Iteration: A gripping dystopian thriller

by Liz Monument

Another gripping thriller from the best-selling author of The Eternity Fund.

Behind the perpetual cornfields and fast-maturing livestock of the world’s most effective genetic engineering project, computerised efficiency has outstripped even the smartest human mind.

Famine, warfare, and the effects of natural disaster will soon be neutralised forever.

But when unexpected events suggest that the supercomputer in charge is conducting its own secret experiments, only one person guesses exactly where this could lead. And it’s down to Dr Jennifer Munroe to convince her increasingly careless colleagues to listen to her fears.

Spanning two thousand years and told by three narrators, Iteration follows the consequences of computation on the world around us…

…and on the future of the human race.

“Liz Monument is such an atmospherically accomplished writer. This is writing of a different class…”

“I was so gripped and I couldn't wait to read the next chapter. I haven't been so excited about a book for a long time…”

“A thriller with a difference. Kept me gripped. Recommended…”

“So addictive! Its brilliant. This book should be a film.”

424 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 22, 2017

About the author

Liz is a PhD creative writing student.

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

So… this is actually a great, but flawed book. First, the good bits: the characterizations are outstanding, with a wide variety of realistic personalities and personal conundrums in play. It covers an epic timeframe, but managed to keep things interesting throughout, occasionally touching on some profound issues. The flaws: the first chapter is weak, too much “As you know, Bob” exposition. If you skip forward to the part where Dr. Monroe (who not coincidentally, dreams of a garden of monster plants: “The Garden of Dr. Monroe”, well done, Liz!) is sitting in the cafeteria with her protege discussing pitcher plants… that’s really where the novel should have started, and it moves along smartly after that. If you also ignore a few other issues—the biologist is more than a little incautious; has she never heard of incinerators!?!—it’s a fun, engrossing read. It’s also a little silly, but my kind of silly: *dark* silliness.

I’m giving it five stars because I think its current average rating is a little low, probably due to people only reading the first chapter and bailing.

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. It took a while to settle into this, I was annoyed by the fact that humans are still being unkind to each other in 2000 years time. But I guess that is just how we are as a race...