K.B. SpanglerRezensionen

My book club’s choice ;)

Only a few pages in, I thought: “Right, this is going to be a NICE book, YA sci-fi novel that knows exactly what it’s doing. Yay!”

The book drops you in the middle of the action right away, so the worldbuilding feels quick and effortless. For a reader, it’s like putting on a pair of well-worn slippers. I still have quite a few questions, but I hope they will be answered in the next book – because I’ll definitely read it.

Tembi, the main character, is cool, inquisitive, eager, badass, has anger management issues and keeps her head (mostly) cool in a crisis. I adored her. Coming of age stories and plots where someone with special abilities goes to a very special school have been told countless times before. Telling such a story yet again, without making the reader yawn and cringe, is impressive.

I really enjoyed the idea of Deep, the alien intelligence, and its efforts to communicate and build relationships with Tembi and other Witches.

The second half of the book gets darker and darker – there is war and genocide, complicity through inaction, difficult choices.

And wait, supply chains? A sci-fi book that takes supply chains seriously? Give me more, please.

The YA prequel, Stoneskin, has grown up, painfully. It has become “Blackwing War” – a grimmer, very angry tale. There is anguish and tragedy, and characters that make horrible choices for the right (or so they seem to them) reasons. The horrors of genocide and concentration camps are described in such a way that I could almost hear the author screaming in the background “why can’t they see?”

Tembi is more mature. I really liked how she becomes stronger, smarter, angrier, more independent, and makes her own difficult choices.

The Deep is also developing in interesting ways, and things that were hinted at in the prequel are beginning to come together in the end. Exciting…

I find that I have trouble letting this book go. I will now wait, somewhat impatiently, for the next one.

While I never lost interest in the plot, there were points where I wondered about where this book would end, and if I would care when we got there.

Yes.
The ending is worth the journey.
I'm glad I read this. I will give the next in the series a try.

The only thing wrong with this far-future fantasy in space is the use of real-world current phrases, and the occasional reference to things like the characters of Toy Story, sprinkled throughout. And Tembi says a curse word in German for some reason. It was distracting.

3.5 better and better stars. This needed another polish edit, but that's just a quibble. The rising tension worked very well because the MC and crew became more and more important to me. There seemed to be some internal conflict about the implants, but I could've missed a point. That's less important to me than the characters themselves. Three stars are for the author delivering on the promise to entertain me. The half star rounded up on sites too dim to allow half-stars is because this is the kind of superhero story I want, but am too impatient to write myself. On to book 2.

There are at least twice as many edit errors and typos in this book as in the first one, which was not error-free. I miss the days of careful editing.

I see other reviewers were unimpressed with the plot. It kind of worked for me, but that's because I often miss a point or two. I assume it's me. Apparently this time it's the plot. But that matters less to me because I like the characters, and the underlying theme of yes people are stupid but also people are good. That matches my observations over six decades of life on Earth (I was not all that observant before I turned 5): as a whole, human behavior has trended toward better, despite major setbacks.

Maker Space did its job; I'll read the next in the series.

Ultimately, this one is worth reading. It's slow in the middle, or was to me, but at the end, I was satisfied by where things are, so far. There is one more in this series. I'll get to it at some point.

Excellent concept in that the plot and technology remind me of Ghost in the Shell. However, too much unnecessary physical detail, background, and side plots slow the story down to a slog.

Just a couple of chapters in: Loving the setting (my home turf, Washington DC) and the protagonist, a woman, cyborg, POC, ex-military, police liaison. Can't wait to read more.

Finished: This was really excellent. Tight cyberpunk mystery, well executed. It could have used a quick and dirty copyedit, as I found some typos in the Kindle edition, but they're easy to ignore in a book this good. I'll dive into the second one posthaste. Do like.

Beats House of Cards hands down for excitement in DC.

The relationship between protagonist Rachel Peng and her partner is somehow optimistic even though they are both functional alcoholics. Given their circumstances, that might not be such a bad combo.

I'll be back after [b:Maker Space|20987201|Maker Space (Rachel Peng, #2)|K.B. Spangler|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1394041607s/20987201.jpg|31853131].

Rachel Peng is a one-of a kind speculative crime fiction protagonist that I want to see more of, and maybe you do too? She lets the author and the reader explore all kinds of complicated territory and contemporary conundrums. There's a good dose of humor to ease the journey and keep it from going all neuromancer on you, and best of all, lots of action with frequent beer and pizza breaks.

Rachel Peng is a one of a kind and that'll keep me reading.

This entry in the series felt jumpier than its predecessor but it's still action-packed and Peng becomes more dimensional w ea page.

The next time Prng steps out I want to be along for the ride.

STATE MACHINE is the third book of the Rachel Peng series, and K.B. Spangler's fourth book set in the same world as her webcomic, A GIRL AND HER FED. I highly recommend any and all of her work.* I especially recommend reading this series in order, for though Spangler does do small, narratively appropriate summaries in each book, you'll have an unnecessarily long time of catching up if you start with STATE MACHINE. Also, you'd be missing two excellent books. And if webcomics aren't your thing: don't worry! It's not necessary to read the webcomic to enjoy the books (in fact, reading the books inspired my sister to read the webcomic, whereas I discovered them the other way 'round), though there are definitely moments in the books and comic when it is REALLY nice to be a fan of both. Those moments add layers to those who know, but still serve perfectly functional roles in the respective formats.

Now, onto the specifics of the book.

I remember being a little shocked at how different MAKER SPACE (the second book) was from DIGITAL DIVIDE (the first book). By the time I wrote my review, I had come to the conclusion that the difference was a necessity for the character. Rachel needs to be pushed against as many boundaries as possible, partially because she's so reluctant to push them herself, partially because she's best in the thick of things. This is never more true than in STATE MACHINE. This time, it's not the murder that's weird or a wild bomber on the loose. It's actually pretty straight-forward: a robbery gone wrong with the suspect on video. Nah, what's weird are all the situations Rachel finds herself in.

Why in heaven's name was she called to investigate a crime in the White House? Why are political bigwigs and leaders approaching her as opposed to her bosses? AND SINCE WHEN DID A BROKEN LUMP OF INDETERMINATE MATERIAL/ORIGIN MERIT MURDER?! Rachel is confused. And a confused Rachel is a LOT more fun.

Part of the reason confused Rachel is such great fun is because it leads her to consult a varied cast of experts. Some of them are expert cyborgs, some of them are expert cops, many of them are experts in all things geek, but all of them are a joy to be around. Mark Hill really got a lot of time in this book, and I'm so glad he did. He and Rachel are both gifted interrogators and the scenes in which they work together and separately are fascinating. The rapport that comes from this shared talent and similar military histories is better. Mark doesn't say much, but when he does, it's usually a fantastic scene. Phil, Jason, Santino, Mako, and Zockinski are all back in full and glorious form, too. Rachel never lacks for good company. It makes for a wonderful series in which the core cast of characters is so solidly enjoyable, but the rotating cast of characters is nothing to sneeze at, either. One of Spangler's talents is in memorable, compelling characters of all types and involvement. I found myself missing tertiary characters from the previous novels and hoping that some of the tertiary characters in STATE MACHINE might be coming back.

Another part of the reason that confused Rachel is a better Rachel is that she functions on instinct. And that instinctual, reactive behavior is often hilarious and intense, but it also has the potential to go very, VERY wrong. I LOVE that Rachel is deeply fallible. Her instincts serve her well a goodly portion of the time, but sometimes they're dead wrong. The fact that, when she is wrong in this book, she admits it, commits to doing better, and brings in people she can trust to hold her accountable shows a remarkable amount of character growth from previous books. Not that she's perfect - Rachel still has a secret or ten - but she's starting to realize that her instincts aren't always the best thing to fall back on. She's growing in the books, and I love her for it.

(Let's be honest, though: the biggest reason confused Rachel is so fun is because she is the worst cyborg in the history of cyborgs and this means Santino, her partner in the Metro PD, gets to tease her more. That's excellent giggles, that is.)

