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Freaking Fast
The Year is 2066 ...
Today I’m going to kill the love of my life. This deliberate act should not to be misinterpreted for what the sensationalistic media will surely call a crime of passion, because it isn’t. There’s nothing passionate in what I am about to do. My action is premeditated, has been planned for a long time, and will be executed for the benefit of all and my own peace of mind.
I have chosen this date for a reason.
Today is my birthday, and the anniversary of our first kiss, fifty years ago. I turn sixty-three today. Five decades ago I would have been considered an old woman, gray-haired and wrinkled, and possibly overweight. But that was then. Nowadays, thanks to the medical advances of the past fifty years, I am in the prime of my life. I have the sculpted body, the vigor, and the mental acumen of a highly-intelligent woman in her early thirties.
But I digress. Today I am a killer. A killer with a gun. I selected my weapon with care. I settled for the simplest death of them all – a bullet to the heart at close quarters …
Today I’m going to kill the love of my life. This deliberate act should not to be misinterpreted for what the sensationalistic media will surely call a crime of passion, because it isn’t. There’s nothing passionate in what I am about to do. My action is premeditated, has been planned for a long time, and will be executed for the benefit of all and my own peace of mind.
I have chosen this date for a reason.
Today is my birthday, and the anniversary of our first kiss, fifty years ago. I turn sixty-three today. Five decades ago I would have been considered an old woman, gray-haired and wrinkled, and possibly overweight. But that was then. Nowadays, thanks to the medical advances of the past fifty years, I am in the prime of my life. I have the sculpted body, the vigor, and the mental acumen of a highly-intelligent woman in her early thirties.
But I digress. Today I am a killer. A killer with a gun. I selected my weapon with care. I settled for the simplest death of them all – a bullet to the heart at close quarters …
ebook
Published May 11, 2018
2 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
David Pereda
15 books237 followersI am a writer and college writing instructor in Asheville NC. My latest mainstream novel, However Long the Night, published by Eternal Press in February 2012, has won two awards already and is currently a finalist in the romantic suspense category of the 2012 Readers Favorite Awards -- winners to be announced in September. My previous novels include the thrillers, Killing Castro, published by Eternal Press in January 2010, and Top Secret, published by Eternal Press in 2009. I am now hard at work on a third thriller, Twin Powers, with estimated publication in 2013, and another mainstream novel, Havana Blues in Onyx, with anticipated publication in 2014.
A member of MENSA, I am the ex-regional director of Florida Writers Association’s Western North Carolina division and the founder of AWE (Asheville Writing Enthusiasts). I love sports and have won many prizes competing in track and show-jumping equestrian events. I live with my family in Asheville, North Carolina.
A member of MENSA, I am the ex-regional director of Florida Writers Association’s Western North Carolina division and the founder of AWE (Asheville Writing Enthusiasts). I love sports and have won many prizes competing in track and show-jumping equestrian events. I live with my family in Asheville, North Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 9, 2018
This book was unlike anything I’ve read before!
This book is about Alex, a 63-year-old, renowned mathematician, who decides that today she is going to visit the love of her life and kill him. This book takes place in the future, 2066, in Asheville, North Carolina. Over the course of the book, Alex reminisces about her teen years and reflects back on how she got to where she is today. Alex visits three former lovers from her past, one of them being her intended victim, and plans to pull off their premediated murder.
This book was just so different from the usual books I read – and I do mean that in a good way. It was complex, unique, and thought provoking.
This book screams with teen anger and angst while Alex works out her rage throughout the book. Alex was an awkward math geek during her teen years and struggled with depression, rejection, and discouragement until she joined the track team, which became a big part of her life.
I was very intrigued by all the technology advances that were skillfully thought out. Such as, the DNA Detection System, that allows your gun to sniff up DNA and then program that gun to target that specific person; unlike in today’s technology of aiming and shooting. This was very fascinating and terrifying at the same time. I thought about how wonderful this technology would be in the hands of the police and military and how it could really help make a positive difference on making the world a safer place. However, then I thought about how this technology would fare in the hands of criminals and how people wouldn’t have a fighting chance against it.
There were several technological progressions listed in this book and obviously by 2066 it’s clear things would be dramatically different. I really liked that the author made many of those advancements actually realistic and logical. For example, some of those improvements in the book include robots, DNA collection from air, DNA Detection System (DNA targeted guns), interstellar travel, flying cars; plus, many advancements in plastic surgery and medical technology. We are already moving at warp speed with technological and medical advancements that many of those things we are currently doing, working on, or are within reach of – especially within fifty years.
