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    Insignia
    Insignia
    Insignia
    Audiobook15 hours

    Insignia

    Written by S. J. Kincaid

    Narrated by Lincoln Hoppe

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    More than anything, Tom Raines wants to be important, though his shadowy life is anything but that. For years, Tom’s drifted from casino to casino with his unlucky gambler of a dad, gaming for their survival. Keeping a roof over their heads depends on a careful combination of skill, luck, con artistry, and staying invisible.

    Then one day, Tom stops being invisible. Someone’s been watching his virtual-reality prowess, and he’s offered the incredible—a place at the Pentagonal Spire, an elite military academy. There, Tom’s instincts for combat will be put to the test and if he passes, he’ll become a member of the Intrasolar Forces, helping to lead his country to victory in World War III. Finally, he’ll be someone important: a superhuman war machine with the tech skills that every virtual-reality warrior dreams of. Life at the Spire holds everything that Tom’s always wanted—friends, the possibility of a girlfriend, and a life where his every action matters—but what will it cost him?

    Gripping and provocative, S. J. Kincaid’s futuristic thrill ride of a debut crackles with memorable characters, tremendous wit, and a vision of the future that asks startling, timely questions about the melding of humanity and technology.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherKatherine Tegen Books
    Release dateJul 10, 2012
    ISBN9780062132772
    Author

    S. J. Kincaid

    S.J. Kincaid is the New York Times bestselling author of The Diabolic trilogy. She originally wanted to be an astronaut, but a dearth of mathematical skills made her turn her interest to science fiction instead. Her debut novel, Insignia, was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. Its sequels, Vortex and Catalyst, have received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews and Booklist. She’s chronically restless and has lived in California, Alabama, New Hampshire, Oregon, Illinois, and Scotland with no signs of staying in one place anytime soon. Find out more at SJKincaid.com.

