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A review by richardleis
(R)evolution by P.J. Manney
4.0
(R)evolution by P.J. Manney is the first book in an expected trilogy. In the novel, Manney pays attention to emerging technologies and speculates about their societal and political outcomes. The most successful portions of the book in my opinion involve transformative technologies as they are implanted and inject and used to create increasingly transhuman characters. Manney does a good job of letting readers witness these transformations and sensations as the characters experience their new technologies for the first time.
The novel seems to have several different influences, including film and film noir, Dan Brown's "Robert Langdon" novels, and recent science fiction novels by other transhumanists, particularly in its attention to scientists and entrepreneurs as heroes and martyrs. Manney provides lots of compelling complexities in her characters, including some fluidity of sexuality, attraction, and power.
I felt the book was usefully restrained; while it is quite long, the length allows the increasingly transhuman characters to retain much of their humanity for much longer. Other novels about similar characters often include abrupt transformations into god-like entities. Manney's novel seemed more realistic in comparison, and it helped build tension to realize that these technologies have their own constraints and limitations.
Looking forward to the next book in the series!
The novel seems to have several different influences, including film and film noir, Dan Brown's "Robert Langdon" novels, and recent science fiction novels by other transhumanists, particularly in its attention to scientists and entrepreneurs as heroes and martyrs. Manney provides lots of compelling complexities in her characters, including some fluidity of sexuality, attraction, and power.
I felt the book was usefully restrained; while it is quite long, the length allows the increasingly transhuman characters to retain much of their humanity for much longer. Other novels about similar characters often include abrupt transformations into god-like entities. Manney's novel seemed more realistic in comparison, and it helped build tension to realize that these technologies have their own constraints and limitations.
Looking forward to the next book in the series!