As always, I must mention how refreshing it is to see a diversity of race, religion, gender, sexuality, etc, so seamlessly and thoroughly melded into a script. In the tiringly white, straight entertainment world, Spangler's multi-dimensional cast is a sweet relief, and makes for a much more enjoyable experience than standard, popular fiction fare. That the main character is female, Chinese-American, and a lesbian (AND NO ONE - in world - GIVES A D*MN) is all the more precious to me, as a reader. Perhaps the only thing I haven't seen represented in the books are trans individuals of any type (transgender, transsexuals, non-binary, genderfluid, etc) and while it is a curious lack, I have faith. It was just in this book that Spangler included a polyamorous relationship, so I know she continues to do her best to include more people and more perspectives.

It's difficult to talk about specific plot point without spoilers, but the emotional notes this manuscript hits are right up there with the amusing ones. Rachel's ability to see the emotional spectrum could easily lead to an over-wrought, mawkish manuscript. Rather, this ability lends itself to endless puzzle-solving, acknowledging both the universality and individual complexity that is the human experience. Also, while the morality of technology and how humans use it is addressed, it's not preachy or even definitive. It's a discussion consistent to these books, and I appreciate the layers that come with each new plot and situation (I LOVED the 'what is math and what does that mean' scenes in this book).

I will say, sometimes Spangler can be a bit hard to follow from conclusion to conclusion. Not that she lacks a clarity, but because I am convinced she wants the reader to conclude for themselves. Imagine a chasm just broad enough for you to have to stretch to leap across - that's much what the reading experience is like. As a long-time reader, I'm used to this and can better track the thought processes of her and her characters. New readers do, however, sometimes struggle. (For example, while my sister and I enjoy the challenge of puzzling out the steps Spangler takes, a dear friend of mine couldn't make it work and therefore couldn't get into the books.) Know that, in my humble opinion, it's worth it not only because these gaps allow for reader interaction and interpretation, but for the interesting ways in which it makes the brain consider the problem. I am of the opinion that a good author MUST do this, but acknowledge that not everyone enjoys the stretch (or re-reading passages a couple times when necessary).

The wonderful political scheming is back. I am a big fan of political conspiracies, so long as they're not of the 'every one is terrible and there is no hope' variety (AKA: a LOT of popular books and TV shows). Everything, even the casual conversations at parties, could be high stakes. It's so much fun to follow Spangler (and Rachel) through these labyrinthine mazes to see which of the many potential outcomes resolves at the end of the book. And though it hurts, it's nice that Rachel rarely wins entirely, and sometimes loses miserably.

All in all, what I love most about the books keeps coming back in new and interesting ways. I adore this series and am THRILLED at the prospect of a book from Hope Blackwell's perspective (she's one of the main characters of the comic), as well as the future Rachel Peng installments. I have so much fun being a guest in this world, I wish I never had to leave.

A+ (flawed but improving main character, excellent secondary characters, new situations with brilliant continuity, intrinsic diversity, complex political and moral discussions; no trans characters, occasionally difficult to track the thought processes, never long enough to last between book releases)

*It's no secret that I'm an avid K.B. Spangler fan. I've been eager and anxious for each book, supported the first when it was in serialized format, bought extra copies of the books for my local library, etc, etc, etc. So, do take this with as many grains of salt as you feel necessary, as I am a SuperFan (tm). That being said, I think I treat the manuscript fairly and accurately. Because I am said SuperFan (tm), I ALWAYS have high expectations for Spangler's work. She has never disappointed.

This was a pleasant surprise. Digital Divide is sprung from the same world as the wecomic A Girl and Her Fed, but is less supernatural and more techno-thrillery.

I enjoyed the characters and the tensions they experienced. I'm going to read more of Spangler's work.

I do so love Spangler's work. She's smart, sassy, and fun without sacrificing character growth and distinction. This is the second book in the series and it just leaves me salivating for more. Spangler is one of those authors who I dearly wish I could pay to write a book every three months and do nothing else.

Maker Space is really different from Digital Divide. And I think that difference really helped the book rather than hindered it. Rachel, the main character, isn't suited to the murder-a-week (or book) scenario. She's smart and jumping through the same hoops over and over again would do her no favors. She wouldn't grow as a character in that setting and we - as readers - need her to, as much as the character needs to grow in order to move the books forward.

I love Rachel, both as a character, but also as solid representation. Rachel is Chinese-American, a cyborg, blind, and a lesbian. And, delightfully, Rachel is so blessedly normal. Yeah, she's all kinds of different. But she's carved out a niche for herself where she goes to her job, comes home to a roommate who won't give up that one annoying habit, and *that* neighbor. She worries about house values and dating problems. People forget she's a cyborg because she's so normal. And no one says shit about her being a lesbian. It's so beautiful and wonderful and I could read Rachel all day.

It's really good to see a totally different kind of political intrigue. The shadowy, behind-the-scenes sort of things that happened in Digital Divide are something of a reality. But events that play out very publicly, like a bombing wherein the media makes sure everything is done under the heavy scrutiny of the public eye, are also reality. Government can't keep everything under wraps and watching Rachel navigate the public and private sectors in Maker Space was a dynamic I am glad was introduced. She kind of got off scott-free in Digital Divide, in that respect. That couldn't last forever. I do so love the differences between these two books.

I love seeing a little more of Rachel's personal life (her struggles with blindness, anxiety, how to date, her roommate), but also seeing the changes in her professional life. It was a relief that the most beloved characters from the last book were back in full force in Maker Space, as well as a little more chance to get to know them, personally, as well. I do so love characters who are real and present, but don't get in the way of the story.

I love this book, just as much if not more than the last.

A+ (standard of excellence in writing maintained, beautiful characters)

This is a highly enjoyable pulp romp. And when I say "romp," please feel free to use as many meanings of the word as you like. It's a good word. It has *layers.*

I was only really interested in TRCK because I loved Digital Divide (Go. Read. I'll wait.), the first novel set in the world of A Girl and Her Fed, so much. Well, and because I have a GINORMOUS crush on half the characters in the series and one of them was the main character. But mostly because of Digital Divide.

This is not Digital Divide. But it is GREAT.

Pulp fiction is the perfect arena for the shenanigans in this story. The plot, like pretty much every pulp novel I've read, is light and a little predictable. The story is a vehicle for beloved characters and funny quips and inappropriate humor and naughty-but-oh-so-nice scenes. There are even a couple surprises in there (mostly to do with an army of city-toughened squirrels) that were a joy to stumble across. It's fun and hilarious and perfectly suited to what it aims to be.

There was a point where I fell in love with this pulp novel, and it was right at the beginning of chapter six. I'm picky about my smut and this lead in was *exactly* the right tone to hit with me. It helps that pretty much every opinion in those first paragraphs are ones I share and live by. It was nice to see that reflected in Josh's character. The smut wasn't the puritanical, self-righteous bunch of bull-puckies with a healthy dose of the bs line "but I can't help myself" thrown in, but neither was it the lust-driven, thoughtless wham-bam-thank you, ma'am sort of interaction, both of which are too commonly seen. Basically - the healthy dose of smut is surprisingly (in general, not for this particular author) healthy in attitude, too.

For readers of the comic, this is a no-brainer. It's pure Josh shenanigans with cameos from well-loved characters, introductions to new characters, and yet one more look into how each Agent relates to the chip. For non-readers, this a fun world to play in and with Josh, you are guaranteed play . . . once again, go wild with the multiple meanings there.

The Russians Came Knocking is also priced criminally low. If pulp is your thing, there is really no reason for you not to buy it.

B+ - fun, sex-positive, respectful of all genders, funny cliché, pulp

When the first chapters came out (I'd been following this in serial, waiting anxiously for each new part), I wrote this to the author: "The prose writing is not only stunningly consistent with the characterization in your comic dialogue, but it's also plain fun without taking away from the fact that you're dealing with a pair of detectives who are actively working to shift a long-held paradigm (several, actually)."