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    Reviews for Insignia

    4/5

    173 ratings16 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Surprisingly good. YA fiction. Smart, funny and lots of futuristic technology . Now I want to read the rest of the series !
    • 4/5
      Initially I was irritated by the similiarities to Ender's Game, but that book never made me laugh out loud at the antics of the characters. Great, fast-paced, in places hilarious read.
    • 5/5
      I love this book. It was highly recommended to me by one of my fifth-grade students. In fact, she repeatedly told me that I "had" to read this book. So, of course, I read it. And I am so glad I did. In this world, war is fought in space and there are no casualties. The war is fought by teenagers with computers implanted in their brains. They interface directly with the ships to control them. But, the war is not between countries, exactly. Oh, there are alliances between countries, but the companies are really controlling (and profiting from) the war. Tom Raines goes from a nobody with a drunk, gambler for a father, to a highly prized asset of the government. And, for the first time, he belongs somewhere, he has friends. I'm sure you can guess that having a computer implanted in your brain isn't all sunshine and rainbows. And Tom complicates it by being impulsive and maybe a bit crazy. But he is a teenage boy, so... The story is exciting, with enough twists that you aren't exactly sure who Tom should trust, but you root for him anyway.
    • 4/5
      Initial reflection: This is a really fun story. The writer has a great "voice," the pacing is phenomenal, and there's an awesome harmony between character building, world building, and action.The work is insightful (it's a very realistic dystopia) - I like how it's foreshadowing/paralleling what's going on with Monsanto; their mutated, patent-protected crops are cross-pollinating with normal plants and Monsanto busts in and sues the crap out of anyone whose crops got cross-pollinated (naturally) with their frankenfood.
    • 5/5
      Thomas Raines is a 14 year-old boy, living a constantly moving life with his dad. He and his dad live their lives(if you can call it "living") gambling so they can eat and have a hotel room. What's Tom good at? Where does he become important? Well, he's good at games. Yes, I said GAMES. I know what you're thinking. Why is he so important because of video games? Well he's exceptionally strategic. So strategic, in fact, that he's recruited by General Marsh of the U.S. Intrasolar Forces(USIF). Tom meets Vikram Ashwan from India, and a Russian boy named Yuri. Unfortunately for Tom, just about the entire world is ruled by corporations. Kind of like Shadowrun. Tom just isn't the type to grovel to anybody. Dominion Agra learns the hard way after they trick Tom. Then their executives and guests get covered in sewage. This was an amazing book. It has a lot of modern humor and dialogue that makes it feel realistic. The natures of Tom and his friends are down right hilarious and memorable. In all honesty, I haven't quite found another book that feels the same as this one. S.J. Kincaid does what most books can't do. Capture the modern life of a teenage boy. The part that I like the most though, is that Tom is just a gamer. A GAMER. He's just a gamer, but becomes a figure of importance as time passes on. He even gets notified of a possible future with one of the big corporations. They just better not trick him like Dominion Agra. That didn't end well for the Dominion. If you're a sci-fi fan, then this is the book for you. Just make sure you're a middle school student, because it can be pretty mature.
    • 4/5
      Thomas is just your average guy. Well, as average as you can be with a dad who is rarely sober and is always spending all your money gambling. Living in hotel rooms, moving all over to new hotels and cities,and only good at one thing. Video games. He is so good in fact that the military sets out to recruit him for their elite military training program for teens. The war is against the Indo- American and Russo-Chinese alliances competing for the resources in space. To make the teens mentally faster, so they can control ships in space, they stick computers in their brains. The computers make them in-humanly smart and mentally faster. The teenagers control the entire war. But first they have to go through school. During the military school, Thomas learned about Medusa. The strongest person in the war. But unfortunately, he/she is on the Russo-Chinese side. One day while running through training, the Chinese attack their war simulation. Thomas ends up finding Medusa and challenging her/him to a battle. He ends up losing but that starts their online battle friendship. Thomas always loses but keeps coming back. He becomes afraid that the general will find out about his best enemy friend, so he stops fighting her/him. But every year there is one day where Indo-America and Russo-Chinese get along. It is the day were there best fight off. Thomas is chosen to fight against Meudsa. Will he win? What stops him from even being able to get in the fight? Find out about Thomas, his friends, and his story in Insignia. This book is the funniest thing I have read in ages, the story is very complex but makes sense. This book with a complex storyline makes a great book. I suggest it for anyone.
    • 4/5
      I stumbled upon this a while ago and thought it kind of slipped under the radar. Despite everyone saying it is young adult I found it to be quite mature. I really enjoyed it and found the main characters and the story to be interesting and complex.

      It was also great fun in that it's a bit Enders Game with a touch of Daniel H Wilson and the dialogue is perfect weighted and authentic. I genuinley laughed out loud a couple of times thinking 'that is exactly how friends speak to each other'.

