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  • Viridian Gate Online: Cataclysm

  • The Viridian Gate Archives, Book 1
  • Written by: James Hunter
  • Narrated by: Armen Taylor
  • Length: 8 hrs and 44 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (256 ratings)

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Viridian Gate Online: Cataclysm

Written by: James Hunter
Narrated by: Armen Taylor
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Publisher's Summary

If the destruction of Earth and extinction of humanity were imminent, how far would you go to survive? Would you kill your body to save your mind?

Jack Mitchel is willing to risk everything to survive the apocalypse — including his essential humanity.

An EMT in 2042 San Diego, Jack knows he won't survive the impact of the massive asteroid hurtling towards Earth. After all, he's not one of the handful of lucky lottery winners scheduled for rescue. But he did luck into a NexGenVR capsule, which means Jack can risk a one-way trip to the virtual reality world of Viridan Gate Online, a completely immersive online multiplayer fantasy role-playing game, or RPG.

The transition to Viridian Gate Online (V.G.O.) is irreversible, and will kill Jack's corporeal form. And once players transition fully into the world of V.G.O., the risks aren't over — from cutthroat fellow players to greedy developers eager to replicate the wealth discrepancies of Earth in virtual reality, V.G.O. is just as dangerous as the 'real world' was. If Jack can’t game the system, he’s going to be trading in a quick death for a long, brutal one....

LitRPG books combine tropes and themes from role-playing games with sci-fi and fantasy elements to tell a unique story that's exciting and super-relevant to today's world. Jack's adventures in a cutthroat virtual reality fantasy world will grip fans of Ready Player One and The Stormlight Archive alike. With over 200,000 copies sold, this is one series you don't want to miss!

©2017 James A. Hunter and Shadow Alley Press, Inc. (P)2017 James A. Hunter and Shadow Alley Press, Inc.
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What listeners say about Viridian Gate Online: Cataclysm

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A lot of fun

Great story blends in real world problems that are happening now with futuristic and game elements

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Superb storytelling!

I really like the story and especially setting of it.
I just don’t like that this is only an 8 hours book and it is cut into so small parts… I’m used to 15-16 hours books so it sure feels like a grab at my money. Anyway great content!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Good story

I am very surprised that I like it so much. It is a theme that many authors use. It is
well written and I will buy the next one. The actor read the book with a lot of life in his voice I like it.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

new author and narrator for me

thuroughly enjoyed. the reviews led me to the series, and i will continue it. thank you reviewers!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A 99% good listen.

I truly enjoy GameLit stories and this one is good. No heavy handed repetition of stats and a good narator. My only disappointment was the last chapter.

*SEMI-SPOILER ALERT*
I despise any story where the main character is written as a stupid fool and the reactions of Jack in the final chapter did not seem to follow what was shown of his intelect earlier. Maybe that's just my own bias as the reader/listener but I found it out of character for him.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

alright alright!

This is a solid litrpg. I've listened to almost all the best ones. Not a huge fan of books under 10 or 12 hours, but now that I can listen to a bunch for free in fully in. Gonna start the next one rn. o/

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great fantasy /video game story

Great immersive world. Great for lover of fantasy video games. I really enjoyed it. Great performance by the narrator

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

a decent listen

overall a decent story, though pretty predictable. I found the climax underwhelming, but overall worth a listen

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

slow to get there but entertaining and smooth

Now, it was slow to start. But instead of just giving up on a slow burner like usual I listened and Waited. What I found was a fun dialog and i treating characters. worth a listen

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Quality Story.. Once It Gets Going

I appreciate J.A. Hunter's attempt to craft a believable scenario to explain why the MC would permanently enter the VR reality of his MMORPG ('V.G.O.').. but he almost needn't have bothered. The "impending apocalypse" plotline prompting the protagonist ('Grim Jack') to surrender his consciousness to a virtual world (that powers itself after the world ends somehow) is so full of holes that it's beyond ludicrous.
Once the author gets into the actual gameplay, however, his storytelling skills become evident. Game mechanics, the Magic/Combat/Skill systems, and discussion of player options are unparalleled.. this is a game design that I would play any day. Additionally, challenges within the game (e.g. confronting "cheating" by the über rich fleeing to VGO) are totally plausible, character actions are logical & realistic, there is relatable pathos/genuine emotion, and encounters are well-scripted, well-described, and pulse-generating. The gameplay narrative is frankly outstanding.

Armen Taylor contributes to the overall impression of a quality audiobook. He reads with professional diction/timbre/cadence/tone and above-average voice-acting. The most notable drawbacks are a slow rate of reading (this book is best consumed at 1.15X) and some issues with volume control (Taylor occasionally whispers and occasionally nearly shouts).
In general, Shadow Alley Press Inc. cast the project nicely and does a creditable job with technical support.

Altogether, I give this quality LitRPG effort with a weak background story 9 stars out of 10. It was offered for Free as part of the 'Plus' catalogue, and I'm grateful to Audible for making it available as part of my membership - I wouldn't have downloaded it otherwise - and it's worth a listen.

[*Note: I wasn't planning on reading further, but this book won me over. I will be listening to the next book in 'The Viridian Gate Archives' - the in-game action is spectacular and I'm curious to see where Mr. Hunter can take this..]

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