Saul Tanpepper

Ken J. Howe

Five hackers. One game. Ten thousand Infected Undead. EPISODE 1: Deep Into The Game When Zpocalypto gamer Jessica Daniels and her gang of code jackers decide to break into Gameland, a sprawling virtual reality complex located in the wastes of an abandoned Long Island, they never truly believe they'll see any of the mythical undead walkers of a decades-old outbreak. Not up close and personal, anyway. After all, nothing lasts that long without feeding. And besides, aren't there more imminent dangers to worry about, like getting arrested and conscripted early into Life Service, a civil obligation normally fulfilled after death? They couldn't be more wrong. All too soon after succeeding, the dangers they so brazenly dismissed become all too real. They don't plan to stay a moment longer. But if breaking into The Game was easy, getting back out is a killer. Deep Into the Game is the first book in the hi-tech thriller series GAMELAND, a blend of cyberpunk, biopunk, action and horror. The series consists of eight episodes. SERIES DESCRIPTION: In the center of Long Island's forbidden wasteland, overseen by a powerful corporation known as Arc Properties, is GAMELAND, a massive virtual reality arcade where the rich and privileged act out their brutal fantasies. Using cybernetic links and holographic setups, Operators pit their Undead Players against each other in a high stakes game of violence, money and power, while the poor are left to watch the horrifying and powerfully addictive contests on State-controlled media streams. Volunteering to become a Player is illegal, but the promise of fame and money can be a powerful lure, despite the ultimate sacrifice. Sometimes, the motivation is a lot simpler: revenge. First published monthly from May through December 2012 in digital format, all episodes and omnibus editions are now also available in print. In addition to individual episodes, multi-episode packages are available in electronic format. Full series completely revised and updated on February 7, 2013 Not recommended for readers under 15.

Deep Into the Game

The Essential Book Blog

SERIES DESCRIPTION: In the center of Long Island's wasteland, overseen by a powerful corporation known as Arc Properties, is GAMELAND, a virtual reality arcade where the privileged play a high-stakes game using zombies as avatars. For the poor, the action televised on state-controlled Media is horrifying, yet powerfully addictive. On a whim, six computer hackers decide to sneak onto the island, hoping to catch a glimpse of the uncontrolled Infecteds, victims of an outbreak that took place there a decade earlier. But while breaking in is a lot easier than any of them could have ever imagined, getting back out is a killer. EPISODE 1: Deep Into the Game Zpocalypto gamer Jessica Daniels and her gang of code jackers break into Long Island's Gameland hoping to catch a glimpse of the Infected Undead. The addition of a stranger to their fold raises tensions within the group. After a terrible accident nearly takes the life of one of their members, emotions run dangerously high. Finding the abandoned wasteland unlike anything they ever expected, their excitement turns to dread as the dangers become all too clear. EPISODE 2: Failsafe Jessie and Kelly clash after one of their group gets stranded among the Infected Undead, forcing Kelly to make a rash decision which will ultimately deliver them into the hands of those who would turn them all into mindless players in The Game. EPISODE 3: Deadman's Switch Unable to escape from Long Island because of the failsafe device implanted inside their brains, the group digs in until they can devise a way to neutralize it. Jessie is anointed as their leader despite Jake's claims that she is unfit. A final desperate attempt is made to leave, setting into motion a sequence of events that will result in one of them dead, another infected, and all of them running for their lives. EPISODE 4: Sunder the Hollow Ones A mutiny in the group splits the members, leaving Jessie out in the cold. As she continues to struggle to fulfill her promise to bring everyone safely home, a chance encounter with one of Gameland's residents dredges up deeply buried memories, leaving her feeling haunted and doubtful about her future. EPISODE 5: Prometheus Wept After one member of their group is infected, Jessie makes a decision to hand over another to a mysterious group of Undead sympathizers in exchange for a promised antidote. But will she be able to collect the medicine and return before it's too late? Will the medicine work? And will she be able to get them all back home again? EPISODE 6: Kingdom of Players Armed with a potential antiserum to the reanimation virus, Jessica races back to Gameland to save her infected friend. Waylaid along the way, she must fight for her life to save another. Will she make it back in time? Or will her friend die and return as one of the Undead? EPISODE 7: Tag, You're Dead Torn between rescuing Ashley from the homicidal Ben and staying with Jake, who's been infected, Jessie, Kelly and Reggie must carefully plan their next move. But Reggie falls ill and the Undead break into their stronghold. Soon they're fighting for their lives in a battle that will lead all of the group to their darkest hour. EPISODE 8: Jacker's Code The shocking conclusion to the high-tech horror thriller, GAMELAND. Determined to do whatever is necessary to get home, Jessie and the others must face some of the most difficult decisions of their lives. But the world is a very different place from the one they left behind. Some monsters don't live behind walls. First published May through Dec 2012 in digital format, all episodes & omnibus editions are now also available in print. Two-episode packages also available in digital format. Full series revised & updated 2/7/13 For readers age 15+

Season One (Episodes 1-8)

Gameland Omnibus

Five hackers. One game. Ten thousand Infected Undead. EPISODE 7: Tag, You're Dead Torn between rescuing Ashley from the homicidal Ben and staying with Jake, who's been infected, Jessie, Kelly and Reggie must carefully plan their next move. But Reggie falls ill and the Undead break into their stronghold. Soon they're fighting for their lives in a battle that will lead all of the group to their darkest hour. Review "GAMELAND a tv show in a book!!" -- Lori Parker (from GAMELAND Omnibus) "Getting Deeper & Deeper in the dark world of GAMELAND!" -- David Dalton (from GAMELAND Omnibus) SERIES DESCRIPTION: In the center of Long Island's forbidden wasteland, overseen by a powerful corporation known as Arc Properties, is GAMELAND, a massive virtual reality arcade where the rich and privileged act out their brutal fantasies. Using cybernetic links and holographic setups, Operators pit their Undead Players against each other in a high stakes game of violence, money and power, while the poor are left to watch the horrifying and powerfully addictive contests on State-controlled media streams. Volunteering to become a Player is illegal, but the promise of fame and money can be a powerful lure, despite the ultimate sacrifice. Sometimes, the motivation is a lot simpler: revenge. First published monthly from May through December 2012 in digital format, all episodes and omnibus editions are now also available in print. In addition to individual episodes, multi-episode packages are available in electronic format. Full series completely revised and updated on February 7, 2013 Not recommended for readers under 15.

Ken J. Howe

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