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New
Found in a dying jungle, six strange babies are spirited off to the United States where a fantastic discovery is made.
Like us, they are hominids. They don't share our DNA but they are as intelligent as we are--at least...
But they're not human so they have only animal rights. Brilliant as they are, they are legally less than slaves. This makes them incredibly valuable and the company that discovered them sees a fortune in the making by selling their offspring.
But not if primate expert Beth Cooke, brought in to get them to breed, and her Army Ranger husband Charlie have anything to say about it.
Will these brilliant captives get their chance to discover themselves, to look up at the stars, to be free...or will they become an animal commodity, bought and sold like cattle?
Get this extraordinary novel today and find out!
Like us, they are hominids. They don't share our DNA but they are as intelligent as we are--at least...
But they're not human so they have only animal rights. Brilliant as they are, they are legally less than slaves. This makes them incredibly valuable and the company that discovered them sees a fortune in the making by selling their offspring.
But not if primate expert Beth Cooke, brought in to get them to breed, and her Army Ranger husband Charlie have anything to say about it.
Will these brilliant captives get their chance to discover themselves, to look up at the stars, to be free...or will they become an animal commodity, bought and sold like cattle?
Get this extraordinary novel today and find out!
356 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 15, 2018
210 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
About the author
Whitley Strieber
152 books1,261 followersAmerican writer best known for his novels The Wolfen,The Hunger and Warday and for Communion, a non-fiction description of his experiences with apparent alien contact. He has recently made significant advances in understanding this phenomenon, and has published his new discoveries in Solving the Communion Enigma.
Strieber also co-authored The Coming Global Superstorm with Art Bell, which inspired the blockbuster film about sudden climate change, The Day After Tomorrow.
His book The Afterlife Revolution written with his deceased wife Anne, is a record of what is considered to be one of the most powerful instances of afterlife communication ever recorded.
Strieber also co-authored The Coming Global Superstorm with Art Bell, which inspired the blockbuster film about sudden climate change, The Day After Tomorrow.
His book The Afterlife Revolution written with his deceased wife Anne, is a record of what is considered to be one of the most powerful instances of afterlife communication ever recorded.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
June 27, 2018
For the longest time Whitley Strieber was mainly that alien guy in my mind, though I was always aware of him as an author. But then this book showed up on Netgalley playing on my interests in anthropology, cryptozoology and all things Neanderthal and I figured it was time to give Strieber a try. And it was pretty much as expected, a popcorn entertainment sort of a story, but very entertaining at that. From the forests of Sumatra to the American soil, meet the tribe of Orang Tanda, an evolutionary offshoot, similar but not quite lie us, numbering at only 6 and raised in an enclosed isolation, tv being their only window into the world. They are short, clever and completely charming, so much so that the book pretty much entirely rides on their considerable charm leaving their DNA similar sapien cousins far behind, though, of course plot essential. In fact, it is when one of them, Beth, comes to work at the center the plan to free Tandas gets set into motion. But can they survive in the world that won’t even recognize them as intelligent equals…read and find out. It’s an immigrant experience story in a way set in an inhospitable xenophobic place US has turned into, so in that way it’s quite relevant. Tandas are perceived as the other and as such automatically lesser than and fit to be enslaved or experimented upon. But this isn’t a story to take a stance (at least not a deliberate one it seems), the message and the moral are both there but not shouted from the soapbox, it’s mostly just pure fun with plenty of action and emotional drama to boot. The writing and plot were fairly average to somewhat above average very much in line with popular fiction quality, but Tandas were awesome and made it all worthwhile. Thanks Netgalley.
December 22, 2022
Terrible pacing, characters one dimensional. Be prepared to read the words "Stephen Colbert" more times than anything else.
March 28, 2020
The book was rushed. There were many scenes that deserved a great deal more explanation. I enjoyed that all of the locations were all near my house. That was surreal to read a story that takes place literally in my neighborhood.
