The Laboratory

A Futuristic Dungeon Core

De: Skyler Grant

Narrado por: Gabriella Cavallero

Emma is an artificial intelligence with a love of science, insults, and devilish traps. When her systems are booted up, she finds herself in control of a long-abandoned facility in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. The world is filled with dangerous threats, granted great powers by the same cataclysm that befell the world.

Emma must balance safety with the desire for test subjects as she brings herself back fully online and stakes out a place in this new world.

©2017 Skyler Grant (P)2017 Skyler Grant

Emma rocks

Genuinely enjoyed listening to this book and all of the witty comebacks and insults Emma had for Anna

Cool Concept

I have been wanting to try some of Skyler Grant’s stuff for a while now, but for some reason I always kept holding off with other books taking a priority in my queque. I’m really sad that I didn’t have an opportunity to get into this book sooner. I really love the Dungeon sub-genre, and honestly, only listened to this because I wanted to review a few different dungeon stories so that I could compare and contrast, because Grant has a few other books that I really want to put my ears to such as Glitch Hunter and his Shards series.

What is really great about this story is that it isn’t set in a fantasy world. It is a post cataclysmic event tale in which reality itself is changing. The tale rockets to a start with a reawakened computer core coming online just as the girl who rebooted her/it is about to be raped. Once that event is dealt with the core and the woman who wants to rule the world decide to join forces in order to see their wishes come to fruition.
One of the best things about the story is that the Computer core, Emma, is not a likable character. This kind of flies in the face of other dungeon stories as Cal from Divine Dungeon, Ryker from Dungeon Deposed, and even Edward from Dungeon Lord all seem to be honorable and likable people. Emma is rude, crass, and seems to do what is best for herself for the most part. This sets her apart from the other dungeon core types. Furthermore, her human companion is really just as single minded and power hungry as Emma is. All she wants to do is rule the world. So, you essentially have two characters who aren’t very nice or sympathetic. That can be hard on a reader. Now, I will admit that the book itself really doesn’t have much character growth, although there are points when Emma starts to question her relationship with her human partner. The book really is just one encounter after another with a boss fight at the end. There were points that it just felt like events happened because something needed to happen, and the oddest thing was the way in which all of these core users just sort of fell into Emma’s scope. She needed subjects, and lo many did appear.

The one thing that sort of fell flat for me was the narration. For the most part, Cavallero did a good job, but when she was not doing a voice for one of the human characters she was very monotone. I don’t know if this was in order to reflect that it was from a machine’s perspective, or if it was just her style of speaking because she did not pace the story like Andrea Parsinaeu or Laurie Catherine Winkel would. It was a direct and matter of fact reading in my opinion, and I feel she could have slipped in some emotion, I mean hell even Data and Spock had inflections when they spoke. Otherwise, she does a good job, I’m just picking at nits.

One of the best parts about the book was the setting, as it is mysterious, foreboding, and not an underground lair in the middle of a magical forest. I really appreciate the change in scenery, so to speak. Not all dungeons need to be magical, and Grant proves that here. In spite of story issues, such as flat characters and some we need a fight scene here moments, I enjoyed the book. I wanted to see more of the core’s world and find out just what had happened that broke the world. I have to be honest. In spite of some flaws, I really liked the book, and I think that the series will get better as it goes forward. I’m going to give this 7.5 stars, it is a fair start for a series, and is well written in spots.

Start of an excellent series

A good introduction, easy to read and listen to. Interesting concept, the story progressed nicely, I would have preferred if there was more development of the concepts and cleaning out of the story line. So many avenues that could be expanded in this series. Story makes a quick read, if it was more fleshed out and expanded it would make for a more satisfying story. JustHopefully future additions expand on some of the concepts and ideas included in this volume. Ending was a little abrupt but knowing there are more additions to the series helps easy any concerns. A very good weekend read or listen and introduction to the Dungeon Core jondra.

unexpected

very funny very smart a little bit of sexy without becoming drowned in sexual exploits. I love the mechanisms I love the characters and while the story might look simple there is a potential for pithy depth.

good visuals and interesting story

my first time with this author and she did a good job creating visuals and bringing the story along coherently. I look forward to follow up novels.

Great listen! Hoping for more!

Great dungeon core story! we need more of this.! Lots more!

Narrator was also absolutely perfect for this character's perspective.

Was very unique

This was a very unique and interesting take on a dungeon core storyline. In ways I like the dungeon core less than I want to but stuck with the story nonetheless the less and ended up liking the core more and more.

Great Book

What made the experience of listening to The Laboratory the most enjoyable?

It was great and fast paced

What other book might you compare The Laboratory to and why?

A bit like the Dakota Krout series which I also love

Which character – as performed by Gabriella Cavallero – was your favorite?

Emma

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Mad max gets a more Gamey Look

Any additional comments?

Would love more of these books

as always hitting the mark

this is definitely something akin to I mean girl story hopefully there will be more in this series

amazing

it was such an enjoyable read. please let there be a sequel. . . .