Emergence

Janus Unfolding #1

by C.A. Knutsen

Chanticleer Cygnus Award winner 2015

“…Knutsen’s book is a compelling read for those who like a dash of science fiction in their whodunits…. A fast paced mystery with a unique and startling premise. This thought-provoking and intriguing novel crosses genres to create a great read that takes place in the Pacific Northwest. Highly Recommended.” Chanticleer Book Reviews

Jim Post, the wealthy leader of Compass Enterprises has always been a man of mystery. The remains of a body are found in the ashes of Post’s home in rural southwest Washington State. Whose body is it? Was it murder? Jeff Pierce, Jim’s closest associate, aided by an Artificial Intelligence program, can only disclose part of what he knows about Jim and Compass as the police try to sort out what has happened. Are the motives behind this tragedy greed and power, or are there secrets at Compass that could change everyone’s lives forever?

256 pages, Paperback

First published April 6, 2015

Reviews

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Please note that I was given a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Entrepreneur Jim Post knows that he’s faster, smarter, and more perceptive than most people. It’s allowed him to become wealthy, yet psychologically separate from others. Jim’s quest to find anyone who might be like him unleashes more possibilities than he could have imagined. But unscrupulous people want a piece of Jim’s business enterprises and will do almost anything to get it.

Written for a younger audience, Emergence (Janus Unfolding Series, #1) has a great premise and theme. Being different doesn’t mean that one has to live completely alone and that individuals, no matter how far off track they’re heading, can achieve great things with the right direction and support.

The book is an interesting blend of a police procedural mystery (at least in the first part), and speculative fiction. Jim Post is an intriguing character. His vocabulary is as controlled as his emotions. This might make him appear almost robotic to some readers, while others will view him as a human being with heightened awareness.

Jim’s calm, thoughtful approach actually manifests its way through the entire book. It’s a different approach from most action-packed genre fiction, but this might also be a problem. Fiction is driven by tension and conflict. It’s a large part of what keeps readers turning pages. While there is certainly conflict in parts of this book as well as the threat of conflict, there were also lost opportunities. When Jim finally encounters a formidable adversary, there is surprisingly little tension and suspense, thus the ending lacks the suspenseful buildup that readers might expect. Still, Emergence is a good story with positive messages that I hope readers will appreciate.

[Elaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of a new breed of human emerging. Jim Post a young age realises he is different, and soon understands there will be consequences. He must be careful. He also needs to find others like him; surely he cannot be alone?

An intriguing story, indeed. The author unfolds this tale set only slightly in our future with insight and compassion. It remains humanity’s story, although it delves into the realm of scifi. I wished for a little more direct action, but cannot otherwise fault Emergence. It’s written more from a reporter/witness point of view, rather than active participation, and I suspect this tactic will have a stronger impact once the reader is immersed in the larger story (there is more after Emergence!).

Definitely recommended!

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story of a young man, Jim post, who at an early age finds that he is different from his peers both physically and mentally and how he becomes aware of his abilities how he copes.
As an adult her creates a company that facilitates the inventions of beneficial products and gives the results away to other companies. He is also researching his own self and discovers that his DNA is significantly different from the norm, using his company and its resources, he begins a search for people who have this strange DNA. I found this to be a very good read and will be getting the sequels to continue the story.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing tale that most readers would wish to be true!

This is my first introduction to this author. I can say he has made me a follower, as I have ordered the next book in this series. This story has good character development and the plot is close to being quite believable. The author treats science with respect and his attention to detail is well done.

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words can't begin to describe the awesomeness of this book -- and this series. I kept SEEING it actually happening. Picturing it as a movie, a television series. The more the action moved forward, the more eagerly I awaited what was coming next. It's worth it for everyone to immediately grab this book and delve into an amazing story with mind-bending concepts.

