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Epic  By  cover art

Epic

By: Conor Kostick
Narrated by: Samuel E. Hoke
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Publisher's summary

Welcome to a society governed through computer games!

On New Earth, society is governed and conflicts are resolved in the arena of a fantasy computer game, Epic. If you win, you have the chance to fulfill your dreams; if you lose, your life both in and out of the game is worth nothing. When teenage Erik dares to subvert the rules of Epic, he and his friends must face the Committee. If Erik and his friends win, they may have the key to destroying the Committee's tyranny. But if they lose....

©2004 Conor Kostick (P)2018 Conor Kostick

Featured Article: Level up with 25+ awesome litRPGs


LitRPG means Literary Role Playing Game. Simply put, it’s the book version of watching someone play a video game, usually one that’s set up like an MMO (massively multiplayer online) RPG. It’s a blend of sci-fi and fantasy, depending on how it comes to be that our main character ends up living inside a virtual reality. the point of LitRPG is not how we get there, but that we get to be in this virtual reality period, living life as a badass video-game character. Beat the grind and submerse yourself in these addictive LitRPGs.

What listeners say about Epic

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A great read especially if you are a gamer.

Would you consider the audio edition of Epic to be better than the print version?

Have only listened to the Audio edition.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Cindella is out of charactor for this author..... she is a woman.

Which scene was your favorite?

When the main character realizes the government is tracking his every move.

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

Gamer Heaven

Any additional comments?

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

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36 people found this helpful

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Listener received this title free

Early LitRPG Novel, RPO for Adults

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.


Epic is an early LitRPG novel set in a dystopian future where all violence has been abolished in favor of combat in an MMORPG, Epic which has been around for decades. The economy has stagnated and most people live a subsistence lifestyle while a small collection of the few live in virtual luxury since the economies of the real world and the game world are intertwined.


This novel was originally published in 2004. Ready Player One was published in 2011. why do I mention this? If you are familiar with RPO from the book or movie then you may see some parallels. That's not to say that if you have read one then you can skip the other - they are different beasts. If you are one of the people that could have done without the litany of pop culture references crammed into every nook and cranny of RPO or want a more mature take on the theme - then you are in luck.


Epic is its own world with creatures and races derived from mythology and fantasy from various cultures. It's so sprawling and immersive that there are areas that are still unexplored and enemies that have never been vanquished. It asks big questions that don't necessarily have easy answers. and the characters have real emotional stakes. It's a more mature story while still being clean such that a YA could read it, enjoy it and mull over it a bit. If you've read many LitRPG you may expect more stats, levels or experience points or skills. The story is more Lit than RPG in that respect. The majority of the story takes place in a game but we are meant to understand the world more than the game mechanics themselves.


Samuel Hoke puts in an excellent performance. His voice is pleasant to listen to and compelling. He can be expressive when the moments require it but the reading doesn't draw attention to itself and distract from the text.

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5 people found this helpful

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good narration to a great story

The book was simply amazing every step of the way. No overcimplication of how the game system works, just pure awesomeness. I will totally be recommending this.

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A Million Times Better than Ready Player One

If you listen to this book you will wonder why Ready Player One got all the hype. This book explores the possibilities of an immersive Virtual Universe in an incredibly interesting way.

The story and characters are amazing, and the narration is fantastic. The voices bring all of the characters to life, and the pacing and narration style make an already great book even better.

I only wish the next two in the series were available.

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    4 out of 5 stars

A true progenitor of LitRPG. Amazing & Immersive!

This book is claimed as being one of the forerunners to the increasingly growing LitRPG genre and it is easy to see why.
This book has a wonderful premise, a society that has done away with violence and uses VR instead to deal with conflict and give an outlet for humanities savage urges.
The book deals with topics in its stride such as Sociology of a populace that uses a RPG game to determine all facets of its society. Politics whereby various opinions and anti government sentiments are presented and explored. A possible precursor to how society might use technology like VR to hold public forums and meet as a group through the use of this technology.

There are some wonderful twists at various points throughout the story that give depth and texture to the story. Some of these come out of left field and you don't see them coming, others are a little easier to see.

The narration is without a doubt on the money, the vast array of characters have their own distinct sound and this helps draws you further into the characters. Samuel Hoke has given life to these characters and in my opinion has delivered the essence of the book.

In summation this book is without a doubt a must read for anyone that enjoys the LitRPG genre or is even a casual fan of RPG games.
I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys fantasy with a little science fiction.
I will definitely be placing the two follow up books on my to read list.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily provided this review.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Original for its time

First, this book gets major kudos for its premise of video games crossing over with real life, something we've seen more recently in Ready Player One and the growing number if RPGLit books. The idea was unique at the time it was written and is interesting -- a society with no actual violence, where all disputes are handled through duels in an online RPG (such to World of Warcraft). Unfortunately, this means that the person with the strongest character wins, so every spare minute is spent grinding in game to get coins you can use to get the best weapons and armor. And unlike most RPGs, if your character dies, it dies and you have to start over with a new character.

