers)
So why not 5/5? Well, maybe because we see again some Russian tropes:
1) "there is a plot in the company to steal people" (it's not as if we haven't seen something like that in may other books). Why don't we see just honest people doing their job (most of the people around me are like that).
2) There are some bad habits that are hard to forget: racketeers in the area (but why don't you call the police?) and they happen to be "arabs" (can't they be, for once, something else such as just racketeers not reduced to this single label).
3) Women women women...
4) WHERE IS THE SCHOOL? Your sister should go to the school. Yes you have a disability. So just go to school and learn! Given her age school is even probably mandatory. Just tell us for example that events take place during holidays.
February 23, 2018
It's quite good.
Actually I feared that it would be too much like some of the russian LitRPG's I've read, but it generally wasn't. There were some things that reminded me of them: Primarily the negativity towards other people and their motives, and the tendency to have all relevant women be very attractive (and attracted to the MC). But. It wasn't bad, and the story is actually very good, and holds great promise for the future. The characters are mostly good, some of them aren't that deep, but they have room to grow. The plot is simple, but good. The world is quite good aswell, though not excellent. All in all: A good book, well worth a read if you like this genre, but not a masterpiece.
Now I'm gonna go off on a tangent a bit:
Why are so many of the RPG's in this genre designed so drastically different from RL ones? Mainly I am talking about how stats and skills work. Especially the stats. How many RPG's do you guys know that allow you to place your stat points yourself? Probably few-to-none, since that kind of thing always leads to powergaming abuse, a bit like the MC of Awaken Online uses it.
The second thing, which the skill thing falls under, is the thing about irreversible choices. How many games have those kind of things? None, essentially. And especially combined with an inability to make new characters (which also none have, and combined they would be horrible).
The last thing is about the size of these worlds... This is a problem that is harder to fix from an authors stand point, so far as I can see. However, it still annoys me when these game worlds have sizes compareable to Earth. The surface of the Earth is INSANELY large. About 40.000km around the equator. That would take you something like a year of constant (24h a day) walking to walk. And that is just the narrow band around the equator, the surface is too large for human minds to really grasp. And so the idea that we will EVER have a game where such a large surface is designed is nonsense. It can be generated by a computer, sure, but not designed.
But as I said, that is harder to fix for the author, because in order to have the pasing work, you need the world to be big (though the players would get bored as fuck moving those distances too. Have you tried just having to walk 1h in a video game? That is bad enough, and in these games it takes days, sometimes weeks).
Actually I feared that it would be too much like some of the russian LitRPG's I've read, but it generally wasn't. There were some things that reminded me of them: Primarily the negativity towards other people and their motives, and the tendency to have all relevant women be very attractive (and attracted to the MC). But. It wasn't bad, and the story is actually very good, and holds great promise for the future. The characters are mostly good, some of them aren't that deep, but they have room to grow. The plot is simple, but good. The world is quite good aswell, though not excellent. All in all: A good book, well worth a read if you like this genre, but not a masterpiece.
Now I'm gonna go off on a tangent a bit:
Why are so many of the RPG's in this genre designed so drastically different from RL ones? Mainly I am talking about how stats and skills work. Especially the stats. How many RPG's do you guys know that allow you to place your stat points yourself? Probably few-to-none, since that kind of thing always leads to powergaming abuse, a bit like the MC of Awaken Online uses it.
The second thing, which the skill thing falls under, is the thing about irreversible choices. How many games have those kind of things? None, essentially. And especially combined with an inability to make new characters (which also none have, and combined they would be horrible).
The last thing is about the size of these worlds... This is a problem that is harder to fix from an authors stand point, so far as I can see. However, it still annoys me when these game worlds have sizes compareable to Earth. The surface of the Earth is INSANELY large. About 40.000km around the equator. That would take you something like a year of constant (24h a day) walking to walk. And that is just the narrow band around the equator, the surface is too large for human minds to really grasp. And so the idea that we will EVER have a game where such a large surface is designed is nonsense. It can be generated by a computer, sure, but not designed.
But as I said, that is harder to fix for the author, because in order to have the pasing work, you need the world to be big (though the players would get bored as fuck moving those distances too. Have you tried just having to walk 1h in a video game? That is bad enough, and in these games it takes days, sometimes weeks).