[Kerry Reis · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a mysterious fire ravages the vacation home of Jim Post, a secretive owner of a major investment and research corporation, leaving the local police to find a body burned to the bones within the home and three unconscious assassins in the surrounding forest, Jim’s longtime best friend and second-in-command, Jeff Pierce, commits to assist the police in finding who was responsible in sending the assassins. However, Jeff soon discovers his specially evolved friend has developed a very independent artificial intelligence entity and started a major new project seeking and enabling other DNA gifted individuals in the human population. This well-written novel starts out flitting between the engaging mystery investigation of the deadly fire and the intriguing history of Jim Post and the unique talents that created his corporation. The mystery winds up with a twist that will pleasantly surprise many readers, although I surmised a hint to the twist ahead of time. Yet, the main basis of the story lies in a subtle utopian sci-fi flavor in genetics. For some readers, the seemingly easy resolutions to some potentially dangerous conflicts may seem weak, but when put within the perspective of the positive theme, the story will be very acceptable to readers who look for positive messages.

[Marcos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent 5-star Fictional Novel!

As a former Seattle resident and a fan of crime & science fiction, I found this novel as intriguing! Excellent use of English grammar. I like that anti-smoking technology, wishing it was real! Great read!

[Vaughn Ohlman · Rating 3 out of 5]

***Warning: spoilers***
Why is it that when someone invents a superhero they have to be, like, a multiple superhero?
Before I get into my review let me make it clear that I enjoyed reading ‘Emergence’. C Knutsen is no Orson Scott Card or Brandon Sanderson, but, he has an enjoyable, if slightly amateurish, writing style.[1] I enjoyed reading Emergence, and I will look forward to reading the sequels. I recommend that others read him. I have a nephew that I would lend the book to… assuming I owned it.
When Mr. Knutsen sent me his email explaining how he had read one of my reviews on Amazon and wondered if I would review his book (for which he sent me a free copy. I can’t tell you how much it annoys me to have people write about how great a reviewer I am, would I mind buying their book/iphone cover/etc and reviewing it.) my one word answer was ‘sure’. I have made mistakes in agreeing to review something, but this was not one of them.
That said… why do superhero writers insist on giving their heroes so much stuff? This hero has super speed (when fighting), super intelligence, long life… and an artificial intelligence sidekick. Oh, and no real discernible weaknesses.
And why must modern books be so politically correct? And economically ignorant? I get the ‘willful suspension of disbelief’ thing, so I can ignore the nonsense about evolution and the ‘emergence’ of artificial intelligence (twice). But the rest of the flashes of political correctness and economic ignorance are just annoying.
But my biggest complaint about this book is that it was all dressed up and had nowhere to go. The first part of the book looked like it was going to be a murder mystery (with a fake body. That was soooo obvious to an old reader of sci-fi and superhero books. I grant I was surprised at where they got the body.) but it just kind of fizzled out.
Then it seemed there would be a super villain or two… who fizzled out into flower children without even much of a fight.
And so in the end the book had no real plot, no real tension. It was X-men without the evil government organization and Magneto. But fun reading for all of that.
There were some missing parts of the book that I would have liked to read:
1) The transition from age 4 to age 12 for Jim Post. I don’t happen to believe that he just sort of slid through school till age 12, and then ended up that naïve by age 12. Jesse was better. Too bad modern readers don’t happen to have heard of homeschooling. That would have fit perfectly!
2) The first ‘other’! That was super annoying!! I was so looking forward to having Jim, or Jeff or Milly, work on and find the first ‘other’ kid. And their reaction!! What I would have liked to be serious parts of the book ended up just little vignettes.
3) Milly. Seriously? You just kill Milly off in a flashback?? No real tension, danger, etc. just depression on the part of Jim?? Sigh. I don’t like it that she was killed, but I especially don’t like how she was killed, off stage.
All in all a book I would recommend, but I would have liked to have had some good serious arguments with the author while the book was still in ‘notes’ form :)

[1] Show don’t tell!!