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Monday, April 17, 2017

Softlife by James R. Hardin - Book Tour - Review - Giveaway - Enter Daily!


Hi lovelies! It gives me great pleasure today to host James R. Hardin and his new book, “Softlife”!  For other stops on his Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!  Also, come back daily to interact with James and to increase your chances of winning!

Thanks for stopping by!  Wishing you lots of luck in this fabulous giveaway!


Softlife
by James R. Hardin

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GENRE: Science Fiction

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BLURB:

Everyone thought the terrorist had completely destroyed the space station where the first faster-than-light spaceship was built. Actually, the survivors were implemented as softlife in the computers, and years later they and their virtual descendants live in a thriving but isolated community. Jason1, one of the few who used to be flesh and blood, doubts that this incorporeal existence really qualifies as life. But Iooi, a young native softlife, considers her kind an evolutionary step beyond biology, and three-dimensional space an annoying abstraction.

A spaceship arrives, and the two of them stow away in its computer, intending to establish ties with the rest of humanity. But the ship’s crew is evasive about why they came and what their plans are. And the experimental spacecraft, lost since the attack on the space station, has returned, carrying an unexpected threat the softlife may be uniquely qualified to fight. Working with other softlife, an old friend, and the intimidating Space Force general Heather Lacey, Jason1 must take on terrorists, truly malicious software, and his own self-doubts.

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EXCERPT ONE:

“History will be made today,” Jason Sangretti said, “and you two are going to miss it, glued to that computer.” He floated in the air positioned as if he were sitting in an invisible easy chair facing the large monitor on the wall, even drumming his fingers on the nonexistent chair's arm. He didn't really mean to be showing off his expertise in zero gravity—OK, maybe he did. As young as he was, his Space Force training still put his capability far ahead of even the experienced spacecraft construction workers here on the Starbase.

Amos gave Jason a brief look, but William's eyes never left his monitor as he said, “This is not unique. Since history is the accumulated sequence of past events, history is made every day.” He drifted in a contorted position beside his computer, clinging to it with one hand and awkwardly correcting for the reaction as he typed on it with the other. Jason had never seen William in normal gravity, but he was sure William would be awkward there as well.

“You know what I mean. Isn't it great to be alive on a day like this?”

“I have no experience being in a state other than alive, so I have no basis for comparison.”

With two precise flips of his arms, Jason rotated his imaginary chair to face William. “Now you're just being annoying on purpose.”

William finally looked up and grinned momentarily, then just said, “Yes, I am,” and returned to his typing.


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REVIEW:


Wow!  There is a lot going on in this book!  The author has fascinating ideas and this book concept was very intriguing!

The author did an impressive job on world-building as his attention to detail was immaculate.

Jason1, the main character, who was once flesh and blood, is somewhat of a hero in this book.  Jason1 became softlife when his space station was attacked by terrorists.  As Jason1 and the spaceship crew knew time was running out and they had no other way out they decided to take a risk and download themselves into a computer system.  Jason1 and the other survivors created a unique community as softlife while they waited for the next step.  Now, trying to establish a connection with the rest of humanity, Jason1 must team up with Space Force General Heather Lacey to battle the terrorists once again.

There is an interesting dynamic between the softlife that used to be flesh and blood and those born in captivity.  Oh yes – regardless that they’re now computer programs they can still have sex and create offspring!

I found this book to be interesting for the most part.  However, there were times I was bored and got lost or confused.  I definitely had to put this book down multiple times and it took me over a week to finish it.  I kept coming back because I wanted to know how it ended, but it wasn’t a book I was glued to.

Even though I enjoyed reading this book, but didn’t love it, I would still recommend it to sci-fi readers as this book truly was an interesting read.

**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest, and unbiased review in accordance with FTC regulations.**

Did you find this review helpful?
If so, please, please, please mark it as helpful on Amazon here:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/review/R3MGEDX1WAAMH6

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AUTHOR BIO:


James R. Hardin received his first rejection from a major publisher when he was 11 years old and has been writing fiction intermittently ever since. Softlife is his first novel, though certainly not his last. James supports himself and his family as an engineer in the R&D department of a major turbomachinery manufacturer, where he engages in aerodynamic design, computational fluid dynamics analyses, and battle with temperamental computers. When not writing or engineering, he often plays or composes music, usually on a piano or synthesizer. James lives in western Pennsylvania with his wife, a varying number of sons depending on who's home, and a lazy dog. You can find out more about James and his writing, as well as download a few of his musical compositions, at his website www.jamesrhardin.com.

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CONNECT WITH JAMES:

Website:

Facebook:

Goodreads Author Page:

Goodreads Book Page:

Amazon Author Page:

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon Kindle:

Amazon Paperback:

Barnes and Noble:

Kobo:

Book Depository:

Smashwords:

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

James will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.


**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase made I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those awesome giveaways on here.**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.

14 comments:

  1. Congrats on the tour and thanks for the chance to win

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  2. A bright and sunny good morning to you! Thanks for the giveaway and all you do.

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    1. It was gray and kind of soggy here at first, but now it's bright and sunny here too. Maybe it's your good influence.

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  3. Thank you for the giveaway. The excerpt was interesting!

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    1. You're welcome, and thanks. Have a look at my 8:00 post for where to find much bigger excerpts.

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  4. Thank you, Ally, for hosting this tour stop. And thanks to everybody who stops by today. I'll be in and out checking on comments. Oh, and let me sneak in the marketing stuff now: ebook versions of Softlife are on sale for $0.99 during April, and you can get big (up to 5 chapters) free samples at my web site www.jamesrhardin.com, Goodreads, and most places Softlife is for sale (Amazon, B&N, others).

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  5. Sorry for my late virtual arrival. Maybe something is glitchy with my machine (nothing new there); this is the first time I've been able to see everyone's comments. Also, Goddess Fish tells me Ally hopes to get a review up once she gets past some of her own technical difficulties. So check in again later! And Ally, hang in there--aren't computers annoying? (This from an author whose book is about people in computers.)

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  6. In my time zone, considering when I need to get up, it's time for me to turn in. So good night, all, and thanks for coming by.

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  7. Sounds really exciting. loved the excerpt.

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  8. Glad you liked it. Please go have a look at the bigger excerpt mentioned above. And thanks for visiting.

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  9. I really enjoyed reading the entire post today. This is a new author for me so thank you for the reveal!

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  10. I loved todays post and I want to read your book.

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