Into Neon (A Cyberpunk Saga #1) by Matthew A. Goodwin

Into Neon (A Cyberpunk Saga #1) Reviews

• 
  Stephen Furness

  To be honest, I'm not entirely sure if this is supposed to be young adult fiction or not. There's evidence to suggest that it isn't, but the way it's written, it's hard to tell. The story moves quickly and is engaging enough that I'll probably continue on and read the next book in the series, which I frankly wasn't anticipating. I love the "cyberpunk" sci-fi subgenre, but Into Neon is so vapidly written, I don't know what to make of it. It reads like a bad first draft, even though the author does a good job of keeping the story moving forward. But in doing so, he sacrifices MUCH NEEDED character development for eye-rolling histrionics. If anything, Into Neon is a glowing piece of fan fiction, containing all the cyberpunk iconography and action, but is facile as a work of fiction. Good for a quick, forgettable read.
• 
  S.C. Jensen

  INTO NEON is a quick, easy read full of interesting characters and a unique cyberpunk flavoured setting.
  
  If you’re looking for hard, fact-driven sci-fi, this probably isn’t the book for you. But if you want a fun, entertaining story to kill a few hours with, you won’t be disappointed!
  
  I was especially appreciative of the inclusivity of the characters.
  
  The writing isn’t complex. It reads a bit like YA but with some more adult themes, and the character development at the end felt a bit rushed. But for a first book from the author I was very impressed, and the world and plot were interesting enough that I’ll definitely stick with the series.
  
  So if you’re looking for a fun, easy read with sci-fi action and a classic heist style storyline, you’ll love INTO NEON!
• 
  Darth Dragonetti

  "Into Neon: A Cyberpunk Saga" is the first book in an ongoing series by newcomer Matthew A Goodwin. I stumbled on the book rather by accident, thought the cover art was pretty legit, and thought I'd give it a try. Turned out to be a good idea!
  
  The novel follows main character Moss, who is a well-meaning but ignorant stooge for a corporately run planet Earth. Little does Moss know, however, that his small and comfortable world is about to be turned upside down. When a mysterious visitor gives Moss gives an item that could take down the evil corporations that run earth, our protagonist is thrust headlong into a world he never knew existed, a world in which he is completely out of his element. Will Moss be able to untangle a tantalizing familial mystery and find the gumption to stop a seemingly invincible foe?
  
  At first blush, "Into Neon" has all the marks of a clichéd cyberpunk story: evil corporations, gritty locales, weird characters, dystopian noir, and the list goes on. However, from page one, the story grabs you and never lets go. While the book does feature the above attributes, it uses them in a way that is novel and fresh. I found myself refreshed and delighted by the storytelling, and was more than happy to tag along for the wild ride. The story is engaging and original, while also moving at a fast pace. "Into Neon" does an admirable job of creating that strong mood that every cyberpunk story needs, while also balancing it with razor-sharp action and suspense. If you're used to cyberpunk that wallows in ponderous, slow stupor, look elsewhere. This is a moody novel that moves at lightspeed!
  
  The great plot of "Into Neon" is matched by its superlative characterization. I was particularly impressed with author Goodwin's deft handling of Moss's character. Soft corporate hack is turned into strong resistance hero in a way that is compelling and believable, while also being done in a short amount of time. The rest of the cast is delightfully eccentric and bizarre, with great entertainment value, while also highlighting how technology has become so invasive in the human body. Some of the dialogue was so off-the-wall and funny it had me laughing out loud.
  
  The novel is well-written, and effectively uses its rather short length. I appreciate that the story is self-contained, but also leaves room for expansion, should you like to read more of the books in the series--and I will read them for sure! One particular quality of the book that I found effective was its use extremes in the setting. The book begins in a bland, sterile environment (any THX 1138 fans out there?) that moves to the bright, sensory overload reminiscent of Blade Runner, and I was fascinated by this use of extremes. Also evident is the author's strong grasp of where technology and society are heading in the future. While entertaining to boot, the novel acts as a sort of cautionary tale, in the way that the very best books do.
  