This book uses math in a unique and beautiful way showing the symmetry and relations that math plays in our everyday lives.
This book has several mathematical equations featured throughout the book, especially since the main character, Alex, is a renowned mathematician. For instance, Alex, even has her own sprinting formula:
“I move my arms as fast as I can and my legs follow. It’s still amazing to me how sprinting works: the faster you move your arms, the faster your legs move. It’s like a linear equation in two variables, x and y, where x – the arm motion--is the independent variable, and y – the leg motion--is the dependent variable. When x moves, y has to move. (Pereda 64).”
I found it quite interesting seeing all the math connections that interweaved throughout the story and how they related to real life. I loved math as a kid, but then somewhere around the teen years it become my worst enemy. Now as an adult, my job as a financial/compliance auditor is, well, completely math based lol. As an adult I see math pretty much everywhere and it surprises me how much we end up using it every day. Although, I remember so many times thinking in school, “when are we ever going to use this in real life?!” and I think back to, “I don’t need to know how fast those trains where going to get to x,” lol. Yet, there really is so much that I do use and am thankful for my all my math teachers putting up with me lol. And, “YES, Mr. Brown, I do too have a calculator with me everywhere I go LOL!!!”
The author’s writing is strong and vividly detailed. There were a few times I found myself caught up in the story. One particular passage really stuck with me:
“I glance down at the woods streaking below me. They mirror
exactly what I’m feeling – serenity and peacefulness on the outside,
and a raging chaos inside. In that dense foliage, the struggle for
survival goes on. (Pereda 158).”
It just gave me chills reading that passage. It beautifully described a feeling that I think many of us have felt but may not have been able to put into words – or at least any words like that. A motion of trying to look and remain calm while screaming inside. It just captured the sensation perfectly.
I really liked that the author kept throwing out thought provoking questions and making you think of the big picture.
Unfortunately, there are a bit of confusing passages during all the time travel jolts. It gets complicated going between the current time setting of the book, 2066, and when Alex is reflecting back to her teenage years, fifty years previously, in 2016. This caused me to have to reread some sections which got a bit frustrating at times.
This book has so much to offer its readers and it’s not just for young adults. This book is full is action, adventure, intrigue, mystery, suspense, excitement, adrenaline, fantasy, futurism, technological advances, love, romance, friendship, second chances, forgiveness, new beginnings, and so much more.
There are some exciting twists and turns and unexpected moments that will keep you guessing!
All in all, I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone interested in reading an exciting, intriguing, interesting, futuristic, young adult, action, adventure book!
**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest, and unbiased review in accordance with FTC regulations.**
This book is about Alex, a 63-year-old, renowned mathematician, who decides that today she is going to visit the love of her life and kill him. This book takes place in the future, 2066, in Asheville, North Carolina. Over the course of the book, Alex reminisces about her teen years and reflects back on how she got to where she is today. Alex visits three former lovers from her past, one of them being her intended victim, and plans to pull off their premediated murder.
This book was just so different from the usual books I read – and I do mean that in a good way. It was complex, unique, and thought provoking.
This book screams with teen anger and angst while Alex works out her rage throughout the book. Alex was an awkward math geek during her teen years and struggled with depression, rejection, and discouragement until she joined the track team, which became a big part of her life.
I was very intrigued by all the technology advances that were skillfully thought out. Such as, the DNA Detection System, that allows your gun to sniff up DNA and then program that gun to target that specific person; unlike in today’s technology of aiming and shooting. This was very fascinating and terrifying at the same time. I thought about how wonderful this technology would be in the hands of the police and military and how it could really help make a positive difference on making the world a safer place. However, then I thought about how this technology would fare in the hands of criminals and how people wouldn’t have a fighting chance against it.
There were several technological progressions listed in this book and obviously by 2066 it’s clear things would be dramatically different. I really liked that the author made many of those advancements actually realistic and logical. For example, some of those improvements in the book include robots, DNA collection from air, DNA Detection System (DNA targeted guns), interstellar travel, flying cars; plus, many advancements in plastic surgery and medical technology. We are already moving at warp speed with technological and medical advancements that many of those things we are currently doing, working on, or are within reach of – especially within fifty years.
This book uses math in a unique and beautiful way showing the symmetry and relations that math plays in our everyday lives.
