Master Version 1.1: A near-future sci-fi techno thriller
by Antanas Marcelionis (Author), Martynas Majeris (Translator)
December 16, 2024
"This highly immersive science fiction thriller keeps readers riveted until the very end. Episodes packed with advanced technology seamlessly drive the plot forward. The locations where the action unfolds are described in such fine-grained detail that I can’t help but feel transported back to the very places I once visited—though not in 2028." — Arūnas Kumpis FPV drone pilot, combatant in the Russia-Ukraine war
Master is a lone soldier, relying on near-future technology and his own creativity to survive in the Gray Zone of the Ukrainian warzone.
The year is 2028. The simmering conflict has transformed into a new kind of battlefield, where military streamers compete for followers and views while carrying out often deadly missions.
Armed with an arsenal of experimental technology—including an advanced computer-brain interface, a multifunctional prosthetic arm, AI, and drones controlled with his mind—Master embarks on a desperate run for his life as he searches for missing fellow streamers.
The book contains 40+ original illustrations and maps. The maps and related action follow actual geographical places down to smallest detail.
website-BlueSky
Master Version 1.1 is my first book. I’ve been writing for most of my life—not books, but code. I’m a software programmer. Together with Martynas Majeris, who translated Master Version 1.1 into English, we run a tiny company—essentially a two-and-a-half-man operation (sans Charlie)—but one that’s extremely successful in its field: amCharts. We estimate that our data visualization libraries are now used by at least half of the Fortune 500 companies and thousands of smaller businesses. Besides this main activity—which, even after nearly two decades, is still fun—I also enjoy long-distance bike travel and participate in competitive sailing events, both fully crewed and double-handed. When it comes to my reading habits, I prefer science fiction. Like most readers, I have my favorite writers, such as Neal Stephenson, and eagerly await their new releases. In between, I enjoy giving new authors a try. Sometimes, they blow me away and become new favorites, like Andy Weir. Unfortunately, there’s also a fair share of disappointment. Every time I felt let down by a new book, I thought, I could do better. On one such occasion, I sat down and wrote my first chapter. Then I wrote another. And a couple more. To make my texts believable, I wrote about things I know well. As a member of the Lithuanian Riflemen Union—an organization of voluntary fighters ready to take up arms and fight Russians if they come this way—and a regular participant in tactical drills and exercises, I’m well-versed in warfare. I know my way around guns and drone combat. You can find me on BlueSky @marcelionis.