  "Into Neon: A Cyberpunk Saga" is quality science fiction that expertly balances a thoroughly cyberpunk plot with the speed of an action thriller. Matthew Goodwin pilots the novel with a sure hand, and I look forward to his future output. Read the book and I think you'll agree that Mr. Goodwin is going places.
• 
  Sherron Wahrheit

  This novel is about an engineer whose career involves using cyberspace to repair glitching machines in the food supply chain, which is controlled by an empire, which only a few realize is actually evil.
  
  How does the protagonist finally realize it’s evil? I dunno. I didn’t see many examples of the evil corporation.
  
  His awakening occurs when he gets a surprise visit from a strange, sexy warrior woman who tells him that it is evil and that she has arrived to tell him that his dead father intends for him to fight the power. ✊And the time is now! He’s confused, but he’s onboard! I was confused how his motivation developed. Did the visitor use Jedi mind tricks to impel him? Or was he programmed as a sleeper cell, way back when he was a child, to activate when told “your father says to join us?” Or was it just an inborn instinct he wouldn’t question, so that at certain stage in life, he’d need to rebel? I only know that this wasn’t a decision based on empirical evidence.
  
  The hero’s call to action should be a pivotal point in the story, gripping the reader with a sense of excitement and danger, a soupçon of relief that a decision has been made, and some eagerness to continue reading. I just didn’t buy the way his call to action was presented.
  
  There are interesting world-building tidbits we can contrast to our own. One that stood out for me was how he got dressed. I didn’t realize that it’s so hard to put on clothing that it needs a “solution.” The wardrobe-related technology that I’d buy is one that rehangs and refolds clothing you’d tried on but flung on the bed in the rush to get ready… To me, THAT would be useful.
  
  How does he get dressed? He holds out his hands and clothing covers his body. I thought that was a strangely magical, utopian idea for a dystopian novel. This idea is presented so earnestly, at least twice, when the protagonist gets dressed. And sadly, it’s unlike in Wallace and Gromit, which involves being shot from bed into your clothes and down a chute to your breakfast like a caffeinated Rube Goldberg machine. No, it’s quite earnest in this serious book.
  
  After he gets dressed, he’s ready for action. If you’re worried I’ll ruin the plot, skip over the rest of this paragraph. So there’s lots and lots of action, and then some more action, some blood and pain, some cybernetics, and the sexy woman warrior swoops in to save the day. Sort of. There are still enough problems for books two and three.
  
  The ideas in this offering feel a bit undeveloped, but the writing and presentation are, well, ok. My biggest suggestions for improvements there are to pare down redundancy, especially in explaining how he’s reacting, feeling, and thinking. Show it instead. And add more physical details regarding the setting that helps illustrate the book’s theme.
  
  Sadly, even though I’ve read the whole thing, I’m left with that unfulfilled feeling like I’ve DNFed yet another book.
• 
  Marc Hilton

  An interesting story that’s worth reading on a lazy day.
• 
  Ruthie

  Into Neon is described as Star Wars meets Blade Runner and while I like that description and do agree, to me, Into Neon was more Blade Runner + Cyberpunk 2077 + The Matrix + a little bit of the Black Mirror episode where they live where they work: Fifteen Million Merits. I enjoyed the storyline, plot points, and characters. At first, I thought it would be more of a solo journey/mission like Blade Runner (1&2). I'm glad it wasn't as I enjoyed all the side characters and their interactions with the MC and dialogue/banter.
  
  The narration was really great and sucked me into this sci fi, cyberpunk, bookworld !
  
  With the way it ended, I need the next one ASAP!
  
  I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Audiobook Empire. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it. It was my choice to listen to this audiobook and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
  
• 
  Chad Burrows

  Great start to what I expect to be an epic saga.
  
