3 out of 4 stars
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The year is 2079. The setting? Libator City. You have an enhanced brain. You are able to learn languages at the drop of a hat and know more combat techniques than a Navy Seal. You won't release your knowledge of how to make these enhancements to the world, but they are itching to get their hands on the information. So, Iran decides to kidnap your child along with 39 others in hopes of negotiating a trade.
Libator City will not tolerate bullying and does not negotiate with terrorists. They are determined to get these children back from Iran without giving away any enhancements. Will their superior knowledge and technology aid in their quest? Or will Iran kill the children and start a jihad against Libator?
Donald P. Robin was the professor of business ethics at Wake Forest University, and this is his second science fiction novel. 2079: A War for Brain Enhancement is the second novel about Libator. The first was appropriately titled Libator. There was a brief mentioning by one of the characters of some previous events, but they are not dwelt upon. It was also not integral to the plot of this book. Therefore, it is not necessary to have read the first book to enjoy this book as it stands alone beautifully.
The novel is in the third person point of view and follow various characters in the book. The character jumps are separated by chapter, however, and make it easy to follow the action. Stephanie and John Thompson are two we follow. They have been enhanced by Libator, and their son David is taken by Iran. We also get a glimpse into the enemy's reasoning by following a few members that are in the Guardian Council in Iran. All the characters seem interesting, but they could have been a bit more well-rounded. They seemed a bit flat, although it could be just that they were very focused on the task at hand.
As a science fiction novel, this would be good for those that aren't necessarily hard core fans because the science is not overwhelmingly detailed. There is just enough information to make the fiction more realistic. There is also more of an emphasis on the action and international thriller aspects of the novel than a more science fiction plot. That makes this book extremely versatile as far as audience. It is also not overly graphic in nature or in language. There are no explicitly graphic violent scenes and no sexual content.
However, I felt that the plot was a bit too simplistic. There was no weaving of subplots or side stories into the novel which gave it an overly simplified feel. That's not to say it wasn't enjoyable; I loved reading it. But, it does make for a quicker and more superficial read.
2079: A War for Brain Enhancement would be a great weekend trip or day at the beach read for anyone who enjoys action thrillers. Since it was a bit shallow, I give it a rating of 3 out of 4 stars. I'm pleased to say that the editing was fantastic as I found only 3 errors in the whole of the novel. As for me? I'm off to see about reading the first in the series, Libator.
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2079
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