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Adam Eccles
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System Restored Kindle Edition

by Adam Eccles (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 out of 5 stars 925 ratings

In a cellar in Watford, undisturbed for four decades, sits the most important breakthrough that the world has ever seen. Except, the world has never seen it.

Derek Cooper is a retro gamer. His small flat is full to the brim with consoles, game cartridges, hulking great tube TVs, retro merchandise, and every handheld gaming device you can think of, and then some. They make him happy, so why not?

When he decides his collection could do with an addition in the form of a real-life, full-size, good old-fashioned arcade cabinet, he can't possibly know what adventures lie ahead of him after he drags the heavy monolith out of a cellar in Watford to his flat, and then painstakingly rebuilds the dud electronics, bringing it back to life.

Meanwhile, Derek is sceptical at first when he's set up on a date with a beautiful woman, but things seem to be going well. Only problem: he's desperately in love with the wrong woman.

Will Derek find peace in the world of games, blasting aliens to oblivion? Can an arcade machine from 1981 totally change his love life?


System Restored is a wonderfully exciting rom-com romp through the nostalgic history of video games. A celebration and tribute to gamers everywhere.

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  1. Print length
    378 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    February 24, 2022
  5. File size
    1.5 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09TG52RMJ
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 24, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.5 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 378 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 925 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Adam Eccles

Adam Eccles

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Adam Eccles is a cynical tech-nerd hermit, living in the west of Ireland for the last twenty five years.

With a long career in technology, and being an avid time-travel fan as well as having a life long love of comedy, you can find elements of all these things in his novels.

If you'd like to read more, and let's face it, why wouldn't you?

You can check out his website: https://www.adamecclesbooks.com

Sign up for infrequent zero-spam news: https://www.adamecclesbooks.com/subscribe

Or check Social Media -

Most prolific on Twitter, you can find him here tweeting inanity with suspicious frequency: https://twitter.com/adamecclesbooks

And occasionally Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdamEcclesWrites

Most of all, he hopes you enjoy his stories.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
925 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy this book, praising its superb writing and well-defined characters. Moreover, the story receives positive feedback, with one customer noting its unexpected plot twists. Additionally, customers appreciate the book's era references, with one mentioning its nods to 80s culture, and another noting how it kept them guessing throughout.

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EnjoymentStory qualityCharacter developmentEraInterestWriting quality
8 customers mention "Enjoyment"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable, with one mentioning it's fun to follow the travel narrative, while another notes it's worth the time investment.

"Interesting concepts and well defined characters. Tome travke is always fun. Would have been 5 stars except for the swearing." Read more

"I really enjoyed the book. Has a nostalgic feel for anyone like me who grew up playing those arcade games as a kid. Worth the time" Read more

"...Eccles succeeds where Cline failed! Thoroughly enjoyable read!" Read more

"I enjoyed this book very much. Rather slow at first so the plot was unexpected! Keep going! I'll keep an eye out for your books." Read more

6 customers mention "Story quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story of this book, finding it fun to read, with one customer noting its unexpected plot and another mentioning its time travel elements.

"I’m not even a gamer and I found this to be an interesting and well told story...." Read more

"...This is a fun book with lots of 80s references. I enjoyed the story and the characters, it is a fast read that I really enjoyed." Read more

"I enjoyed the story immensely, and the writing was superb. This is my first Eccles novel, and it won’t be the last...." Read more

"Gaming and time travel in one story! This was a page turner and enjoyable. I am interested to see if there is a sequel. Great story!" Read more

4 customers mention "Character development"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the well-defined characters in the book.

"...His character development is outstanding." Read more

"Interesting concepts and well defined characters. Tome travke is always fun. Would have been 5 stars except for the swearing." Read more

"...This is a fun book with lots of 80s references. I enjoyed the story and the characters, it is a fast read that I really enjoyed." Read more

"...I liked all the characters and the protagonist was believable in his views. I’m looking forward to reading more from Adam Eccles." Read more

3 customers mention "Era"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's era references, with one mentioning its 80s culture nods and another noting its nostalgic feel.

"...The writing is good with occasionally memorable quotes and lots of subtle and unsubtle nods to 80’s culture." Read more

"...This is a fun book with lots of 80s references. I enjoyed the story and the characters, it is a fast read that I really enjoyed." Read more

"I really enjoyed the book. Has a nostalgic feel for anyone like me who grew up playing those arcade games as a kid. Worth the time" Read more

3 customers mention "Interest"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting, with one mentioning it kept them guessing.

"I’m not even a gamer and I found this to be an interesting and well told story...." Read more

"Interesting concepts and well defined characters. Tome travke is always fun. Would have been 5 stars except for the swearing." Read more

"...Definitely kept me guessing, good job Adam." Read more

3 customers mention "Writing quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book.