  This adventure lays the ground work with great characters. The setting and theme is pure cyber punk. It was an easy read and I was left wanting more.
• 
  Jaimie

  I felt like I was reading an episode of Black Mirror! A page turner until the very end! I don’t tend to finish books, let alone continue reading, if I’m not hooked by the first chapter. This book had me hooked at page 3! The use of vivid vocabulary had a movie playing in my head the entire read. The attention to details in this new world, and the development of certain characters really invests the reader in their lives allowing you to connect with them. This book takes you on a crazy journey leaving you questioning everything Moss does within and outside of the Burbs, especially when it comes to his role within the group and how he handles certain situations.
  
  Also let’s talk about main characters... I know the book revolves around Moss but let’s all just agree that Gibbs is a badass who knows how to steal the show occasionally... until you meet Patchwork and then this book has you falling in love with a new character all over again near the end. All I have to say is I couldn’t read this book quick enough to see what would happen in the next chapter and who they were going to meet or fight off next! So many twists and turns, I’m excited to see what comes next!
• 
  Anna Mocikat

  What a fun ride!
  Into Neon is a popcorn movie in book form. It features a likable hero, interesting side characters, and a plot that makes you turn pages. All of this imbedded into a colorful, neon, cyberpunk world, filled with righteous rebels, evil corporations, biker gangs, and lots of rain - everything you'd expect from the genre!
  We follow the main character, Moss, who lives a boring life as an engineer in the sterile world of a corporation. Until one day, a pink-haired girl stumbles into his apartment and turns his life upside down.
  Moss leaves his home's controlled environment and dives into the cyberpunk world outside, where he finds plenty of adventures and new friends. It turns out that his parents were rebels fighting the corporation, and now it's his turn to continue their cause...
  I recommend this book to sci-fi fans who are seeking a fun time. Into Neon is the first book in a series, and I'm curious how Moss' story will continue!
  
• 
  David

  A new face in cyberpunk literature! A great first book, a little predictable at times, but still very enjoyable. Looking forward to more!
• 
  Michael Peters

  A real gem of a book. Great character and world building throughout. Really looking forward to continuing on this journey with Moss and Co.
• 
  Megan | Bookstacks 'n Golden Moms

  I loved the dystopian feel of the world Matthew Goodwin created. It’s that futuristic world that feels pretty good while you’re on the inside, but where everything’s regulated Then you get to the outside and WOAH! Night and day difference! Suddenly you can see ThutoCo (the corporation) for the evil entity that it is!
  
  I’m new to the Cyberpunk genre but if this is how the series starts, I can’t wait to see how it continues!
  
  Zachary Johnson did a fantastic job narrating this book. I loved the subtle differences in each character and how he gave each of them a life of their own, beyond what was written on the page. This was my first experience with Zachary’s narrating and I’ll definitely be listening to more of his works in the near future!
  
  I won’t say Into Neon is information overload … so many things happen, and I feel like there was just too much for me to get sucked into the audiobook, like I normally do. I read the last 1/4 of Into Neon on Kindle Unlimited and feel like I absorbed more of what was going on in the story, as well as being able to read it quicker. While I loved the narration done by Zachary Johnson, I feel like I would have absorbed more of the entire story had I gone the print route instead of audio.
  
  What an intriguing cast of characters!
  
  The characters in this book are so well-done. First you have Moss, who is just this normal guy, living in a corporation-controlled world. Average, almost boring. Suddenly, he’s tossed into what can only be describe as a dangerous “real world” and to be honest, I thought he’d crack. I didn’t expect Moss to last a day with his new companions. So imagine my shock when he not only survives, but steps up.
  
  Gibbs. Is there a serious bone in his body? Gibbs comes along for the ride, saying Moss needs him to keep him safe. But Gibbs is always cracking jokes and acting tough … to cover up how scared he is. He gets shot at right away and doesn’t play a large part of the story, but I enjoyed his character.
  
  The new companions: Bern (Burn?), Stan & Judy (I think they were a couple 💋), Ynna (read: EEN-uh), Patchwork (he was my favorite … just a kid, though!), Issy (read: Izzy). And I there were more but with the audio, I didn’t keep up quite as much as I should have. Of all the new companions, I think I liked Patchwork the best. He joins toward the end of the book and seriously, he’s just a kid! But he’s some tech whiz and takes Rosetta’s place when she dies (early on, not a spoiler!). He’s full of himself but rightly so.
  
  Long story short, Into Neon has some fantastic characters and I’m intrigued to see how some of the storylines develop as the series continues.
• 
  Vanessa

  Action packed government takedown
  
  This was my first venture into the cyberpunk sci fi genre and I was not disappointed. The author did a great job juggling so many moving parts and piecing them together throughout the book. This was very well thought out. I am looking forward to reading more of this series.
• 
  Cody Pelletier

  Into Neon, A Cyberpunk Saga is a true page-turner. The great descriptive writing and in-depth character development transports you to this futuristic world. A fast paced plot and engaging story. Really well done.
• 
  Nac

  I liked it, really engaging cyberpunk story looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
• 
  David Pospisil

  What a great book.
  Thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the world.
  Hope to read more of this.
• 
  (the.darkandgritty.reader)

  3.5/4 - Cool world and characters.
  
  I guess I’m stuck between 3.5 and 4 star rating because I like the world a lot but the protagonist seems to get lost in the grit of the world and supporting characters. The world building was 💯 - I knew the environment and the technology. Where I lost traction was with Moss. He has considerable growth from beginning to end but I feel like he was overshadowed by Burn and Ynna. Maybe I have a bias because I loved Ynna’s story: Deadly In Pink.
  
  It should be also said that I don’t have much experience with the cyberpunk genre so I could be way off in terms of assessment. I will read the next book in the series.
• 
  Tanweer Dar

  Great world-building, terrific characters (Chicken Thumbs and Patchwork are personal favourites) and brilliant action - this is cyberpunk at its best. The attention to detail, such as the names of corporations and logos is impressive. There are also a couple of well-conceived and executed twists (no spoilers!).
  
  I love how the author has imbued every element of the story with cyberpunk (technology in particular), making for a very immersive read.
  
  The way Moss, the main character, grows and develops and forms bonds with a range of fascinating characters is very well done.
  
  I'm so excited at the prospect of more from this author and the incredible Sci-Fi universe he has created!
• 
  Trevor Dailey

  Cyberpunk Popcorn
  
  Cyberpunk popcorn goodness. This ain't Bladerunner, and that's good. Prototypical cyberpunk settings and tropes, but the characters are fun and the story is well-told. The Kindle version is only 263 pages, which is great. A fast read. The story itself is severely filmable, and would be a great replacement for another notch in an existing franchise. I purchased all four books at once, but this book could stand on its own if necessary.
  
  If you're swallowed up in the Cyberpunk 2077 hype, or a fan of films like Ex Machina, Blade Runner, the Matrix, then this is the book to read.
• 
  Davene Le

  Drawn in by the cover. My attention was held by clever lines, well placed humor, constant action, great descriptions, and some solid world-building. The book raises a good question about whether our significance is tied to playing the part of a hero in our story. A lot of characters are introduced at one point and there was an optimism, which seemed more suited to a YA audience, though the content of the book is definitely adult. I caution readers to only read this book while enjoying a meal, and yes, I am still craving a delicious slice of pizza.
• 
  Cody

  Apparently this is the author's first published novel. It definitely held my interest and kept me reading and wanting to keep reading. I actually just wish it was longer and expanded the story a bit more than it did. It's a very brisk 250ish pages. The author did a great job of describing the world. I could picture the street markets and neon futurecity vividly. The characters all had good characterization as well. The action scenes were also exciting to read. I'm definitely interested in picking up the next book of the series to continue Moss' story.
• 
  saintlouis

  This is good Sci-Fi
  
  If you want action, action and even more action, this is the story for you. This is a Certified thrill ride. Our hero moves from a bee hive to a wild, unexplored place. Best read in a long time.