science fiction – Page 3

The Nobody People by Bob Proehl is an X-Men like story about people who have special abilities that have been in hiding for decades or more. The story highlights how people are scared of anyone or anything that is different and they do not understand; and how this leads to prejudices then quickly turns to persecution.

The first portion of the story is told from the POV of Avi, a reporter, who is asked by a friend to look into a strange occurrence. What he stumbles onto is a new race of humans, they call themselves Resonants, who have special abilities. These abilities manifest around early adolescence. At about the same time, he learns his daughter has a special ability.

Avi is introduced to the group of people who run a school in New York City for Resonants and he is the one tasked with telling their story and introducing them to the world. Of course, this “coming out” does not go entirely as planned. Imagine that!

The story switches gears here and the author, for the most part, leaves Avi behind and tells the story through the eyes of the Resonants as Homeland Security starts rounding them up and putting them in camps. The Resonants must decide if they will continue to hide, submit, or fight.

This is an imaginative take on super heroes. I loved how the author betrayed what would happen when the Resonants came out, so to speak. It was spot on. Control anything you can’t understand and because they are different you can disregard the fact they are human. I also liked where the story went. If something like this were to happen, I can easily see the events occurring.

I liked the characters a lot. However, there was so much going on I did not get as much character development as I would have liked, with the exception of Avi. The pace of the plot was excellent and there were enough twists to keep me reading well past my bedtime.

One last comment I wish to make. I struggled with the rating because while it is not a five for me, it is better than a 4. I will make it as 4 but in reality I feel it is closer to 4.5.

This is a fresh look at super heroes and I enjoyed reading it. There is a lot left hanging so I am lookly forward to the next installment. I just hope I don’t have to wait too long. I recommend this book to anyone that likes science fiction stories. Especially those readers who are into super heroes. I received a free copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Author Blake Crouch has delivered another mind-bending sci-fi thriller, Recursion, that had me on the edge of my seat from the beginning. Wow, was all I could think to say when I first finished reading. I enjoyed Dark Matter a lot and was expecting a lot from this new book and Crouch has totally delivered. I am predicting this book will be in my top 5 at the end of the year. I just don’t see it going any other way.

Barry Sutton is a NYC detective and he has just arrived on scene at a NY building where a woman is threatening suicide by jumping from the forty-first floor. As he attempts to talk her out of jumping, he discovers that she is suffering from FMS or False Memory Syndrome. She recounts in detail a life where she was married and has a nine-year-old son. Then suddenly, about a month ago, she claims she just woke to find herself single and an investment banker with a new set of memories.

The CDC does not know what causes FMS or if it is contagious. So far, there are just a few cases; but, in a majority of the cases the person afflicted is usually driven mad by the false memories. As Blake contemplates the suicide, he is not able to prevent, his detective instincts push him to investigate. He follows the only lead he has. The husband, Joe Behrman, the suicide victim says she was married to in another life that now lives in Montuak.

Barry’s meeting with Joe just leaves more questions unanswered. Joe insists he does not know the victim, but all Berry’s instincts says he is lying. Something is not right and then Barry suddenly has a complete separate set of memories. No one every jumped from the forty-first floor of the NY building three days ago, and there is someone watching him.

The answers to understanding everything lies in the past with Helena Smith, who years prior has invented a “chair” that she hopes will help Alzheimer patients like her mother recover some memories. This “chair” is so much more than just a device to capture memories. It has the ability to alter time with devastating consequences as we soon find out. Only Barry and Helena working together can hope to stop the very fabric of space and time unraveling.

There are so many things I loved about the book. For me, the best part was the characters. Crouch did such a good job with the character development. Usually in thrillers I feel like the action was the main character. Not here, I totally got Barry and Helena and by the end I felt I had known them for years.

The way Crouch described the science made the story seem plausible. This element of realism elevated the plot, resulting in more tension. It was just so well done and not many authors can pull this off so seamlessly. Many kudos!

I highly recommend this book to lovers of thrillers and sci-fi. It is a ride you will never forget!

I received a free copy from the publisher, via Net Galley, in exchange for my honest review.