September 11, 2018
New is Whitley Strieber’s novel that asks the question: what if the “hobbit” creatures (homo floresiensis) whose fossils were found in Sumatra, survived to this day? In Mr. Strieber’s imagination, six homo floresiensis (also called: Orang Kanda) infants are rescued when logging operations in Sumatra kill their parents. They are are taken by a corporation, Barrett Scientific, and raised by a Barrett employee, Dr. Greg Keller. The Kanda live in a section of the Barrett office building back in the US. They are found to be very intelligent, and able to perform complex assembly line tasks. Because they are not considered human, they can be owned by the corporation, used and sold as slaves. This neo-slavery is challenged when Barrett hires a primatologist, Beth Cooke, whose husband is an ex-soldier and veterinarian with a hobby of rescuing primates from laboratories. The thriller plot-line follows the Cooke’s rescue of the Kanda.
I liked the idea that the novel is based upon (the current existence of homo floresiensis) but I felt like the plot driving this idea was contrived, formulaic, and written to be a TV movie or series. Actually, it would probably make for a better TV drama than most TV science fiction, but in my opinion, it falls short of what the story idea could have achieved. The Kanda’s slave labor could have been used to criticize the wage slave system used by all corporations. The idea of “what constitutes humanity?” could have been explored more than it was. The intelligence and humanity of the Kanda could have been revealed more gradually for greater impact on the reader.
Now, I realize that my criticism of the New plot-line may be biased by my pessimistic view of the world. I think the discovery of surviving homo floresiensis beings would result in their seizure by the US government (abetted by corporations) and their existence classified along with UFOs and Directed Energy Weapons. They would be experimented upon and no anti-slavery law would save them. Mr. Strieber doesn’t go there. He has the Kanda’s suppression and suffering coming from a “bad corporation” with the government remaining impartial, and eventually coming to the Kanda’s aid via anti-slavery law. For me, this presents a framework of the rule-of-law that strains credulity.
For all those criticisms, I thought that Mr. Strieber renders the Kanda compellingly, and the scenes told from their point-of-view are well done. Their intelligence is limited by a dreadful living experience, but we cheer their development and their eventual run from imprisonment through the hazards of corporate guards, regular people, and the wider world that is beyond their experience. It should have been bigger in scope, however, and I thought the story’s resolution was too gratuitous.
Showing love as a higher virtue that the Kanda understand and desire is a good theme, and that’s the theme that works best in this novel. It is meant to be mirrored in the relationship of the human protags, but that doesn’t come off as well for me. The backgrounds of the human protagonists (Beth and Charlie) seem incompatible to each other, and Charlie’s background is a current stereotype of the “wounded warrior” who uses his military skills for good purposes (with no criticism of the Iraq war where Charlie served).
Overall, the storytelling in New is too light-weight. The escape scenes are unbelievable and should have been more Spielberg-like in intensity. The idea of a novel based on the discovery of living homo floresiensis beings (the so-called “hobbits”) is brilliant, and the scenes depicting them are brilliant. It’s just that this idea is developed within a mediocre thriller plot and it comes off weak. Mr. Strieber does try to say something about what defines humanity and about love as an advanced concept, but that’s all watered down by the cheap plot.
Now, I took much greater enjoyment from New than I did from Mr. Strieber’s novel (that was a SF Channel series), Alien Hunter. It’s not a bad read, it just could be so much better, and I know Mr. Strieber is capable of better storytelling (re: Majestic). Of his recent works, though, Mr. Strieber’s nonfiction has been much better than his fiction. For instance, I was greatly inspired by his book about the passing of his wife, Anne (re: The Afterlife Revolution).
I consider New to be a good book, an OK SF story, but one that doesn’t live up to its potential.
I liked the idea that the novel is based upon (the current existence of homo floresiensis) but I felt like the plot driving this idea was contrived, formulaic, and written to be a TV movie or series. Actually, it would probably make for a better TV drama than most TV science fiction, but in my opinion, it falls short of what the story idea could have achieved. The Kanda’s slave labor could have been used to criticize the wage slave system used by all corporations. The idea of “what constitutes humanity?” could have been explored more than it was. The intelligence and humanity of the Kanda could have been revealed more gradually for greater impact on the reader.
