The Feedback Loop (The Feedback Loop #1) by Harmon Cooper

The Feedback Loop (The Feedback Loop #1) Reviews

• 
  Montzalee Wittmann

  The Feedback Loop, Book 1
  By: Harmon Cooper
  Narrated by: Jeff Hays
  I loved this book! It was like he was trapped in a game but was he?...exciting twist and turns..It was fun trying to figure things out with him! Lots of action, great fight scenes, suspense, and real fun mixed with humor.
  Narration was perfect since it has Jeff Hays! No need to say more!!!
  Great book! I have had this for a long time and I am mad at myself for waiting to listen to it!
• 
  Sarenna

  I picked up this book mostly because I was waiting for book 5 in the Life is Beautiful series. A series that I decided to try because it was so different from anything I had ever read, and was shocked to find that I really enjoyed.
  
  What do you know? I found I really liked this book too. So much, that I purchased books two and three, and even decided to give The Zero Patient Trilogy a go.
  
  I understand that Cooper's writing may not be for everyone. It's gritty, rough, and downright vulgar at times. but it's also fast-paced and downright fun, in my opinion. Filled with crazy characters that are both deplorable and yet, somehow likeable, set in a world that is both completely unrealistic, but strangely completely imaginable. I think that's because Cooper does such an excellent job of describing both the characters and the setting that suspension of disbelief is not only entirely possible, but inevitable.
  
  This series is set in the virtual reality world that is going on around the same time as Life is Beautiful. You have some of the same types of things going on (pollutes, humandroids, and big conglomerates like McStarbucks and eBaymazon) but they aren't the main focus of this story line. I will say that I liked seeing these things pop up again (but I'm nerdy that way). Quantum finds himself stuck in his Virtual Reality game reliving the same day over and over, until one day a visit from another human player disrupt everything and, to put it bluntly, all Hell breaks loose.
  
  I hope Mr. Cooper continues to write. I am loving these crazy stories and characters he comes up with.
• 
  AudioBookReviewer

  My original
  The Feedback Loop audiobook review and many others can be found at
  Audiobook Reviewer.
  
  In an ever-crowded literary RPG (LitRPG) genre, “The Feedback Loop” stands out as unique, entertaining, and imaginative.  Take many of the components from Groundhog Day, The Matrix, and The Fifth Element, blend them up into a cyberpunk noir storyline and you get a good idea of what you can expect in The Feedback Loop.  It is the first in a series of three books available in all your favorite formats.  The book is splendidly written by Harmon Cooper and the audiobook narration is performed exceptionally well by none other than the master of audiobook narration; Jeff Hays.  The book is a bit shorter then I would have expected for the first volume in a series, however it does finish up at a good point and the book contains very little fluff used simply to expend the page count.  I will say I wanted more when it ended and was happy to be able to jump right into the second book in the series providing my needed fix.  No need to wait for other books in the series to be released as they are currently all available in audiobook format at the time of this review.
  
  The story itself is nothing revolutionary to those familiar with the genre.  A person is trapped in a virtual world and needs to save his life by finding a means of escape.  However, the way this story is told along with its flow, humor, and technology makes it feel new and exciting.  Unlike with most in the LitRPG genre, this one is not a fantasy world but instead a gritty and grimy cyberpunk environment.  Think of being virtually immersed in a game of Shadowrun, yet you are living the same day’s events over and over for what appears to be years; the Groundhog Day experience.  Then, one day, things appear to change from the normal routine.  This is where the story hooks you and you will not want to put it down.  The expert writing along with Jeff’s superb narration makes you feel you are a part of the story he whole way through.
  
  I enjoyed the use of humor in the book as it helped to alleviate the tension and gritty feel of the world the characters were a part of.  At times, I had to laugh out loud when the main character took specific actions trying to make his mundane situation a bit more entertaining for him.  There may seem like a limited number of ways someone can kill another in this world, but our hero keeps finding new and interesting ways.   When you have a continuous daily loop memorized because it has been experienced over and over, one needs to spice things up a bit, and he succeeds doing it.  One of his favorite activities was summed up when he was speaking to another character and told them that violence is always the answer to anything in the game, and it shows.
  
  The game and the cyberpunk story world were very well setup and executed within the book.  Afterwards you may feel like taking a shower to clean off all the dirt and grime.  Although the characters were overall deep and likable, I would have enjoyed having a bit more detail on their backgrounds, histories, and reasons for being in the situations they were.  I can only assume this information will be revealed more and more as we dive into the other books of the series.  The story includes some aspects of relationships and their importance when attempting to not only survive in the world but also escape this looping world of events.  There is love, joy, action, and sadness as the tale unfolds and we begin to learn more about not only our main character, but the world he has become a part of.  I liked the standard stereotypical weapons found in a cyberpunk world such as shotguns and laser pistols, but also a myriad of other fun and interesting weapons to choose from that the author included.
  
  Jeff Hays takes any piece of fiction, or non-fiction, and make it better with his ability to flawlessly narrate just about anything.  However, when he is given a great piece of work to narrate, it comes out like a symphony where all the parts blend together to make beautiful music.  It may seem a bit strong using this analogy, but it really is the best way I can describe the impact and ability of his narration skills.  I have listened to a number of books he has narrated, and I have never been disappointed; and this book is no exception.  When I write audiobook reviews, Jeff is the standard by which I rate everything else.  He puts his heart and passion into his work and it shows every time.  He is one of the only male narrators who pulls off narrating female characters in a believable way.  Many of his characters have very unique and distinguishable voices, not only in this book, but in all his narrated works.  Jeff is also able to weave into his reviews some subtle recording extras and never over uses them; for example, the muffled voice of someone talking over a telephone, etc.  The audio is professionally produced and it does not contain any noticeable audio artifacts.
  
  For parents or young readers, this book is set in a futuristic world having a dark and shadier feel to the environment.  The author does use vulgar language at times, there are scenes involving and discussing sex, alcohol, and drug usage.  There are times of intense violence, some of it humorous or light-hearted, but others not.  I do not feel it is overly used, but take note if any of the above offends you or you are wondering if this book would be good for a younger reader.
  
  In summary, if you like the LitRPG genre and are looking for an exceptionally well-presented cyberpunk environment, I recommend you pick up “Feedback Loop”.  The story telling along with the book’s narration make it an immersive world that when you are done, you just want to jump right back in.  Even if you are not a fan of the genre, I recommend you give this book a try as you may find something new and exciting that you never knew existed.
  
  Audiobook was provided for review by the narrator.
• 
  K.J. Simmill

  Quantum was stuck, day after day, year after year living the same day. Like a twisted version of Groundhog day, bit filled with violence. He could set the time by who was attacking him, or the movement of trash. Every day was perfect repetition, although his actions changed small things, some days he died, others he didn't. But Francis' appearance changed his life in the loop. Strange things began to happen. He had been trapped by a glitch, and now there were people seeking to kill him, and they had the means to make his death permanent, if they got him he was dead in both worlds, the Loop and the real one.
  
  The Feedback Loop plot is driven forwards by the main character, a man trapped in the same day, he keeps track by storing an item in is inventory for each day that has passed, these range from basic items, such as a cheese grater, to a mini gun. You can imagine the fun that can be had. In a way this reminded me a little of something I read by Tom Holt a long time ago, but darker. I appreciated the humour, and the way living in this violent world affected and altered Quantum as a character. It was fun to read.
• 
  Scott

  In an ever-crowded literary RPG (LitRPG) genre, “The Feedback Loop” stands out as unique, entertaining, and imaginative. Take many of the components from Groundhog Day, The Matrix, and The Fifth Element, blend them up into a cyberpunk noir storyline and you get a good idea of what you can expect in The Feedback Loop. It is the first in a series of three books available in all your favorite formats. The book is splendidly written by Harmon Cooper and the audiobook narration is performed exceptionally well by none other than the master of audiobook narration; Jeff Hays. The book is a bit shorter then I would have expected for the first volume in a series, however it does finish up at a good point and the book contains very little fluff used simply to expend the page count. I will say I wanted more when it ended and was happy to be able to jump right into the second book in the series providing my needed fix. No need to wait for other books in the series to be released as they are currently all available in audiobook format at the time of this review.
  
