Fractured Earth (The Actuator, #1) by James Wymore

Fractured Earth (The Actuator, #1) Reviews

• 
  Montzalee Wittmann

  Fractured Earth (The Actuator #1) by James Wymore and Aiden James is book one in the series. This sci-fi/fantasy book has lots of crazy stuff happening due to a machine that changes the world or parts of the world's communities into new realities, some quite terrifying.
• 
  Katy

  Book Info: Genre: Science Fantasy Adventure
  Reading Level: Adult
  Recommended for: Fans of Science-fantasy adventure
  Trigger Warnings: killing, murder, violence
  
  My Thoughts: Wow, this book could not be any more different from the last book I read, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Mixing science fiction with multiple fantasy tropes, this was a really fun, fast, and furious book. When the action went from a fantasy world to a space opera world to a steampunk world I knew I was going to enjoy this story a lot.
  
  There is plenty of action and adventure (and 'splodies) in this book. There is some character development, but mostly the action is too fast to take the time to worry about the characters much. There were problems with editing, such as “waive” for “wave” and “reign” for “rein”, as well as capitalization problems with Red and Dragon Star at times, so be aware of that. It's not too bad, though, and I imagine a lot of people won't even notice it.
  
  If you're a fan of both science fiction and fantasy, this book will likely have something you will like. It is very obviously the first book in a series, as it ends on a minor cliffhanger. I know I'll be watching for future books in this series to find out what happens next, and to see more of the various worlds.
  
  Disclosure: I received an e-book copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. I also accepted it on NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
  
  Synopsis: On a secret military base tucked in a remote desert mountain, a dangerous machine lies hidden from the American public. 
  
  Known as “The Actuator”, this machine is capable of transforming entire communities into alternate realities. In theory, these often terrifying realities are reversible. The scientists in charge of this machine employ operatives called Machine Monks, who attune their minds to manifest single ideas from the realms of fantasy and science fiction. These ideas are then superimposed upon sparsely inhabited areas for testing. 
  
  For a while, the enigmatic Actuator cooperates with the experiments, using dampeners to limit the affected area. But those in charge of the project eagerly anticipate exploring the full potential of this amazing device. Experiments progress to where they feed more than twenty different genre ideas simultaneously into the Actuator’s database. Meanwhile, an unknown saboteur dismantles the dampeners. The effect is catastrophic. The entire world is plunged into chaos, and familiar landscapes become a deadly patchwork of genre horrors. Overnight, the Actuator becomes the worst menace the earth has ever seen, claiming lives in staggering numbers. 
  
  Can a few surviving Machine Monks band together to set things right again? It all depends on whether Red McLaren and the Monks can survive their journey through the various realms that separate them from the Actuator, where ever-present orcs, aliens, pirates, and vampires seek to destroy them. They must move quickly, as time is running out to stop the Actuator and the villain who controls it and the earth’s destiny.
• 
  Marjolein (UrlPhantomhive)

  3.5 stars
  
  Read all my reviews on
  http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
  
  As I'm sure a lot of my bookish friends will agree with me: we have all thought at least at some point 'what if the world was more like the one in a certain book'. Well, the Actuator makes exactly that happen. The so-called Machine Monks feed the machine with their favourite genre-ideas and the Actuator makes it happen. For some reason this is highly secretive military invention (I'd say it would work wonderful in theme-parks as well). But what if security fails and 20-something Machine Monks are feeding the machine at the same time? One moment you're just a Key Hunter, the next you're battling Orcs and the base's Commander has turned into a dragon.
  
  I liked it. It had a very fresh idea and besides, since it focuses a lot on books and genres (and the tropes as well) I didn't feel like it could go wrong. The world is fractured into a lot of different regions, which are all modelled after someone's favourite genre. So, the base is a medieval epic fantasy world but since they need to recover everyone's key (to shut down their part of the simulation) there's an almost unlimited variety of genres possible in the book. Which was something I really liked. The border are strict and everything that's taken from one region to the other morphs into something to fit the genre as best as possible.
  
