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The Brill Pill
In the not-so-distant future, organs can be re-grown from a handful of stem cells.
For patients who can afford the treatment and hang on to life support for long enough, the prognosis is good. Even the most complex organ of all can be reproduced in the lab with nearly perfect accuracy. Nearly.
Patients of brain regeneration face a wide range of problems, from loss of motor functions or intelligence to sociopathy. Spurred by personal tragedy, research scientist William Dalal works feverishly to improve the lives of those he has had a hand in saving. For every success, however, there is a consequence, and eventually a question arises in his Are they worth it? His desire to help fades as he comes to realize a shocking the monsters he has created are taking over.
As Will walks a fine line between altruism and ambition, acquaintances and events change the way in which he perceives the world and the extent to which he is willing to compromise in order to make his mark on it. As the situation escalates, he finds himself dealing brain-enhancing drugs and developing life-altering treatments. In their deliverance, he sees his own―but is he deluding himself?
For patients who can afford the treatment and hang on to life support for long enough, the prognosis is good. Even the most complex organ of all can be reproduced in the lab with nearly perfect accuracy. Nearly.
Patients of brain regeneration face a wide range of problems, from loss of motor functions or intelligence to sociopathy. Spurred by personal tragedy, research scientist William Dalal works feverishly to improve the lives of those he has had a hand in saving. For every success, however, there is a consequence, and eventually a question arises in his Are they worth it? His desire to help fades as he comes to realize a shocking the monsters he has created are taking over.
As Will walks a fine line between altruism and ambition, acquaintances and events change the way in which he perceives the world and the extent to which he is willing to compromise in order to make his mark on it. As the situation escalates, he finds himself dealing brain-enhancing drugs and developing life-altering treatments. In their deliverance, he sees his own―but is he deluding himself?
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 20, 2023
3.5 stars.
I found really interesting the premise that in the not so long future more and more chances of organs being regrown to extend peoples lives might become quite a common thing (probably not for those with lower incomes, though), but what about brains? Will they sometime be reproduced with such accuracy so as not to affect the main essence of the self? So far that hasn't occurred and people who have undergone brain regeneration end up like faulty version of the original.
Will is a lab expert, and as such he'd love to make sure that his contributions don't go unacknowledged, even if such contributions might lead to some undesired (if not unfortunate) results. He's been working on a brill pill to enhance brains and on some sort of vaccine to alter human beings. The problem with Will is that he's conflicted with what's ethical and what's not. Being a man of science ethics shouldn't really be a problem, should it? Will he be able to overcome his fears and seamlessly introduce the progress of his research to the world. As usual, there's only one way to find out.
Although I enjoyed the reading, I fell at times that almost everything was seen from Will's perspective and there really wasn't much interaction of the other appearing characters. I guess that would have made the story even more interesting.
In any case, the topic of the story really draw my interest and Akemi's writing style is narrative and descriptive.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I found really interesting the premise that in the not so long future more and more chances of organs being regrown to extend peoples lives might become quite a common thing (probably not for those with lower incomes, though), but what about brains? Will they sometime be reproduced with such accuracy so as not to affect the main essence of the self? So far that hasn't occurred and people who have undergone brain regeneration end up like faulty version of the original.
Will is a lab expert, and as such he'd love to make sure that his contributions don't go unacknowledged, even if such contributions might lead to some undesired (if not unfortunate) results. He's been working on a brill pill to enhance brains and on some sort of vaccine to alter human beings. The problem with Will is that he's conflicted with what's ethical and what's not. Being a man of science ethics shouldn't really be a problem, should it? Will he be able to overcome his fears and seamlessly introduce the progress of his research to the world. As usual, there's only one way to find out.
Although I enjoyed the reading, I fell at times that almost everything was seen from Will's perspective and there really wasn't much interaction of the other appearing characters. I guess that would have made the story even more interesting.
