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Progress Above All
"The world-building is superb." - Stellar Space
The year is 2080, and there is only one city on Earth. It has been that way for decades. The City is run by a handful of Architects who have perfected the experience of life through advanced technology. Life is what they perceive it to be for the rest of the citizens. Technology has enabled every citizen to have whatever experience they want.
And there are the Missions, the space program where most of the citizens aspire to join. Life in the City is considered preparation to finally progress above all and become a missionary in space.
While the citizens all want to integrate their biology fully with technology, Joy—one of the City's founding Architects—has other plans. She is determined to run a research project to identify what happens if a citizen is taken out of the technological city and placed out in the wild to live.
Is it too late for a citizen to return to living fully human, free from technology?
Will the participants in the research project survive? Will they learn how to live again in nature? Or has the technology that they were immersed in been too hard to detox from?
Progress Above All is a thrilling sci-fi series that gives readers an action-packed look into the future. The series features an expanding cast of characters who all want the power to choose how life and death should be treated in the new world.
How far are the other Architects willing to go—how much technology will they integrate with the citizen's biology—to fulfil the City's one unshakable Progress Above All
Progress Above All is a 21-book series, set in 2080, and sets the scene for an epic 20-year struggle between powerful forces with vastly different visions for the future of the human race.
"Mick's writing is always "outside of the box" and this book did not fail to deliver. He has a great creative mind and the way he expresses his stories challenges your mindset. Really enjoyed this one, and looking forward to the next." - Janene Valen
The year is 2080, and there is only one city on Earth. It has been that way for decades. The City is run by a handful of Architects who have perfected the experience of life through advanced technology. Life is what they perceive it to be for the rest of the citizens. Technology has enabled every citizen to have whatever experience they want.
And there are the Missions, the space program where most of the citizens aspire to join. Life in the City is considered preparation to finally progress above all and become a missionary in space.
While the citizens all want to integrate their biology fully with technology, Joy—one of the City's founding Architects—has other plans. She is determined to run a research project to identify what happens if a citizen is taken out of the technological city and placed out in the wild to live.
Is it too late for a citizen to return to living fully human, free from technology?
Will the participants in the research project survive? Will they learn how to live again in nature? Or has the technology that they were immersed in been too hard to detox from?
Progress Above All is a thrilling sci-fi series that gives readers an action-packed look into the future. The series features an expanding cast of characters who all want the power to choose how life and death should be treated in the new world.
How far are the other Architects willing to go—how much technology will they integrate with the citizen's biology—to fulfil the City's one unshakable Progress Above All
Progress Above All is a 21-book series, set in 2080, and sets the scene for an epic 20-year struggle between powerful forces with vastly different visions for the future of the human race.
"Mick's writing is always "outside of the box" and this book did not fail to deliver. He has a great creative mind and the way he expresses his stories challenges your mindset. Really enjoyed this one, and looking forward to the next." - Janene Valen
181 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 27, 2023
15 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Mick Mooney
16 books116 followersMick Mooney is an Australian born writer. He writes non-fiction and fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 28, 2023
Pinches of Illusion
Progress Above All seems like a trip into what our world might look like if The One World Govt brings us, earthlings, into The Great Reset. There we'd be bombarded with teaching, training, and even activities and games that tell us, show us, and work to convince us of how wonderful it will be to exchange our biology for technology making us 'superior superbeings' whose highest goal should be to look forward to going into outer space missions of exploration while always working for the greatest good of the City, which is Progress Above All.
However, Joy, a founder of this City, is up to something and it seems to involve non-transhumanism. She's running a secret experiment taking some folks who didn't get pinched with technology back to the wild to be fully human. Will they survive or even thrive there or will they beg to go back to the City to be pinched into technology's illusion of living life, which actually is no longer an option for them?
This is a well-imagined story. The world-building is superb. The delineation between base reality and illusion and how the citizens see as they hope and want to see and really have been brainwashed to see brings such clarity to why people often see so differently depending on whether they look into things for themselves or believe what they're told or even who or what influences them. The characters were realistic and relatable bringing issues to light while allowing various emotions to surface and collide whether the conflicts were internal or external.
