Review: Matrix meets Bladerunner and Beyond
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 16, 2012
EnhancedBen Brown's `Enhanced' is more science than fiction. It centers around a not toodistant future and the world of genetics that's already a reality. (Although after the firstforty pages it enters the realm of full blown sci-fi.) The author thrust the reader intoimmediate action as the main character Zac Thomas is kidnapped on his way to work inin Reading, Pennsylvania.Thomas is a brilliant over achiever with no family and almost no real social life, but hisultimate asset is also his Achilles heel. He was born with a very rare genetic code that'sripe for what's known as enhancement. The kidnappers it turns out are a scientist with adeity complex; seventy something Henry Skinner, and his beautiful British assistantLea.The reason for the kidnapping isn't money or medical research. Skinner and Lea haveunintentionally created a mass murdering monster and now they desperately need atest subject to create a type of super-human capable of hunting him down. To furthercomplicate the plot, the monster they've created is the doctor's own son Dominic. Thistype of hunt or be hunted scenario makes for great action and suspense as the herohas to constantly enter and re-enter the abyss of danger.Brown's writing style is fluid and his dialogue is down to earth and believable. I canimagine these conversations taking place between the characters without sounding atall forced. Zac and Lea's hunt takes them to a wide range of locations, sometimesexotic, sometimes sinister. Likewise they encounter numerous characters that may ormay not be predators themselves. This adds to the constant tension of the storyline.I also enjoyed the fact that while Lea and Zac are on the prowl there are elements of anold fashioned buddy story that offsets the action.Within the pages the duo encounter Homeland security agents Baker, Long, andMartinez who may or may not be on their side. Also there's a possible double agent(possibly a mole) named Kennedy as well as enough bad guys to keep you guessing.Purely from a sci-fi viewpoint this book is great fun. It moves quickly and is loadedwith action. It's as if Brown combined the high paced action of `The Matrix' and theunderlying genetically altered science of `Blade Runner' to create this excellent hybridadventure and then went further into his imagination.The question remains; would you enjoy this if you're not a sci-fi fan? I think so mainlybecause the main characters are more than likeable, they're vulnerable, while theancillary ones seem real enough to hold their own. You'll probably find yourself as I didwanting to see how each new plot twist develops.