Dr. Dean Frey is a man of science. His lifelong desire to create a better future for mankind has led him to the prestigious, and highly mysterious, Wilderness Institute of Scientific Research & Technology, as the head of their Robotics Engineering department. Building on the research and designs of others before him, Dean’s own genius culminates in the successful creation of Anthony—the first fully-automated, free-thinking android prototype. And now Wilderness wants to sell Anthony to the military.
Unwilling to allow his achievement to become weaponized, Dean reaches out to a former Wilderness employee with the resources to help him steal Anthony and relocate them both to safety. He’s put into contact with the very secretive Nick and Olivia, who ask for one simple thing in return: trust us, no matter what you see or hear. Blind trust isn’t in Dean’s cautious nature, but he has no other choice.
For telekinetic Olivia, rescuing a fellow Psion from a life of imprisonment and experimentation is one of her favorite things. Being paid is nice, but she’ll do the job for free, if it means giving Wilderness the finger. When Olivia’s reclusive mentor solicits her and her telepathic partner Nick’s help in smuggling a very special Project out of Wilderness, they jump at the chance to infiltrate their former home and do some internal damage to the institute that created them.
With their combined knowledge of the facility, breaking Anthony out of Wilderness should have been easy—but Olivia learned a long time ago to never underestimate her enemies, or the lengths they’ll go to retrieve what’s theirs. And this time, the price for stealing the Project may be more than she’s willing to pay.
Note: Part 1 of The Project Files duology. This book does not end with a cliffhanger.
Oracle is the first installment in author Kelly Meding's The Project Files duology. The duology features an on-the-run scientist, a telepath/telekinetic duo who fights the good fight against a major power corporation, an android prototype, and enough action, adventure and humorous banter to entertain any and all readers.
Dr. Dean Frey, specialist in robotic engineering, has spent the last years working for the prestigious and somewhat shadowy Wilderness Institute, creating something groundbreaking: Anthony, the world's first fully functioning android prototype with a personality and capable of independent thought. Now Wilderness wants to sell Anthony to the military and Dean's objections have made him a wanted man. Reaching out to a former Wilderness employee once involved in the Anthony project, Dean asks for help with an audacious plan: Break into the institute, evade its security forces and steal Anthony before he can be turned into a weapon. He's put in contact with the mysterious Nick and Olivia, who have their own axe to grind with Wilderness: Gifted with psionic powers, they too were once Wilderness's "projects" and have been working against the company ever since they escaped its clutches. Together, they may just stand a chance of success - but it's a very slim one.
Having enjoyed all of her previous works, I was thrilled to see Kelly Meding release the first book of a new project. Action-packed sci-fi with numerous twists and turns, psionic powers that don't just turn people into superheroes but actually take their toll on their users, conspiracies and shadowy organisations, an intriguing cast of characters... yep, I'm sold. Too bad this is only going to be a duology, but I'll take all I can get. I thoroughly enjoyed this first part and am already very much looking forward to seeing the story continue.
The purpose of Thrifty Thursday is to read a book which was free (at some point). Kindle freebie on December 16, 2016 (currently $3.99 as of writing this post)
This would be an unlikely choice except I have been reading more science fiction and Kelly Meding is an author I have wanted to try. The blurb is longish and does not match my sense of Oracle. The title doesn't seem to fit, either. The beginning felt slow with the world-building. Once I got to know a few of the characters, and care about them, it was interesting. There was action throughout, so it's odd the beginning didn't quite capture me.
Olivia and Nick are my heart in the story and the ones I want to succeed. Knowing them more also allowed the humor which I always enjoy. They have been on the run for about 20 years from the lab conducting a variety of human experiments which created them. Experiments who are considered property, not human beings. Their fight to disrupt the lab and help the "experiments" is brave and dangerous. I'm so worried for them.
The ending is not a cliffhanger, but many questions remain with plenty of story yet to tell.The Project Files duologyends with the next book, Lazarus. If that means what it appears to mean, I am fearful. It may have started slowly, but I'm all in now and I definitely want to read more.
Dreg City sold me on Kelly Meding and she's never disappointed. excited to read book two so I can once again wait at the edge of my seat for her next book
Oracle is a fast-paced sci-fi novel with characters that will get into your head.
Although the description highlights Dean, the scientist who has a change of heart about Wilderness, an institute creating people with extraordinary powers, it is Olivia and Nick who are the heart of the story. Two Psions who left Wilderness at a young age, Olivia and Nick have been helping other Psions get or stay free from the institute. Olivia is one of those kick-ass women we love to follow in urban spec fic and although she is mostly surrounded by men in this series, she doesn't rely on a single one. She does have a very strong platonic relationship with Nick, the kind I adore with a strong telepathic bond that exists only between the two of them. Their relationship is well cemented before the events of the novel begin and never did I feel cheated not knowing the details behind it in this book. I love Nick, and I own the t-shirt to prove it. He is not the brawn of the team (none of the team's guys are), but he has an inner strength that I adore.
The powers are scientifically explained, as brains developed to be able to do telepathy, electrical control, telekinesis, pre-cognition, control of your own body, ability to tell if someone's lying, projecting illusions, and the like. Using their powers affect the Psions seriously. In the case of Olivia and Nick's project, their brains start to break down, causing nosebleeds and dizziness after using their powers. They understand that one day their brains may shut down. Other Psions might not be able to understand their powers and go crazy from them. The Wilderness also has other projects such as the android Anthony, who is the catalyst for Dean's defection from the institute. And you know I love a good android :)
If I had one complaint about Oracle (okay, two, because the title suggests the book is something it's not), it's that the book lacks a unifying plot of its own. At the end, it does feel like set up for Lazarus. Now, Lazarus is amazing, and Oracle is a good read, so it's definitely worth it, but I do wish book 1 had one central plot of its own. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot that happens in Oracle, and a lot of smaller plots and climaxes that are resolved within. It's fast-paced, although it has enough slower moments to allow you to get to know the characters. Just the right balance, in my opinion.
And speaking of book 2, at this time, I could only find Lazarus by going directly to Kelly Meding's page and searching through her books. Although it is listed as Project Files #2 on its page, it is not linked to Oracle. The second book *is* out.
Recommended for fans of: SF-based superpowers, strong platonic relationships, powers with consequences, books with lots of smaller goals instead of one big one, well-written action, Whedonesque dialogue, androids.
Note: I read an unfinished version of this book, years ago.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dr. Dean Frey is a man of science. His lifelong desire to create a better future for mankind has led him to the prestigious, and highly mysterious, Wilderness Institute of Scientific Research & Technology, as the head of their Robotics Engineering department. Building on the research and designs of others before him, Dean’s own genius culminates in the successful creation of Anthony—the first fully-automated, free-thinking android prototype. And now Wilderness wants to sell Anthony to the military.
Unwilling to allow his achievement to become weaponized, Dean reaches out to a former Wilderness employee with the resources to help him steal Anthony and relocate them both to safety. He’s put into contact with the very secretive Nick and Olivia, who ask for one simple thing in return: trust us, no matter what you see or hear. Blind trust isn’t in Dean’s cautious nature, but he has no other choice.
For telekinetic Olivia, rescuing a fellow Psion from a life of imprisonment and experimentation is one of her favorite things. Being paid is nice, but she’ll do the job for free, if it means giving Wilderness the finger. When Olivia’s reclusive mentor solicits her and her telepathic partner Nick’s help in smuggling a very special Project out of Wilderness, they jump at the chance to infiltrate their former home and do some internal damage to the institute that created them.
With their combined knowledge of the facility, breaking Anthony out of Wilderness should have been easy—but Olivia learned a long time ago to never underestimate her enemies, or the lengths they’ll go to retrieve what’s theirs. And this time, the price for stealing the Project may be more than she’s willing to pay.
Note: Part 1 of The Project Files duology. This book does not end with a cliffhanger.
I've been a huge fan of Kelly Meding since first finding her Dreg City series. As a friend of mine once said about a different author, I would gladly read anything she wrote up to and including her grocery list.
Oracle is not quite as much fun as Dreg City was, but it is a worthwhile book in its own right. A research project went wrong created several psionic children. This book mostly follows the adventures of two of those now-grown individuals who escaped from the evil corporation that imprisoned them and sought to help others like themselves.
There is a character named Oracle, but he is only a minor character and I'm not sure why the book is named after him. In my head this book is named Olivia, after the super sarcastic, kick-butt heroine with Magneto-esque powers.
I will definitely be sticking with Meding on this science fiction ride of hers to see where Olivia and company take us in the next volume!