3 out of 4 stars
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Superhighway by Alex Fayman is a science fiction thriller in which the main character, Alex Fine, has the ability to transport himself through the internet to any destination in the world, a phenomenon called electroportation. In the process, he can also download vast arrays of data to his brain for perusal at his convenience. Along with this fantastic ability comes power to alter data. How will 18-year old Alex use his giftings?
The author introduces Alex Fine as a young boy in an orphanage with intelligence far beyond his years. Having been abandoned at birth and repeatedly rejected by foster families, Alex found comfort and escape at first through books and later through the internet. One night while surfing the internet, the computer screen went blank and Alex attempted to restore it by unplugging the network cable. This is how Alex discovered his unusual ability to travel through the network cables. And thus began the thrilling ride of Alex Fine on the superhighway. His humble beginnings in an orphanage gave him a heart for the poor and underprivileged. Thus, he sought to use his powers to be like a digital Robin Hood, stealing from rich criminals to benefit the poor. Little did he know the dangers this would introduce. His various destinations--LA, Hawaii, Amsterdam, the Caribbean—are the backdrop for a complex plot involving espionage, organized crime, deceit, and government conspiracy.
There is something for everybody in Superhighway. Discover the mystery of Alex’s family history, enjoy the romance of his first love, and be swept away by the excitement of spy/crime thrillers. This would make a great subject for book clubs as there are so many themes to consider: the messiness of secrets, the consequences of actions, the dangers of the internet, and the source of happiness, to name a few.
One of the aspects I enjoyed most about this story was how the author began with the ending, thus creating intrigue and the desire to learn more before disclosing the more mundane back story of Alex’s beginnings. His technique grabbed my attention and drew me in to the story. In addition, I appreciated that Alex Fine was a believable character. As a teenage boy, he was distracted by beautiful women, tempted by drugs and alcohol, and made poor choices all while clinging to an idealistic hope to make the world a better place. I found it entertaining to see how he often landed at his destination in awkward, embarrassing moments. It was reminiscent to me of scenes in Back to the Future.
Because Superhighway is the first installment of a trilogy, it makes sense that it would end in a cliffhanger. Much like an episode of 24, it leaves the reader hungry to find out what happens next. In fact, I believe that Superhighway would translate well to the screen as a TV series or a movie.
If there were any negatives about the story, it would have to be the presence of numerous punctuation errors, forcing me to give Superhighway 3 out of 4 stars. I would recommend it to anyone who likes action-packed stories that keep you on the edge of your seat. I would forewarn younger readers about the more mature content of sex, violence, drugs and alcohol.
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Superhighway
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