Nadine Hwang led a dauntless life. What she did over the course of the twentieth century makes her sound like a superheroic projection from the twenty-first: a queer, Chinese fighter pilot and lawyer with a sword-dancing act who spoke at least four languages and survived a concentration camp, then ran away to Venezuela with the […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2023/01/04/mysterious-displays-of-will/
I was looking for a science fiction thriller when I stumbled upon Nexus by Ramez Naam. Then I scooped it up when I saw it was narrated by Luke Daniels. The series is in Kindle Unlimited and you can download the audio at a reduced cost. This techno thriller kept me on the edge of my seat with its thought-provoking story involving nano-technology.
Nexus
by Ramez Naam
Series: Nexus #1
Narrator: Luke Daniels
Length: 13 hours and 12 minutes
Genres: Science Fiction
Source: Purchase
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Rating: 
Narration: 5 cups Speed: 1.5x
Winner of the 2014 Prometheus Award
Mankind gets an upgrade
In the near future, the experimental nano-drug Nexus can link humans together, mind to mind. There are some who want to improve it. There are some who want to eradicate it. And there are others who just want to exploit it.
When a young scientist is caught improving Nexus, he’s thrust over his head into a world of danger and international espionage – for there is far more at stake than anyone realizes.
From the halls of academe to the halls of power, from the headquarters of an elite US agency in Washington DC to a secret lab beneath a top university in Shanghai, from the underground parties of San Francisco to the illegal biotech markets of Bangkok, from an international neuroscience conference to a remote monastery in the mountains of Thailand – Nexus is a thrill ride through a future on the brink of explosion.
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Nexus will feed your inner nerd while presenting a thrilling, fast-paced tale. You’ll soon be questioning scientific advancements involving nanotechnology and the human mind. Kade Lane is a scientist with good intentions who is looking to enhance the Nexus nano that allows minds to connect and download software. You can even access someone’s memories.
The story is set in 2040. We enter a world of spies, advocates for nano advancement, governments want it for their military, and drug lords who want to control it. Naturally, there is a huge underground black-market. Of course, there are victims too, those experimented on or given bad Nanos.
Samantha Cataranes, a cyber-enhanced agent wants Nexus production, stopped after what it did to her sister. She works with Kaden after he is arrested to stop scientist from accessing the technology and they track down illegal labs. China has its own plans for the tech and others as well.
The tale that unfolds was action-packed with plenty of twists, climatic scenes, and races against the clock. It also raised questions about technological advancements and who is given access. Should it be contained, placed on the open market to be enhanced or should we ban it? Can it be stopped? Do the benefits outweigh the risks? It reminded me of the debate on marijuana and controlled substances like pain relievers.
The author’s credentials are impressive and it’s easy to see why Nexus has won awards. Because of his background, the story was grounded, and the science had an authenticity to it.
Luke Daniels narrates and did a brilliant job of bringing these characters to life. He helps set the tone and enhanced a well done, fast-paced thriller.
This is the first in an award-winning trilogy and I look forward to listening to Crux and Apex.
Amazon* | Audible
Nexus by Ramez Naam delivered an action-packed techno science fiction thriller narrated by Luke Daniels #audiobook #audiobookreview #SciFi #Nexus
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Ramez Naam was born in Cairo, Egypt, and came to the US at the age of 3. He’s a computer scientist who spent 13 years at Microsoft, leading teams working on email, web browsing, search, and artificial intelligence. He holds almost 20 patents in those areas. Ramez is the winner of the 2005 H.G. Wells Award for his non-fiction book More Than Human: Embracing the Promise of Biological Enhancement. He’s worked as a life guard, has climbed mountains, survived dust storms in the desert, backpacked through remote corners of China, and ridden his bicycle down hundreds of miles of the Vietnam coast. He lives in Seattle, where he writes and speaks full time.
Luke Daniels has narrated over 250 audiobooks, has been the grateful recipient of thirteen AudioFile Earphones Awards, and has earned three Audie nominations. His background is in classical theater and film. Luke has performed at repertory theaters around the country, but now he resides in the Midwest with his pack.
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Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2023/01/nexus-by-ramez-naam.html
In, When Mommy is in Heaven by Wendy L. Hackey, we follow a young boy named Micah who has been given an invitation to a Mother’s Day Tea Party at school to honor the mothers and grandmothers of the students. With so much excitement, he tells his grandmother, who agrees to attend with him. He even prays every night that his mommy, who is in Heaven, can come to the party too. Will his mother be at the tea party when the day finally arrives?
This is a book about loss and God’s blessings. For young Micah, he lost his mother at a very young age, and it is extremely difficult for children to grasp the idea behind people passing and not being able to see or talk to them. I think this is a fantastically written children’s book to have these challenging discussions with kids. It is such a sweet story about life and was easy to read and follow the message clearly. The illustrations by Dan Drewes made the content engaging and added charm throughout, even when moments of sadness appeared.
I believe this to be an exceptional book to be added to anyone’s library and would absolutely recommend this to any families dealing with loss. When Mommy is in Heaven is a well-written picture book that will help families talk about death and grief and the blessings that God provides, even when it is not in the way you expect.
Pages: 32 | ISBN : 1504980166
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/01/04/when-mommy-is-in-heaven/
The mind of the average human is a powerful thing, able to invent and create, to study, and to progress. But it also has the capability to fill us with dread, panic, and fear. Above all, though, it gives us the ability to question. Is there a God? What is out in the far reaches of space? Did I return that book to the library? Since the dawn of time, humankind has been gifted and cursed with curiosity, and as life advances, its people and their problems advance with it.
Drunk Talk is a book brought to us by Mike Davis and TL Banks. It is not so much a story in its traditional sense, but more a study of humans told through stories. Its premise is that of a drunk sitting at a bar and listening to the various topics being discussed around him.
I enjoyed this book. It was nice to read something different from other fiction, and I liked the style of writing. It’s humorous, sharp, and authentic. This made it more engaging and a breeze to read. The topics and themes of the book were immensely enjoyable. The questions posed here were all very real, from the mysterious to the mundane. We have all experienced these same things and asked the same questions, but here, we get another perspective on them, which is remarkably refreshing.
Drunk Talk is a work of satire fiction stemming from the truth. Readers will find something in these forty-eight short stories that they can relate to. In my opinion, Davis and Banks have delivered a hit with this book. It’s thought-provoking and thoroughly enjoyable. I would be extremely interested in reading any other material they have. A highly satisfying book that I would highly recommend.
Pages: 119 | ASIN : B08F42246S
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/01/04/drunk-talk/
A Field Within by T.C. Solomon starts out with readers meeting Kevin. He is an emergency physician that is looking for a change in his life. He has recently changed jobs to start working in a different hospital, hoping for a fresh start. He loves his job and values his career but wants to break away from the chaos that has consumed his life.
He has a college-age son, Alex, who is away following in his father and grandfather’s footsteps attending medical school. Alex works at a hospital with Kevin’s dad Greg. He learns from him about the ins and outs of working in the medical field. Things aren’t always great for Kevin, especially with his ex Susan, Alex’s mother. However, he does do his best to try and co-parent with her. Things fall start falling apart rapidly, though, when Alex has an accident. Soon there is a mystery revolving around his recovery. That’s when readers meet the test subjects. From here, clues about the work these doctors are doing and what is actually happening in the hospital start to be revealed.
I really enjoyed this book! It had everything in it, from love to mystery and from compassion to a dramatic plot twist. T.C. Solomon excels at character development. The character of Alex is dynamic and will have readers loving him one page, hating him the next, and back again. Kevin was sweet throughout the book, and I liked him with Grace. I really love reading about the test subjects the most. With so many exciting characters, readers will find someone to connect with.
A Field Within is a thrilling psychological medical novel filled with suspense and mystery. Readers will be drawn into the story through the well-written characters and be on edge from the opening pages as the mystery unfolds. With characters that readers will love and hate and a medical mystery that could alter the future, this is one thriller not to miss.
Pages: 285 | ASIN : B0BPQX2QYS
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/01/04/a-field-within/
The Story of Humanity: Ecology & Consequence is a fascinating read that will make you ponder your life and that of other beings. Author Ishi Nobu gets the reader in a state of mind where one reflects on human activity and the consequences of our actions. Can man preserve the earth until the end? Will extinction happen gradually? What are some of the past events that have made the world to be the way that it is? Through this thought-provoking book readers get answers to some questions while they ruminate about others. The Story of Humanity is a book about human existence and extinction, the state of the earth, animal and human relations, and nature. Reading about the universe and our ecology has never been more fun.
The book has five engaging chapters which tell various stories. The chapters are titled ‘A Fateful Ape’, ‘The Reign of Thought’, ‘The Evolution of Civilization’, ‘The Toll of Industry’, and ‘An Inevitable End’. Each of these chapters appear individually, but are still related in some way. The connection between chapters is revealed to keen readers and shows how much care the author has put into writing this book. Reading through the chapters was a pleasurable experience. The question the author poses, his style of narration, his diction and the vocabulary in the book are all excellent.
What happens after human extinction? After reading The Story of Humanity, questions of that nature will linger on your mind. As you read about the story of humanity, evolution of hominids, past and current trends, and issues like capitalism and politics, readers will reflect on the human experience and think about the universe from a different point of view.
What I enjoyed most about this book were the stories in each chapter. Even when discussing serious subjects Ishi Nobu tells the stories in a manner that even young readers would enjoy. Nothing too complex for the average reader, rather, the author applies words that are familiar to many.
This book is a stimulating read for readers that love indulging in subjects about human experience, the world, nature and civilization. The Story of Humanity: Ecology & Consequence is a stimulating and intellectually invigorating book that will inspire readers to think bigger.
Pages: 252 | ASIN: B0BGMQ9KKQ
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/01/04/the-story-of-humanity-ecology-consequence/
Have you ever had a feeling there is something more but not knowing what it is? Do you have the courage to discover all your potential and go deeper within? One Veteran’s Perspective by Tosh Cole is divided into 7 parts, and it is a one-to-one interview. It starts with the question of how army veterans manage these days (through the pandemic in 2020). The whole interview gives you a chance to understand that not only through a pandemic or an army but in life, we are all more connected than we think.
All is one is not just a phrase. When you allow your consciousness to guide you, you will understand what the veteran means by saying there is order within the chaos. An army veteran who experienced tough times after leaving the army, which he discusses during this interview, brought him to the point where he began to look for answers to his questions elsewhere and gradually got on the path of spiritual transformation.
This interview reveals not only his path after his service in the army and during the pandemic in 2020 but also the search for the truth. It leads you to question everything you have heard throughout the years. This conscious journey back to yourself opens up endless possibilities. With the guidance of an army veteran through the questions asked during the whole interview, you will experience many feelings until you finish this book and want to change how you think about certain things in your life.
One Veteran’s Perspective is a motivational and short self-help book. It is filled with so much information and wisdom that I highly recommend reading it. You will become more aware of some facts and learn how to thrive despite obstacles. If you are ready to remember what treasure you have within, this book is the perfect choice for you.
Pages: 72 | ASIN : B08XZDSNN6
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/01/04/one-veterans-perspective/