August 2, 2020
„Život ve Světě bez hranic žádnou pauzu na oběd nemá. Právě jsem hrál sedmnáct hodin v kuse. Celou noc jsem utíkal před nebezpečnými stvůrami, hrabal se ve smradlavých kostech v podzemní noře, klepal se zimou v mokrém lese, zabíjel hráče a sám jsem umřel. Objevil jsem čtyři vzácné předměty, získal tři levely a vydělal si přibližně pět tisíc herních mincí. Ano, jsem hrozně unavený, ale takový je rozdíl mezi obyčejnými hráči a korporátními testery. Ti první si užívají krásnou, realistickou hru, ale ti druzí jsou ve skutečnosti v práci a moc dobře si to uvědomují.“
Hlavnímu hrdinovi Timothymu štěstí v životě moc nepřeje. Zemřou mu oba rodiče a on je nucen se sám starat o svou sestru na invalidním vozíku. Jelikož celý život hraje počítačové hry, rozhodl se vzít místo herního testera ve hře Svět bez hranic. Herním testerům jsou přiděleny neoblíbené rasy postav společně s neoblíbenými profesemi. Za úkol mají celý svůj průchod hrou natáčet pro své diváky a nalákat je na hraní i těchto neoblíbených postav. Timothymu je přidělena postava goblina bylinkáře a jeho prvním úkolem je utéct z otrokářské lodi. Po útěku narazí na opuštěný srub, ve kterém se zabydlí, kousek od srubu je gobliní vesnice a spřátelí se s ním i partička místních vlků. Pokud vás zajímá, jak s těmito zdroji Timothy naloží, tak na nic nečekejte a pusťte se do čtení!
Tak tohle bylo luxusní! Opravdu luxusní! Je to něco jiného než ostatní LitRPG série, protože v téhle se může hlavní hrdina bez problémů ze hry odhlásit a není nucen k neustálému hraní. Díky tomu je v knize i zajímavý vývoj děje v reálném světě, který je příjemným zpestřením. Průběžně jsou kapitoly doplněny i o tabulku se statistikami postavy, které často ostatním LitRPG knihám chybí. Díky tomu, že je hlavní hrdina herní tester, všechny události, které se v příběhu dějí, zní mnohem uvěřitelněji. Bohužel se v knize opět nachází značný počet překlepů, ale s tím se už počítá. Pro fanoušky LitRPG je tahle kniha samozřejmost a pro všechny ostatní je to ideální volba, jak s tímto žánrem začít!
Hlavnímu hrdinovi Timothymu štěstí v životě moc nepřeje. Zemřou mu oba rodiče a on je nucen se sám starat o svou sestru na invalidním vozíku. Jelikož celý život hraje počítačové hry, rozhodl se vzít místo herního testera ve hře Svět bez hranic. Herním testerům jsou přiděleny neoblíbené rasy postav společně s neoblíbenými profesemi. Za úkol mají celý svůj průchod hrou natáčet pro své diváky a nalákat je na hraní i těchto neoblíbených postav. Timothymu je přidělena postava goblina bylinkáře a jeho prvním úkolem je utéct z otrokářské lodi. Po útěku narazí na opuštěný srub, ve kterém se zabydlí, kousek od srubu je gobliní vesnice a spřátelí se s ním i partička místních vlků. Pokud vás zajímá, jak s těmito zdroji Timothy naloží, tak na nic nečekejte a pusťte se do čtení!
Tak tohle bylo luxusní! Opravdu luxusní! Je to něco jiného než ostatní LitRPG série, protože v téhle se může hlavní hrdina bez problémů ze hry odhlásit a není nucen k neustálému hraní. Díky tomu je v knize i zajímavý vývoj děje v reálném světě, který je příjemným zpestřením. Průběžně jsou kapitoly doplněny i o tabulku se statistikami postavy, které často ostatním LitRPG knihám chybí. Díky tomu, že je hlavní hrdina herní tester, všechny události, které se v příběhu dějí, zní mnohem uvěřitelněji. Bohužel se v knize opět nachází značný počet překlepů, ale s tím se už počítá. Pro fanoušky LitRPG je tahle kniha samozřejmost a pro všechny ostatní je to ideální volba, jak s tímto žánrem začít!
November 2, 2018
On the surface, I would say this was a good book that has most things your average litrpg reader is looking for. There was a very large-scale world with a huge variety of character types and mechanics to learn about. A lot of quests that involve really getting into the world and socializing with it. But for me, I just found myself struggling very hard to actually care about any of it.
The main character wasn't unlikable (especially compared to the bitter, venomous, loser do-nothing male characters that seem so prevalent now), but I honestly never really rooted for him. The main motivation in the story was just to secure stable employment and acquire money. The one thing that could have made me identify with him more was his desire to care for and protect his sister, but that side of him was more mentioned rather than explored. But considering the fact that his sister and their livelihood was the important thing, I found it a little odd and distracting that the main character would care at all about getting some goblin bride in game. I just felt like you could delete fact that he has a crippled sister and you wouldn't notice the difference in his behavior.
Just really lackluster stakes involved that prevented me from ever feeling any suspense or that anything important was happening. Then the attempt to make a serious scene toward the end was extremely underwhelming to me and I also foresaw that it was just a gimmick.
Honestly I just didn't feel a thing for any character in the book or any of the plots unfolding. If this book was available on kindle unlimited I might just shrug my shoulders and be like ok that was a decent little story to pass the time. Unfortunately, I legit bought the book so I am left feeling like I should have spent my dollars on a different book. If I read another of this author's books, it will likely be the first book of a different series rather than the sequel to this one.
The main character wasn't unlikable (especially compared to the bitter, venomous, loser do-nothing male characters that seem so prevalent now), but I honestly never really rooted for him. The main motivation in the story was just to secure stable employment and acquire money. The one thing that could have made me identify with him more was his desire to care for and protect his sister, but that side of him was more mentioned rather than explored. But considering the fact that his sister and their livelihood was the important thing, I found it a little odd and distracting that the main character would care at all about getting some goblin bride in game. I just felt like you could delete fact that he has a crippled sister and you wouldn't notice the difference in his behavior.
Just really lackluster stakes involved that prevented me from ever feeling any suspense or that anything important was happening. Then the attempt to make a serious scene toward the end was extremely underwhelming to me and I also foresaw that it was just a gimmick.
Honestly I just didn't feel a thing for any character in the book or any of the plots unfolding. If this book was available on kindle unlimited I might just shrug my shoulders and be like ok that was a decent little story to pass the time. Unfortunately, I legit bought the book so I am left feeling like I should have spent my dollars on a different book. If I read another of this author's books, it will likely be the first book of a different series rather than the sequel to this one.
November 17, 2017
Timothy and his disabled young sister are in a mess. They are trying to survive on the 18 credits per month of Valleria's disablement allowance. They are three months behind with their rent and things look grim. Timothy used to make a fair income, enough to put himself through college but the game he once played and owned virtual property in is losing wealth and players fast to its competitor Boundless Realm. So timothy applies to become an employee of the Boundless Realm corporation. He will be one of their testers. Boundless Realm want people to play different races, not just humans, and leave the cities of the virtual game world, explore the lands, do different things and keep the game from stagnating. Timothy's fine with this, but he didn't quite expect to end up as a big-eared, weak, ugly goblin herbalist with hardly any intelligence or charisma. OH, and the only other time he tried to play Boundless Realm he got bitten by a cursed bat, so he's also a vampire. If any other players find out they will kill him on sight.
This was such a great read. I have read RPG books which are entirely set in the game world, but this one switches between Timothy's real life and his game life, and the total contrast between the surreal anything goes game world and the challenges Tim faces in his reality keeps the story very interesting. There are also some neat concepts in this game and some very cool characters, both in game and in reality. I pulled yet another all nighter with this, grabbed a quick sleep and started book 2.
This was such a great read. I have read RPG books which are entirely set in the game world, but this one switches between Timothy's real life and his game life, and the total contrast between the surreal anything goes game world and the challenges Tim faces in his reality keeps the story very interesting. There are also some neat concepts in this game and some very cool characters, both in game and in reality. I pulled yet another all nighter with this, grabbed a quick sleep and started book 2.
May 14, 2018
Yes yes yes. It has a terrible terrible cover (sorry to the artist and creative minds behind this book). You see it, as a matter of fact, and think “no way, no way can I read it.”
Thanks to the magic of the internet, I did not have to suffer the (humiliation may be a strong word) anxiety of judgement walking this up to a cash register. Hoopla let me borrow the audio and I immediately jumped into it.
Hmmm, LitRPG, coming from Russia, translated into English, clearly artwork aimed at (maybe?) another culture. A storyline that seemed doable, and, then it because good. The book was fun, not taking itself too seriously, but also being serious. It’s futuristic and therefore believable, and yet it asks readers to suspend disbelief.
So, I suspended disbelief and had a great time. The first installment hinted at a Eastern European sentiment that I found comforting, having been there. The idea of a game with a lot of people doing the same thing, and the game designers wanting players to experience the extent of their creation was a plotline that was understandable.
In the end, the book was, maybe best described as “fun.”
Recommended for LitRPG fans and nerds.
Thanks to the magic of the internet, I did not have to suffer the (humiliation may be a strong word) anxiety of judgement walking this up to a cash register. Hoopla let me borrow the audio and I immediately jumped into it.
Hmmm, LitRPG, coming from Russia, translated into English, clearly artwork aimed at (maybe?) another culture. A storyline that seemed doable, and, then it because good. The book was fun, not taking itself too seriously, but also being serious. It’s futuristic and therefore believable, and yet it asks readers to suspend disbelief.
So, I suspended disbelief and had a great time. The first installment hinted at a Eastern European sentiment that I found comforting, having been there. The idea of a game with a lot of people doing the same thing, and the game designers wanting players to experience the extent of their creation was a plotline that was understandable.
In the end, the book was, maybe best described as “fun.”
Recommended for LitRPG fans and nerds.
June 16, 2017
Apparently this LITrpg book was originally written in Russian then translated to English... I kinda want to blame the translation for what happened to this book but who knows.
The plotline is contrived to say the least, A game that has been online for years and years NOW needs in-game beta testers? Also instead of properly vetting the applicants they give them generic milestones to achieve and if they fail they get fired within 3 days? You do know this isn't how the hiring process goes right?
Most of the book deals with the in-game world, that part isn't bad but nothing stands out in it either.
Over all the book is a bit flat and some of the dialogue / interactions is too stiff and unnatural, could be the translation but this was missing that little something unique to set it apart from the others within the genre sadly.
The plotline is contrived to say the least, A game that has been online for years and years NOW needs in-game beta testers? Also instead of properly vetting the applicants they give them generic milestones to achieve and if they fail they get fired within 3 days? You do know this isn't how the hiring process goes right?
Most of the book deals with the in-game world, that part isn't bad but nothing stands out in it either.
Over all the book is a bit flat and some of the dialogue / interactions is too stiff and unnatural, could be the translation but this was missing that little something unique to set it apart from the others within the genre sadly.
September 2, 2020
Tahle kniha mě bavila už jenom proto, že zde byl svět, který mi hrozně moc připomínal WoW. Super bylo, že daná herní společnost od začátku pracovala s tím, že chce ukázat herní svět ze strany, která není zase tak častá, je neznámá a neprobádaná. Proto nám hned před obličej nastrčili goblina bylinkáře. Děj v rámci hry mě hrozně bavil, uměla jsem se do toho vžít, jako bych to hrála.
Příběh odsýpal velmi rychle, nejspíš to bylo způsobené i tím, že se zde objevovali stavy a statusy postavy, což bylo graficky pěkně zvládnuté.
Navíc se mi líbilo propojení virtuálního světa s tím reálným, a jejich střídáním. Je sice pravda, že mě více bavilo číst o světě herním, ale toto střídání to aspoň pěkně oživilo.
Už mám i druhý díl, který mám v plánu brzo číst, a rozhodně jsem na pokračování zvědavá.
Příběh odsýpal velmi rychle, nejspíš to bylo způsobené i tím, že se zde objevovali stavy a statusy postavy, což bylo graficky pěkně zvládnuté.
Navíc se mi líbilo propojení virtuálního světa s tím reálným, a jejich střídáním. Je sice pravda, že mě více bavilo číst o světě herním, ale toto střídání to aspoň pěkně oživilo.
Už mám i druhý díl, který mám v plánu brzo číst, a rozhodně jsem na pokračování zvědavá.
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