  The story itself is nothing revolutionary to those familiar with the genre. A person is trapped in a virtual world and needs to save his life by finding a means of escape. However, the way this story is told along with its flow, humor, and technology makes it feel new and exciting. Unlike with most in the LitRPG genre, this one is not a fantasy world but instead a gritty and grimy cyberpunk environment. Think of being virtually immersed in a game of Shadowrun, yet you are living the same day’s events over and over for what appears to be years; the Groundhog Day experience. Then, one day, things appear to change from the normal routine. This is where the story hooks you and you will not want to put it down. The expert writing along with Jeff’s superb narration makes you feel you are a part of the story he whole way through.
  
  I enjoyed the use of humor in the book as it helped to alleviate the tension and gritty feel of the world the characters were a part of. At times, I had to laugh out loud when the main character took specific actions trying to make his mundane situation a bit more entertaining for him. There may seem like a limited number of ways someone can kill another in this world, but our hero keeps finding new and interesting ways. When you have a continuous daily loop memorized because it has been experienced over and over, one needs to spice things up a bit, and he succeeds doing it. One of his favorite activities was summed up when he was speaking to another character and told them that violence is always the answer to anything in the game; and it shows.
  
  The game and the cyberpunk story world were very well setup and executed within the book. Afterwards you may feel like taking a shower to clean off all the dirt and grime. Although the characters were overall deep and likeable, I would have enjoyed having a bit more detail on their backgrounds, histories, and reasons for being in the situations they were. I can only assume this information will be revealed more and more as we dive into the other books of the series. The story includes some aspects of relationships and their importance when attempting to not only survive in the world but also escape this looping world of events. There is love, joy, action, and sadness as the tale unfolds and we begin to learn more about not only our main character, but the world he has become a part of. I liked the standard stereotypical weapons found in a cyberpunk world such as shotguns and laser pistols, but also a myriad of other fun and interesting weapons to choose from that the author included.
  
  Jeff Hays takes any piece of fiction, or non-fiction, and make it better with his ability to flawlessly narrate just about anything. However, when he is given a great piece of work to narrate, it comes out like a symphony where all the parts blend together to make beautiful music. It may seem a bit strong using this analogy, but it really is the best way I can describe the impact and ability of his narration skills. I have listened to a number of books he has narrated, and I have never been disappointed; and this book is no exception. When I write audiobook reviews, Jeff is the standard by which I rate everything else. He puts his heart and passion into his work and it shows every time. He is one of the only male narrators who pulls off narrating female characters in a believable way. Many of his characters have very unique and distinguishable voices, not only in this book, but in all his narrated works. Jeff is also able to weave into his reviews some subtle recording extras and never over uses them; for example, the muffled voice of someone talking over a telephone, etc. The audio is professionally produced and it does not contain any noticeable audio artifacts.
  
  For parents or young readers, this book is set in a futuristic world having a dark and shadier feel to the environment. The author does use vulgar language at times, there are scenes involving and discussing sex, alcohol, and drug usage. There are times of intense violence, some of it humorous or light-hearted, but others not. I do not feel it is overly used, but take note if any of the above offends you or you are wondering if this book would be good for a younger reader.
  
  In summary, if you like the LitRPG genre and are looking for an exceptionally well-presented cyberpunk environment, I recommend you pick up “Feedback Loop”. The story telling along with the book’s narration make it an immersive world that when you are done, you just want to jump right back in. Even if you are not a fan of the genre, I recommend you give this book a try as you may find something new and exciting that you never knew existed.
  
  Disclaimer: I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator.
• 
  Aaron Nagy

  Got this on a recommendation....it was not what I was expecting. It's another guy trapped in a video game world but it feels developed completely independent from the rest of the genre and more of a weird/fun story about the main character who was trapped in a cyber noir world alone for multiple years and how he is basically acting like a cyber noir main character because of all the time he spent there and of course he gets rescued and now has to help other people. The book is certainly a thing and I liked it but it's hard to say whether it's actually good or not.
• 
  Travis

  I don't know who classified this book, but according to my kindle app, this was SciFi LitRPG.
  Whoever classified this book needs to be shot.
  SciFi, hmm, possibly, if you stretch if far enough, but I'll give you that one, though cyberpunk would be a considerbly closer label.
  LitRPG? Seriously? If you're a LitRPG fan, then stay as far from this book as you can get, this is in no way LitRPG. It's a cross between Groundhog's Day and some damned 1920's gangster movie. Yeah, it's as bad as it sounds.
  I mean, don't get me wrong, the story wasn't bad as a whole, but it isn't anything to write home about. Had I picked this up and just read it thinking it was some cyberpunk story, or even some sort of virtual reality thing, I would have classified it as an ok read, and moved on, but having this thing being marketed as a SciFi LitRPG book makes me feel cheated because of having wasted the time to read it.
  It takes place in a virtual world, yes, but that's where the LitRPG similarities stop. Nothing about this book could even remotely be classified as LitRPG, there's no stats, no levels, no skills, just endless repeating of killing and being killed. That's all. If you throw out all the killing and the being killed, then what you're left with is something that could have fit into a short story of maybe 2 or 3 thousand words. It would have been an excellent story in that case, guy goes in to retrieve someone who is stuck in a virtual environment, rescues the person, but gets drawn in, and gets stuck himself. Not realizing this, he repeats the same day over and over again, nearly 600 times, never realizing that his digital girlfriend has the power to help him get out of it, but once he does, then the girl gives him her digital fingerprint (so to speak) so he can summon her anytime he logs into the virtual environment, no matter where he is. That's all fine and good, but then there's the larger issue looming over it all, and that is that the guy he started this rescue operation with is the one trying to kill him. Not just in the virtual world, but in reality as well, just so he can gain access to his assets.
  Nothing new here, but handled properly, this could have been an excellent 5 star story leaving the reader wanting so much more.
  Instead, I'm left feeling empty, and having absolutely no desire whatsoever to continue the series.
  If you're a cyberpunk fan, this one might appeal to you. If you're a action type person, this one may hold some value, but if you're an LitRPG fan, give this one a pass, it isn't what you're looking for.
• 
  Inderzit Sidhu

  I don't read many fiction books, but this one was different. It had elements that I love, eg, VR, Hacks, Robots and Future. I liked the creativity, the symbolism and possibilities this book creates. This first book seems like a great origin story for Quantum Hughes, who decides that everyone trapped in the Proxima Worlds should be freed.
  
  The Loop, to me symbolizes somewhat of the real life. Repetitive, dull and yet hopeful in a hopeless place, as Quantum Notes, "It's better to have hope in a hopeless place than to be hopeless in a hopeless place." I like how he keeps wondering what has happened to his real body in the real world. Wondering who's feeding, who's taking care of him. He wonders,
  
  

  What does it feel like to taste something? To breathe fresh air? To hold someone's hand? To know you can die, that your life can be quickly extinguised by a nuanced mistake?"
  

  
  
  And then again,
  
  

  Will I ever go back? Will I ever know what it's like to truly exist?
  

  
  
  For me, these were the best moments of the book. It gets me that he hates the repetitive nature of the Loop, yet gets a little cranky that Loop is not repeating on Day 548. He notes,
  
  

  Change is unsettling; routine is what drives humanity

  
  
  I liked how graphically the Badlands has been described, and the Devil's alley. I like how NVA seed controlled the repetition, and even until the end, we don't know how much power does NVA seed actually has, I hope author didn't even came close to describing all of the NVA seed's powers.
  
  I like the idea of Mutant Hacks, something similar to good-old cheat codes. They're awesome.
  