      The third book in the series is due out in October. They are a quick read and you will fly through them. I'm looking forward to seeing where this series goes.
    • 4/5
      When I read the first few lines of this book, honestly I couldn't put it down! I really liked the way it captured your attention with middle-school humor. The way the book was paced was absolutely perfect with the timing and the plotwists. More than once this book had me curled up on my couch at home for hours on end, devouring the story page by page. I know people who have read this book will agree with me that this book is perfect for those who liked humor, action and tactical adventure. Insignia revolves around the theory of genius children working for the government, the reality in this story is stunning, even though it isn't real. I promise the people that love the Percy Jackson series that they will love this one.Tom Raines is a teenage boy with a talent, he's a legendary gamer. The government has been following him around for a while now, wanting him join a program that kids fly special fighters in space, using a computer inplanted in their brains. Not having the other talents like winning a college science fair or solving a bit math theory, Tom has a hard time making friends. Then he meets Vik, a boy about his age with a BIG attitude. The two boys bond and work together to mess with the bullies of the program, making viruses and just causing trouble. That all changes when a new fighter on the other side of the war, begins to talk to Tom, her code name is Medusa. Medusa is a huge mystery to Tom and he wonders how he'll be able to solve it. Then he gets the chance to fight her.
    • 5/5
      I gave this book a five star because it has very little dull parts. It also is fast paced with lots of interesting parts in it. this book also has a good story structure. I also think that the story's idea was original for the most part.Tom Raines (the main character) travels from casino to casino with his dad. One day a person from the pentagonal spire comes to recruit him to fight in word war three. While there he makes many friends and some enemies. while there they train by using simulations. in the end he is chosen to pilot a craft for the summit meeting and wins which makes him a hero.
    • 4/5
      Insignia is a long book and a book that takes a mental commitment. I did enjoy the story and the whole idea of neural processors to create these hybrid "super-humans." The plot kind of thinned out a bit with the easy-to-predict subplots surrounding Tom's friends and his girl crushes, but overall it was not enough to detract from my overall enjoyment of the novel.
    • 5/5
      "You know exactly what it means if you come here. They stick an expensive, multimillion dollar computer in your head. They invest tens of millions more training you. Then they give you control of billions of dollars of military machinery and a critical role in the country's war effort...The question is, Tom, do you want to be one of us?Do you want to be important?"Tom Raines lives in a futuristic America where the third World War is raging... in space. The allies have shifted, and most everything is directly controlled by global corporations vying for power. But Tom could care less about that -- he's been living with his gambler father, going from cheap casino to cheap casino. Since his father loses most of the time, it's up to Tom to scrounge money for food and clothes, and he does this by hustling people in the virtual reality gaming rooms. He's incredibly gifted in gaming, which is what brings him to the attention of General Terry Marsh, who recruits him for training at the Pentagonal Spire, home of the elite Intrasolar Forces. When Tom arrives, it's not just the opportunity to get an education and be someone important that he discovers. For the first time, Tom has real friends, a home and clean clothes, regular meals, and even a possible girlfriend. He's being challenged in ways he didn't know existed, and he loves it (for the most part). While Tom is very, very good at the training and gaming tactics, he depends on his instincts honed in the casinos when he has to deal with the manipulative politics of the military and the corporations that sponsor and control almost everything. There's a price to be paid, and Tom's going to have to make some tough choices. Great science fiction, with humor and incredible world-building! This is imaginative, action-packed, and surprising. It reminds me in many ways of Ender's Game, but this has some awesome unexpected twists and turns. Good for strong 7th grade readers and up.
    • 5/5
      Quick & Dirty: Anyone who loved Ender’s Game will sink into Insignia — its political intrigue and sci-fi are brilliantly balanced to build a suspenseful, high-stakes book.The Review: I was super worried when I first picked up Insignia that it wouldn’t live up to expectations — the synopsis rang like Ender’s Game, which is one of my favorite science fiction novels of all time. My trepidation was totally unwarranted — Kincaid does a great job of building a futuristic world that’s both believable and not a dystopia. It’s filled with corporate greed and corruption — easily believable in America — as well as intense technological advances. The moment Tom stepped into a VR simulator; I knew this book was going to be exactly what my geek-side wanted to read. Tom lives in casinos and VR parlors, hustling adults for room money. His father’s a washed up poker player and always has them on the move. He’s a loner by default and on the fast-track to becoming a nobody like his dad. Until the day his simulation is hijacked and he’s playing a war game he didn’t