‘Heir Apparent’
By Vivian Vande Velde
Rasmussen Enterprises has developed the ultimate RPGs (role-playing games) — total immersion gaming, or virtual reality.
When Giannine Belisario signs up to play “Heir Apparent,” her brain is hooked up to the gaming console so that she is her character, Janine de St. Jehan, a sheepherder who turns out to be half royal. As the game begins, her brain is filled with the memories of Janine so that Giannine knows what she needs to in order to navigate the game and its characters successfully.
Giannine, through the virtual-reality technology, is also able to feel the things that Janine touches, hear the things that she hears, feel hunger when Janine would be hungry, taste the food that she eats, and smell the things that she smells. (Of course, the smelling factor isn’t quite so desirable when your character smells like sheep dung.)
Giannine’s goal in “Heir Apparent” and the key to winning the game is to be crowned king of her kingdom. She must make allies with characters, figure out who isn’t to be trusted, and avoid getting herself in one of the infinite number of messes that will get her character killed and sent back to the very beginning of the game. Things are going smoothly for Giannine until a freak lightning storm in the game that only she can see throws off her concentration and one of the other characters vying for the throne kills her.
Shortly after the strange lightning storm, Giannine’s character begins to hear a voice and sees a godlike figure descend from above. This person is not, as Giannine figured, God, but is Dr. Rasmussen himself. He has broken into her game to inform her that the gaming console was damaged during a raid by a local group called Citizens to Protect Our Children (CPOC).
The CPOC vandals believe that Rasmussen Enterprises compromises children through fantasy game-play and have damaged the offending game while Giannine was well into “Heir Apparent.” Rasmussen explains that if they unhook her brain from the console too quickly, the chances of her sustaining brain damage or even death are great. The only safe way to unhook her brain from the console is for her to play to the logical end and win the game.
Simple enough … only, it’s not that simple. Giannine has a very limited amount of time to play before her body shuts down with the console. Now, Giannine must quickly navigate through the game with only a few cryptic hints from Dr. Rasmussen and be crowned king before her time — and her life — runs out.
Vivian Vande Velde has written many books for teens and has a knack for keeping the pages turning. She handles the transitions from Giannine to Janine and back well so that readers do not get confused. She also has a real talent for developing memorable and fun characters. Giannine is a savvy girl with a wonderful, sarcastic wit and the story’s secondary characters — including a wizard who munches on centipedes, a prince with more muscle than brains, and a barbarian king well versed in flattery — are sure to tickle readers’ funny bones.
This book is appropriate for all teens and adults.
Cari Boatright is the teen librarian at Joplin Public Library.
Globe Life
Related Photos
Discussion
Book review: Memorable characters populater 'Heir Apparent'
- Globe Life
-
-
Students add vision to collaborative exhibit
In a “secret room” upstairs at Spiva Center for the Arts, an art project began last week that won’t be finished for 18 more days. That’s because it is being created by more than 1,100 artists.
-
Cari Rerat: Pair of graphic novels tell tales of heroism
Witty banter, blood-soaked violence, and old-school sound effects make this one of the most fun graphic novels I’ve read in a long time.
-
Frankie Meyer: Celebrity genealogy hunt makes return to TV
At last, my favorite series is returning for its third season. “Who Do You Think You Are?” is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Fridays.
-
Frankie Meyer: Church minutes can provide details about ancestors
As you compile your family history, you will often learn the name of the church that an ancestor attended. Novice researchers sometimes ignore that type of detail, not realizing that church records can provide details that blast through the brick walls of research.
-
Phyllis Seesengood: Prequel takes Jack Reacher book series back in time
“The Affair,” by Lee Child, is the 16th book in the series of Jack Reacher thrillers and is a prequel to the other books. It takes us back in time to March 1997, where we learn valuable information about Reacher’s background and his reasons for leaving the military.
-
B-easy does it
Chris Watson, a Pittsburg State University graduate and Kansas native, was visiting a local video store when he stumbled across three horror movies he’d either produced, directed, directly written or co-written over the last eight years.
-
Book highlights opposites in animal kingdom
Even in science opposite attract. It’s the opposite ends of a magnet that attract. Don’t try to connect the south poles on two magnets, because it’s not going to work. Opposites attract.
-
Cemetery research can yield details about family
Through cemetery research, family history researchers can learn details such as names of spouses and children, military service, hobbies and religious preference, as well as the date and location of birth, marriages and death.
-
Art class helps kids deal with feelings from tornado
And while this innovative program received national attention -- thanks to the Joplin-based episode of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” on Jan. 13 -- Bourne’s mobile arts center, dedicated to the growth and healing of children through art, had been up and running long before the EF-5 tornado suddenly spiraled out of the clouds.
-
Danya Walker: Non-fiction work examines history’s infamous mistresses
Many times, the cover and title of a book promises a much more risque read than is actually delivered. “Mistresses: A History of the Other Woman” by Elizabeth Abbott is one such book.
- More Globe Life Headlines
-
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Video of Ga. Man Who Killed Girl Released
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
