The Softwire: Virus on Orbis 1

by P.J. Haarsma

Book Overview

A human boy with an uncanny link to computers finds danger and discovery on the rings of Orbis in this riveting sci-fi adventure. Thirteen-year-old Johnny Turnbull has always known there was something... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0763627097
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: Candlewick
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.8" x 1.0" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

Courtesy of Teens Read Too

I'm the first to admit that science fiction has never been my favorite genre, but I wanted to give VIRUS ON ORBIS 1 a try. I have to say that I'm very glad I did. Besides having an interesting and entertaining story, the true beauty of the book, at least for me, is the fact that I never felt so overwhelmed with the new world the author created that I wanted to give up. There weren't a thousand crazy names I had to figure out how to pronounce, or a million-and-one gizmos and gadgets that made no sense. With this book, Mr. Haarsma has created a world that even young teens will relate to, and that adult fans of science fiction are sure to enjoy, as well. Johnny Turnbull, thirteen, is a resident of the seed ship Renaissance, along with his eight-year-old sister, Ketheria, and about two hundred other children. Children, and no adults, since all of them died and left the children as orphans. In Johnny and Ketheria's case, their parents had signed a contract to work on the Rings of Orbis (four rings surrounding a wormhole) for four years. Unfortunately, since the children have been on a ship with only a computer called Mother supervising them, no one knows what will happen once they finally arrive at the Rings of Orbis. They do know, though, that they'll be at the mercy of its citizens. There's a problem, though, as there usually is. Johnny has recently discovered that he's a human Softwire - the very first human able to directly communicate with any computer using just his mind. He's been trying to warn the citizens of Orbis that a virus is attacking their central computer, but few are willing to listen. Actually, few are willing to even take the fact of his being a Softwire seriously at all. But it is that fact that could possibly be the only thing that will spare Orbis -and its inhabitants, including the orphans - from destruction. VIRUS ON ORBIS 1 is the first book in THE SOFTWIRE series, and it will be interesting to see where the author takes Johnny next. The majority of this story features him battling both the Trading Council and Orbis's rulers, the Keepers. After reading this great first installment, you'll definitely be ready for the next book in the series. I know I am, and I'm not even a science fiction fan! Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

Exciting Series Debut

The adults on the seed ship Renaissance have all perished. In their place, two hundred orphans arrive at the Rings of Orbis to meet their destiny. Among their number is Johnny Turnbull, a boy who can connect with computers using his mind--not that more than a few other children believe him. The children didn't know what to expect at the end of their journey, but they never imagined enforced labor. Worse, Johnny's talents as a "Softwire" are exposed, and a series of catastrophic events make the Citizens of Orbis afraid of him. The central computer that keeps the Rings in a precarious orbit over a wormhole has been infected with a virus, but nobody believes Johnny. Rather than accept that the central computer is compromised, the public blames the Softwire. If he doesn't figure out what is causing the malfunctions, panicked Citizens will demand his head--if they survive. Young adult sci-fi fans will find a lot to love in this series debut. Haarsma has created an amazing new world built on high tech and sweat. His brilliance shines through in his creation of setting, where he maintains the critical balance between showing his world and avoiding "info dump."* The characters are engaging and fun, with each one possessing a unique set of personality traits that sets them apart from everyone else. With a great setting and super characters, Haarsma builds a plot that will keep the pages turning. This promises to be an outstanding series. I highly recommend it to all sci-fi fans over the age of twelve. (* "Info dump" occurs when authors describe their world with more detail than necessary, therefore drawing readers out of the story.) Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer 02/16/2007

This Book Rocks!!!

I've never really been a fan of science fiction books. They all seemed to have the same infallible heroes, saving the day at the last moment, telling us how life should be...snooze. But I read The Softwire at the suggestion of a friend, and I found an author who, through the creation of another world, held a magnifying glass up to our own. My hat's off to Mr. Haarsma.

A Wild, Intergalactic Ride!

PJ Haarsma has written an exciting and thoroughly convincing rollercoaster of a story that successfully navigates the classic pitfalls of first time novels and of science fiction in general, creating a story that moves quickly, characters that are as intriguing as they are unusual, and a world that I can't wait to explore in future books. The challenge I find in most science fiction is whether the author has struck a balance between too much information and not enough. "Too much information" means the writer is spending pages describing the intricacies of unimportant details in the mistaken belief that an encyclopedic discussion of, say, the ancient sewer system in one of the more remote reaches of the galaxy will create a believeable "world". Ultimately, this just bogs down the momentum of the plot and the book winds up on the slag heap. "Too little information", however, is when so little is explained that the world doesn't seem real, in which there are no restrictions or rules, with the result that when anything can happen, nothing has any value: the reader finds it hard to invest emotionally in the characters, and the author finds it hard to create any meaningful tension for the plot. But somehow Haarsma has found the balance - giving just enough information to make the world believable, but never letting the pace of the plot slow down - especially in the last 50 pages which are full of surprises, twists and turns and which, like everything else in "Virus on Orbis 1" make you anxiously anticipate the next installment in the series! Kudos, Mr. Haarsma!

wondercon discovery

i met author pj haarsma at Wondercon in Anaheim this weekend. I just had a one day pass and was trying to take it all in when i came to mr. haarsma's booth and saw this amazing 6 foot artwork depicting some sort of beautiful and hideous aliens from a distant world...so i had to stop. he started telling me about his book Softwire --The Rings of Orbis and i was immediately into it. A spacecraft full of orphaned children coming to a distant world where they will have to work as slaves for these grotesque bullying aliens really grabbed my attention. i started reading on saturday night and finished sunday morning and it was just packed with everything i love about science fiction. the writing was fast and furious, the aliends were horrific and real, the kids were fun and the hero was kid who could interface with computers -- the softwire of the title -- and he possessed the power to flip out the aliens and destroy their world. but i won't tell you anymore..just read the book...