It only got better. One of the things we lack in the comic (of which I have been a fan for so long) is narration. There are some comic artists that I am glad of that fact. But in the case of Spangler, it makes me a little sad. Her writing has a beautiful rhythm to it, flowing naturally where the reader needs to process information quickly and easily, but balancing itself with complex phrasings that not only cause the reader to pause and take note - Something important is happening here! - but also to consider that which they have already read. Layers are hidden within layers and I love to get lost in them, because the story is such a wonderful reward.

Also, I need to take a moment to talk about the characters, because there is not enough good that can be said. I loved Rachel and Santino when they first showed up, not long before the release of Digital Divide. There was a pleasant banter that already had a history to it and this novel is the beginnings of that history. But even more than the main detectives in the story, who I already loved, this book was an exercise in falling in love with fictional characters. I'm used to doing so, as I'm a recovering literature major, but I was surprised by the depth I felt so quickly. Detective Matt Hill, who is the epitome of a pleasant surprise; Detective Jacob Zockinski, with his temper tantrums, absolute loyalty, and surprisingly hot wife; Agent Jason Atran, who I fully expected to loathe and came to understand, even care for; and, my personal, absolute, hands down favorite Agent Phil Netz, who spouts nonsense and comfort at just the right times while being the kind of bad ass that EVERYONE wants to keep around. I SO look forward to seeing them in the near future.

The good news is, the comic cast - of which I am so fond - makes the necessary cameos without ever intruding on the novel cast's personal space. They are barely there at the fringes, but I still get a wonderful dose of Assistant Director Josh Glassman and Director Pat Mulcahy.

One marvel of this novel is the way that Spangler's mind works communicates so well through the plot. I have a friend who I introduced to the comic who just couldn't make it through, not because of content or personal taste, but because Spangler has a truly unique way of presenting things. He could not connect (aside: I am not saying it takes adjustment or effort or is hard to connect to Spangler's style). Her phrasing is like a dialect all on its own, and I love it. Seeing the plot unfold was like seeing an old friend. The dialect of her language is apparent through every point of the plot. It is just as complex, just as hilarious and thought-provoking as the words, but in the kind of way that makes a mind run a jungle gym of potentials and possibilities while laughing uproariously at being lost and found at turns. We receive enough information to do better than "keep up," but we never receive so much that we are in any way ahead, and I love authors who can keep me on my toes like that. They are few and far between.

Please don't misunderstand the title of my review. I have a deep and abiding love of the web-comic. I love that I have been able to see small, non-pertinent details in the novel's pages, buried there for tandem readers. But the timbre and flavor of the comic, which I have long been attracted to, has been so enhanced by the presence of the novel that I can only categorize the novel as her best work. A Girl and Her Fed still has my full support. I love the community. But this? This is miles beyond and well worth the trip.

A+ - best work by author thus far

I bought "Digital Divide" by K.B. Spangler because I read and enjoy her online comic, "A Girl and her Fed" (http://agirlandherfed.com/), and I wanted to support an author who have given me hours of great entertainment, for free.

"Digital Divide" tells the story of what happened in the five years before Chapter 7 of "A Girl And Her Fed" begins, after the cyborgs "came out". It is told from the perspective of Rachel Peng, a barely tolerated liaison with DC Metro, who with her partner Raul Santino is called to solve a crime that appears to be done by a cyborg.

Rachel is a great heroine. She is strong, but has vulnerabilities, too. We also get a glimpse of the lives and personalities of other cyborgs (we really need a Josh story, I am just saying).

Spangler raises difficult questions about the legal and ethical implications of what the cyborgs can do, and shows very well the distrust and fear that regular humans have of the Agents. My biggest problem with the story was that I felt the villain was over the top in his ability to control events and outcomes, and that prevented me from rating the book higher.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I bought "Digital Divide", but I am very glad I did, and I will definitely be buying future books, as well. I would suggest reading the first six chapters of "A Girl And Her Fed" free online first, however, just so you can get a better sense of back story.