  Finally, that Stationary vs Stationery pun was funny, but I would have some more suspense before the Log out point.
• 
  Susan

  Initially, I was drawn into this world that Quantum is trapped in. Every day starts off with yet one more attempt to kill him. He’s got it down to a T now because he’s stuck in this cybergame on some kind of loop. Life holds no more mysteries for him, except for the big one: why is he trapped here and how can he get out? This story definitely has elements of the movie Groundhog Day (which I always found boring) but luckily this story gives us just a taste of Quantum’s repetitive life before something new happens.
  Frances Euphoria walks in, boobs first. Yep, her physical attributes are the first things we learn about and her skills only come on display later. In fact, all the ladies in this story (including a voluptuous waitress) are described first by their looks and perhaps, maybe, later by some important skill they have. After I finished rolling my eyes at this, I really liked what Euphoria brought to the table: A possible way out! Quantum will do nearly anything at this point to escape this personal hell.
  The plot thickens as Quantum tries harder and harder to escape. He had slipped into a kind of complacency but now as he pushes back against the Loop, more and more deadly things and characters are set against him. There is also an unexpected ally.
  Just as I was getting sucked into this tale, we neared the end. Things felt a little rushed towards the end and I wanted more out of Euphoria. While Quantum was surprised by who was behind his imprisonment, it wasn’t a surprise to me. 3.5/5 stars.
  The Narration: Jeff Hays never disappoints. All of his character voices were distinct and his female voices are excellent. Also, his enthusiasm for this story came through in his performance. I liked his grumbly voice for Quantum and his ticked off voice for Euphoria. 5/5 stars.
  I won a free copy of this book. My opinions are solely my own.
• 
  John Perkins

  It started off as a cool cyberpunk story, but then some of the language really started to turn me off. The 1930s Sam Spade-esque language didn't quite fit the world, and there were just too many bits about the game world that threw me off. Dude collected one item per day in his world and that's how he tracks the days. But on day one he didn't know what was going to happen, so why wasn't his inventory full of stuff after the first day? Who plays an MMORPG and doesn't completely overfill their inventory within the first few hours?
  
  The characters and world were interesting enough to make the story engaging, but being a gamer, some of the stuff just bugged me too much to let me sit back and enjoy the story. It was fairly quick, and had a satisfying ending, but I'm not certain I'll listen to the next book in the series yet.
  
  I know this seems silly, but the book takes place in the year 2058, but the main character makes a Tiger Woods/Elin Nordegren reference. It's a great joke in the book, but I can't imagine anyone remembering her name almost 50 years after her divorce from Tiger. It took me a second to remember who she was and I just watched the South Park episode where they parodied it a couple of weeks ago. Little things like that kept taking me out of the story, and annoyed me more than they probably should have.
• 
  Alec Young

  Feels like the author's beginning. You can see the twists coming miles away.
  
  I have read a few of Harmon Cooper's other books and they aren't nearly as bad as this one is. This one has twists and turns it feel like they're just to differentiate itselffrom other books. Does not work other than to make you feel like it's a poorly written book. The giveaway one of the main twists with the synapses, even the surprises that are surprises lack punch because you just feel meh by that point. It's a 50/50 on whether I would read the second book or not because the overall premise of the story is intriguing but the storytelling lacks severely.
• 
  Andy Zach

  Harmon Cooper writes an interesting RPG fantasy with the premise the main character is trapped in an endless loop in an RPG game. Sort of like Groundhog Day, only people are killing you every day.
  
  The main character is unbelievably violent, killing first and asking questions later. This is due to years of being trapped. As he kills his opponents, he keeps adding their weapons to his inventory list, even items that don't see like weapons.
  
  I didn't like the main character, probably because he'd gone crazy and was no longer rational. But persist in the series--he gets better.
• 
  Bonnie Dale Keck

  Kindle Unlimited, This writer has serious 'issues', reviews are reader's way of saying ya need help sparky, just wait and write some more first.
  