  In what other book can you find dragons, space opera, vampires, steampunk and pirates without it feeling too crowded? It was a lot of fun, even though not everything added up for me. Why isn't everyone's key just at the base? How do they know exactly what everyone's key is? Also, at a certain point during reading it started to get a bit repetitive as there seemed to be a pattern as soon as they entered a new region. But all in all, I liked it more than I expected and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
  
  Fractured Earth is the first book in the Actuator series, the second book is called The Return of the Saboteur (Review to follow). There's also an anthology with short stories from the different regions called Borderlands.
  
  Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
• 
  Mara Valderran

  I have so many thoughts about this book. There's everything from pirates to aliens to orcs and beyond in it, which is absolutely brilliant. Each actuation brought with it a new adventure, filled with twists and turns that are unexpected and well played out.
  
  I have to say that one of the best things about this book is the characters and how realistically they react to their realities being changed to dramatically. Stepping into vampire territory is not all fun and games and sparkling emo broodsters. It's harsh, dangerous, and dark, and heartbreaking to see people you know and care about change into these twisted creatures that lust for power almost as much as they lust for blood. Killing doesn't come easy to the heroes of the story, and it weighs on them, especially Red. The losses this group suffers ripple throughout the entire story, and still aren't forgotten in the end. Adventure tales are fun in any genre, but I appreciate that this one was still rooted in reality while dealing with the fantastic.
  
  Each of character, no matter how minor a role they had, clearly had a rich back story of their own and personalities with believable flaws. The authors didn't play on stereotypes at all. I appreciated how they could take a character like Mack who was so dislikeable and get me to feel sorry for him. Red was the ultimate reluctant hero, making difficult decisions and not trying to brush off the consequences. He didn't ask for any of this, but he handles it well, all things considering. The interpersonal relationships only added more challenges to their journey as we watch the group get separated and each risk their life in the hopes of making things right again.
  
  I'm really looking forward to the next book. This was a slow read for me because there were times that it was a lot to take in as far as what was happening, but definitely worth it. James Wymore and Aiden James have created the ultimate literary playground with the Actuator, and there is only potential for endless amounts of fun as the story continues.
  
  
• 
  Dana

  The Actuator By Aiden James and James Wymore What would you do it all of a sudden you were reading this review and the the computer disappeared right under your hands and an old time typewriter appeared .. your Nike sneakers were replaced by webbed feet, your car turned into a horse drawn carriage or your house turned into a castle with vampires all around you? And you have NO IDEA what just happened. Where are your loved ones? WHAT happened to your world? are these changes going on everywhere? This is EXACTLY what happens when a Kindly genius Creates a Machine called "The Actuator" Its Supposed to make Fantasy Realms in the minds of the Participants seem like reality. HOWEVER some one Sabotages the Machine and these Fantasy Realms Become reality ALL OVER THE WORLD.. Each Person creating a Fantasy Realm has a Key to return the world to the way its Supposed to be, our hero, Red and his small group of 'Machine Monks' are the ONLY ones in the WORLD who can save the world from these Fantasy Utopia's gone VERY WRONG, we go into different Fantasy Worlds with Red and his group and face unbelievable danger and death as they try to retrieve each key, can they do it? can they get back to The Actuator and save the world? can they get past the EVIL Villain controlling the machine? When every time they go into a new realm EVERYTHING changes including their weapons..This Book is a CRAZY book of Fantasy after Fantasy .. Its a GREAT read and you never know whats coming next. This is the First in a series and I YELPED at the cliff hanger!!! I Give this book 5 keys its Different and Imaginative
• 
  Samantha Woods

  I loved this book! I have never read James Wymore's books before but I have read Aiden James books before and loved those also... It's definitely an interesting concept of being able to literally change the world with a machine and turn it into to whatever your fantasy is... It also shows you, how I think people would really act, if given the power to rule over an area or people. The survivors in this book definitely go on a journey and find out who their true friends were during this book... I was hooked right from the start because there is action right from the beginning.. There is always something happening.. Never a dull moment! I am looking forward for book 2 and have been talking about this book to my friends and family.. Trying to talk my hubby into reading it because I know he would love it... lol... I hope you read and enjoy it!!!!
• 
  Nathan Yocum

  James Wymore and Aiden James have found the proverbial "lightning in a bottle." The Actuator is a playground of genre fiction; a smorgasbord for book lovers of all sorts.
  
