E. C. Myers

Its always hard to write a sequel, especially when the first book is outstanding, but Mr. Myers has a knack for making the sequels even better than the previous book. Against All Silence is a rollercoaster ride of fast-paced action, technological feats of wonderment, and even more growth and development for the main character, Max Stein. This book is also extremely pertinent for the times we are living in. We were always told to fear big government, but what happens when big government and show more big business combine to control the internet, upon which our whole society is built? Who is going to fight that power? We need someone like Max Stein or Penny Polonsky, someone who would weigh the moral and ethical dilemmas surrounding freedom of information and security, and wouldn't be afraid to break laws if these governments and corporations were breaking bigger ones to subjugate people. Or for that matter, start an internet revolution if necessary. Sometimes you have to destroy to create, which I took to be the main theme of the book. The characters learn this fact about their relationships, but also about their creations. Everyone needs a metaphorical voice, and if something that you created, whether it is a relationship, or even something as huge as the internet, is used to silence another's voice, then it must be examined and fixed if possible, or otherwise, destroyed and rebuilt.

Well, despite all that heavy talk above, this was a fun read with plenty of geeky pop culture references thrown in. The characters explore new relationships and remain optimistic in the face of overwhelming opposition. The story comes to a satisfying conclusion but there is still room for a sequel. I really want to read about the world after the events of this book, so I hope we do get a sequel. show less

I wasn't expecting to like this book, if I'm honest, but it was great. Themes of making friends, working hard in competition, honesty and having hard conversations. I learned a lot about Esports, which was quite interesting. I loved that the school was so supportive of a new esports club, that Chell's parents were supportive about her making real connections with her teammates and succeeding at something that she is passionate about. I loved that Chell discovered so many new things about show more herself -- a surprising gift for commentary and for bringing people together. I also really liked that it didn't shy away from talking about the negative impact gaming can have (there's a messy divorce and a lot of financial hardship) but balanced it out well with showing the positive sides. I particularly like how well the team functioned as a team. show less

This book came to my attention when it won the Andre Norton Award. I have wanted to read it since then, but with so many other books to read, it kept getting pushed off. Well, I had to kill time in a book store the other day and found this on the shelf. I started reading. I didn't want to stop. I ended up reading 3/4 of it in one day.

Fair Coin is intense from page 1 and doesn't let up until the very end. The mystery grows more complicated by the page. Where did Ephraim's double come from? show more How does the coin work? Why do little things--and big things--change with every flip of the coin? It's dizzying at times, and I'm left wondering how Myers mapped out everything to keep it straight as he wrote. This is the sort of science fiction I love because it's all about the people, not the science. Every character in this feels well-drawn and real, from teenage Ephraim to his crush Jena to his alcoholic mother. I can't say much more without giving away spoilers.

I can see why it won the Norton Award. Now I want to read the sequel, too. show less

From the start of Fair Coin I was enamored with Ephraim. He made this book for me. Here is a character who is so easy to relate to that I genuinely cared what happened to him. His friend Nathan was the same way. These two are the epitome of nerds, and I loved that! Their friendship is palpable and, even when it changes, that link is there. I happily followed Ephraim as he made wishes and changed his world. Of course I'll admit that I kept wondering when something bad would happen. I've read show more enough to know that things like this come with a consequence or two. Still, when it did happen, I was taken completely by surprise.

That my friends, is exactly when the book gets really interesting! When Ephraim discovers what the coin is really about, what it really does, the book blossoms into something brand new. I refuse to spoil this for you, and so you won't hear from me what happens. What I will say is that I applaud E.C. Meyers for taking such an abstract concept and putting it so simply that I was able to stay immersed in the story. It's almost like two separate stories were merged seamlessly into one. At this point I was glued to the pages. I warn you, this isn't a book you can read only a chapter at a time.

Another thing I wholeheartedly loved about Fair Coin were the moral dilemmas that pop up in this book. It's going to be a bit hard to explain without spoiling, but I'll try my best. Imagine that you could have anything that you want. Would that make it okay to take it? What if what you wanted caused someone else to loose something that they already had? These are the type of issues that Ephraim comes upon in this story, and I can't say enough how much I loved the way that E.C. Meyers addressed them. His characters have a conscience, and it made all the difference in the world.

As you can tell from this long, rambling review, I really loved this book! Fair Coin is a refreshingly unique read. It's a story that takes you from fantasy into science fiction and back again, and it does it seamlessly. I loved the characters, I loved the concept, and most of all I loved how immersed I was in the story. Thank you to E.C. Meyers for changing up my YA reads! When the second in the series comes out, I'll be there to devour it. You can count on that. show less