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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... ? " " Only fifty bucks . " Tom knew better than to say more than that . More than that , and people wanted to see it before taking up the bet . He actually had about two dollars in his pocket . " Fifty bucks ? ” the man said Chapter.
... ? " " Only fifty bucks . " Tom knew better than to say more than that . More than that , and people wanted to see it before taking up the bet . He actually had about two dollars in his pocket . " Fifty bucks ? ” the man said Chapter.
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... better than they ever imagined , but potential ? It's the single quality we can't create . Ramirez brought something unique to the table . And we're hoping you can as well . " That sense of disbelief crept over Tom . This couldn't be ...
... better than they ever imagined , but potential ? It's the single quality we can't create . Ramirez brought something unique to the table . And we're hoping you can as well . " That sense of disbelief crept over Tom . This couldn't be ...
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... better causes to support with my money than stuffing the coffers of Amerika , Inc. ! So Tom studied the consent form and tuned him out . " You know how the military treats its people , Tom ? They chew them up and spit them out , that's ...
... better causes to support with my money than stuffing the coffers of Amerika , Inc. ! So Tom studied the consent form and tuned him out . " You know how the military treats its people , Tom ? They chew them up and spit them out , that's ...
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... better . TOM SETTLED AT a table in the mess hall directly beneath a row of screens in sleep mode and a large oil painting of a man with a plaque that proclaimed him General George S. Patton . He stared up at the gruff face of the ...
... better . TOM SETTLED AT a table in the mess hall directly beneath a row of screens in sleep mode and a large oil painting of a man with a plaque that proclaimed him General George S. Patton . He stared up at the gruff face of the ...
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... better me . ” " Look , " Tom told her , before she could go on with the pitch , “ it's not the computer itself I have a problem with . I'm not even so worried about being a different person . It's just that Marsh didn't mention any of ...
... better me . ” " Look , " Tom told her , before she could go on with the pitch , “ it's not the computer itself I have a problem with . I'm not even so worried about being a different person . It's just that Marsh didn't mention any of ...
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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