The Rule of Thoughts

pizzaman97 - Books can tell us things about the world around us. This is the case in the science-fiction novel the Rule of Thought by James Dashner. This book is the sequel to The Eye of Minds and if you have not read that book this book won’t make sense. The Rule of Thought is a great follow-up to the Eye of Minds. This book can make you really think about the decisions that the characters make. The rule of thought is a tremendous book I would rate it a five out of five. The book starts off with Michael discovering that he is human and what Kaine did to him. Michael realizes that he has taken on the life of Jackson Porter. Michael feels very guilty about stealing Jackson's life but he realizes that it wasn't his choice. Later, some of Kaines workers try to bring in Michael but Michael escapes and realizes that he needs to disappear if he wants to protect himself from Kaine. Michael erases Jackson Porters identity and creates a new fake identity. This was a hard decision for Michael because he felt guilty for taking over Jackson Porter's life and then erasing him from existence. Also, Michael realizes that he needs to find Sarah and Bryson so that the three of them can figure out what to do about Kaine. First Michael find Sarah and when he does it doesn't not go as smoothly as expected. Sarah and Michael have never met before in person because before Michael was turned into a human he was a tangent. Additionally, Sarah's parents were a little suspicious of Michael because they thought he may have been working for Kaine. Eventually, Sarah and Michael go into the Virtnet to try and find Bryson. It takes them a little while but eventually they contact Bryson and set up a rendezvous. When the three of them get together they think that they should lay low for awhile but eventually realize that that is not going to get anything done. They know that they need to contact the VNS to help them take down Kaine. The three friends take a bus to Atlanta where the VNS headquarters is located. This was another time in the book where the characters faced a tough decision. The characters had the choice to stay out of the problem or to step up to stop Kaine. From there they go to break into the VNS headquarters and realize that no one is there eventually they are found inside the headquarters by agent Weber. Agent Weber briefs them on the situation and explains to them the VNS plan of attack. Agent Weber explains to them that they need to find Kaine’s central programming and since Kaine is a tangent if they destroy his central programming then it will destroy him as well. Will Michael, Bryson and Sarah be up to the challenge or will Kaine have the upper hand you must read the Rule of Thought by James Dashner to find out. James Dashner has written lots of other great books including the Maze Runner Series. If you like science fiction and advanced technology then you would love the Rule of Thought by James Dashner.

August 15, 2014
A trio of gaming teens battles a corrupt computer program that is hellbent on leading a virtual army into our reality. Upon completing the Path in The Eye of Minds (2013), Michael discovered he's nothing more than a Tangent, a stray bit of computer code that has gained sentience. Now downloaded into the brain of teenager Jackson Porter, Michael must find his friends and get ahead of Kaine, the villainous Tangent that has discovered the ability to invade the real world by corrupting human bodies with Tangent consciousnesses. Dashner has created an excellent sequel, filled with propulsive character development and a self-contained emotional arc woven through plot threads that properly lead to future installments. The escalation in plotting is smartly paced and paired with well-balanced characters that feel real rather than just character types. The author's use of nifty technobabble goes a long way in describing a future that, refreshingly, is not dystopian in any way. Amid a sea of trilogies and series devoid of imagination or smarts, the Mortality Doctrine stands tall by having both in equal measure. This episode does end on a cliffhanger, but the enjoyable ride and arresting scenario make it easy to swallow. An excellent franchise entry that proves planned series can be just as enjoyable as one-offs. (Science fiction. 12-16)

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September 1, 2014

Gr 7 Up-Beginning where The Eye of Minds (Delacorte, 2013) left off, The Rule of Thoughts finds Michael reeling from the knowledge that he is-or was-a Tangent: a nonhuman string of code that lived only in the VirtNet. Thanks to Kaine's experiments, Michael now possesses the body and mind of human Jax Porter, and he is doing his best to process what has happened. He realizes that Kaine is out to get him and that Agent Weber, from VirtNet Security, isn't going to protect him as promised. Michael/Jax reunites with Sarah and Bryson and the "Trifecta to Dissect-ya" heads back into the Sleep, to code and hack their way to find answers. As in The Eye of Minds, Dashner's action-packed short chapters are divided into numbered sections. The gamers leap from one dangerous situation to another in the Wake and in the virtual reality of Lifeblood Deep. Dashner's descriptions are screenplay-ready, with Portals in malls, virtual battles, and a giant purple Ray of Power. This book will satisfy the author's fans, reluctant readers, and gamers in search of an adrenaline rush. Suggest to fans of Debra Driza's "Mila 2.0" trilogy (HarperCollins) and William Campbell Powell's stand-alone Expiration Day (Tor, 2014). This title will please older teens comfortable with a slower narrative pace.-Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX

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