This book has several mathematical equations featured throughout the book, especially since the main character, Alex, is a renowned mathematician. For instance, Alex, even has her own sprinting formula:
“I move my arms as fast as I can and my legs follow. It’s still amazing to me how sprinting works: the faster you move your arms, the faster your legs move. It’s like a linear equation in two variables, x and y, where x – the arm motion--is the independent variable, and y – the leg motion--is the dependent variable. When x moves, y has to move. (Pereda 64).”
I found it quite interesting seeing all the math connections that interweaved throughout the story and how they related to real life. I loved math as a kid, but then somewhere around the teen years it become my worst enemy. Now as an adult, my job as a financial/compliance auditor is, well, completely math based lol. As an adult I see math pretty much everywhere and it surprises me how much we end up using it every day. Although, I remember so many times thinking in school, “when are we ever going to use this in real life?!” and I think back to, “I don’t need to know how fast those trains where going to get to x,” lol. Yet, there really is so much that I do use and am thankful for my all my math teachers putting up with me lol. And, “YES, Mr. Brown, I do too have a calculator with me everywhere I go LOL!!!”
The author’s writing is strong and vividly detailed. There were a few times I found myself caught up in the story. One particular passage really stuck with me:
“I glance down at the woods streaking below me. They mirror
exactly what I’m feeling – serenity and peacefulness on the outside,
and a raging chaos inside. In that dense foliage, the struggle for
survival goes on. (Pereda 158).”
It just gave me chills reading that passage. It beautifully described a feeling that I think many of us have felt but may not have been able to put into words – or at least any words like that. A motion of trying to look and remain calm while screaming inside. It just captured the sensation perfectly.
I really liked that the author kept throwing out thought provoking questions and making you think of the big picture.
Unfortunately, there are a bit of confusing passages during all the time travel jolts. It gets complicated going between the current time setting of the book, 2066, and when Alex is reflecting back to her teenage years, fifty years previously, in 2016. This caused me to have to reread some sections which got a bit frustrating at times.
This book has so much to offer its readers and it’s not just for young adults. This book is full is action, adventure, intrigue, mystery, suspense, excitement, adrenaline, fantasy, futurism, technological advances, love, romance, friendship, second chances, forgiveness, new beginnings, and so much more.
There are some exciting twists and turns and unexpected moments that will keep you guessing!
All in all, I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone interested in reading an exciting, intriguing, interesting, futuristic, young adult, action, adventure book!
**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest, and unbiased review in accordance with FTC regulations.**
August 1, 2018
I loved this short, sneaky, serious and yet full of whimsy book. I read it in 2 days. I just couldn’t put it down. Can a book about killing someone be whimsical? Well it can if David Pereda writes it. He seems to be able to write any kind of book. I love the way he always gives us an education all the while trying to fool us into thinking we are having a fun read.
This time it was math; last time in Havana Blue it was the social and economic history of Cuba and the hard times of a boy growing up in Havana. Yet all the while I was having a blast reading both books. I enjoyed the analogies he made between real life and mathematical equations in this book and how even though the story switches back and forth between the current and the future he still managed to keep a symmetry to his storyline.
He has provided another very different and very enjoyable story. The characters in this latest book were unlike any others, yet as alive as his characters always seem to be. Intelligent young characters with very finite minds and yet still young and uncertain. Living through and growing up with the same questions and dreams we all had no matter which generation we grew up in. I loved the futuristic setting. I could almost believe I had my own robot and my own flying car, sort of like the Jetsons but now, in today’s technology very little of it seems very far away or impossible. In fact, everything he wrote about seemed like a normal progression of how things will be in another 40 years. In other words, it all seemed very believable.
Is this a book for young people? I think so, but I don’t think there is any age that wouldn’t enjoy it. I obviously did.
David Pereda has several books with great reviews. Check them all out.
***This book was provided to me free of charge in exchange for my own very honest review.
This time it was math; last time in Havana Blue it was the social and economic history of Cuba and the hard times of a boy growing up in Havana. Yet all the while I was having a blast reading both books. I enjoyed the analogies he made between real life and mathematical equations in this book and how even though the story switches back and forth between the current and the future he still managed to keep a symmetry to his storyline.
