Synapse by Steven James

Synapse

by Steven James

Thirty years in the future, when AI is so advanced that humans live side by side with cognizant humanoid robots called Artificials, Kestrel Hathaway must come to terms not just with what machines?know,?but with what they?believe.

Soon after experiencing a personal tragedy, Kestrel witnesses a terrorist attack on a nearby artificial factory and is unknowingly drawn into a world of conspiracies and lies. Along with her own Artificial, Jordan, they attempt to untangle the web around them. With a second, more brutal attack looming on the horizon, their best chance of stopping it is teaming up with federal counterterrorism agent Nick Vernon. But the clock is ticking--and all the while, Jordan is asking questions Artificials were never meant to ask . . . questions that rock Kestrel to her very core.

Deftly weaving suspense and intrigue into a rich, resonant tale that explores faith and what it really means to be human, Steven James offers us a glimpse into the future—and into our own hearts.

Synapse?is an unforgettable, gripping story of dreams shattered, truth revealed, and hope reborn.

Praise for?Synapse:

"Perfectly timed and thought-provoking,?Synapse?is a smart, intense thriller that keeps the suspense?building until the final page. Steven James once again delivers a perfect amalgam of character and?plot, totally immersing the reader in an irresistible narrative." --Simon Gervais, international bestselling author of?Hunt Them Down

"Next-level suspense that keeps the pages turning, combined with next-level writing on par?with the great literary masters . . .?Synapse?is not merely a thriller you should read--as 5G?approaches and advances in AI snowball, it is the thriller you can't afford?not to." --James R. Hannibal, award-winning author of?The Gryphon Heist

Reviewed by Jeff Sexton on

4 of 5 stars

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Christian Mass Effect? Religious Deus Ex? Fair warning on this book: It is explicitly Christian Fiction - and it is pretty damn heavy handed on the preaching. If that isn't your thing, you don't want to read the first sentence of this thing. The story itself is decent enough, but the hyper preaching aspects drag what could have been a pretty awesome scifi tale that could challenge some of the Golden Age masters into just another book that likely won't reach much beyond your local (dying) Christian Bookstore. Instead of a subtle exploration of whether robots could have souls ala Blade Runner, you get what amounts to mini sermons - which is theoretically appropriate, with the central character being a preacher. Overall a solid story that could have been so much more, and recommended if you can withstand the preaching.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 9 October, 2019: Finished reading
  • 9 October, 2019: Reviewed