Thursday, April 14, 2011

Book Review: Human .4

Title: Human.4
Author: Mike A. Lancaster

Publication: EgmontUSA
Genre: YA Sci-fi

Summary from Amazon:

Humanity, like computers, can be upgraded. And old versions disappear. . . .

At some unspecified point in the future, when technology is as advanced as possible and we are a race of super beings, some old audio tapes are discovered. On the tapes is the story of fourteen-year-old Kyle Straker.


Hypnotized, Kyle missed the upgrade of humanity to 1.0. He isn’t compatible with our new technology. And through the recording, he narrates what the upgrades really mean. And it’s absolutely terrifying.

My Thoughts

How can one not want to read this book based on the cover? I love the cover. My daughter who is 4 hated the cover. She could not even stand to look in my direction while reading this book. Good thing it only took about a day and a half to read.
 
This was a cool read. The story is the voice of Kyle recorded on old cassette tapes. Yet, the story is in the future. Love it! It had that old noir feel to me, but in a futuristic way. I know, that contradicts and does not make sense, but after you read maybe you will feel the same.
 
For the longest time I was trying to figure out what was happening after the crucial moment that sets the pace for the book. Kyle has not been upgraded and how it all ends and what it means is something that is as cool as the Matrix. How does one come up with these ideas? I want to spoil it so bad right now that you have no idea.
 
If you like technology, future concepts, crazy setting, and a good old fashion storytelling, then read this book. I found it to be quite enjoyable. I hope you do too. Time to go find out if I actually have any cassette tapes hanging around the house. Memories of making mixtapes the old way.....

2 comments:

Ms. Yingling said...

I ended up liking this one, but it took me a while to get into it. The fact that the cover creeps out young children would be a selling point to middle school students!

Ms. Yingling said...

I ended up liking this one, but it took me a while to get into it. The fact that the cover creeps out young children would be a selling point to middle school students!