Book Reviews by Ehlen Administration

2062: The Year of Transition by Greg Vitrano My rating: 4 of 5 stars Axel knows he is smart - he was genetically engineered to be. But can he get into the school of his dreams, the elite Illinois? Or will he be his parents’ greatest disappointment by failing the entrance exam? And if he does get in, will he work on some of the top level stuff, and if he does will he be part of the inevitable transition away from humanity? 2062 is an interesting sci fi novel that looks beyond the singularity, which is often the goal in other novels. Instead of the singularity this explores a post-human existence, and whether humanity can stand in the way of artificial intelligence or is doomed to be assimilated. It explores some of the philosophical questions from the mind of a character who knows himself to be genetically engineered, yet questions the progress of others in that field. This novel felt like some of the old fatalistic 70s sci fi movies, like Logan’s Run, Planet of the Apes, or Omeg...

The Master: A Tale Of Evil by Dennis Lively My rating: 3 of 5 stars Follow intrepid Talent spy (NOT the FBI) Rex Stout as he tries to untangle a devious plan to unleash a strange poison that drives agents mad before they turn on others and ultimately themselves. He heads to South America and tries to figure out why agents are dropping like flies and who exactly is this Master, who seems to be pulling the strings of everyone he meets. He doesn’t expect to meet Pamela Rojas, the charming daughter of one of the victims, who is intent on avoiding her father’s fate. The Master is a story told in a 50’s gangster movie style, just not set in the US. Although in some of the slower moving scenes it delved a bit too far into Coleman Francis territory (look up the MST3K version of Red Zone Cuba if you don’t get the reference.) The conversation is a little stilted, but it’s an interesting plot, if a bit far-fetched. “The Master” character is bent on world domination but seems to be playing ...