  Red has a problem. The Actuator, a machine that readjusts reality to mimic the minds of genre obsessed monks, has malfunctioned. What was once a controlled experiment is now a world-wide phenomenon. The entire surface of the planet has been divided up into territories of literary madness.
  
  Do you like steampunk? Check out Arizona.
  
  Do you like vampires (modern and historical)? We'll see you in Pacific Northwest.
  
  Pirates? Werewolves? Zombies? Orcs and Dragons? Yes, yes, and...yes.
  
  Can Red and his team find the keys to restore reality? I guess I'll have to find out as the series progresses.
  
• 
  Roberta R. (Offbeat YA)

  Rated 3.5 really.
  
  Excerpt from my review - originally published at
  Offbeat YA.
  
  Pros: Creative premise. Breathless adventure, though there's a time for reflection as well. Constant change of scenery.
  Cons: Essentially a "male" book, though at least a female character plays a somewhat bigger role. Would have benefited from a little character backstory, or better, interaction, before chaos ensued. Some convenient occurrences. A handful of (harmless) typos that apparently escaped revision.
  Will appeal to: Alternate realities enthusiasts. RPG fans. Readers who get bored easily.
  
  First off...DISCLAIMER: I am a semi-regular reviewer of Curiosity Quills titles (like this one), but if you look back at my ratings, this never prevented me from being unbiased. It's just that they have so many (sometimes underrated) gems under their belt.
  
  CROSS-WORLD PUZZLE
  
  The premise of this book (well, series) is fantastic, and I couldn't resist its pull. Although not a fantasy aficionado or a role-player, I always enjoy a story where reality as we know it gets upended and pretty much anything can happen, all while the characters have to navigate a suddenly unfamiliar landscape. In a sense, I got more than I bargained for with Fractured Earth. The characters embark on a journey to set things right that causes them to cross a number of different "realms", each one with its rules and dangers, where the very things they bring with them or travel on (not to mention their own physical appearance) can change drastically - sometimes with quite funny or downright weird results. For some reason, I didn't expect the straight-up fantasy/historical angle to be so prevalent, but the story as a whole was enthralling and kept me going, and I'm sure those readers who are more into fantasy and history than me will be delighted. [...]
  
  Whole review
  here.
• 
  Steven

  This title was exciting! The idea of all these different realms being created by this machine was wicked and the situations each place threw these characters into were full of action, adventure, and horrors. I am looking forward to reading book two now.
• 
  A Voracious Reader (a.k.a. Carol)

  *Book source ~ A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
  
  Red McLauren is a Key Hunter and when he’s told to escort a group of Machine Monks out to survey some rocks when The Actuator is getting ready to fire up an event he’s uneasy. Something feels off and when the event happens and everything goes haywire he ends up being a leader even if he doesn’t feel like one. Someone has sabotaged the dampeners and the entire world has changed and not for the better. Eighteen confirmed Machine Monks created pockets of alternate realities and four more unconfirmed means the world is in chaos and people are dying by the millions, possibly by the billions. Those from the base are the only ones who know what happened and they need to put the world back before humanity is wiped out. A task easier stated than done.
  
  I can’t recall having read a book that has a machine that can alter reality in the physical sense. I mean, completely change the world into whatever reality parameters the person has selected. The Machine Monks are addicted to the Actuator and get a high from when it substitutes reality for their own. Each Monk has a favorite genre, be it horror, steampunk, historical romance, paranormal, fantasy, sci-fi, etc, so when they feed 20 or so fantasies into the Actuator and the dampeners (which restrict the change to a small testing area) fail those fantasies become realities all over the world. It’s chaos and death. The thought of having to find the keys in each reality in order to change it back exhausted me and I wasn’t even one of the people doing the rescuing. :D
  
  Well-written and fast moving the story made me feel as if I was really there. The characters are great even the ones I wanted to bash over the head, but I have to say that I love Red best. There’s something about a reluctant hero, one who never really thought it would come down to him that I really like and Red is very likeable. The multiple POVs really help with the vast scope of the story and make the experience just that more rich. The thought of the world being carved into different sections of fantasies made real just boggles my mind. It got me thinking…if I was a Machine Monk, what would my slice of the world be like? Uh, oh…I have a feeling it would be a very naughty world indeed. *fans self* All-in-all a solid sci-fi adventure.
  
