Insignia trilogy

Insignia Trilogy

Book Covers of the Insignia Trilogy
Insignia Vortex Catalyst Allies (prequel/novella)
Author	S.J. Kincaid
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre	Young adult, Sci-Fi, Fantasy
Publisher	Katherine Tegen Books (an Imprint of Harper Collins)
Published	2012 - 2014
Media type	Print
No. of books	3 + 1 Novella
Website	http://sjkincaid.com/

The Insignia trilogy is a series of three young-adult science fiction novels by S.J. Kincaid.

The novels describes a dystopian future where the Earth is in the middle of World War III, when teenage gamer Tom Raines is recruited to train with other young cadets as a pivotal member of the elite combat corps, the Intrasolar Forces. At the Pentagonal Spire’s training academy, he makes the best friends of his life fellow government weapons-in-training Wyatt Enslow, Vik Ashwan, and Yuri Sysevich.

Insignia

Insignia is the first book in the trilogy.

Plot summary

The planet's natural resources are almost gone, and war is being fought to control the assets of the solar system. The Indo-American and Russo-Chinese alliances are fighting for supremacy through virtual reality (VR) battles in interstellar space. The enemy is winning. The salvation may be Tom Raines. Tom doesn't seem like a hero. He's a short fourteen-year-old with bad skin. But he has the virtual-reality gaming skills that make him a phenom behind the controls of the battle drones.

As a new recruit of the Intrasolar Forces, Tom's life completely changes. Suddenly, he's someone important. He has new opportunities, friends, and a shot at having a girlfriend. But there's a price to pay...

Under intense investigation, Tom's only chance at pardon is winning some reputation at the Capitol Summit. Tom correctly assumes that Medusa will be fighting on the Russo-Chinese side and prepares a virus to knock Medusa out of commission. At the Capitol Summit, Nigel cripples Tom with a virus and explains his plan to use a battle ship to destroy the Spire so as to emerge the hero and the new face of CamCo. Tom overpowers Nigel with the virus he had prepared for Medusa and regains control of the battle ship. In a subsequent battle with Medusa to gain control of an orbiting satellite, Medusa continues to overpower him; but Tom finds himself able to interface with the satellite and his surroundings. He discovers that Medusa shares his capabilities, but Tom emerges as the final victor.

Tom's victory guarantees him asylum from Blackburn's investigations and Nigel is revealed as responsible for the leak. Later, Tom learns that General Marsh sought him out especially as key to winning the war. However, Tom continues to regret that he exposed Medusa against her wishes. She vows to him that the next time they meet in a real battle, she will win.

Allies (novella)

Allies is a prequel to the Insignia Trilogy

In this 47-page prequel novella to the series, budding genius Wyatt Enslow, intensely loyal; and hyperintelligent if occasionally; hilariously, socially awkward, takes center stage as S. J. Kincaid reveals Wyatt’s life before she found her place, and her own inner strength, among her devoted band of friends at the Spire.

Reception

Insignia made the short-list for the 2014 Waterstones Children's Book Prize^[1] and won the 2015 Young Adult Alabama Author Award from the Alabama Library Association.^[2]

The book was nominated for numerous awards, including the 2014-2015 Soaring Eagle Book Award by the Wyoming Library Association,^[3] the 2015 Sequoyah Book Award by the Oklahoma Library Association,^[4] the Truman Reader Award by the Missouri Association of School Librarians,^[5] the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award by the Connecticut Association of School Librarians,^[6] the 2015 Rhode Island Teen Book Award by the Rhode Island Library Association.^[7]

The book was a Junior Library Guild selection,^[8] a selection for the 2013 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults List,^[9] a selection for the Summer 2012 Indie Next List,^[10] and a selection for the Texas Lone Star Reading List^[11]

References

External links

• Author's website