Now, I realize that my criticism of the New plot-line may be biased by my pessimistic view of the world. I think the discovery of surviving homo floresiensis beings would result in their seizure by the US government (abetted by corporations) and their existence classified along with UFOs and Directed Energy Weapons. They would be experimented upon and no anti-slavery law would save them. Mr. Strieber doesn’t go there. He has the Kanda’s suppression and suffering coming from a “bad corporation” with the government remaining impartial, and eventually coming to the Kanda’s aid via anti-slavery law. For me, this presents a framework of the rule-of-law that strains credulity.
For all those criticisms, I thought that Mr. Strieber renders the Kanda compellingly, and the scenes told from their point-of-view are well done. Their intelligence is limited by a dreadful living experience, but we cheer their development and their eventual run from imprisonment through the hazards of corporate guards, regular people, and the wider world that is beyond their experience. It should have been bigger in scope, however, and I thought the story’s resolution was too gratuitous.
Showing love as a higher virtue that the Kanda understand and desire is a good theme, and that’s the theme that works best in this novel. It is meant to be mirrored in the relationship of the human protags, but that doesn’t come off as well for me. The backgrounds of the human protagonists (Beth and Charlie) seem incompatible to each other, and Charlie’s background is a current stereotype of the “wounded warrior” who uses his military skills for good purposes (with no criticism of the Iraq war where Charlie served).
Overall, the storytelling in New is too light-weight. The escape scenes are unbelievable and should have been more Spielberg-like in intensity. The idea of a novel based on the discovery of living homo floresiensis beings (the so-called “hobbits”) is brilliant, and the scenes depicting them are brilliant. It’s just that this idea is developed within a mediocre thriller plot and it comes off weak. Mr. Strieber does try to say something about what defines humanity and about love as an advanced concept, but that’s all watered down by the cheap plot.
Now, I took much greater enjoyment from New than I did from Mr. Strieber’s novel (that was a SF Channel series), Alien Hunter. It’s not a bad read, it just could be so much better, and I know Mr. Strieber is capable of better storytelling (re: Majestic). Of his recent works, though, Mr. Strieber’s nonfiction has been much better than his fiction. For instance, I was greatly inspired by his book about the passing of his wife, Anne (re: The Afterlife Revolution).
I consider New to be a good book, an OK SF story, but one that doesn’t live up to its potential.
June 19, 2024
Some forty-five years ago I read the scariest novel I’ve ever come across (and no, it wasn’t a Stephen King opus). It was ‘The Wolfen’ by Whitley Strieber. When I saw a new novel, titled ‘NEW’, by the same author, I immediately bought it and sat down to read. As with many of Strieber’s books, the tale of Beth Cooke, a primatologist recruited to work in a secretive high-tech company, is not so much about the ensuing adventure, but more of a social commentary. And in this instance, it is double-barreled. On the one hand, the ‘new’ of the title present the contrast between what they believe is the way the world works (a heady, and deadly, concoction of instinctive beliefs and the self-interested, censorship imposed by the company’s manager) and reality as we know it. Yes, with enough money, you can create an existence for people based upon false information, even when the people in question are singularly intelligent. The other contrast is found when the author recounts the experiences of two of the ‘new’ who manage to escape from the company’s stronghold into the real world. No, it’s not just a simple ‘it’s something that doesn’t fit into my understanding, so let’s shoot it’ reaction on the part of the people who come into contact with the ‘new’, but much deeper than that. It makes for a very poignant tale. I did enjoy this novel, though I had to knock off a couple of stars because of the large number of typos rampant throughout.
September 29, 2018
New by Whitley Strieber is an exciting novel that explores slavery and the extent to how far drug companies will go. Primates are found that peak the interest of a drug company. They use them to breed and sell since they’re not considered humans. Slavery of any kind is inhumane. Especially, with the intentions of this evil group. Money goes far when needed. But even then, a shine of humanity comes through…It was to see how long humanity took over…civilized can be taken many ways. The drug company completely lost their civilized ways and humanity. Morals disappeared. Danger, risks, and evil lurked on every page. Whitley Strieber created a fast-paced tale. One that grabbed my attention from the get go.
