Title: Online: Delta State
Author: Yan Song
Publisher: Author Reputation Press LLC
ISBN: 978-1-64961-010-2
Genre: Science Fiction
Pages: 207
Reviewed by: Allison Walker
Hollywood Book Reviews
Bob’s favorite computer game is Daea. What he doesn’t know is inside the Internet exists an entire world wherein Bob is not a gamer but a godlike master, Daea is not a game but an entertainment company, and the characters he controls onscreen are actors. This is Delta State, the world created by author Yan Song in his novel, Online: Delta State.
Delta State is a universe much like our own. Their creation story is full of familiar but clever twists; for example, Bill Gates founds Micro Kingdom and the Micro King rules Delta State. The novel, Online: Delta State, begins with Master Bob approving what he believes to be a software update for his video game. This is really an exciting opportunity for the actors of entertainment company Daea, who immediately begin preparations for a new location and characters. The employees’ preparations are cut short when an interloper, called Dr. Computer, sneaks into Delta State and overthrows King Micro’s rule. While Dr. C’s intentions seem to be good, there are cybeings who doubt his integrity and true motives.
It’s interesting that the author, Yan Song, decided to create Delta State as an internet world. Without Master Bob in the prelude, there would be very little to suggest this is happening inside a computer. The setting would have adapted very easily to be an alternate, sci-fi universe. The plot only starts with the Daea actors organizing a game update, but evolves in a political drama.
Overall, the character development is very good; although more time could have been spent in the first few chapters establishing setting as well as characters. Instead, the book is set up almost like an anthology. There is a strong, politically-fueled and dramatic plot which moves the story along chronologically and which all characters interact with. But the characters themselves are developed one at a time, as if in parts. The first character readers really bond to is Eso. Eso is a supporting actor at Daea and he interacts often with lead actors Yosem and Ana. Eso has a rivalry with Yosem and romantic interest in Ana, and although Eso is a strongly relatable character, you don’t care much about his relationship with Yosem or Ana because they aren’t fully developed until later when they front their own chapters and sub-plots.
Eso really pushes the plot forward. There’s not much conflict until the story moves to follow him. Then story begins to shift to follow different characters. While their conflict with Dr. C’s coup is an underlying current, each character follows their own auxiliary plot also; such as Yosem’s career promotion and Ana’s revenge.
Online: Delta State is a strong story as a political drama set in a sci-fi universe. The internet theme may or may not be necessary but does lend itself to clever name plays within the story. The characters, and even the major and minor conflicts, are relatable which makes the reader more invested in the plot. In fact, even as a sci-fi novel, Online: Delta State feels close to home, which makes it even more exciting.