  The Feedback Loop: (Book One) (Sci-Fi LitRPG Series) - Steampunk is Dead: (Book Two) (Sci-Fi LitRPG Series) (The Feedback Loop 2) - High Fantasy: (Book Three) (Sci-Fi LitRPG Series) (The Feedback Loop 3
  The Feedback Loop (3-Book Box Set): (Scifi LitRPG Series)
  
  Reapers and Repercussions: (Book Four) (Sci-Fi LitRPG Series) (The Feedback Loop 4) - The Mechanical Heart: (Book Five) (Sci-Fi LitRPG Series) (The Feedback Loop 5) - Cyber Noir Redux: (Book Six) (The Feedback Loop 6)
  
  Dear NSA: A Collection of Politically Incorrect Short Stories
  Zombie Lolita: (A Collection of Short Stories)
• 
  Fate's Lady

  This was marketed as litRPG but it really isn't. There's a guy in a video game, but that's it. There are none of the usual frames or conventions, and honestly it feels like almost zero plot. The guy is stuck in a groundhog day style loop where everyone around him is apparently homicidal, and he basically spends his days amusing himself by gruesomely killing everyone around him in new and creative ways. It was unbearably boring and so pointless.
• 
  Isaac Norsham

  I hate episodic TV shows where each episode can standalone by itself with a story growing in the background. This series seem like it follows that formula, each book will explore a new world.
  
  I love worldbuilding, for me that's the main reason I read any books. This series basically focus on character development with minor worldbuilding. And whatever worlds are introduce will be meaningless because it will changes the next book.
  
  
• 
  Lurino

  Fast and short, and sort of twisted
  
  The first part of the book was more boring than anything else I've read, until a woman came to change it all. The twists and turns following the incident were enjoyable, though fast paced and, not as noir as the writer intended. Nice try. We'll see what happened in the next books
• 
  Chris Evans

  This is what you'd get if you crossed .hack//sign with Groundhogs Day. The story was fine though nothing really special, but the prose in this book are great and I'm not usually someone who notices. The story is a pretty good one off, though it does setup a series in the epilogue that I'll probably checkout eventually.
• 
  Bonnie Dale Keck

  Kindle Unlimited, This writer has serious 'issues', reviews are reader's way of saying ya need help sparky, just wait and write some more first.
  
  The Feedback Loop: (Book One) (Sci-Fi LitRPG Series) - Steampunk is Dead: (Book Two) (Sci-Fi LitRPG Series) (The Feedback Loop 2) - High Fantasy: (Book Three) (Sci-Fi LitRPG Series) (The Feedback Loop 3
  The Feedback Loop (3-Book Box Set): (Scifi LitRPG Series)
  
  Reapers and Repercussions: (Book Four) (Sci-Fi LitRPG Series) (The Feedback Loop 4) - The Mechanical Heart: (Book Five) (Sci-Fi LitRPG Series) (The Feedback Loop 5) - Cyber Noir Redux: (Book Six) (The Feedback Loop 6)
  
  Dear NSA: A Collection of Politically Incorrect Short Stories
  Zombie Lolita: (A Collection of Short Stories)
• 
  Joe Corso

  Finished the first book in the series and started the second. Overall it is a decent read, there is a lot of violence and over the top reactions from the protagonist. Worth a read if you feel the need to vent at the world. I would not suggest this for younger readers at all.
• 
  Deborah

  Interesting idea with a mixture old fashioned & futuristic settings + language. Not totally my kind of book but good enough to keep reading & the ending isn't too much of a cliffhanger so you can stop here or read book 2
• 
  Tawanazvitambo Nyaguyo

  I like books like this where the main character is a cocky know it all superhero like Dresden or iron man but has an uphill battle that’s almost impossible if it wasn’t for his allies. Great book! Looking forward to book ✌️2
• 
  Bret Hann

  I really enjoyed this book as a whole, but the Morning assassin makes it worth reading just for him. Had me in stitches. Ending was a bit cheesy, but in keeping with the style of writing. A good read.
• 
  Danny Moody

  I enjoyed the old school detective writing style used while writing the book. There were some really cool elements to the game world like the mutant hacks. The twists to the plot help make the story feel fresh and not like something I have read before.
• 
  Michael Mercer

  I’m not quite sure what genre to categorize this book, but that doesn’t matter. I really enjoyed it. Stuck in a repeating day in a fully immersive video game the main character fights to stay sane. He has to find a way out. Well told and fun. On to the next book!
• 
  Rodger Nelson

  Loved this story the dude basically killed everybody and everything and later was like I'm done so why do you always try to kill me.