• 
  Samantha Woods ( LSK Sweetheart Reviews )

  I loved this book! I have never read James Wymore's books before but I have read Aiden James books before and loved those also... It's definitely an interesting concept of being able to literally change the world with a machine and turn it into to whatever your fantasy is... It also shows you, how I think people would really act, if given the power to rule over an area or people. The survivors in this book definitely go on a journey and find out who their true friends were during this book... I was hooked right from the start because there is action right from the beginning.. There is always something happening.. Never a dull moment! I am looking forward for book 2 and have been talking about this book to my friends and family.. Trying to talk my hubby into reading it because I know he would love it... lol... I hope you read and enjoy it!!!!
• 
  Craig Nybo (Author of Allied Zombies for Peace)

  If you asked me what genre this book fits in, I would have to say, "every genre." Wymore has figured out a way to write a novel that delves in horror, science fiction, western, steam punk, and fantasy all under one cover. Do you want to find out how he did it? Read The Actuator: Fractured Earth.
  
  Wymore's sense of humor comes into play as he moves a set of likable characters through a variety of sub-worlds. Although this novel focuses on one central goal, it mixes multiple genres to create a story journey like none other I have experienced. Don't miss this book.
• 
  Nick Johnson

  Move over, dystopia, there's a new chaos for our future and it is fiction. Stranger than fiction... Where the world is being toyed with by creating alternate realities on earth built off the fictional genre obsessions of some highly trained monks.
  
  The story is spectacular. Our heroes have to adapt to different genres to save the world, and learn how fragile relationships can be in the mission to reshape the world in our ideal image.
  
  Sound confusing? Crazy? It is. This is an incredibly inventive world. I'm looking forward to the rest of their work in this universe.
• 
  Ann

  This is science fiction/fantasy at its best. A machine that creates alternate worlds. A small band of humans survive the initial mayhem and work together to return the world to normal. This book covers all genres of literature including romance, mystery, space travel, mythological creatures and more.
• 
  Yvonne

  I really enjoyed this book. It is so much different than anything I have ever read. Very interesting concept. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
• 
  Rob

  The premise sounded good, but it just got to be too heavy. Supposedly the Actuator created all these new fantastic realms across the face of the world, but you only visit a few. The action was somewhat haphazard and the characterization odd. They talk about all these different Machine Monks, but you never get a really good sense of what each faction is, stands for, or is trying to accomplish. I may or may not get the 2nd volume - the jury is still out. Maybe if the two had been combined into a single novel. However, you're definitely left hanging at the end of Vol. 1.
• 
  Travis

  Very interesting. I like the concept, even if it seems a bit farfetched, but I guess that's what makes it interesting.
• 
  Ralph

  In a remote desert there is a secret, closely guarded machine that has the ability to change reality. In the past, those charged with the testing and operation of the machine have focused its effects into a contained test area, gauging the results of the tests on animals, machines, buildings and people. And then, one day, something goes wrong, and the whole world is changed. Such is the premise of "The Actuator: Fractured Earth," first book in what is promised to be a trilogy.
  
  Those readers looking for fiction set in fact-based alternate worlds will not in this story find what they are looking for. The Actuator warps reality in response to the literary fetishes of the so-called 'Machine Monks' who form the mental templates upon which the enigmatic device then acts. The book has more in common with Heinlein's "The Number of the Beast" than it does Dick's "The Man in the High Castle," as it takes us through various literary genres and some rather deep psychoses drawn from the minds of the operators. It creates worlds in which the very laws of physics (or magic, in some cases) have been changed.
  