New is a frightening read that lingers long after the last page.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
New is a frightening read that lingers long after the last page.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
May 22, 2024
I have always enjoyed Whitley Strieber's books and this one does not disappoint. Imagine finding out that there is another group of intelligent people on Earth. Not only are they intelligent but they are being held in a lab. What would you do? That is what confronts Beth Cooke when she takes on the job of Primatologist at a Highly respected lab. Here she finds a group of 6 pairs of Tang. They were taken as infants from the jungles of Sumatra. She interacts with them and get to know them, now she must make a decision on what to do. Charlie, her husband, takes the matter out of her hands and rescues them. But in the process of rescue, two of the six get seperated. Can they find the two before tragedy strikes and if they do find them, what will become of them?
July 11, 2018
I've always enjoyed Whitley Strieber's books and this is true of this one, as well.
New by Whitley Strieber is chilling, exciting, and heartbreaking.
A group of young 'people' (or are they animals), are being held in captivity and trained to be slaves working on assembly lines. Highly intelligent, worth millions; if only they could get them to breed. That is what brings Beth into the picture, when she is hired to find out why they are not having babies.
She is horrified, when she sees what is happening. Beth and her husband Charlie, are the caretakers of several primates...most rescued from labs. Beth knows primates, and this new group is not apes!
New by Whitley Strieber is chilling, exciting, and heartbreaking.
A group of young 'people' (or are they animals), are being held in captivity and trained to be slaves working on assembly lines. Highly intelligent, worth millions; if only they could get them to breed. That is what brings Beth into the picture, when she is hired to find out why they are not having babies.
She is horrified, when she sees what is happening. Beth and her husband Charlie, are the caretakers of several primates...most rescued from labs. Beth knows primates, and this new group is not apes!
May 1, 2020
Holy cow, this was a wild ride -- and a fascinating one. Strieber's ability to narrate in the voice of a different species of hominid amazed me. Those parts, and the descriptions of people of our own species ("shatterfaces") interacting with them, were fantastic -- five stars for those! Enthralling. Days later, I still feel like the Orang Tanda are real, living creatures.
Of course, there had to be a framework, a background, for the story, and I felt that was also well told. I had a few issues with it, but those were well worth overlooking in order to get to know the Tanda.
In summary: An extraordinary work of imagination and empathy.
Of course, there had to be a framework, a background, for the story, and I felt that was also well told. I had a few issues with it, but those were well worth overlooking in order to get to know the Tanda.
In summary: An extraordinary work of imagination and empathy.
November 23, 2019
Fantastic book
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was very unique w aliens(kind of), animals(kind of), and a whole new look at our world through virgin eyes. I enjoy reading books that combine sci-fi and animals, especially when the animals are "talking" to us! This story shows us how a new humanoid would look at life in our society (U.S.) from a totally new yviewpoint, as virgin as physically possible. Unfortunately, humans have a great amount of fear of the unknown and that fear many times turns to violence. It's part of humanity, not one we're proud of but is there.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was very unique w aliens(kind of), animals(kind of), and a whole new look at our world through virgin eyes. I enjoy reading books that combine sci-fi and animals, especially when the animals are "talking" to us! This story shows us how a new humanoid would look at life in our society (U.S.) from a totally new yviewpoint, as virgin as physically possible. Unfortunately, humans have a great amount of fear of the unknown and that fear many times turns to violence. It's part of humanity, not one we're proud of but is there.
February 23, 2020
Fantastic story
This is a work of fiction; an amazing "what if..." story. A real page turner! And scary but true, how do people react when they see something they don't recognize or understand...
I like Whitley Strieber's non-fiction books; this is the first fiction work of his I've read, and it wasn't what I was expecting... Even if you know nothing of Whitley Strieber and if you don't care about UFOs or aliens, this book is worth reading - a very interesting and riveting story.
This is a work of fiction; an amazing "what if..." story. A real page turner! And scary but true, how do people react when they see something they don't recognize or understand...