In any case, the topic of the story really draw my interest and Akemi's writing style is narrative and descriptive.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 12, 2023
• BOOKSTAGRAM •
This book is a journey through medicine and advanced breakthroughs. I only wish this was 100% non fiction as the story is very compelling. The story line can get kind of dry but it’s more a medical themed book and focuses on the progression of stem cell organ regrowth with a touch of narcissism. Characters try and play god and in the end who actually wins??
A vice I had about this novel was Will gave me such predator Chester Chester vibes. He was so awkward and fantasized about all these women and past girlfriends it gave me the creeps at times. Thankfully his character develops.
The feud between Will and Arthur was everything I’d think an academia feud would be like. The many characters that are in this story are all likable and the epilogue was good!
Thank you so much to @BookSparks + @akemicbrodsky for #gifting me an ARC to read and review for the #SummerPopUp
This book is a journey through medicine and advanced breakthroughs. I only wish this was 100% non fiction as the story is very compelling. The story line can get kind of dry but it’s more a medical themed book and focuses on the progression of stem cell organ regrowth with a touch of narcissism. Characters try and play god and in the end who actually wins??
A vice I had about this novel was Will gave me such predator Chester Chester vibes. He was so awkward and fantasized about all these women and past girlfriends it gave me the creeps at times. Thankfully his character develops.
The feud between Will and Arthur was everything I’d think an academia feud would be like. The many characters that are in this story are all likable and the epilogue was good!
Thank you so much to @BookSparks + @akemicbrodsky for #gifting me an ARC to read and review for the #SummerPopUp
July 2, 2023
This book explores the issue “just because you can doesn’t mean you should” through the eyes, and internal monologue, of a deeply flawed character who, nevertheless, has the scientific knowledge to change the lives of thousands of people.
The core idea is interesting - of a world in which lives can be changed by brain regeneration, but many of the recipients are never quite the same. And the internal struggles of someone who can influence the science or act covertly to subvert it, should have been interesting and engaging.
Unfortunately for me, the balance of narrative concentrated far too much on the the internal monologue of the main character, Will. I would have preferred more depth in some of the other characters, and a slightly faster pace in the plot. There are plot elements that should have had excitement, suspense, or jeopardy, but that fell too flat for my liking. Many of these were told through the experience of Will, who was often simply finding ways to procrastinate, avoid issues, or agonise over which course of action to take.
A fascinating premise and an interesting story, though.
Thank you #NetGalley and She Writes Press for the free review copy of #TheBrillPill in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The core idea is interesting - of a world in which lives can be changed by brain regeneration, but many of the recipients are never quite the same. And the internal struggles of someone who can influence the science or act covertly to subvert it, should have been interesting and engaging.
Unfortunately for me, the balance of narrative concentrated far too much on the the internal monologue of the main character, Will. I would have preferred more depth in some of the other characters, and a slightly faster pace in the plot. There are plot elements that should have had excitement, suspense, or jeopardy, but that fell too flat for my liking. Many of these were told through the experience of Will, who was often simply finding ways to procrastinate, avoid issues, or agonise over which course of action to take.
A fascinating premise and an interesting story, though.
Thank you #NetGalley and She Writes Press for the free review copy of #TheBrillPill in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
August 5, 2023
A very enjoyable debut novel! I thought the concept was very interesting: a sci-fi future where we can artificially enhance the intelligence of people (designer babies but for the brain) and the implications of organ regenerations gone wrong (fits into the present-day issue of living longer but not healthier).
I found the first part a bit difficult to read. As we were introduced to the many characters, I thought the conversations were a bit weird and unnatural, and some people felt like caricatures of themselves. However as the book carried on, starting from Arthur's drug use and Margot's death, the book read much smoother and I was really able to get into and suspend my disbelief. It wasn't until Will essentially becomes an international drug lord that I found myself thinking "wait how did we get here."
Other parts that I enjoyed were the conversations Will had with the jars of brains (which I imagined in my head as these Futurama heads haha). Will is, understandably, lost when it comes to his morality, and the idea of these two brains guiding him and representing his angel and devil, and as a memory to two lost colleagues, was quite beautiful. Loss is something Will had to contend with throughout the book: first the loss of research as Arthur beat him to publication, then the loss of Arthur and Margot and consequently his moral compass, the lost potential of the test-subject geniuses choosing non-medical careers, the loss of morality in general, and at the end, the loss of control over his life mission to his own Frankenstein's monsters.