  The book is a variation of the Frankenstein myth and the Genie in the bottle, melded together into a fast-paced quest adventure. The area around the test site has orcs and dragons, but the effects of the Actuator do not, this time, stop at the test area limits. It goes on and on, apparently encompassing the whole world. In a search for the keys to reset the machine, a band of people from the secret base travel through the various worlds, finding such obstacles as aliens in flying saucers, airship pirates, Native Americans with huge chips on their shoulders, werewolves, vampires, and plain old regular pirates, not to mention their own loony-toon Machine Monks who were crazy even before reality got shuffled.
  
  Since this is the first book in a three-part story, I don't count it against the authors that there are some loose ends and that the reader is left with the promise of another story to come. On the other hand, I do count against the authors that this book cannot stand on its own as a complete story. If you write a huge novel that has to be cut into three sections (e.g. "The Lord of the Rings") you have an excuse for abrupt cliffhangers. Otherwise, your story does have to be complete in itself, and the run-on into the next book has to handled in such a way as to keep the reader from being disappointed with the book in hand. As it is, you get to the end of "The Actuator: Fractured Earth," and you realize the story is not finished. What next? More of the same frenetic world-hopping that started to get tiresome toward the end? Another quest? More banal characters? More genres?
  
  The premise of the book was intriguing enough for me to buy the book, and I did enjoy it despite it not being quite in the alternate-history genre I enjoy. Even though most of the characters were not likable, and a few were actually despicable and loathsome, they were at least on a quest that took them through some mildly interesting manifestations of literary genres, but like the characters themselves, I eventually began to tire of even the wild west steampunk world. I think the book's main problem is a lack of depth, or at least layers, to the story. A deeper story would have involved me more, made me more curious about the Actuator, which is presented simply as a "magic box," mostly devoid of history, and it seems to have no purpose other than as a plaything for some seriously disturbed people. When I finished the book, I found myself more glad that it was over than looking forward to the next installment. But hope springs eternal, in most universes.
• 
  Janis Hill

  I would like to thank Curiosity Quills Press for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an open and honest review.
  
  Talk about an amazing concept! And one I boggle at as it made me think ‘why has no one else written about such a theme before?’ as it was amazing. As I’m pretty sure there are quite a few of us who have our own little fantasy and imaginary worlds we wish could be made true (or actuaded) even if for a day or so for us to roam free. Yes I might be nearly forty, but I’m also a writer and am very happy still having my imaginary worlds and friends to play with – thank you very much! And I feel this book and series just mind blowing to show I’m not alone but exactly how much fun and danger having our imaginary worlds come alive could be.
  
  I have to say I also really liked the way reality had a way of giving each fragmented world a bit of a bitch slap… as fantasy worlds shouldn’t become real worlds as that reveals all the flaws and holes we happily gloss over when we can make it do what we want. There are no do overs in life, even when your perfect world becomes true.
  
  Sadly I did find the whole character angst and see-sawing emotions a tad boring and slowed the story down for me. It got in the way of the adventure! Yes, call me shallow and fickle, but I do much prefer my Urban Fantasy and Speculative Fiction to just keep going with the adventure and not spend almost a chapter internalising over things. That’s what reading literary fiction is for! Though I will say this is a personal thing and not the fault or a flaw in the book. But I like to say it how I see it and I wanted to explain how I could love the idea of the story but not give it top ratings.
  
  I do, however, look forward to the rest of the series as the hunt for the keys and the worlds they will travel in have so much potential I can see myself being able to cope with the angst to gain the benefits of a great tale. Oh, and I have to say, I’m currently reading the 1.5 anthology book of the series and absolutely adore that the authors James Wymore and Aiden James opened their world and story concept up to other authors and let them all have a dabble in it too! Has a great NaNoWriMo feel to it and adds to that feel of not being alone in being someone with an imaginary world on their back… or attached to their thoughts. Hey, if you ever do another author anthology – think of me… I wonder if I can do a tongue in cheek Aussie cowboy romance world? ;-)
  
  Would I recommend this book to others? Yes I would. The issues I have with the overabundance of internalising and angst might not affect others in the same way it has done me. And the concept is too good for them to pass over. If you’re a lover of modern ‘spec fic’ and Urban Fantasy, I would indeed point you towards taking a look at this book and series.
  
  Would I buy this book for myself? I can’t say for sure whether I would or not… as, right now, it’s the sort of thing I’d borrow and enjoy from a library, but I’m really not too sure if I’d go out of my way to own it though. Heck, check back with me when I’ve read more into the series as I’m sure my opinion is going to change.
  
  In summary: A great story idea, a fantastic start to a really interesting Speculative Fiction/ Urban Fantasy series… but a little too much character internalising and not enough ‘let’s go do it’ for me.
  
• 
  Sarah-Jayne Briggs

  (I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review).
  
  (This review may contain spoilers).
  
  I read the Borderlands anthology a while back and I found the world to be a really interesting one. It was good to have the opportunity to see how everything all began with the Actuator going wrong and the whole world getting divided into Zones.
  
  I would have liked some more details about the different teams involved in the Actuator creation. I wasn't entirely sure what their purpose was... if it was a virtual reality thing or something else. I did think it was good that the action started almost straight away. It was difficult to see Red having to make the decision to kill someone else for the safety of his fellow team members and I thought that his feelings of guilt and responsibility came across really well throughout the course of the book.
  
  It was interesting to see how things changed as the characters moved between the different zones, to the point where even their food supplies changed to fit in with the worlds. It was also interesting to see how the characters in charge of the zones apparently changed to fit in with their worlds... but it was harder to see them as anything other than bad guys, due to not seeing anything of them before the world went bad. And Pete was a hard character to like, due to the fact that he was clearly hiding a lot of things... though it was good to see that Hanna's world was more Dracula and less Twilight.
  
  I didn't really like Mack's character, even though I think he had some aspects to his character I could relate to. I also thought it was interesting to see the different totem animals that Red and Dragon Star had.
  
  I really didn't like Luiz's character and less so when he and the other soldiers ended up in the fantasy world. I would have liked to see more of the ordinary characters caught up in the world, but the aspect with the pirates was interesting and it was good to see that the characters were in real danger.
  
  I do have the second book in this series on my Kindle and I'm looking forward to learning more about the world and seeing more of the characters.
• 
  Jaffa Kintigh

  This series opener spoofs the many sub-genres of fantasy and sci-fi with cliche while not letting itself in on the joke. It takes itself too seriously to embrace its comic absurdity, and not seriously enough when it comes to establishing ground rules for its own world. Riding the line between the two options, ultimately doesn't work--however fun the ride may be.
  
  Despite toying with sci-fi and speculative fiction, this novel is purely fantasy with a magic machine capable of reordering the world and everything in it to align with a single person's whims. The god-machine, called the Actuator, is meant to merely test its abilities in a contained fashion at a covert military installation. During a test with 20+ monks, each a specialist in a different fiction genre, a saboteur manages to release the containment fracturing the world into hundreds of micro-verses overlaying the native landscape each territory formulated to reflect a single monk's whims. A fantasy realm with dragons and orcs abuts a 60's sci-fi state with aliens and UFOs which in turn leads to a steampunk western filled with dirigibles and goggled characters etc. As people and objects cross these realm borders, they transfigure to fit the new genre.
  
  Either the tale could embrace the whimsy by calling the scenario magic and carrying on with the story, or it could assert a "holodeck explanation" that ultimately boils down to one of user perception overriding reality. It does neither. Whimsy, ala Piers Anthony's Xanth series, would have been the safer choice as the conversion of matter is fully ignored and steampunk harpoons become energy beams without resultant explosions from the conversion of matter into pure energy. It would also explain the all-too-convenient plotlines with the characters easily running into each other monks as they cross the nation, without managing to run into nearly anyone else.
  
  I've previously read and enjoyed Wymore's short story,
  "Draconic King". The writings of Aiden James are otherwise unknown to me.
• 
  Carl Hackman

  The Actuator; a machine that can transform the world around you into your favorite genre. Fantasy, Science Fiction, Steampunk, Horror; an amazing concept. Machine Monks are the people whose imagination the machine draws upon to create these alternate realities.
  