sign on to. Impressed by his skills, the Pentagon offers Tom a place in their virtual-reality war as a warrior for America. Despite everything his anti-establishment father’s raised him on; Tom will do anything to be important. After a signature on the dotted line, he’s on his way to training. At the Spire, Tom has friends. He may only be a plebe, but he’s a good fighter. But if he ever wants to make it into Camelot Company and fight in the war, he’s got to smooze up to the right people — and we quickly learn Tom’s not the smoozing type. He’s savage in his games, awkward in reality, and funny in conversation. So funny there were times I found myself crying with laughter in public. He’s not the smartest character by any means, but he has a good intuition that keeps him from being stupid and a head for strategy. Most of all, he is believably 14 years old. There’s a huge cast of characters in this novel, but Kincaid makes it easy to keep them all straight. Building unique characters is hard — making them memorable is harder. She pulls it off flawlessly. Even the characters I hated, I loved to hate. Everyone was their own person, no one fell too deeply into a cliché. They grow through the story, especially as the plot thickens around the Spire and Combatants. My favorite part about the plot was how reliant it was on the characters. If you put in another hero, none of it would have happened. It’s only because Tom is such a ferocious smartass that we’re able to see beneath the sheen of shiny tech and parent-free living into the corporate war machine. Despite being a trilogy, Insignia’s plot arc is so strong that it could (if necessary) stand on its own. (I’m really glad there are sequels.) Kincaid’s created a world any geek will fall in love with. I’ve barely scratched the surface of Insignia — Tom has family problems and a future that’s not going to be easy. Definitely going to be fighting for an early copy of the next book!
    • 4/5
      I read the blurb for this book and was immediately interested, especially with that shiny foil cover (which I actually ruined while reading it because I was so into the story I had to take it with me everywhere I went!), but the idea of teens fighting a war caused issues for me and I was scared the book would just be about the ultimate dream of every teenaged boy - to get paid to play video games! However, I was pleasantly surprised at the plethora of issues Kincaid has managed to explore in her 400+ page novel.Tom Raines is a short, acne plagued boy with a passion and skill for VR video games. His life seems to be going nowhere fast, until he is recruited, abruptly and a little bizarrely, to train to become a Combatant and use his gaming skills in WW3. A few days and a brain implant later, Tom is introduced to a whole new world. He grows several inches and his acne disappears, and can now download and processes information overnight. Awesome right? For a lot of the book Tom is idealistic and stubborn to a fault, arrogant and thinks himself untouchable, which is understandable in a fourteen year old who is told he holds the future of his country in his hands. He is funny and likeable, and I admire his unfaltering loyalty to his friends. Tom grows a lot throughout the story though, learning to show humility and see the bigger picture and his role in it.Kincaid explores a handful of weighty issues through out the book, including some basic tenants of human nature. In a world where wars are fought in space, through space craft controlled from Earth by the Combatants, there are no longer any casualties. Throughout the story, however, there is an underlying fear that human will not be able to resist their natures and resort to killing one another once again. The chip in Tom's brain introduces the idea of ownership of human beings - the military treats the Combatants as property, and the book questions where the line between human and machine becomes blurred. The implant also makes it really easy for Tom and his fellows to learn things - they just download it and process overnight. Thus they quickly forget how to think for themselves and are easily controlled with malware and viruses.One of the greatest strengths of this book are the supporting cast. Tom's new friends are an interesting and decidedly nerdy bunch - math and science geniuses who are chosen to become part of a new generation of soldiers. Insignia is one of the few books I have read with major characters being people of colour , with diverse and not-stereotypical backgrounds. I love the wonderful camaraderie that have, especially Tom and his roommate Vik who are hilarious and get into all sorts of trouble as the Doctors of Doom. My favourite supporting character is Wyatt, the socially awkward and incredibly smart programmer, who is initially stand-off-ish but when she opened up I could really connect with her.An exhilarating read, Insignia is a superb example of great story-telling and is perfect for an audience of 12+ years. Older readers will definitely enjoy this book too because it explores some hard-hitting issues that are emerging in our world right now.You can read more of my reviews at Speculating on SpecFic.
    • 4/5
