Rating: 5 Stars
I can describe this book in one word, fantastic! Crouch has hit it out of the ballpark again with his latest book, Upgrade. He never fails to surprise with his imaginative and realistic plots. To me, this book is what makes me want to read Science Fiction.
Unbeknownst to the main character, Logan Ramsey, he has received an upgrade. In short, his genome has been re-sequenced. Not only have errors been erased in his genes, they have been improved. His mind is sharper. He finds he can recall things from his childhood like they happened yesterday. His comprehension is now off the charts. What he struggled to understand before now seems so simple. But that is not all, his physical attributes are vastly improved. He is faster, stronger and heals quicker. However, is this necessarily a good thing for the entire population?
In order to avoid any spoilers, I am not going to say anything further. I will tell you that the pacing of this book was more like a thriller and I was on the edge of my seat for most of the time. It is a compelling story, filled with thought provoking ideas and a perfect blend of science and fiction.
The character of Logan was so well thought-out and perfectly executed. Crouch does know how to put you inside the head of a character so that you understand their problems and feel their emotions as if they were your own. It left me wondering what choices I would have made if I had been in Logan’s shoes. I love books in which I connect with the MC and I question myself in the process.
Crouch explored a lot of interesting ideas in this book. I especially liked that he asked the reader, is intelligence better than compassion? Also, can we lose our humanity if we become too smart? Because of these issues, and others, he raises, this is the perfect book for a Sci-Fi book club. There are a lot of interesting avenues to explore within the pages and you could talk for hours about some of them.
However, this is a great book for people who are not necessarily Sci-Fi fans because the science in this is not in your face. This is one of the most thought-provoking books I have read this year. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a fast-paced book that also speaks to your heart.
I received a free copy, via Net Galley, in exchange for my honest review.