  Dampers contain the alternate reality within a one mile radius in the desolate desert, keeping the world safe. But someone has other ideas and sabotages the dampers. When the Actuator is activated the whole planet becomes the test area. Billions are affected by the changes wrought as the imagination of the Machine Monks spreads unhindered across the globe.
  
  The only way to return the world to any semblance of reality is for a key to be inserted into the Actuator. These are created by the Machine Monks and are required to return the test area back to its former self. But this time the Actuator requires twenty five keys; one for each genre. There are two major problems. First, the keys could be anywhere across the earth and second, they could be any object that a Machine Monk’s imagination can create. Red, a Key Hunter, and a few surviving Machine Monks must find the keys and return them to the Actuator. A daunting task when every lethal monster imaginable is spread across the planet and rogue Machine Monks want their alternate realities to remain as they are.
  
  A page turner that will keep you reading from the moment you open the book.
• 
  Sarah

  The Actuator, at its heart, is about what would happen if we could literally fashion the whole world after human fantasies. A machine called "The Actuator" is used by specially trained Machine Monks to imbue controlled areas with anything they can imagine, including magic, monsters, and advanced technology, with the ultimate goal of making the world into a kind of utopia. The only problem is everyone has their own interpretation of what would make things "ideal." When the machine is sabotaged in such a way that the whole world is transformed into a patchwork of fantasy genre realms, from horror, to steampunk, to space opera and more, it is up to a small crew of Machine Monks and base workers to find the missing keys they need to shut down the machine and restore world order. Along the way, the characters learn that it isn't the fantasies themselves that are destructive to mankind, but the selfish tendencies of human nature manifest in the way those fantasies are indulged.
  
  This book has a fascinating premise. It's fast-paced, action-packed, and offers a bit of a terrifying glipmse at the implications of human fantasies made literal.
• 
  Shh I am Reading Leticia

  Hidden in a remote desert mountain, in a secret military base- there is a dangerous machine. One that the American public and the world do not know about.
  To the employee’s, aptly named the Machine Monks, the Actuator is the perfect machine to live out their greatest fantasies. Seeing as the purpose of the Actuator is the capability to transform entire communities into alternate realities. The Machine Monks realities that is.
  Using sparsely inhabited areas and dampeners to limit the affected areas and minimize their experiments, the Machine Monks progress to feeding 20 different genres into the Actuator’s data base. Meanwhile, a saboteur has dismantled the dampeners and thrown the entire world into chaos and the surviving Machine Monks must scramble to find this person and set the world right!
  
  If this machine was real, you know the entire world would turn into a giant mix of Middle Earth, The Walking Dead and Hogwarts. If it is real, I’m waiting for my Hogwarts letter! Ha ha!
  
  If you'd like to read more, please visit me at:
  shhiamreading.wordpress.com
• 
  Julie Carter

  What a fun book! I bought this book quite a while ago while I was loading up on books by Aiden James. It got lost in the shuffle on my Kindle, and it was brought to mind by a conversation about the second book in the series. I am sorry that I did not read this sooner, as I absolutely enjoyed it from start to finish!
  
  Just think about all of the worlds that you visit when you read various books. Then imagine a machine that can make those worlds happen by reading your mind. Sounds pretty intriguing, right?! Now read this book! I knew that I loved the works of Aiden James, but was not familiar with James Wymore. Now I will certainly add him to my list of authors to read. As soon as I finish this review, I am starting on Book two!
• 
  Christy

  parts of it were fun. I am mainly annoyed because i didn't know it was the first in a series and it ended with a cliffhanger. And while id like the resolution because the characters were interesting I don't think i can read another. there's too much dead air in there.
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  Dawn

  Grrr... Talk about a cliffhanger! I could not put this book down and I will be tapping my toes with my arms crossed until the next one come out James Wymore!!!!!!
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  Rob

  This was a wow book. Completely unexpected and hooks you right away!