I like Whitley Strieber's non-fiction books; this is the first fiction work of his I've read, and it wasn't what I was expecting... Even if you know nothing of Whitley Strieber and if you don't care about UFOs or aliens, this book is worth reading - a very interesting and riveting story.
April 30, 2020
I'm still living in thrall with these "new" characters. How stunning would it be for us to discover a new species living in the jungles of Sumatra undetected until a company comes along to hurriedly clear-cut their trees. Are these people human? Are they apes? Whitley has brilliantly crafted a story around the precarious fates of these remaining people and the ones who want to use them as virtual slaves for their remarkable intelligence, those who want to test and experiment on them, and those who simply want to give them a chance to thrive and develop.
June 5, 2024
Let’s say we start with 5 stars for a unique plot. Subtract a star for the plot holes and timeline anomalies and subtract a star for a plethora of careless errors and typos. If the author doesn’t have a good editor, then he needs a good friend. Or he could pay a high school sophomore to be his proofreader. He also has a big error in one of his Bible references- the nation of Israel traveled from Egypt to Canaan, not Cana. It seems the author believes he can talk to the spirits of the deceased, so he should avoid trying to quote the Bible.
August 3, 2018
I love books like this! Cryptozoology and anthropology mix! It would be so interesting if other species of humans were found, but much like this story, I'd dread it happening in real life as this is likely what would happen to the poor souls. Thought provoking book that will stay with you long after you've finished it. I haven't read any other books by the author, but after this one, I'll have to take a peek at he others!. Great story, very engaging, good read for summer.
July 27, 2024
Nearly Perfect!
"New" is an absolutely fantastic read! The plot is superb. The characters are well-developed. The ending is perfect.
This book could have benefited from some better editing, though. I found several typos scattered throughout the text. However, the plot was so amazing that I didn't care, and simply kept reading.
I highly recommend this book to anyone. It's one of those novels that has something for everyone. Do yourself a favor, and read "New"!
"New" is an absolutely fantastic read! The plot is superb. The characters are well-developed. The ending is perfect.
This book could have benefited from some better editing, though. I found several typos scattered throughout the text. However, the plot was so amazing that I didn't care, and simply kept reading.
I highly recommend this book to anyone. It's one of those novels that has something for everyone. Do yourself a favor, and read "New"!
June 20, 2018
A New Human Relative
Whitley Strieber has written another poignant tale. The plight of the people in New tug at our heartstrings and engage our awareness of the damage wrought by ignorance and greed. If you want to read a timely book with engaging characters, and complex villains, read this one!
Whitley Strieber has written another poignant tale. The plight of the people in New tug at our heartstrings and engage our awareness of the damage wrought by ignorance and greed. If you want to read a timely book with engaging characters, and complex villains, read this one!
June 11, 2019
A wonderful story!
I have always admired this brave man with his fearless telling of his adventures into the unknown. Now I respect him even more with this wonderfully imagined tale of innocence and love. Way to go Whitley!! I believe that future generations will recognize him as one who helped us be led out of the dark. BTR... Driftwood, TX
I have always admired this brave man with his fearless telling of his adventures into the unknown. Now I respect him even more with this wonderfully imagined tale of innocence and love. Way to go Whitley!! I believe that future generations will recognize him as one who helped us be led out of the dark. BTR... Driftwood, TX
February 15, 2020
How would you treat an alien species in your backyard?
A metaphor of us as a species; where we've come from, what we've gained and lost and where we may be going. A beautiful story of a new species and the ways in which different humans react.
The novel could use a better copy edit but it didn't interfere with my enjoyment.
A metaphor of us as a species; where we've come from, what we've gained and lost and where we may be going. A beautiful story of a new species and the ways in which different humans react.
The novel could use a better copy edit but it didn't interfere with my enjoyment.