      I went to a Dark Days Tour event this past week, and the author Kincaid was there talking about her new book, Insignia. I was tempted from the rave reviews about it, so I picked it up while I was there.Insignia is about a 14 year old boy named Tom who has nothing going for him and keeps his gambling addict father and himself clothed and housed through gaming. The government hears of him and soon he is whisked to the Pentagonal Spire where he is implanted with a neural device that allows him to enhance his knowledge with downloadable content; he effectively becomes a soldier in the military who want to use his talents for the current world war. Soon, he is pitted against the deadly but fascinating Medusa in a battle to end all battles.I had a hard time rating this book because through 75% of the book, I was very distracted by the fact that the author basically transplanted the Hogwarts trio (Harry, Ron and Hermione) into Ender's Game. Literally, I could match up plot lines and characters from each book to the ones in Insignia. At the same time, it was still entertaining to read (since I obviously liked both of the aforementioned books). And the last 25% (with one exception, which I can't talk about because it would give away plot points) made it all worth reading because it finally focused on my favorite character of all, Medusa, and it veered away from the previous formulas a bit more. The characters are lovable and funny. Since I liked Hermione the best from Harry Potter, it's not surprising that I enjoyed Wyatt, her counterpart, probably the second most after Medusa. The protagonist, Tom, is very likeable but is definitely flawed and adolescent-- Kincaid knows how to write 14 year old boy perspectives! Blackburn, the Snape equivalent, is appropriately creepy. And Yuri, the Russian, was really fun-- and possibly the most original of the cast.Overall, it was a fun read, and I'll keep it on my shelf, but this series needs to work more on originality; hopefully the next installment will showcase this talent.
    • 5/5
      Tom Raines is a 14 year old virtual reality gamer with extraordinary skills. He’s usually not one to lose a bet. His father, Neil is a compulsive gambler, alcoholic, and a conspiracy theorist. Tom can’t remember a time when there wasn’t any gambling. Father and son survive on their winnings, these days mostly on Tom’s winnings – which dictate whether they have a roof over their head and food to eat on a daily basis. As for school, Tom attends Rosewood Alternative, via virtual reality, when he remembers. One day, he was given an opportunity of a life time – to attend the prestigious military academy at the Pentagonal Spire, where he will be trained to be a combatant for the Intrasolar Forces, fighting World War III. To Tom that only means he would finally have some things that he has never had before: to have a purpose, to be important, to have friends. Can he truly have all those things? And at what cost?I LOVED this book! S. J. Kincaid has done a tremendous job in writing this sci-fi story. Although it has technical and military descriptions, it is not so overboard that a middle grader or teen would find it confusing or overwhelming. This story includes virtual reality, video gaming and some seriously page turning action scenes. I was hooked within the first couple of chapters. The story is futuristic, unique and very funny. I love Tom, the main character, and his friends. I certainly felt connected to all of them. He and the other characters are among other things, hilarious. My kids have caught me laughing enough times that they have insisted that I buy the book for them the minute it’s released.This book is fantastic and is a must read for any sci-fi fan, gamer, or action buff! It will definitely appeal to finicky boy readers. I recommend putting it on your son’s summer reading list. He will thank you later.
    • 4/5
      In short: Insignia by S.J. Kincaid is a seriously funny, seriously cool read with a fun cast of characters that you will fall in love with.Ever wonder what it would be like to be able to think and learn like a computer? Such is the opportunity that acne-faced and regular kid, Tom Raines, receives when he is approached by the Pentagon to fight an intrasolar World War III. S.J. Kincaid gets major props for coming up with such a mega awesome concept in Insignia. Controlling robot spaceships in space using your computer-brain to fight the enemy? So cool.That awkward moment when you burst out laughing on a bus packed with strangers? That was me while reading Insignia. Holy heck was Insignia funny. And I think it's often hard to get humour right in books, without it falling flat or coming across as cheesy. So it's really a testament to S.J. Kincaid's talent and her priceless sense of humour that Insignia was such a success in ensuring laughter throughout the entire book.There were a few instances when I think the writing could have been a bit smoother though. At times, Insignia was bogged down by technological jargon that made the reading a bit rough. I was tempted many times just to skim over any extensive technological passages. Also, lengthy exposition scenes detailing the history of the Insignia world often read like a textbook, conspicuously placed in the text rather than smoothly integrated into the story. There were also a few noticeable plot holes that could've been ironed out.Still, some bits of slow pacing are not enough to stop me from loving Insignia. I adored spending time with likeable Tom and the entire ensemble of Insignia's side characters. I am amazed, looking back, at just how many characters there are in Insignia and how each of them were so well developed and unique. I would especially love to be apart of Tom's group of misfit friends who, while they were constantly teasing each other, were ultimately a strong and supportive group.Overall, Insignia was a hilarious read with a cool concept and an excellent cast of characters. Insignia is S.J. Kincaid's debut novel and I can't wait to read the sequels as well as any other books she eventually writes as she has proven herself to be a serious talent. Insignia will be published July 10, 2012. I definitely recommend it.