I'm invested in how the story and the characters progress. I want to know what happens with Alice and Newt learning to live in the wild and being free, to hear more about Eve, and Sally, and their very different but tied-together experiences. And I'm curious about Joy, what she's trying to achieve, and whether she will succeed. I wonder if she thinks this whole City World she helped bring about is a mistake and if she's trying to help humanity start over. Is she trying to make amends?
I received an ARC and I'm leaving a review because I really enjoyed this first book. And I'm looking forward to continuing this series and I encourage you to pick up a copy and dive in. You won't be disappointed.
Progress Above All seems like a trip into what our world might look like if The One World Govt brings us, earthlings, into The Great Reset. There we'd be bombarded with teaching, training, and even activities and games that tell us, show us, and work to convince us of how wonderful it will be to exchange our biology for technology making us 'superior superbeings' whose highest goal should be to look forward to going into outer space missions of exploration while always working for the greatest good of the City, which is Progress Above All.
However, Joy, a founder of this City, is up to something and it seems to involve non-transhumanism. She's running a secret experiment taking some folks who didn't get pinched with technology back to the wild to be fully human. Will they survive or even thrive there or will they beg to go back to the City to be pinched into technology's illusion of living life, which actually is no longer an option for them?
This is a well-imagined story. The world-building is superb. The delineation between base reality and illusion and how the citizens see as they hope and want to see and really have been brainwashed to see brings such clarity to why people often see so differently depending on whether they look into things for themselves or believe what they're told or even who or what influences them. The characters were realistic and relatable bringing issues to light while allowing various emotions to surface and collide whether the conflicts were internal or external.
I'm invested in how the story and the characters progress. I want to know what happens with Alice and Newt learning to live in the wild and being free, to hear more about Eve, and Sally, and their very different but tied-together experiences. And I'm curious about Joy, what she's trying to achieve, and whether she will succeed. I wonder if she thinks this whole City World she helped bring about is a mistake and if she's trying to help humanity start over. Is she trying to make amends?
I received an ARC and I'm leaving a review because I really enjoyed this first book. And I'm looking forward to continuing this series and I encourage you to pick up a copy and dive in. You won't be disappointed.
November 29, 2023
We've all had that question: Will humans one day integrate with technology?
"Progress Above All" is a captivating science fiction tale that blends technology, utopian ideals, and space travel into a compelling narrative.
Set in a City, where humans are required to integrate their biology with technology in order to attain full citizenship and enjoy specific privileges, the story follows Newt's struggle against becoming fully technologized and his quest for freedom in the natural world.
The novel introduces a unique twist to the genre, with everything in the City being simulated and the characters living according to perceptions rather than reality.
The tension rises as Newt, influenced by his father's stance, resists the integration of technology into his body. The narrative skillfully weaves together elements of a call to adventure, internal struggles, and the clash between biology and technology.
With a compelling mix of futuristic technology and human emotion, "Progress Above All" not only satisfies the expectations of science fiction enthusiasts but also leaves them eagerly anticipating the next instalment in the series.
Without a doubt, this is one book I'd definitely reread and then read again while I wait for the next book in the series!
"Progress Above All" is a captivating science fiction tale that blends technology, utopian ideals, and space travel into a compelling narrative.
Set in a City, where humans are required to integrate their biology with technology in order to attain full citizenship and enjoy specific privileges, the story follows Newt's struggle against becoming fully technologized and his quest for freedom in the natural world.
The novel introduces a unique twist to the genre, with everything in the City being simulated and the characters living according to perceptions rather than reality.
The tension rises as Newt, influenced by his father's stance, resists the integration of technology into his body. The narrative skillfully weaves together elements of a call to adventure, internal struggles, and the clash between biology and technology.
With a compelling mix of futuristic technology and human emotion, "Progress Above All" not only satisfies the expectations of science fiction enthusiasts but also leaves them eagerly anticipating the next instalment in the series.
Without a doubt, this is one book I'd definitely reread and then read again while I wait for the next book in the series!
December 11, 2023
I'm leaving this review not because I was privileged to received an advanced copy for review, but because I was drawn into the dystopian vision of a future that shows how a few people can control the understanding of reality and truth vs virtual reality and illusion. There are many potential parallels of how current trends in technology and the redefining of truth can lead to people being brainwashed into believing everything they see, hear or read without investigating the true reality for themselves.
Right from the start I was drawn into the story and could relate to the characters who are so realistic, and I am waiting in anticipation to see which of the many different ways the story can develop, and what lies ahead for Newt and Eve.
I encourage you to buy your copy today you won't be disappointed.
Right from the start I was drawn into the story and could relate to the characters who are so realistic, and I am waiting in anticipation to see which of the many different ways the story can develop, and what lies ahead for Newt and Eve.
I encourage you to buy your copy today you won't be disappointed.
November 30, 2023
Reading the excerpt provided me with a glimpse into a world both vastly different yet strangely akin to the one we are progressing towards today. It reveals the boundless potential of the human mind and our unwavering resolve and drive to push its limits. Amidst the technological strides, there remains a steadfast beacon of hope: the essence of "life"- resilient human life and its unconquerable strength that persists regardless. There always exists a trace -JOY. The narrative is enthralling and compelling; it tugs at my soul, leaving me eagerly anticipating how joy prevails against all adversities. I eagerly anticipate witnessing the story's evolution throughout the series.
This is a worthwhile read. you surely won't be disappointed.
This is a worthwhile read. you surely won't be disappointed.
December 5, 2023
A cleverly composed narrative that echoes the worlds created in Brave New World, 1984, and Philip K. Dick’s Lies Incorporated, Progress Above All, depicts a thoroughly foreign world in the not too distant future.
What secrets does Architect Joy have that she’s not telling the people? What is Article 284 and how will it affect everyone?
Why are fathers stripped from their sons and mothers from their daughters forever, all for the sake of nebulous Missions?
In an augmented world that extends to the very texture of reality as perceived by its inhabitants, the novel lays the foundation for what promises to be an ambitious series like none other. Author Mick Mooney sets the pace for an amazing adventure. Hold on to your hats!
What secrets does Architect Joy have that she’s not telling the people? What is Article 284 and how will it affect everyone?
Why are fathers stripped from their sons and mothers from their daughters forever, all for the sake of nebulous Missions?
In an augmented world that extends to the very texture of reality as perceived by its inhabitants, the novel lays the foundation for what promises to be an ambitious series like none other. Author Mick Mooney sets the pace for an amazing adventure. Hold on to your hats!
December 28, 2023
I absolutely loved this book! The story kept me engaged and eager to want to know more. It is very thought provoking throughout and at different times made me think about technology in our lives and how it does run some peoples lives. Mine included if I let it! The characters are very intriguing and left me wanting to know more.
I will definitely be reading more books in this series and I can't wait for the journey to continue! Give it a try and you will not be disappointed!
I will definitely be reading more books in this series and I can't wait for the journey to continue! Give it a try and you will not be disappointed!
January 22, 2024
Incredibly imagined peek of the future while still being relatable in our current era. A tug-of-war of fantasy and reality in a Pseudo-Utopian City. Intensity is felt throughout the story. Excited to read book 2!
P.S.
I would love to see this in a movie or a show.
P.S.
I would love to see this in a movie or a show.
March 16, 2024
This was very good! A really great idea! Scary if you take a moment. Well written, good levels of tension & action, I did like the main character & this sterile world they have build, great atmosphere & energy, a really great read! I do recommend!
June 13, 2024
Interesting Premise
Believable future but I didn't find the characters believable. I found this novel very repetitious. The fact everything in the City was fake stated over and over. Even the dialogue was repetitive. Novel ends too soon. I will not read the next one.
Believable future but I didn't find the characters believable. I found this novel very repetitious. The fact everything in the City was fake stated over and over. Even the dialogue was repetitive. Novel ends too soon. I will not read the next one.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews