Exciting is the best word to begin this review with...I couldn't put it down and was far beyond my expectations though I had hoped for a surprise ending of some sort. Characters were good, though not off the charts, but the story...well paced, and in some ways a thriller minus the guns, shooting and violence. It's also a look at the possibility held by brilliant minds, something we overlook due to how our government clamps down on breakthroughs that challenge status quo. Good to see Bova cast a woman as the President too. Highly recommended; an easy, exciting read. ( )

Luke Abrahamson is a biochemist working on a cure for cancer to save his dying granddaughter. The narrative suggests the author has a certain amount of knowledge of the human gene. Luke is single-minded, determined and willing to experiment on both himself and his granddaughter. There is an emphasis on what every character is wearing, even the minor ones, which is a little strange and unnecessary.

I found traveling from place to place a little tiring and improbable due to the difficulty of moving the patient. The idea of Luke getting younger while his granddaughter gets sicker is an interesting idea. The pharmaceutical companies wanted to control the discovery and the government is worried about paying for old age, very apt. Fisk as the greedy and controlling head of a research institute is very effective. His stooge Novak is also sinister, which is a real social comment on the health industry in America.

The FBI agent Hightower is a nice contrast to the other authority figures, as he appears fair and reasonable, in a culture of greed and self-interest. The way he protects Tamara from the thug Novak reinforces the idea of him being on the side of right and justice, despite initially pursuing Luke for kidnapping.

The ending, like traveling across the country, is a little stretched. The idea that Luke could escape from a high-security army base and elude trained soldiers makes them look incompetent. I understand why the author has done it, as he needs to have a way for Luke to publish his work. ( )

A subject placed firmly in the current/near future of genetic science with rich possibilities for exploring the ethical, social and emotional issues. Instead Bova puts it into the middle of a page turner of a plot. The pace was fast enough to keep at bay most thoughts about the defects in plot and characterisation, not to mention the disappointment of his failure to seriously engage in any of the issues. But it all came crashing in as soon as the last page was finished. Poor. 15 June 2019. ( )

The story follows scientist Luke Abramson as he tries to save the life of his granddaughter, dying of a brain tumor. Along the way, he has to deal with money-grubbing big business, secretive government, and his own failing body. The journey is absorbing and the plot twists unexpected. I found myself rooting for Luke and hissing every time one of the many villains stepped onto the stage. A captivating read.

I can’t remember how it got there, but Transhuman has been on my TBR list for little while now. And in a rather strange turn of events, I went to the library and only got things from my TBR list. Crazy, I know.

Transhuman was a blazing fast read that was great fun and thought-provoking. It follows the story of a scientist who kidnaps his granddaughter in order to treat her terminal brain cancer with his experimental gene research. The whole thing took absolutely no time at all to read, because Bova sucks you in and keeps you there. There’s just the right amount of action to keep the pages turning without starting to feel forced, and the chapters are so short, you’ll start saying “just one more” and keep doing so for hours.

I would recommend Transhuman to anyone interested in medical research, heists, and/or action novels in general. It stays fun, while forcing you to confront the possibilities of experimental research and its implications for life in general.

This review has been cross-posted to my blog, TheChronicHobbyist.wordpress.com. ( )