Insignia, Volume 1In this science fiction adventure trilogy debut, a teen’s gift for games could help his country win a global war—and also seal his fate. “You won’t be able to put this book down.” —Veronica Roth, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of the Divergent series More than anything, Tom Raines wants to be important, though his shadowy life is anything but that. For years, Tom’s drifted from casino to casino with his unlucky gambler of a dad, gaming for their survival. Keeping a roof over their heads depends on a careful combination of skill, luck, con artistry, and staying invisible. Then one day, Tom stops being invisible. Someone’s been watching his virtual-reality prowess, and he’s offered the incredible—a place at the Pentagonal Spire, an elite military academy. There, Tom’s instincts for combat will be put to the test and if he passes, he’ll become a member of the Intrasolar Forces, helping to lead his country to victory in World War III. Finally, he’ll be someone important: a superhuman war machine with the tech skills that every virtual-reality warrior dreams of. Life at the Spire holds everything that Tom’s always wanted—friends, the possibility of a girlfriend, and a life where his every action matters—but what will it cost him? Gripping and provocative, S. J. Kincaid’s futuristic thrill ride of a debut crackles with memorable characters, tremendous wit, and a vision of the future that asks startling, timely questions about the melding of humanity and technology. “Hip, high-tech, and hilarious, Insignia made my heart soar and left me with impossible-to-shake questions about technology, reality, and war.” —Rae Carson, author of The Girl of Fire and Thorns |
From inside the book
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... suddenly interested in their exchange . Tom raised his voice to make sure the man could make out every word . “ I guess no one's playing games for money in here . Is that it ? " The gamer followed Tom's gaze to his victim , catching the ...
... suddenly interested in their exchange . Tom raised his voice to make sure the man could make out every word . “ I guess no one's playing games for money in here . Is that it ? " The gamer followed Tom's gaze to his victim , catching the ...
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... suddenly that he and Ms. Falmouth were the only ones left in the virtual classroom . " I was just logging off , " Tom said quickly , and reached up in the real world to snatch off his visor . " Not quite yet , Tom , " Ms. Falmouth said ...
... suddenly that he and Ms. Falmouth were the only ones left in the virtual classroom . " I was just logging off , " Tom said quickly , and reached up in the real world to snatch off his visor . " Not quite yet , Tom , " Ms. Falmouth said ...
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... Suddenly Tom felt kind of fuzzy and clenched up inside like he was getting Ms. Falmouth leaned back in her seat . " You're competing in a global economy . One out of three Americans is unemployed . You need an education to be an ...
... Suddenly Tom felt kind of fuzzy and clenched up inside like he was getting Ms. Falmouth leaned back in her seat . " You're competing in a global economy . One out of three Americans is unemployed . You need an education to be an ...
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... suddenly that she was the incursing gamer . She'd been the one to challenge him to a sim . He wondered if the sense of awe and excitement sweeping through him was what it felt like to be in love . “ You're a gamer , too ! ” " Not ...
... suddenly that she was the incursing gamer . She'd been the one to challenge him to a sim . He wondered if the sense of awe and excitement sweeping through him was what it felt like to be in love . “ You're a gamer , too ! ” " Not ...
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... picked me ? Because I'm good at games ? " " Because you show a killer instinct in them . " Tom thought suddenly of Ms. Falmouth . Her words rang in his brain : What are you good for ? For this , apparently . For saving the country just.
... picked me ? Because I'm good at games ? " " Because you show a killer instinct in them . " Tom thought suddenly of Ms. Falmouth . Her words rang in his brain : What are you good for ? For this , apparently . For saving the country just.
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Common terms and phrases
arms asked avatar Beamer Beringer Club brain stem breath bunk Calisthenics call sign CamCo Camelot Company Capitol Summit census device Challenge Coin Combatants Dalton Doctors of Doom Dominion Agra door Elliot Ramirez Enslow eyes face Falmouth feel felt fight fingers firewall flashed floor gaze Genghis girl glanced going grin hair hand happened he'd heard Heather Indo-American Intrasolar Karl's keyboard knew laughed Lieutenant Blackburn lips looked Marsh Medusa memory mess military Neil neural processor neural wire never Nigel Nigel Harrison nodded Obsidian okay Olivia Pentagonal Spire plebes Prestwick Raines realized Russo-Chinese satellite screen ship shook shoulder simulation smile someone stared stop suddenly sure talk tell thing thought told Tom's brain Tom's head trainees tried trying turned Vengerov Vik's virus vision center voice waiting watched wired gloves Wyatt Yeah Yuri Yuri's