So I love the idea, unfortunately, the story itself left me kind of flat and with WAY too many questions. While there were obstacles put in the way of the heroes, there was always a convenient savior -- I just never felt that the characters were in any real danger or that there was any question that they would succeed in their quest. Each adventure was just another in a list, kind of like playing an actual RPG. But I expect more arc, story, and character development in a book. It felt like a draft of what could have been an awesome story.

This book was published 15 years ago. I would love to see the author take another stab at it.

As for the narration, I just found the voice very soothing, which made it difficult to pay attention sometimes because I was lulled by the sound of his voice.

That being said, it's not a bad book, it's just not great. I think a younger teen who has played some RPG games would enjoy it. It just lacks the complexity and sophistication an adult reader generally wants, even in YA lit.

I was given this review copy for free at my request and I voluntarily leave this review.

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What... Just what? Spoilers ahead!

Lets start with the narrator. I've seen other reviews praise him for having a soothing voice and I just cannot agree, as soon as the book started I was annoyed and hoped it was just the prologue which was narrated like that, but how wrong I was! The whole book through it is like someone is whispering in your ear and you have to strain to make out some of what he's saying or turn up the volume to a degree that is becomes unpleasant. The inddvidual characters are not narrated to a degree that gives them a personality that I can actively follow apart from the writing and felt sluggish, the only part i felt was engaging was the few parts from the vampire and a little stuttering here and there either by accident or effect I'm not sure. I don't feel I'm usually very picky when it comes to narrators, it can of course make a huge difference when a good one does it with extra sounds effects not predicted in a book and it... It just fits, but it never really bothered me when it was just a simple "reading' of the book rather then acting of it either. This time though, my only thought for the narrator was when the dammed book would finish so I'd be free!

As for the writing, it's like the auther found several problems throughout the book, marked them down to fix later, but never got around to it and just winged it. The whole book is riddled with contradictions of itself, the world of epic is made to deter the stress of no violence in the real world! Sure makes sense... But there's no pvp... Unless you are in the arena or enter this code when creating the character! Okaaaaayy?... Or until the final battle where pvp was not problem after all.
The executioner is unbeatable maybe a few hundred can take him down! They then take him down with basically 2 people.
The currency in epic is our whole economy! But they never explain how apart from in game equipment to challange a law.
The church abandon mission when a major evil vampire joins the boat, but when asked to Defeat said vampire later gives the whole order of paladins no questions asked...
The whole rpg element also seems to be all over the place, there is no indications of levels or the usual stats in the world, the only one we hear about is beauty and its described as useless. The main character is supposed to be special and unique, but there is no explanation to why in this case, his class is special but his stats are in beauty, why did they come in 5 in the tournaments with such a liability when everyone's lives depends on epic everyday.
What about the ending, it came so rushed. No answers to a lot of things, who was anonymous, why was there a self destruction button in game, how do they guard prisoners without violance, what their technical level, they use cook fires but got solar panels and tractors.
I could go on and on about this book, but I'm just getting mad whenever I think more about it.
Overall I liked the world of epic, there seemed like there would be a lot to explore, but the storytelling of it was a mess, even if some of the unresolved questions would be answered in another book I'd be hesitant of buying it.

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Early LITRPG style story

Take a society where the economy is based on game play. You can see an almost virtual hunger games as well as many other stories that have definitely pulled some inspiration from here and vice a versa. The tale of the down and out community rising up against those in power and those in power betraying each other for more power is always amusing. The trim style MCP making deals with the real life Dylan style character is great. Get ready for an awesome listen with some great plot twists, story arch’s and great characters. I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

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the end of the world.

who would expect or hope for this as our future. I for one would be scared. but for reading about it I was riveted. if u like onling gaming and professional players and pseudo dystopian world's. I recommend

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Are you game?

This book is for readers who enjoy fantasy, video games, role play, adventure, and coming of age. Epic, the GAME in the story, was set up to be the bases for the planet’s economy, for a means of government, for a place to bring grievances and challenge decisions.

There was a group of individuals known as Central Allocation (CA). They would make decisions regarding everything that happened on the planet. If citizens or communities disagreed, they would challenge the decisions, a battle would ensue in the arena within Epic. Residents adopt an avatar which they use to play the game and earn coin, to participate in protests, earn a spot in university. While some people work outside the game, university trained individuals, worked inside the game.

The story focuses on Erik and his family, friends and community. As his parents and neighbours try to get need resources or their community, Erik’s Mom dies - in game. This generates changes in Erik’s interaction with Epic. Follow him and his newly created avatar, Sindrella ( a swashbuckling gorgeous heroine). His gaming experience is far different than others he has heard about. His journey leads him to some serious realizations for one so young. He leads his friends through some exciting and groundbreaking adventures. Their discoveries have the potential to turn their world in a whole new direction.

Samuel Hoke carries the story along with a variety of voices that brings characters alive and their personalities dynamic. The story is long but keeps you engaged for the most part.


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