I was also really intrigued by the e-pill. I loved the comparison between Arthur doting on the brill pill and Will getting high off the e-pill. It's a really interesting concept: a pill that enhances your emotions, good or bad, and the empathy you have. And the revelation that people didn't like taking those pills when they were prescribed makes a lot of sense: being so emotionally sensitive is exhausting and often crushing!
I thought it was an interesting choice to open the book with Viki; in fact, we don't really get to see much of Will's family life -- it seems generally healthy and there are mentions of Viki's personality and issues, but it doesn't really affect or alter the main plot. It serves as this foil to the life of ambition that Will leads, and this "slower" (for lack of a better word) life is one that Will ultimately chooses. This seems like a very central theme to the story -- the responsibility of intelligence (Margot prioritizes morality, Arthur aims for medical glory, Asim is more maniacal, and many test subjects chose lives of humanities, which the main character kinda looks down on) -- yet we never really see a conflict between Will and his family. I felt like there was more to be explored in that area.
All in all, a very intriguing sci-fi concept that I hope is more fiction than science during my lifetime 🙃
I found the first part a bit difficult to read. As we were introduced to the many characters, I thought the conversations were a bit weird and unnatural, and some people felt like caricatures of themselves. However as the book carried on, starting from Arthur's drug use and Margot's death, the book read much smoother and I was really able to get into and suspend my disbelief. It wasn't until Will essentially becomes an international drug lord that I found myself thinking "wait how did we get here."
Other parts that I enjoyed were the conversations Will had with the jars of brains (which I imagined in my head as these Futurama heads haha). Will is, understandably, lost when it comes to his morality, and the idea of these two brains guiding him and representing his angel and devil, and as a memory to two lost colleagues, was quite beautiful. Loss is something Will had to contend with throughout the book: first the loss of research as Arthur beat him to publication, then the loss of Arthur and Margot and consequently his moral compass, the lost potential of the test-subject geniuses choosing non-medical careers, the loss of morality in general, and at the end, the loss of control over his life mission to his own Frankenstein's monsters.
I was also really intrigued by the e-pill. I loved the comparison between Arthur doting on the brill pill and Will getting high off the e-pill. It's a really interesting concept: a pill that enhances your emotions, good or bad, and the empathy you have. And the revelation that people didn't like taking those pills when they were prescribed makes a lot of sense: being so emotionally sensitive is exhausting and often crushing!
I thought it was an interesting choice to open the book with Viki; in fact, we don't really get to see much of Will's family life -- it seems generally healthy and there are mentions of Viki's personality and issues, but it doesn't really affect or alter the main plot. It serves as this foil to the life of ambition that Will leads, and this "slower" (for lack of a better word) life is one that Will ultimately chooses. This seems like a very central theme to the story -- the responsibility of intelligence (Margot prioritizes morality, Arthur aims for medical glory, Asim is more maniacal, and many test subjects chose lives of humanities, which the main character kinda looks down on) -- yet we never really see a conflict between Will and his family. I felt like there was more to be explored in that area.
All in all, a very intriguing sci-fi concept that I hope is more fiction than science during my lifetime 🙃
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2023
Wow, after finishing the book I had to sit and pause for a second to let the ending sink in. I absolutely loved this rollercoaster of a book!
When I first started, I was a bit worried because I truly hated Will, the protagonist. His cocky borderline misogyny was pretty grating at first, but I kept reading because I was so intrigued by the world that was being painted. I generally love speculative fiction and all of the societal implications that come with these ideas, and the dystopian universe that is portrayed in The Brill Pill is no different. The concept of these Zombies is very interesting, and I'm glad we got to see such a longitudinal study of the technology.
The first time that I got truly excited in the book was when the first time jump happened. In general, as I was going through the first section I would frequently think to myself that I was really curious to see how Will and co's research would develop and how the world would interact with it. I found myself nodding along as Will recovered from his brief panic attack at the end of Part I and realized that none of the scary things they were talking about were going to happen any time too soon. And then... 3 years later! That first time jump pulled me in further than I had previously been, and from then on I was along for the great ride that was Science.
The heartbreaking loss of Will's relationships with Margot, Arthur, and even Jon and Vicki (arguably lost from the outset...) were tough to witness, but all of this loss made Will the (marginally better) person that he became. I really appreciated getting to see Will's evolution through the several decades we watched. As he finally was able to acknowledge at the end, he was not a good person and was probably going to hell. But still, his internal battle between altruism and fame, angel and devil, Margot and Arthur, was one that certainly felt relatable. Sometimes it's nice to have a protagonist that you don't fully root for.
I do wish we got to meet some more zombies and get a closer view of how their own lives changed throughout these procedures, but maybe that's coming in the sequel? ;) Looking forward to more from Brodsky!
When I first started, I was a bit worried because I truly hated Will, the protagonist. His cocky borderline misogyny was pretty grating at first, but I kept reading because I was so intrigued by the world that was being painted. I generally love speculative fiction and all of the societal implications that come with these ideas, and the dystopian universe that is portrayed in The Brill Pill is no different. The concept of these Zombies is very interesting, and I'm glad we got to see such a longitudinal study of the technology.
The first time that I got truly excited in the book was when the first time jump happened. In general, as I was going through the first section I would frequently think to myself that I was really curious to see how Will and co's research would develop and how the world would interact with it. I found myself nodding along as Will recovered from his brief panic attack at the end of Part I and realized that none of the scary things they were talking about were going to happen any time too soon. And then... 3 years later! That first time jump pulled me in further than I had previously been, and from then on I was along for the great ride that was Science.
The heartbreaking loss of Will's relationships with Margot, Arthur, and even Jon and Vicki (arguably lost from the outset...) were tough to witness, but all of this loss made Will the (marginally better) person that he became. I really appreciated getting to see Will's evolution through the several decades we watched. As he finally was able to acknowledge at the end, he was not a good person and was probably going to hell. But still, his internal battle between altruism and fame, angel and devil, Margot and Arthur, was one that certainly felt relatable. Sometimes it's nice to have a protagonist that you don't fully root for.
I do wish we got to meet some more zombies and get a closer view of how their own lives changed throughout these procedures, but maybe that's coming in the sequel? ;) Looking forward to more from Brodsky!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2024
rating: 3 stars.
reason: this book was interesting in theory, but it could not hold my attention at all. i often found myself not wanting to pick up this book, as i found it pretty boring. i did like the characters though, and the concept was fine, just a little to heavy on the medical language. also will is just a weird guy.
reason: this book was interesting in theory, but it could not hold my attention at all. i often found myself not wanting to pick up this book, as i found it pretty boring. i did like the characters though, and the concept was fine, just a little to heavy on the medical language. also will is just a weird guy.
August 5, 2023
Characters had no personality and there was a lot of mindless description. It was hard to get into the plot.
September 10, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel! The premise of the novel was very interesting: in the (scarily) not-too-distant future, brain regeneration is a thing. It can save the lives of many people who would have died otherwise, but as with many things there are consequences. And one of the fundamental questions that the main character Will struggles with is if those consequences are worth it - both individually and societally.
As a scientist myself (albeit a geophysicist, but with some biologist friends), my taste in science and sci-fi run more to the physics/space side of things, but I still enjoyed this dip into biology/chemistry/neuroscience. The academic part of it felt very familiar, especially the postdoc grind (and writing papers, trying to beat the competition, punting on peer reviews, etc...). It was very clear that Akemi did her due diligence.
While Will may not have been the nicest, pleasantest character to have spent the book with, it was really interesting to follow his evolution through the story. To me, he's a truly gray character, not truly evil but not very good either, which of course makes for a much more interesting story (and realistic - much as we may hate to admit it, us scientists can have varying degrees of narcissism and egotism ourselves). Hearing his thought processes, the way he justifies things both to himself and to other people, and how that changes as the story progresses is fascinating.
I also just generally really enjoyed the writing in this book. As it was all pretty much from Will's voice/POV, I'll be curious to see if/how that voice changes in Akemi's next book. Whatever it will be. I'm looking forward to it!
Things this book reminded me of:
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Futurama
Breaking Bad
*A FEW SPOILERY-TYPE THINGS*
*
*
*
There were various points in the book where I was taken by surprise (the time jumps, Margot's fate, drug kingpin-dom, Asim and friends, etc.). Which was great, because I never really knew what to expect next! But the time jumps especially were fascinating to me. I wasn't expecting the book to cover basically almost the entire course of Will's career. But that rings kind of true to me as well. As Will himself says (perhaps partially disingenuosly in the story, but that doesn't make it any less true at times), "science is slow. As fuck."
As a scientist myself (albeit a geophysicist, but with some biologist friends), my taste in science and sci-fi run more to the physics/space side of things, but I still enjoyed this dip into biology/chemistry/neuroscience. The academic part of it felt very familiar, especially the postdoc grind (and writing papers, trying to beat the competition, punting on peer reviews, etc...). It was very clear that Akemi did her due diligence.
While Will may not have been the nicest, pleasantest character to have spent the book with, it was really interesting to follow his evolution through the story. To me, he's a truly gray character, not truly evil but not very good either, which of course makes for a much more interesting story (and realistic - much as we may hate to admit it, us scientists can have varying degrees of narcissism and egotism ourselves). Hearing his thought processes, the way he justifies things both to himself and to other people, and how that changes as the story progresses is fascinating.
I also just generally really enjoyed the writing in this book. As it was all pretty much from Will's voice/POV, I'll be curious to see if/how that voice changes in Akemi's next book. Whatever it will be. I'm looking forward to it!
Things this book reminded me of:
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Futurama
Breaking Bad
*A FEW SPOILERY-TYPE THINGS*
*
*
*
There were various points in the book where I was taken by surprise (the time jumps, Margot's fate, drug kingpin-dom, Asim and friends, etc.). Which was great, because I never really knew what to expect next! But the time jumps especially were fascinating to me. I wasn't expecting the book to cover basically almost the entire course of Will's career. But that rings kind of true to me as well. As Will himself says (perhaps partially disingenuosly in the story, but that doesn't make it any less true at times), "science is slow. As fuck."
October 17, 2023
A refreshingly unlikable protagonist, unnecessary utilization of italics, and a fascinating look into working in a lab, as composed by an ex-geochemistry major, this book is certainly interesting.
The plot is occasionally a little dull, yet, as far as I can tell, the repetitiveness is deliberate. Will's entire existence is extremely tedious.
One component that bothers me, yet might be useful to some people, is that no stone is unturned with regards to the information coddled to you. Whenever the hero is speaking with another person, the perspective occasionally changes to the opposite side to provide you with an immediate clarification of the other person's opinion on whatever's being said. Once in a while, there are pauses in the story that allow the protagonist's thoughts to burst into a few paragraphs, and at times, entire chapters, written as though they were filtered through by a third party, and converted into a reasonable understanding of reality. Nothing is up to the reader's interpretation.
I really valued the deep consideration of the protagonist's profession. Clearly, it's vital to the plot, so it's a given that it would be consistently referenced, yet going into this book, I was anticipating it having minimal (direct) involvement, forfeiting those moments for the plot. I was pleasantly surprised by the opposite being the case. We get to read about his encounters with his research and co-workers working in the lab, his attitude - or lack thereof - toward his research, what his research means for his personal life, competition in the business, and his battle to balance his profession with essential necessities, such as eating or sleeping.
The protagonist is totally unlikable from the start. There are a ton of negative asides about this in reviews for this book, however I truly enjoyed it. It seems like Brodsky sat down and composed the ugliest individual she could without writing an objective villain. Will struggles, he's antisocial, he's egotistical, he's out of control, and he's outright mean, but he still has a sufficient compassion to ethically take care of his research.
The plot is occasionally a little dull, yet, as far as I can tell, the repetitiveness is deliberate. Will's entire existence is extremely tedious.
One component that bothers me, yet might be useful to some people, is that no stone is unturned with regards to the information coddled to you. Whenever the hero is speaking with another person, the perspective occasionally changes to the opposite side to provide you with an immediate clarification of the other person's opinion on whatever's being said. Once in a while, there are pauses in the story that allow the protagonist's thoughts to burst into a few paragraphs, and at times, entire chapters, written as though they were filtered through by a third party, and converted into a reasonable understanding of reality. Nothing is up to the reader's interpretation.
I really valued the deep consideration of the protagonist's profession. Clearly, it's vital to the plot, so it's a given that it would be consistently referenced, yet going into this book, I was anticipating it having minimal (direct) involvement, forfeiting those moments for the plot. I was pleasantly surprised by the opposite being the case. We get to read about his encounters with his research and co-workers working in the lab, his attitude - or lack thereof - toward his research, what his research means for his personal life, competition in the business, and his battle to balance his profession with essential necessities, such as eating or sleeping.
The protagonist is totally unlikable from the start. There are a ton of negative asides about this in reviews for this book, however I truly enjoyed it. It seems like Brodsky sat down and composed the ugliest individual she could without writing an objective villain. Will struggles, he's antisocial, he's egotistical, he's out of control, and he's outright mean, but he still has a sufficient compassion to ethically take care of his research.
August 18, 2023
I don’t always gravitate towards Science Fiction but this one caught my eye. I love the idea of a “mad” scientist walking the morally grey fine line of trying to make the world a better place albeit by not so ethical means. In this world, brain regeneration is already a thing of the present but those that suffer brain traumas and then ultimately undergo brain regeneration are never the same and seem more “zombie” like. Will wants to change the outcome and ends up developing life altering treatments but in the end is he really making the world a better place or is he creating little demons?
The way I read this book played out in my head in a style similar to Severance (the apple TV show that I absolutely loved). The cast is full of socially awkward intelligent scientists who you don’t necessarily hate but don’t necessarily love, except by the end, I kind of grew to actually like Will. The science talk wasn’t so over the top that I was bored or over my head, it really kept me engaged and I really found myself geeking out a bit. The story included a little bit of humor, had some very interesting curve balls, and an overall thought provoking question of morals. I loved the full circle of the story and if you are a Sci-Fi fan, I highly recommend this read. It is definitely out of the box entertainment.
The way I read this book played out in my head in a style similar to Severance (the apple TV show that I absolutely loved). The cast is full of socially awkward intelligent scientists who you don’t necessarily hate but don’t necessarily love, except by the end, I kind of grew to actually like Will. The science talk wasn’t so over the top that I was bored or over my head, it really kept me engaged and I really found myself geeking out a bit. The story included a little bit of humor, had some very interesting curve balls, and an overall thought provoking question of morals. I loved the full circle of the story and if you are a Sci-Fi fan, I highly recommend this read. It is definitely out of the box entertainment.
August 22, 2023
I really enjoyed the concept of this book. It was an interesting, thought-provoking book. I really enjoyed the overall storyline.
That said, the MC was a bit unbearable. From the onset of the book, he was pretentious and unlikable. I work in the scientific field and have met many researchers over the years, and yes, they are sometimes, in general, pretentious and unlikable, but this character was written to the extreme. His inner dialog became hard to get through at times, and I found myself skipping over full paragraphs towards the end because I just didn't care about his thoughts or motivations because he was basically an evil person who didn't think he was evil because he's self-righteous and thinks he knows what is best for society and the world.
So, while I enjoyed this one overall, I didn't love it primarily because of the MC.
That said, the MC was a bit unbearable. From the onset of the book, he was pretentious and unlikable. I work in the scientific field and have met many researchers over the years, and yes, they are sometimes, in general, pretentious and unlikable, but this character was written to the extreme. His inner dialog became hard to get through at times, and I found myself skipping over full paragraphs towards the end because I just didn't care about his thoughts or motivations because he was basically an evil person who didn't think he was evil because he's self-righteous and thinks he knows what is best for society and the world.
So, while I enjoyed this one overall, I didn't love it primarily because of the MC.
October 24, 2023
Brodsky creates a totally believable, and horribly frightening, near future world where science can recreate any body part for those who can afford it. The story is compelling, and asks a lot of questions that are very timely, perhaps first and foremost, should everything that science has made possible be put into practice.
At the same time that the novel thrusts us into a future that seems very possible, Brodsky's main character, Will, can be seen in the context of millenia of literature that explore the hubris of a man whose pride and unbridled ambition lead him to make morally questionable decisions. Will seems ever more willing to overlook ethical questions, as he seeks recognition and power, all the time trying to convince himself that his work is for the good of humanity. Brodsky skillfully draws his trajectory, and offers an ending that is startling, believable, and chilling.
At the same time that the novel thrusts us into a future that seems very possible, Brodsky's main character, Will, can be seen in the context of millenia of literature that explore the hubris of a man whose pride and unbridled ambition lead him to make morally questionable decisions. Will seems ever more willing to overlook ethical questions, as he seeks recognition and power, all the time trying to convince himself that his work is for the good of humanity. Brodsky skillfully draws his trajectory, and offers an ending that is startling, believable, and chilling.
June 1, 2024
This wasn't good. It was messy and not in a fun way. Idk if I'm able to articulate why exactly it was bad. It's written in 3rd person omniscient? Felt like 3rd person limited, but we hopped into other characters' heads when convenient. The writing was tedious. We got paragraphs full of what someone is up to while the actions could've been summed up in 1-2 sentences. This goes hand in hand with my next issue with this book; the countless short sentences.
i.e. MC planned to go to the university. He couldn't relax however. So he walked around for a while. Then he finally decided to go to a café. So he walked turned left to walk there. The road was busy so he had to wait to cross.
Why?! "He was restless and finally settled on going to a café instead of meandering around campus for hours.", would've sufficed.
i.e. MC planned to go to the university. He couldn't relax however. So he walked around for a while. Then he finally decided to go to a café. So he walked turned left to walk there. The road was busy so he had to wait to cross.
Why?! "He was restless and finally settled on going to a café instead of meandering around campus for hours.", would've sufficed.
April 21, 2024
I can't say this better than the quote on the back of Louis B. Jones's book: "A novel of sparkling intelligence and wit, in the end, it brings home searching ethical questions about what it means to be human and what it means to be real."
Suppose you want to immerse yourself into the thinking process of a scientist on the verge of changing humanity and sit inside his brain and body while trying to make ethical versus altruism and ambition. In that case, this is the one you want to read. How will the future play out when man can generate new parts for the body, including brains? What mistakes can happen along the way, and how far is one scientist willing to go to do what he thinks is the right thing to do?
Suppose you want to immerse yourself into the thinking process of a scientist on the verge of changing humanity and sit inside his brain and body while trying to make ethical versus altruism and ambition. In that case, this is the one you want to read. How will the future play out when man can generate new parts for the body, including brains? What mistakes can happen along the way, and how far is one scientist willing to go to do what he thinks is the right thing to do?
July 26, 2023
This book was really interesting and enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
Thank you Sourcebooks and Alexis C. Brodsky!
In the not so long future more and more chances of organs being regrown to extend peoples lives might become quite a common thing (probably not for those with lower incomes, though).
This is told ,for the most part, by Will’s perspective. I do wish we heard more from other characters also.
This story really caught my interest and Akemi's writing style is great and very descriptive.
After finishing the book I had to sit and pause for a second to let the ending sink in. This book was such a rollercoaster.
Thank you Sourcebooks and Alexis C. Brodsky!
In the not so long future more and more chances of organs being regrown to extend peoples lives might become quite a common thing (probably not for those with lower incomes, though).
This is told ,for the most part, by Will’s perspective. I do wish we heard more from other characters also.
This story really caught my interest and Akemi's writing style is great and very descriptive.
After finishing the book I had to sit and pause for a second to let the ending sink in. This book was such a rollercoaster.
August 17, 2023
I typically read dystopian science fiction/fantasy and enjoyed this book a lot. One thing the novel has going for it is its plausibility today. We're diving head first into lab-grown meats for consumption, 3-D printed organs and animal-organ transplants. Where does it all go?
I bought the book to see what it had to say about the impacts of advancing this technology and to feed my dystopian future addiction. It did not disappoint.
You won't love all of the characters, but you're not supposed to. These are academics doing stem-cell research. They can be weird, sexually awkward and competitive. Get into it.
All-in-all: a good read! I recommend.
I bought the book to see what it had to say about the impacts of advancing this technology and to feed my dystopian future addiction. It did not disappoint.
You won't love all of the characters, but you're not supposed to. These are academics doing stem-cell research. They can be weird, sexually awkward and competitive. Get into it.
All-in-all: a good read! I recommend.
December 29, 2023
This was such an unusual novel. It's set in the world of science, specifically a lab of the future, when brains and other organs can be regenerated, raising all sorts of ethical and other questions. The author embues a creepy, all-too-possible scenario with charm and wit. Her main character, Will, is a very flawed character - egotistical and weak, yet he is also appealing and completely won me over. I don't want to give away any of the plot but will simply say that this is a book to share and discuss with others.
June 26, 2023
Sadly this is a DNF for me. The first few chapters are basically huge paragraphs of information-dumping, the characters don’t speak like humans, and the protagonist is just awful. Tell, don’t show seems to be the rule.
I did like the main plot idea, but couldn’t stick the writing (which does need another pass with an editor).
A real shame, as this sounded so promising.
I was kindly provided with an ARC by NetGalley, but the above opinion is my own.
I did like the main plot idea, but couldn’t stick the writing (which does need another pass with an editor).
A real shame, as this sounded so promising.
I was kindly provided with an ARC by NetGalley, but the above opinion is my own.
August 18, 2023
As the blurb says, “for patients who can afford the treatment” - that’s concerning. Medical advances have come far but is regenerating a brain over the line? We can see the consequences in this book. I wasn’t a fan of the main character as he procrastinated or avoided things altogether. I would have liked more banter and opinions among the characters to create tension. The premise of the book is good and I'm afraid it's not too far into the future.
September 6, 2023
I like science writing and I like fiction. I'm not big on science fiction.
The protagonist Will is entirely unlikeable and because he's a narcissist, and we see other characters through his eyes, we don't see much of them. So, you would think I wouldn't like the Brill Pill. You'd be wrong.
I really enjoyed the creepiness, the zombies, the food, and the essential ethical question.
The "science stuff" and Brodsky's vocabulary kept me on my toes.
The protagonist Will is entirely unlikeable and because he's a narcissist, and we see other characters through his eyes, we don't see much of them. So, you would think I wouldn't like the Brill Pill. You'd be wrong.
I really enjoyed the creepiness, the zombies, the food, and the essential ethical question.
The "science stuff" and Brodsky's vocabulary kept me on my toes.
May 4, 2024
I don’t really know what happened. I kind of dig it but like, there was seriously no plot, just a premise. There was no conclusion that you as the audience could want or expect, it really was just the book providing information. I thought we’d get somewhere in the beginning but then the book started skipping years and killing off characters, everything changed for the worst. It wasn’t boring, just bland. I didn’t have trouble reading it though, that’s good.
November 28, 2023
The plot as described on the book cover was a lot more interesting than the story as executed. I found the plot somewhat confusing and slow to develop, and the main character, Will, was uninteresting and flat. And the author’s seemingly random use of italics added nothing and irritated me. I finished this book but I’m not sure why I bothered to do so.
February 16, 2024
I just. I don’t know man. The science is contrived — I haven’t touched Biology in years but even I know an organ transplant wouldn’t adversely affect offspring. Cause and effect relationships are tenuous at best. MC is unlikable and this never changes. The less I say the better this review will sound, so I’m gonna refrain from saying more.
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