| Kali Ling is a gamer,
the first female captain in tournament history for the Virtual
Gaming League's elite RAGE competition. But virtual gaming is
harder on the player than anyone knows (or is willing to acknowledge),
and Kali is in danger of losing herself in the game after one
of her teammates dies of an overdose right in the middle of
the competition. Now the team has to break in a new member and
pull together if they ever hope to win, but that might be a
bigger order than Kali and her teammates can fill.
This
fast-paced novel wraps up commentary on celebrity, top-level
athletics and the demands of sponsorship in a story filled
with compelling characterization and action. I loved seeing
Kali's struggle and growth throughout the book. I also liked
the way Jennings manages to avoid some of the over-the-top
extremes that science fiction sometimes indulges in to create
a future that felt real in the story, looking much like we'd
expect from what both changing technology, sponsorship, and
celebrity look right now. I also liked how enjoyable the gaming
felt. As a reader, I could easily see how someone could want
to be caught up in this kind of competition, even with the
pain inherent in playing. Arena is a debut novel
and hints at a long, amazing career for the author.
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