Book Review: Upgrade by Blake Crouch

Genre(s): Science Fiction

Book Synopsis:

“You are the next step in human evolution.”

At first, Logan Ramsay isn’t sure if anything’s different. He just feels a little . . . sharper. Better able to concentrate. Better at multitasking. Reading a bit faster, memorizing better, needing less sleep.

But before long, he can’t deny it: Something’s happening to his brain. To his body. He’s starting to see the world, and those around him—even those he loves most—in whole new ways.

The truth is, Logan’s genome has been hacked. And there’s a reason he’s been targeted for this upgrade. A reason that goes back decades to the darkest part of his past, and a horrific family legacy.

Worse still, what’s happening to him is just the first step in a much larger plan, one that will inflict the same changes on humanity at large—at a terrifying cost.

Because of his new abilities, Logan’s the one person in the world capable of stopping what’s been set in motion. But to have a chance at winning this war, he’ll have to become something other than himself. Maybe even something other than human.

And even as he’s fighting, he can’t help wondering: what if humanity’s only hope for a future really does lie in engineering our own evolution?

Review:

I’ve always had a fascination with genetics, and this book had some truly interesting – and scary – concepts, many of which would be plausible if our current technology continues to advance. What I liked most is that the author didn’t just stick to the benefits of said technology, but also conveyed several scenarios where even the best-intentioned interference in our world’s biology led to catastrophic consequences. Both sides of the current debate were captured within the story.

As a scientist myself, I understood much of the technical information that was presented. I also understood why the author felt compelled to explain certain concepts to the reader—not everyone reading science fiction is a scientist as I am—but I feel it tended toward information dumping in places. And there were a few instances later in the story where little details got so mired in technical jargon even I started to skim past some of it. (I think I understand what the author was trying to convey in some of those passages, but it got to be a bit too much at times.)

That aside, I liked this book. There was a lot of science involved, but it was balanced by just enough action that it was a fast-paced and really interesting read. With a rogue scientist trying to plan the evolutionary future of the human race and a main character struggling to do what he believes is right—that humanity deserves a chance to fix what it has broken—it’s high stakes from the start.

But our main character isn’t without his flaws. I’ll admit I was a little frustrated with the ending (epilogue, specifically, and the letter he wrote to his family.) I won’t go into details, as I don’t believe in spoilers, but it was frustrating to read that final admission. It fit with the theme of the story, I was just personally hoping for something else to occur.

Anyway, if you like science fiction focused on genetics, this one was a very good read.

Author website: blakecrouch.com

---

If you enjoy reading my book reviews, I post them often (as often as I finish books!) Why not subscribe to my blog, so you never miss out? Click here to subscribe.