I was planning on commenting on the story itself, but since you brought it up I absolutely love the concept of Beta Test, the idea is very unique and I love it, as well as the computer corrupting the player in order to try and find a way out. I certainly look forward to seeing a part two to the saga!

Heh, thank you, my fellow writer! ;) Honestly, it all began over Christmas as a simple desire to write my mate some nice kobold material, but it quickly blossomed into something a bit more ambitious inspired by the time we've spent writing and talking together. Games already affect us already in so many powerful ways; it's a bit frightening to think of what future technology might do...

http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.ph.....cs&id=2460

>_>

Oh man, I know what you mean. If you've ever played a game in the Shadowrun universe then it gives you a taste of what future technology can be like.

Ever hear of 'Eclipse Phase'? Futuristic, transhumanist-conspiracy-horror RPG? Pretty awesome too :>

Er, forgot to say: yes! Shadowrun is pretty damn awesome; their adventure books had so many awesome stories like Chicago, the Renraku arcology, the Winternight cult...

I would certainly be in favour of reading some more 'traditional' romance, and yes, part two of Beta Test :D

As for things you should see or read? If you haven't already, you could give Perdido Street Station a go, it's about steampunk wizards and features a race of bird people, which might be relevant to your interests :>

I'm also kind of curious what books and authors you'd recommend...? I'm always looking for stuff to read and good recommendations are like gold dust.

I've read a lot of China Mieville and I <3 him! It's a bit darker / more fantastical than my tastes usually run- and he's a BIT of Marxist!- but I loved 'Perdido Street Station' and 'The Scar'.

I've read a few books recently I'd recommend-

'Accelerando' by Charles Stross was a pretty fantastic story about humanity going through technological singularity. I literally read parts a page or two at a time because I had to take the time to digest the writing, so thick and rich it 'twas :>
(It's available here for free if you don't mind reading on a computer- http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blo.....ndo-intro.html )

'Foundation' and the rest of the eponymous series, by Isaac Asimov. Asimov was wa-a-a-y ahead of his time, and his books and short stories hold up very well to the passage of time. I heartily recommend his short story anthologies- I think that's really where his writing shines. He sets up his what-if's so quickly and yet so very well... :>

'Ready Player One'- This might be my favorite book of 2011- it's a gamer's dream book, set in a post-energy / environmental collapse United States, where people spend more and more time trading bleak real lives for enthralling virtual ones. A fun exploration of the promise and peril of the technology :>

I'm about to start 'The Mote in God's Eye' (which has come highly recommended to me but I haven't cracked open yet).

Aside from the huge sci-fi kick I've been on recently, I've also been enjoying Bruce Schneier's new book on societal trust, cooperation and security. Very good non-fiction, and an excellent introduction to studying how societies are structured :>

Times like these I wish I wasn't a cripplingly slow reader xD Not read anything in that list though, so I'll keep them in mind once(/if?) I finish Perdido Street Station.

If you haven't read anything by Michael Marshall Smith, I would sort that out. I can't recommend his work highly enough. Especially 'Only Forward', got to be one of my favourite books right there <3 Fantastic future setting, great action, great humour, cool characters and some amazing twists.

Come to think about it, I've never read any fully non-fiction books, really just stuck with the fantasty, sci-fi and cyberpunk....

Good to hear an update from you, Delta!

I don't have much to say in reply, just good luck! :}===<

Caw, we have something to write still, I know! :>

Beta Test is going to be a series? 0.=.0

There is a second part to be done later; 'Release Day'. I've got about 3k of it done already, but most of that was spillover from the first writings. I'll finish it sometime after this big commission :>

Something I think you should read - http://www.furaffinity.net/view/4334413

Something I'd like to see you're take on - Femdom (I'm guessing it's totally NOT your thing... but damn I'd say if it was you'd be good at it)

Ohhhhh, actually, I've had a thought or two on it before. The idea was a short-ish story involving a gay male and an assertive bi-female spending Halloween together & putting on costumes that turns them both into herm anthrodragons. The idea actually came to me in a dream, which is a bit odd considering my own sexuality is usually pretty far towards the male side of things, aheh! :>

And, thanks for the link :)