He has provided another very different and very enjoyable story. The characters in this latest book were unlike any others, yet as alive as his characters always seem to be. Intelligent young characters with very finite minds and yet still young and uncertain. Living through and growing up with the same questions and dreams we all had no matter which generation we grew up in. I loved the futuristic setting. I could almost believe I had my own robot and my own flying car, sort of like the Jetsons but now, in today’s technology very little of it seems very far away or impossible. In fact, everything he wrote about seemed like a normal progression of how things will be in another 40 years. In other words, it all seemed very believable.
Is this a book for young people? I think so, but I don’t think there is any age that wouldn’t enjoy it. I obviously did.
David Pereda has several books with great reviews. Check them all out.
***This book was provided to me free of charge in exchange for my own very honest review.
August 2, 2018
3.75 stars
“Freaking Fast” by David Pereda is a combination of futuristic science fiction and young adult fiction, centering around Alexandra Martin (Alex). The story shifts from a vendetta set in 2066 to the genesis of a relationship in 2016, complete with teen angst and the challenges of sports competitions. Alex is a determined individual, as is demonstrated by her actions in both decades. It is a characteristic that all of her opponents should keep in mind.
This was an intriguing story that can be read as an allegory with commentary on our current society, a young adult story (with warnings about violence), or a speculation on life in the future. I thought it was a little ponderous at first and wondered what I had gotten myself into, but I persisted and enjoyed the wry voice of the young heroine as she struggles through the expectations imposed on her that lead her to challenge a pair of athletes who are remarkably similar to a famous tennis duo. The author captures the awkwardness and joy of teen life while laying the foundation for Alex’s character and describing her approach to challenges.
There are fun twists to the story and it is important to pay attention to the clues being sprinkled in order to appreciate the elegance of Alex’s decisions. I’m not convinced that this is totally appropriate for young adults, given that a murder is being planned, but the obstacles that Alex encounters as she takes up a new sport provide an opportunity to reflect on racial and social issues. I like several of the secondary characters and wish they were a little more developed even as I enjoyed getting glimpses of their capabilities, and I’m still a little puzzled about some of the hostility that develops so abruptly. This is a creative story with a thought-provoking ending.
A copy of this title was provided for review
August 2, 2018
“Today I’m going to kill the love of my life.” What a wonderful hook for a novel. This is a futuristic YA action/adventure novel that has so many twists and turns that your head will be spinning. The characters were the best part because they were so well created and yet they were also not what you would expect them to be. This is a book that will surprise you and delight you.
November 9, 2019
I received this book for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Read an excerpt and follow the Goddess Fish book tour here.
I quite enjoyed the main story of this book. Running (literally) along with 13-year-old Alex and her insecurities brought me back to 13-year-old me. I could identify so easily with younger Alex. That part of the story felt so real.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have the same feelings toward the beginning and end of the book with older Alex. The technology was really neat—talking cars and such. But I felt a disconnect from younger Alex’s story to that of her older counterpart. It really felt like two different stories. Alex is off to kill the love of her life for some wrong done her, but from the earlier years, I saw no wrong done. I saw no hint at a wrong done by one of the boys she crushed on. The ending left me confused, both as to Alex’s motives and to the overall message being delivered.
While Alex’s relationship with her boy crushes, and later adult lover/wannabe lovers confused me, her friendships with fellow runners as a child were fantastic. The ups and downs of teen alliances were fleshed out beautifully. Alex’s relationship with her dad, too, felt real. There were many questions about her dad, especially in later Alex’s section, that I felt weren’t answered. If they were, I missed the answers, which led to more confusion for me.
All in all, this really did feel like two different books. Older Alex’s section is a sci-fi thriller. Younger Alex’s section is a contemporary coming-of-age tale, and the two didn’t meet in the middle enough. I needed more from the early years to understand Alex’s anger later. If the younger years appeared by themselves, this book would have been perfect. As it is, it was good, but confusing.
Read an excerpt and follow the Goddess Fish book tour here.
I quite enjoyed the main story of this book. Running (literally) along with 13-year-old Alex and her insecurities brought me back to 13-year-old me. I could identify so easily with younger Alex. That part of the story felt so real.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have the same feelings toward the beginning and end of the book with older Alex. The technology was really neat—talking cars and such. But I felt a disconnect from younger Alex’s story to that of her older counterpart. It really felt like two different stories. Alex is off to kill the love of her life for some wrong done her, but from the earlier years, I saw no wrong done. I saw no hint at a wrong done by one of the boys she crushed on. The ending left me confused, both as to Alex’s motives and to the overall message being delivered.
While Alex’s relationship with her boy crushes, and later adult lover/wannabe lovers confused me, her friendships with fellow runners as a child were fantastic. The ups and downs of teen alliances were fleshed out beautifully. Alex’s relationship with her dad, too, felt real. There were many questions about her dad, especially in later Alex’s section, that I felt weren’t answered. If they were, I missed the answers, which led to more confusion for me.
All in all, this really did feel like two different books. Older Alex’s section is a sci-fi thriller. Younger Alex’s section is a contemporary coming-of-age tale, and the two didn’t meet in the middle enough. I needed more from the early years to understand Alex’s anger later. If the younger years appeared by themselves, this book would have been perfect. As it is, it was good, but confusing.
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June 13, 2018Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman
Freaking Fast by David Pereda is a young adult novel that thrusts us into the future, reminiscing about today. Alexandra Martin is a successful mathematician living in Asheville, North Carolina, in the year 2066. As she drives her flash, robot car to shoot the man who she describes as the love of her life, she begins to reminisce about her middle-school years, her friends and the day she met the boy who would have such an influence over her life, Ukranian Vitali Borzov. Back in middle-school Alex was your typical nerd; incredibly smart and bright, but equally, totally uncoordinated, shy and doubtful about her looks and her personality. Eager to obtain a scholarship to an elite high-school, Alex is dismayed when she is told she needs to be a more “well-rounded” teenager if she is to guarantee the scholarship – her high grades will not be enough. She knows she’s a faster runner than her schoolmates, so in desperation she decides to give track and field a crack, sprinting in particular. Alex remembers her friends and her time as a rising sprint star along with her new friends and the impact they had on her life, as she heads over to kill the man who she loves more than anything in this world.
David Pereda has produced a fascinating, little story, in Freaking Fast that gives us a peek into what the future might hold, but also spends much time reflecting on the angst and self-doubts that are part of any teenager’s makeup. The characters he creates are typical young teenagers, anxious to prove themselves to their peers, but equally terrified of not being accepted, or of being ridiculed. The author’s style is simple and flowing as should be the case for a target market of young adults. As anything but a young adult, I still found the story compelling and especially enjoyed the deep and meaningful analysis of how Alex faced her sprinting races and dealt with both success and failure. The author made subtle references to how to deal with perceived “failure”, which I appreciated. I also found the little asides, relating to current events of today, both relevant and clever on the author’s part. This was an extremely easy book to read and I can definitely recommend it for not just young adults, but for all those young at heart and especially anyone who tried to follow their dreams, as a young teenager. Freaking Fast is an excellent read.
Freaking Fast by David Pereda is a young adult novel that thrusts us into the future, reminiscing about today. Alexandra Martin is a successful mathematician living in Asheville, North Carolina, in the year 2066. As she drives her flash, robot car to shoot the man who she describes as the love of her life, she begins to reminisce about her middle-school years, her friends and the day she met the boy who would have such an influence over her life, Ukranian Vitali Borzov. Back in middle-school Alex was your typical nerd; incredibly smart and bright, but equally, totally uncoordinated, shy and doubtful about her looks and her personality. Eager to obtain a scholarship to an elite high-school, Alex is dismayed when she is told she needs to be a more “well-rounded” teenager if she is to guarantee the scholarship – her high grades will not be enough. She knows she’s a faster runner than her schoolmates, so in desperation she decides to give track and field a crack, sprinting in particular. Alex remembers her friends and her time as a rising sprint star along with her new friends and the impact they had on her life, as she heads over to kill the man who she loves more than anything in this world.
David Pereda has produced a fascinating, little story, in Freaking Fast that gives us a peek into what the future might hold, but also spends much time reflecting on the angst and self-doubts that are part of any teenager’s makeup. The characters he creates are typical young teenagers, anxious to prove themselves to their peers, but equally terrified of not being accepted, or of being ridiculed. The author’s style is simple and flowing as should be the case for a target market of young adults. As anything but a young adult, I still found the story compelling and especially enjoyed the deep and meaningful analysis of how Alex faced her sprinting races and dealt with both success and failure. The author made subtle references to how to deal with perceived “failure”, which I appreciated. I also found the little asides, relating to current events of today, both relevant and clever on the author’s part. This was an extremely easy book to read and I can definitely recommend it for not just young adults, but for all those young at heart and especially anyone who tried to follow their dreams, as a young teenager. Freaking Fast is an excellent read.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews