Forbidden Cargo

by Rebecca K. Rowe

It's 2110 and Creid Xerkler, the creator of the Molecular Advantage Machine - a virtual system that facilitates instantaneous access to all of humanity's knowledge and experience - is unwillingly entangled in a government Council plot to prove the existence of an illegally engineered race called the Imagofas. Unfortunately Xerkler knows more than he should and fears what the Council might discover. The Imagofas are revered by many as the next step in human evolution - a nano-DNA part human, part machine - but to the Council they are a dangerous aberration and a threat to the very existence of humankind. In their quest to prove this crime against humanity, the Council plans on abducting specimens from the Order sanctioned research facility on Mars. When the kidnapping takes an unexpected turn and the Imagofas are forced to become fugitives, the Council vows to destroy them - while others plan to capitalize on their existence. The Imagofas, in a determined bid to return to Mars, must draw upon their still developing and unique skills to survive the dangers of Earth. Along the way, they are helped by three unexpected and unlikely the Cadet, a hard core gamer; Ochbo, a cleanlife pervert; and Prometheus, an enlightenment seeking MAMintelligence, who, while on his own secret quest, ultimately holds the answers to everyone's survival.

Genres: Science Fiction

268 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2006

About the author

Rebecca K. Rowe is a fiction author and free-lance writer living and working in Colorado.

Her first speculative fiction novel, Forbidden Cargo, received critical acclaim from newspapers such as The Washington Post and The Denver Post. Rebecca also writes science nonfiction, poetry, and short stories, inspired by her overseas travels and her more frequent armchair explorations at the keyboard. With a Master’s in Mass Communications/Journalism from the University of Denver and a Master’s in International Relations from the University of Southern California, her fiction reflects a hard social science dimension. She is the associate editor of the Speculative Literature Foundation Newsletter, as well as a member of the Denver Woman’s Press Club. Her first novel was a finalist in the Colorado Book Awards.
(source: Smashwords)


Rebecca K. Rowe is a fiction author and science education enthusiast. Her latest novel, Circle Tide, is available in all good bookstores, online from Amazon and as an e-book for the Kindle, Nook or iPad. The Denver Post calls Circle Tide a "fast-paced adventure" that also has "a rich background of ideas about changes in minds and bodies." Her debut speculative fiction novel, Forbidden Cargo, received critical acclaim from periodicals such as The Washington Post and The New York Review of Science Fiction. Forbidden Cargo was a finalist in the Colorado Book Awards.

Rowe also writes science poetry and short stories, inspired by her overseas travels and her more frequent armchair explorations at the keyboard. With a Master's in Mass Communications/Journalism from the University of Denver and a Master's in International Relations from the University of Southern California, her fiction reflects a hard social science dimension. She is on the Speculative Literature Foundation staff, as well as a member of the Denver Woman's Press Club.
(source: rebeccarowe.com)

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in 22nd Century Earth, this is the story of two young women caught in the middle of a power struggle regarding the future of human evolution.

The Order has set up a research facility on Mars, where they have created a race of nano-DNA hybrids called imagofas, thought by many to be the next step in human evolution. The Council, on Earth, considers imagofas to be a crime against humanity. The idea is hatched to bring back evidence from Mars of the order’s activities, to put them out of business, once and for all. The two women, Sashimu and Thesni, are kidnapped from Mars and brought to Earth as "evidence", after which their life spans will be short and very unpleasant.

Something goes wrong at the Earth spaceport, and the two manage to escape, though separated from each other. In the meantime, Creid Xerkler is the inventor of a virtual reality system called Molecular Advantage Machine, or MAM. It allows instant access to all of Earth's knowledge, but the connection is made through the wearing of a special suit. Another reason why Sashimu and Thesni are considered evil is that they can access MAM without the suit. Xerkler is very implicated in this anti-Order plan, but he spends much of the book in an artificially-induced coma (someone wants him out of the way).

While staying away from the Council, the two meet some interesting individuals. The Cadet is an expert gamer and finder of information, and Prometheus is a MAM meta-intelligence looking for sentience. It becomes clear that Xerkler is the key, but the only way to reach him, and fix whatever is wrong with him, is from the inside, through MAM.

This gem of a book has it all. It’s got virtual reality, technology and imagination. It also has an interesting story, with which the author does a fine job. This is not just a really good first novel, it’s a really good novel.

[Bookmarks Magazine]

Rebecca K. Rowe's first novel fuses Eastern philosophy and social commentary with an edgy sci-fi plot reminiscent of Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash. The plot of Forbidden Cargo drags a bit through the first third, though dedicated SF readers who stick with it will be rewarded with rich backdrops, an intelligent exploration of some weighty issues, and, perhaps most important, well-written action sequences and interesting supporting characters. For the most part, the author avoids the pitfalls of the novice in a genre where seams are easily exposed and success often follows word-of-mouth recommendations. Consensus suggests that Rowe's imagination and style will serve her well in future efforts

This is an excerpt from a review published in Bookmarks magazine.

[Etai · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I loved it because it involved genetics and futuristic stuff. Science fiction is one of my favorite genres. I don't understand how anyone could hate this book. I give it a 5.
This book is set in 2110 and is about Sashimu and her fraternal twin sister, Thesni. They are running from the Council and end up getting caught and shipped to Earth from Mars. Their ship explodes on the moon, and the sisters fly away in a rocket to Mars. They get caught again by the SB(Space Brigade) and get shuttled to Earth. When they get there. They escape and get separated. The rest of the story is about how they unite.
I can connect this to The Lab because it also involves genetics and action. It is about a person who is genetically engineered to make him have superhuman powers. Like Agent 6, Sashimu has superhuman powers. She can heal people, run really fast, and she has super sight.

[Edwin Downward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Earth is on the edge of a major breakthrough in Organic technology. Some want it stopped, others want it continued for their own reasons. Rebecca Rowe gave me real characters with real wants and desires.

[Dena · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first page, I was unable to put this book down. I only wish she had wrote a sequel.