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Not-Quite Human #1
The Cuckoo's Progeny
Al and Betty aren't like their classmates. They've developed peculiar skills which set them apart, and which sets them in a search for others like themselves. As they discover who they might be, they become alienated from friends, family and humanity in general. They must discover who they are and where they belong, as there's no longer room for them in their old community. Between walking into disasters, ungrateful rescues and government agents tracking their every move, they're searching for a way out and a way home, wherever that might be.
Searching out others like them, they build a crew to search for a ship which may take them to a home they've never known, to a reception they aren't sure will be welcoming. What's more, they have no one to rely on other than each other.
Searching out others like them, they build a crew to search for a ship which may take them to a home they've never known, to a reception they aren't sure will be welcoming. What's more, they have no one to rely on other than each other.
187 pages, Paperback
Published July 5, 2016
5 people are currently reading
259 people want to read
About the author
Vincent Berg
28 books39 followersVincent Berg (1957) was born in New Jersey but, being a military dependent, grew up on 'more or less the East Coast'. Working in Systems Engineering in the Financial Services in Chicago and New York City, he never considered himself a writer, but after retiring and moving closer to his family, he wanted to explore the kinds of books he enjoyed.
His writings aren't typical, with the writing style harking back to the early twentieth Century, and the stories being complex and meandering. Without action heroes, antiheroes or even clear conflicts, the stories are more character based, as the central characters try to figure out where they are and where they're going. The reader gets sucked along, as they try to piece together where they fit in the world.
His work includes 5 series (ranging from 2 to 6 books), for a total of 16 original books published to date.
His writings aren't typical, with the writing style harking back to the early twentieth Century, and the stories being complex and meandering. Without action heroes, antiheroes or even clear conflicts, the stories are more character based, as the central characters try to figure out where they are and where they're going. The reader gets sucked along, as they try to piece together where they fit in the world.
His work includes 5 series (ranging from 2 to 6 books), for a total of 16 original books published to date.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 10, 2021
I have read several books from this author before since he publishes on the web. The other sci-fi stories dealt with similar concepts. Teens inherit abilities from an alien race that have been around for centuries living in space, their team all united by a birthmark. That's the basics of this particular tale, however The Catalyst and Stranded all deal with similar themes.
The thing that prevented me giving this a five was the fact that for most of the book, every event that happened had some valid reason for it occurring. There was a mary sew event that really annoyed me, and it had to do with a particular shooting that involved Betty visiting the hospital where one of the team just had to reveal an instant healing ability. It reminds me of another book I've read recently by a much bigger author who employed this tactic in fantasy.
For the rest of it, everybody just has to suspend their disbelief and enjoy the zaininess of, for example, the CIA director suddenly trusting the main character with an ongoing investigation into their enemy, a rogue agent.
The author's portrayal of corrupt law officials and government agencies is fun to read, for thinking about the what if scenarios if nothing else. If you want realistic sci-fi, this is not for you. If you want action, Erotica, interesting plot development, etc, this is for you. The plot really starts to develop in the second book where the environment has changed and, as the blurb of the first book might suggest, it's in space. Not empty space at that.
I hope you enjoyed this review!
The thing that prevented me giving this a five was the fact that for most of the book, every event that happened had some valid reason for it occurring. There was a mary sew event that really annoyed me, and it had to do with a particular shooting that involved Betty visiting the hospital where one of the team just had to reveal an instant healing ability. It reminds me of another book I've read recently by a much bigger author who employed this tactic in fantasy.
For the rest of it, everybody just has to suspend their disbelief and enjoy the zaininess of, for example, the CIA director suddenly trusting the main character with an ongoing investigation into their enemy, a rogue agent.
The author's portrayal of corrupt law officials and government agencies is fun to read, for thinking about the what if scenarios if nothing else. If you want realistic sci-fi, this is not for you. If you want action, Erotica, interesting plot development, etc, this is for you. The plot really starts to develop in the second book where the environment has changed and, as the blurb of the first book might suggest, it's in space. Not empty space at that.
I hope you enjoyed this review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2018
5 Stars for this series debut!
I really enjoyed this book that was fun and exciting to read. Thank you Vincent Berg for the adventure. A new fan!
I really enjoyed this book that was fun and exciting to read. Thank you Vincent Berg for the adventure. A new fan!
November 19, 2016
Great Story
I found out about this the first story in the Not-Quite-Human saga, from reading another web site. I immediately bought it and read the entire thing through.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I found out about this the first story in the Not-Quite-Human saga, from reading another web site. I immediately bought it and read the entire thing through.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews