invisibleninjacat's review against another edition
5.0
I'm a fan of dystopias, I'm a fan of mysteries, and I'm a fan of using technology in new ways - Strictly Analog hit all of the right buttons for me. I also think that in ten or fifteen or twenty years, this book is going to look frighteningly prescient.
In a dystopian near-future Los Angeles, California has separated from the rest of the United States and become its own (corporate) entity. It's citizens are perpetually logged on, and technology has advanced accordingly. Everyone who can afford them and use them is outfitted with iyz (think Google Glass for inspiration); Ted Lomax, the protagonist, can't use them, since he has only one eye due to a war injury, but in the private detective business that means he can keep secrets. He is, as the title says, Strictly Analog. Then there's a murder, and from there we get a Chandler-influenced hard-boiled mystery, complete with a romance. The romance isn't with the femme fatale, here, but another woman with whom Ted shares an amazing chemistry and a feminist-friendly, actually healthy relationship. Everything about this book, from the mystery to the relationships to the technology (especially the technology) is fantastic, and I highly recommend this book.
However. If you read Robocalypse (you know, the one where the robots become sentient, take over, and try to kill us all?) directly after this, prepare never to sleep ever again. Ever. O.o
In a dystopian near-future Los Angeles, California has separated from the rest of the United States and become its own (corporate) entity. It's citizens are perpetually logged on, and technology has advanced accordingly. Everyone who can afford them and use them is outfitted with iyz (think Google Glass for inspiration); Ted Lomax, the protagonist, can't use them, since he has only one eye due to a war injury, but in the private detective business that means he can keep secrets. He is, as the title says, Strictly Analog. Then there's a murder, and from there we get a Chandler-influenced hard-boiled mystery, complete with a romance. The romance isn't with the femme fatale, here, but another woman with whom Ted shares an amazing chemistry and a feminist-friendly, actually healthy relationship. Everything about this book, from the mystery to the relationships to the technology (especially the technology) is fantastic, and I highly recommend this book.
However. If you read Robocalypse (you know, the one where the robots become sentient, take over, and try to kill us all?) directly after this, prepare never to sleep ever again. Ever. O.o
sdramsey's review
5.0
I really loved this book! Like the author (who mentions this at the end of the book), I have a real love of noir detective stories, and pairing them with sci-fi and/or fantasy stories. I was immediately pulled into the time and place of this book, and immediately rooting for our damaged but resourceful PI. The characters are great, the story is fast-paced, and the virtual world intriguingly realized. I'm not sure if there are more books about him, but I'm off to find out! Highly recommended if you like a scifi/mystery combination.
aweichenlaub's review against another edition
4.0
The future California of this book is well realized and the perfect backdrop for the dystopian detective novel Richard Levesque has put together. Following the characters through their adventure was equaled only by seeing the clever and sometimes subtle changes to the society of the independent California. It moves forward on some of our society's trends and takes them to a logical conclusion that is not so terribly hard to believe.
fredurix's review against another edition
4.0
I got this from a Storybundle and had no or low expectations, since earlier bundle books have been hit or miss.
Strictly Analog was definitely not a miss, but a pretty damned good read; a hardboiled cyberpunk detective story that's only a few orcs and wizards short of a Shadowrun.
Strictly Analog was definitely not a miss, but a pretty damned good read; a hardboiled cyberpunk detective story that's only a few orcs and wizards short of a Shadowrun.
talithamayisha's review against another edition
4.0
I received a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars
Listening to the audio version of this book felt like a joyride with Google glasses on trough a foreign landscape of weird colours, smells and sound, mixed together in a mistery of a father who has to save his daughter from a murder charge. It was an intense ride that left me with a bit of a hangover (okay, that wasn't entirely because of the book). Once that subdued though, I was left with a pleasant sensation I experience whenever I finish a good novel.
The main character, Ted Lomax, is damaged and flawed, which makes him very attractive in a way. Besides his flaws, he really is a nice guy with a golden heart, which only adds to the charm. The world he lives in certainly has a dystopian feel to it, although I wouldn't classify it as such for the story doesn't focus on that so much. There is however some level of social critique to be found, which is portrayed in a very subtle way because of the lifestyles of most characters. This way, the reader can decide for himself how much to read between the lines, leaving it open for interpretation without you knowing the author's intentions. Ultimately, art is in the eye of the beholder, and I like it that way.
Steven Jay Cohen did a brilliant job narrating this one. He has a raw voice which is perfect for Ted and adds an extra dimension to his character. From the moment the story started I was drawn in, if only for the sound of his voice. Every intonation and pause was spot on. This, ladies and gentlemen, is how you narrate a book.
Alongside the beautiful writing there's a touch of humour and sarcasm to be found. I couldn't detect any flaws in the story. If there were, I was so caught up in the flow of the narrative that I didn't notice. That's what a good book is about.
Strictly Analog may turn out to be the surprise of the year for me, because I honestly didn't expect to like it so much. I think it is deserving of more attention than it currently gets, and I can do no other than highly recommend this to all of my friends to read.
4.5 stars
Listening to the audio version of this book felt like a joyride with Google glasses on trough a foreign landscape of weird colours, smells and sound, mixed together in a mistery of a father who has to save his daughter from a murder charge. It was an intense ride that left me with a bit of a hangover (okay, that wasn't entirely because of the book). Once that subdued though, I was left with a pleasant sensation I experience whenever I finish a good novel.
The main character, Ted Lomax, is damaged and flawed, which makes him very attractive in a way. Besides his flaws, he really is a nice guy with a golden heart, which only adds to the charm. The world he lives in certainly has a dystopian feel to it, although I wouldn't classify it as such for the story doesn't focus on that so much. There is however some level of social critique to be found, which is portrayed in a very subtle way because of the lifestyles of most characters. This way, the reader can decide for himself how much to read between the lines, leaving it open for interpretation without you knowing the author's intentions. Ultimately, art is in the eye of the beholder, and I like it that way.
Steven Jay Cohen did a brilliant job narrating this one. He has a raw voice which is perfect for Ted and adds an extra dimension to his character. From the moment the story started I was drawn in, if only for the sound of his voice. Every intonation and pause was spot on. This, ladies and gentlemen, is how you narrate a book.
Alongside the beautiful writing there's a touch of humour and sarcasm to be found. I couldn't detect any flaws in the story. If there were, I was so caught up in the flow of the narrative that I didn't notice. That's what a good book is about.
Strictly Analog may turn out to be the surprise of the year for me, because I honestly didn't expect to like it so much. I think it is deserving of more attention than it currently gets, and I can do no other than highly recommend this to all of my friends to read.
thekingbee's review
4.0
I don't know if I actually like hard boiled detectives. I used to think I did, but the more I read the stories the less I think that.
This was a decent book, with a good world, but the main characters grumpy stoicism was distracting at points.
This was a decent book, with a good world, but the main characters grumpy stoicism was distracting at points.
ajlewis2's review
4.0
Very enjoyable read! The main characters are strange and likable. The mystery is intriguing and the story moves along nicely. It is never boring. I especially like the way the author describes various futuristic aspects of the story in such a way that I did not feel overwhelmed by the terminology. He dwelt on the concepts enough for me to get a firm idea. This was a wild story told clearly with a smooth style making it engaging rather than dizzying.
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