"...The writing is good with occasionally memorable quotes and lots of subtle and unsubtle nods to 80’s culture." Read more

"I enjoyed the story immensely, and the writing was superb. This is my first Eccles novel, and it won’t be the last...." Read more

"Well written fun story with some great twists..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this book!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    His best work yet. This is the fourth book of the author’s I’ve read and I finished this one in one sitting. His character development is outstanding.
    Helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars a very good tale
    Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I’m not even a gamer and I found this to be an interesting and well told story. The writing is good with occasionally memorable quotes and lots of subtle and unsubtle nods to 80’s culture.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Terri J Pauline
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good for nerds
    Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Interesting concepts and well defined characters. Tome travke is always fun. Would have been 5 stars except for the swearing.
    Helpful
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  • Patrick Mulcahy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good read….
    Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    In a time when there is a somewhat similar theme in certain time travel novels, this story came along. I enjoyed the twists and turns and read through the book in short order. Definitely kept me guessing, good job Adam.
    Helpful
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  • Scott B Campbell
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fun retro gaming read
    Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    System Restored popped up as a recommendation for me on my Kindle and I am glad it did. This is a fun book with lots of 80s references. I enjoyed the story and the characters, it is a fast read that I really enjoyed.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Dave
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful and fun story
    Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I enjoyed the story immensely, and the writing was superb. This is my first Eccles novel, and it won’t be the last. I’m off read another of his imaginative tales.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Emily Altman
    4.0 out of 5 stars good storyline. enjoyable
    Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I really enjoyed the book. Has a nostalgic feel for anyone like me who grew up playing those arcade games as a kid. Worth the time
    Helpful
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  • Daniel B Forster
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well written fun story with some great twists
    Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    If you’re a fan of time travel books I believe you should read this one. I liked all the characters and the protagonist was believable in his views. I’m looking forward to reading more from Adam Eccles.
    Helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Amogh Thakur
    5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderfully endearing book for gamers and non gamers alike
    Reviewed in India on September 17, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    One of the best books with gaming, or retro gaming as a theme. Slightly slow to pick up, but once it does there is no stopping.

    All the characters are very endearing, and you actually feel their emotions.

    Hats off to Adam Eccles for writing such a wonderful book, and will forward to reading more of his.
    Report
  • Sarah mc
    5.0 out of 5 stars Pretty decent time travel story!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 18, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I think I just read what I would describe as my dream...no spoilers but I would love a chance to go back in time, and this book is nearly the next best thing. It's a nice little escape from reality and a trip down memory lane to a simpler and happier time, although that might be my rose tinted glasses speaking. If you pine for the 80s and 90s, this is a great book for you. It's a lovely reminiscence of things you may have forgotten that come back with a little jolt of recollection. If you're a gamer and I am not, then you will love this book even more..step away from your game and have a little moment to remember the games that got started the whole gaming world. If you're not a gamer, then just enjoy the ride this book takes you on. Thanks Adam!
    Report
  • Loki
    5.0 out of 5 stars Utterly brilliant
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 3, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I'm going to get the cliché out of the way up front: I genuinely did stay up all night reading this book, I couldn't put it down. If you read no further then please buy it; your life will be better for having read it.

    It's superbly written and very much appeals to my interests (1980s, computers, gaming etc.). The main character (Derek) seems to be based on any number of my friends so was instantly likeable without being saccharine. The level of detail surrounding the 80's computers and games shows that the author has either done a tonne or research or has a genuine passion for the subject; not that this was the sole focus of the book. It manages to be an excellent balance of nerdy facts and story telling, without the nerdy facts getting in the way. The characters are realistic and sympathetic and no part of the story is too predictable. There is a rather lovely twist that I didn't see coming, but made me exceptionally happy.

    Do yourself a favour. Save the game, put down the SNES controller, leave Link alone for a bit and read this book.
    Report
  • SWSt
    4.0 out of 5 stars Retro Goodness
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 9, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    As a long-standing retro gamer, I guess I was firmly in the target market for this one, and I loved it. Yet even if you rarely play games, or haven't played them for a long time, you'll still find plenty to like

    Well-written with an interesting plot and full of likeable characters, it's a fun and easy read.

    Flaws? The main characters occasionally take a little too long to work out some fairly obvious puzzles and there were s few times where I
    felt it lost a little bit of focus or direction - nowhere near enough to spoil the fun, though.

    Yes, it shares a chunk of its DNA with the similarly themed Ready, Player One, but it has enough of its own spin on the subject to mean that the two titles complement, rather than compete with each other.
    Report
  • Gattaca
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enter the Time Portal and enjoy the ride…..Eccles at his best!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 13, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I’m becoming something of an Adam Eccles fan. I like to mix around my reading and it’s very rare that I’ll follow one book with another by the same author, but I find myself working through his catalogue!

    System Restored follows a not unfamiliar broad plot of bored and unfulfilled, underachieving central character being taken through some cathartic changes in his life, with a liberal helping of ‘techy’ stuff, gaming and, of course, time travel! The author either does a huge amount of deep research or is a genuine gaming nerd, but either way his attention to detail gives the plot real depth. I read a LOT of books, relaxing late at night and, believe me, this author’s writing style and easy literacy stands head and shoulders about the great majority of this genre. No unnecessary padding but never too thin, it makes for a very satisfying read and equally satisfying conclusion. As usual the author does wrap things up a little too quickly and neatly perhaps, but I’m not going to niggle about that - much better than these awful ‘epilogues’ we often see. System Restored - go on, just enjoy it!
    Report

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