Alpha Test

By: David R. Pendleton

Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer

Length: 9 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's Summary

The advertisement offered the ultimate Virtual Reality experience. Using a new technology known as Immersive Virtual Reality or IVR, you could truly experience the game as if you were in it. For someone who has been confined to a wheelchair all of his life, the promise was impossible to ignore, but only a few would be invited to take part in the Alpha test of the new game. Devon decided he would be one of those few. 

To ensure he would be chosen he took the most unlikely combination of skills specializing primarily as a craftsman and secondarily as a healer. The best race for these skill trees is a Gnome but that further weakens his ability to fight and survive. Still, it is only the Alpha test and once in he can change it when they move to Closed Beta. 

What could go wrong? Soon he finds out just how weak his choices seem to the developers who figure he will die a lot and always be a nobody. Name chosen, Gnobody sets out to take on Angromoria and it is everything he could hope for, until it becomes the only thing he may ever know.

©2018 David R. Pendleton (P)2019 Podium Publishing

Best book I’ve listened to in months

For me LitRPG is getting a bit Repetitive. Guy enters world, guy stumbles upon overpowered items, guy doesn’t understand how he is so lucky.. It’s so refreshing to listen to a story that actually holds my interest. A story where I really care what happens to the characters. Really looking forward to the next book. It’s Really sad to hear about the rider.

Almost great...

I liked everything about this audio book, except for the horribly annoying stat updates. in the beginning of the book it wasn't that bad. after the fourth or fifth time of reading the mc's stats I started skipping forward over those parts. Towards the end of the book it's almost four minutes of nothing but stat..number...stat...number. When I read the physical book it wasn't an issue, just doesn't translate well into an audio book like this. I know it's a small thing, but small things separate the good from the great I'm my opinion.

Pretty Good

The writing mechanics are all there and this book has been professionally edited. Sad to say that this low bar has become a litmus test for me in the GameLit genre. The story is interesting and engaging, and the MC is not a total moron. This is a refreshing change from the inexplicable trend of LitRPG authors thinking that anyone wants to listen to a book about an MC who is too stupid to be credible as a fully functional human being. The only glaring flaw in this book is the pace of the plot. The story kind of meander’s and there are long stretches where the plot just kind of marinates. I didn’t find it too bothersome, but I can see how some listeners might want more action and momentum. I’d still recommend it as a worthwhile addition to the straight-up LitRPG genre. It’s really sad that the author has passed away. According to the author’s note there will be a second book released, but it’s a shame that a promising new author in the genre will most likely have left this series as an unfinished, two book work.

Goooood.

Overall the story and narration are excellent. The MC isn't over powered but uses group tatics and planning to win. An excellent start to the new world.

Excellent

I have 150+ books in my library, most of which are LITRPG or a related genre. I can say with all certainty that this book is one of the better ones in the genre. Story is excellent, concept is just unique enough to set it apart, and the protagonist very likable. I typically don’t write reviews, so take that as a sign and get this book.

love this book

this book is amazing. I hope he does twick his Carter just a lil bit to add more combat but over all it's a great book

Great book super sad author note

I loved the book great Rpg it's kinda like world tree on line but the author note made me cry I want a second book but not sure if we are going to get one. as for the performance really good but for the skill read out some times they drag on way to long

great story

so here was an exceptional story but the lesson is in about the author, it shows that once again you should just do something and not wait around for tomorrow.

Great!

Great story I love the narrator he did a great job and I've also listened to him in other books and he's pretty good I am sorry to hear about the author at the end and hopefully he wishes the story to go on it's way to good and I wish he could still be here to write more best of wishes to his family and friends and thank you for releasing this great story

Really enjoyed the humor in this book

loved the story and the characters even though some of the decisions just didnt make any sense to me. Good characters and has a lot of potential for more books until the about the Author really put a stop to that. Was looking at a lot of the reviews on Amazon and I'm amazed that so many people say such hurtful things about the book and I hope his family doesn't have to read that trash. If the second book is released I plan on reading it asap and may David Pendleton RIP.

Great book

Really good story line I really enjoyed listening to this book But the ending is a little disappointing it feels like it was unfinished and ended in the middle of a chapter Other than that it was a great book

Alpha test

Excellent well written interesting and unusual main character the end was left in the air so looking forward to buying the next book.

looking forward to the a next book.

I found this book a bit on the tame side. The main character was too good to be believable, and everthing was a little bit to nice. but that aside, the book was well written and one i got in to it I found it hard to stop listening.

great story

the most unlikely of character choices as the hero in an mmorpg world. This actually helps to draw in the listener. Looking forward to book 2 when released.

Laying it on so thick it's suffocating...

Before I begin to tear into this let me just say that the premise is decent for a LITRPG twist. The author might be going to interesting places with mercantile and healing as the main skills for the main character but his juvenile focus on other things just makes this awkward as all hell. Alpha Test starts off by introducing us to the the main character who is by force of plot illness a frail, romantically challenged, genius gamer who makes WAY TO MANY REFERENCES. Yes, we get it, you grew up with the golden age of entertainment. You dont have to make two dozen references every chapter like a youtube commenter finding a new video that made them chuckle. Lets move on, what will this character be DOING in game? Oh he's the ONLY person who chose merchant and crafting during a game alpha?! The only skill tree that has been remotely developed?! Oh, he's practically the only person who chose Gnome as a race?! The developers are buffing the race due to lack of interest?! OH, HE JUST SO HAPPENED TO CHANGE THE LIFE OF AN A***H*** WHO NOW HAPPENS TO BE ONE OF THE DEVELOPERS?! SAID DEVELOPER IS GOING TO BE HIS IN GAME MENTOR/MODERATOR??? So yeah, add in the tasteless "Heu heu heu, you can has sex and all the food is better than IRL" and this whole thing just goes from awkward to downright cringe worthy.