May 21, 2024
Remarkable and fantastic!!!!😅😅
This is a remarkable achievement in telling of the story. One should read this book and think to yourself what is truly out there and then how yourself treats others!!🤗🤗🤗 There are others there that should be treated kindly!!!!😉😉😉😉
I would recommend this book to all my friends and you!!!🤗🤗🤗🤗
The 5 Star ratting was most deserved and more!!!😉😉😉😉
This is a remarkable achievement in telling of the story. One should read this book and think to yourself what is truly out there and then how yourself treats others!!🤗🤗🤗 There are others there that should be treated kindly!!!!😉😉😉😉
I would recommend this book to all my friends and you!!!🤗🤗🤗🤗
The 5 Star ratting was most deserved and more!!!😉😉😉😉
April 2, 2025
EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT!!!
Best story I've read in a very very long time! Whitley Strieber is a superb storyteller and I am in awe of him! Get this book and read it, you won't be able to put it down until you're finished and then you'll want to read it again! Thank you so much Whitley Strieber!!!
Best story I've read in a very very long time! Whitley Strieber is a superb storyteller and I am in awe of him! Get this book and read it, you won't be able to put it down until you're finished and then you'll want to read it again! Thank you so much Whitley Strieber!!!
September 11, 2019
Beautifully written!!
Once I began reading this book, I could not put it down easily. Mr. Strieber has his reader on the edge of their seat, hungry for more. Excellent read. I suggest this to anyone with an open and curious mind for the unknown.
Once I began reading this book, I could not put it down easily. Mr. Strieber has his reader on the edge of their seat, hungry for more. Excellent read. I suggest this to anyone with an open and curious mind for the unknown.
February 27, 2020
Interesting story about an alternative intelligent species that co-inhabits earth
Well written story. Fast reading with great characters. A really optimistic view of humans. We're just not that smart. Recommended.
Well written story. Fast reading with great characters. A really optimistic view of humans. We're just not that smart. Recommended.
April 23, 2020
Wonderful concept.
We always think of aliens and whats coming from beyond. But we never think about what could still be hidden on our big planet. But if we keep clear cutting or strip mining. Who's to say whats out there.
We always think of aliens and whats coming from beyond. But we never think about what could still be hidden on our big planet. But if we keep clear cutting or strip mining. Who's to say whats out there.
May 25, 2021
Great read
A very good read, I had read Jesus a new vision first. Mr. Strieber did such a good job on it , I decided to read another book by him. This book was fantastic , a great story that made my inside smile .
A very good read, I had read Jesus a new vision first. Mr. Strieber did such a good job on it , I decided to read another book by him. This book was fantastic , a great story that made my inside smile .
November 20, 2023
unexpected great book!
When I started reading this book I couldn’t stop, it’s a super story and so unique. Nothing like it and that’s hard to find now days. I recommend it and would love to try other books by the author. Thanks for the enjoyment.
When I started reading this book I couldn’t stop, it’s a super story and so unique. Nothing like it and that’s hard to find now days. I recommend it and would love to try other books by the author. Thanks for the enjoyment.
June 17, 2024
Truly wonderful
I had forgotten what a truly great author Whitley Strieber is. This story has everything that a truly great one requires. Read it enjoy it. After chapter 2, I almost couldn't stop.
I had forgotten what a truly great author Whitley Strieber is. This story has everything that a truly great one requires. Read it enjoy it. After chapter 2, I almost couldn't stop.
December 14, 2024
I really liked some of the author's older books, but was kind of 'meh' on the UFO stuff. I decided to give this one a try, and was very pleasantly surprised. A gripping read with an interesting premise, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Now please please write a sequel to The Wolfen!
February 12, 2025
Fresh
I love. The fresh take on this idea of a new humanoid. Some of the plot line was comfortably predictable and there was a nice balance of intrigue and twisting plot. I highly recommend New!
I love. The fresh take on this idea of a new humanoid. Some of the plot line was comfortably predictable and there was a nice balance of intrigue and twisting plot. I highly recommend New!
January 26, 2019
WOW!
I could not put this story down. But by bit, it snuggled into my soul, my strong yet tender Nature-loving indigenous heart.
I could not put this story down. But by bit, it snuggled into my soul, my strong yet tender Nature-loving indigenous heart.
December 9, 2019
I dont know how iv lived 42 years and not read his books before. Then i look and he has 103 more for me to go thru-STOKED!!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews