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Halfskin #1
Halfskin
"Underground Reviews 2015 Top Pick Award"
Biomites are artificial stem cells that can replace any cell in your body. No more kidney failure, no severed spines or blood disease. No cancer. Pharmaceuticals become obsolete. With each dose of biomites, we become stronger, we become smarter and prettier.
We become better.
At what point are we no longer human?
Nix Richards nearly died in a car accident when he was young. Biomites saved his life. Ten years later, he’s not so lucky. The Halfskin Laws decree a human composed of 50% biomites is no longer human. Halfskins have no legal rights and will have their biomites shutdown. It’s not called murder, merely deactivation.
Cali Richards has been Nix’s legal guardian since their parents died. She has lost far too many people in her life to let the government take Nix. She is a nanobiometric engineer and will discover how to hide him. But even brilliance can succumb to the pressure of suffering. And technology can’t cure insanity.
Cali and Nix keep a slippery grip on reality as they elude a maniacal federal agent dedicated to saving humanity from what he calls 'The Biomite Plague'.
Biomites are artificial stem cells that can replace any cell in your body. No more kidney failure, no severed spines or blood disease. No cancer. Pharmaceuticals become obsolete. With each dose of biomites, we become stronger, we become smarter and prettier.
We become better.
At what point are we no longer human?
Nix Richards nearly died in a car accident when he was young. Biomites saved his life. Ten years later, he’s not so lucky. The Halfskin Laws decree a human composed of 50% biomites is no longer human. Halfskins have no legal rights and will have their biomites shutdown. It’s not called murder, merely deactivation.
Cali Richards has been Nix’s legal guardian since their parents died. She has lost far too many people in her life to let the government take Nix. She is a nanobiometric engineer and will discover how to hide him. But even brilliance can succumb to the pressure of suffering. And technology can’t cure insanity.
Cali and Nix keep a slippery grip on reality as they elude a maniacal federal agent dedicated to saving humanity from what he calls 'The Biomite Plague'.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 30, 2012
132 people are currently reading
679 people want to read
About the author
Tony Bertauski
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He grew up in the Midwest where the land is flat and the corn is tall. The winters are bleak and cold. He hated winters.
He always wanted to write. But writing was hard. And he wasn’t very disciplined. The cold had nothing to do with that, but it didn’t help. That changed in grad school.
After several attempts at a proposal, his major advisor was losing money on red ink and advised him to figure it out. Somehow, he did.
After grad school, he and his wife and two very little children moved to the South in Charleston, South Carolina where the winters are spring and the summers are a sauna (cliche but dead on accurate). That’s when he started teaching and writing articles for trade magazines. He eventually published two textbooks on landscape design. He then transitioned to writing a column for the Post and Courier. They were all great gigs, but they weren’t fiction.
That was a few years later.
His daughter started reading before she could read, pretending she knew the words in books she propped on her lap. His son was a different story. In an attempt to change that, he began writing a story with him. They made up a character, gave him a name, and something to do. As with much of parenting, it did not go as planned. But the character got stuck in his head.
He wanted out.
A few years later, Socket Greeny was born. It was a science fiction trilogy that was gritty and thoughtful. That was 2005.
He has been practicing Zen since he was 23 years old. A daily meditator, he wants to instill something meaningful in his stories that appeals to a young adult crowd as well as adult. Think Hunger Games. He hadn’t planned to write fiction, didn’t even know if he had anymore stories in him after Socket Greeny.
Turns out he did.
He grew up in the Midwest where the land is flat and the corn is tall. The winters are bleak and cold. He hated winters.
He always wanted to write. But writing was hard. And he wasn’t very disciplined. The cold had nothing to do with that, but it didn’t help. That changed in grad school.
After several attempts at a proposal, his major advisor was losing money on red ink and advised him to figure it out. Somehow, he did.
After grad school, he and his wife and two very little children moved to the South in Charleston, South Carolina where the winters are spring and the summers are a sauna (cliche but dead on accurate). That’s when he started teaching and writing articles for trade magazines. He eventually published two textbooks on landscape design. He then transitioned to writing a column for the Post and Courier. They were all great gigs, but they weren’t fiction.
That was a few years later.
His daughter started reading before she could read, pretending she knew the words in books she propped on her lap. His son was a different story. In an attempt to change that, he began writing a story with him. They made up a character, gave him a name, and something to do. As with much of parenting, it did not go as planned. But the character got stuck in his head.
He wanted out.
A few years later, Socket Greeny was born. It was a science fiction trilogy that was gritty and thoughtful. That was 2005.
He has been practicing Zen since he was 23 years old. A daily meditator, he wants to instill something meaningful in his stories that appeals to a young adult crowd as well as adult. Think Hunger Games. He hadn’t planned to write fiction, didn’t even know if he had anymore stories in him after Socket Greeny.
Turns out he did.
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October 23, 2014
As usual, Bertauski didn't take the normal path. Biomites, medicine, & lives collide in our world with religion & law. There were a few things I kept waiting to see addressed. They weren't. Instead the story went in some very interesting other directions. I'm not quite sure where we wound up, but it was an interesting trip & I still have a lot to think about.
Perhaps the coolest thing about this is that it isn't really that far out in any respect. I was just reading an article by Kurzweil
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Kurz...
saying that we'll be connecting mentally to the cloud in 2-3 decades. According to him, he's been correct on over 80% of his predictions. Whether or not he's as right as he thinks he is or not, no one can deny that intellectual technology is growing at an accelerating rate along the curves that he's predicted & is causing huge social changes.
That's what's so neat about this is the 'bad' guy really isn't, at least not in his own lights. Religion is about stability & he's facing a new world with a conservative mind set, but he might just be right. As much as I disliked him at times, his points were well reasoned. Bertauski subtly bolsters his arguments, too. It was tough knowing who to root for sometimes. My favorite sort of story.
I highly recommend it!
Perhaps the coolest thing about this is that it isn't really that far out in any respect. I was just reading an article by Kurzweil
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Kurz...
saying that we'll be connecting mentally to the cloud in 2-3 decades. According to him, he's been correct on over 80% of his predictions. Whether or not he's as right as he thinks he is or not, no one can deny that intellectual technology is growing at an accelerating rate along the curves that he's predicted & is causing huge social changes.
That's what's so neat about this is the 'bad' guy really isn't, at least not in his own lights. Religion is about stability & he's facing a new world with a conservative mind set, but he might just be right. As much as I disliked him at times, his points were well reasoned. Bertauski subtly bolsters his arguments, too. It was tough knowing who to root for sometimes. My favorite sort of story.
I highly recommend it!
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March 30, 2019
The next great book-a future classic-is going to be a modern-day 1984 about technology, but the kind that is infused in our own bodies, not just on the outside trying to get in. I feel quite confident in saying that, and also in saying that it will become a reality, as well.
Halfskin is that kind of book, and whilst it refers to 1984 and Big Brother, it doesn't quite come close to it's literary mastery... at all. Sadly.
Halfskin has intrigue in spades and always seems to manage to edge close towards being something, special, but can't quite make it. We have a 1984-esque world, but up-to-date and modern. It is our world now, but with nano-technology that is used in lieu of cells: they regenerate, re-grow and make us better, through choice. But they don't stop, and therein lies the problem.
We follow Nix and his sister, Cali. Nix has biomites (the books own version of nanobots)... Actually, everyone has biomites, but biomites are taking over and nothing can stop them. Once your body hits 50% biomite take over, you're killed by the government. It's a little convoluted, but essentially Nix is nearing 50% through no fault of his own and Cali wants to stop them taking him.
Once you get to the crux of the plot, you realise... There isn't much of a plot. We are following one woman trying to save her brother. She's a scientist, and she's supposed to be incredibly intelligent (biomites can also increase intelligence... I'll leave that one hanging), and her brother is going to be killed by the maniacal baddy who despises biomites and all they stand for. The plot is weak and the protagonists are underwhelming cliches for sure, but the main issue is this is only about a handful of people at best. There is no worldwide urgency that you find in other dystopian, futuristically bleak novels.
I like the questions this book poses: what makes us human? Is a person still a person when they are 50% technology, or 90% technology? When does human stop and technology start? But we never explore these. Instead, we follow two rather mundane people who just so happen to live in a time when biomites exist. A world that is a little hard to believe in, as well. Dystopian novels become classics when they speak of a truth that will undoubtedly become true in some respect, but this one isn't. There is no explanation for the biomites, or why people continue to use them even though they know they'll end up being killed in a few years. There is no exploration of the governments control, except a couple of throwaway lines about knowing when you're searching for pornography.
Whilst this does smack of the modern-day "I don't care that my phone is recording my conversations as long as I can put the kettle on without getting off my fat arse" lifestyle we are currently experiencing, but to throw death in to the equation would surely create a greater reaction than "I wanna be prettier, put the bots in me, Doc!" The Halfskin world is unbelievable, in both meanings, and that lets it down hugely.
Because of all the above, the rest of the book is rather null and void. There are spelling mistakes here and there, and words used when others should be, and all-in-all more editing is definitely needed... But, truthfully, it is just rather boring, when it could explore one of the more pressing matters of human existence.
Oh, well.
Halfskin is that kind of book, and whilst it refers to 1984 and Big Brother, it doesn't quite come close to it's literary mastery... at all. Sadly.
Halfskin has intrigue in spades and always seems to manage to edge close towards being something, special, but can't quite make it. We have a 1984-esque world, but up-to-date and modern. It is our world now, but with nano-technology that is used in lieu of cells: they regenerate, re-grow and make us better, through choice. But they don't stop, and therein lies the problem.
We follow Nix and his sister, Cali. Nix has biomites (the books own version of nanobots)... Actually, everyone has biomites, but biomites are taking over and nothing can stop them. Once your body hits 50% biomite take over, you're killed by the government. It's a little convoluted, but essentially Nix is nearing 50% through no fault of his own and Cali wants to stop them taking him.
Once you get to the crux of the plot, you realise... There isn't much of a plot. We are following one woman trying to save her brother. She's a scientist, and she's supposed to be incredibly intelligent (biomites can also increase intelligence... I'll leave that one hanging), and her brother is going to be killed by the maniacal baddy who despises biomites and all they stand for. The plot is weak and the protagonists are underwhelming cliches for sure, but the main issue is this is only about a handful of people at best. There is no worldwide urgency that you find in other dystopian, futuristically bleak novels.
I like the questions this book poses: what makes us human? Is a person still a person when they are 50% technology, or 90% technology? When does human stop and technology start? But we never explore these. Instead, we follow two rather mundane people who just so happen to live in a time when biomites exist. A world that is a little hard to believe in, as well. Dystopian novels become classics when they speak of a truth that will undoubtedly become true in some respect, but this one isn't. There is no explanation for the biomites, or why people continue to use them even though they know they'll end up being killed in a few years. There is no exploration of the governments control, except a couple of throwaway lines about knowing when you're searching for pornography.
Whilst this does smack of the modern-day "I don't care that my phone is recording my conversations as long as I can put the kettle on without getting off my fat arse" lifestyle we are currently experiencing, but to throw death in to the equation would surely create a greater reaction than "I wanna be prettier, put the bots in me, Doc!" The Halfskin world is unbelievable, in both meanings, and that lets it down hugely.
Because of all the above, the rest of the book is rather null and void. There are spelling mistakes here and there, and words used when others should be, and all-in-all more editing is definitely needed... But, truthfully, it is just rather boring, when it could explore one of the more pressing matters of human existence.
Oh, well.
December 17, 2012
I enjoyed this book. This is the 4th book that I have read by him & one thing that stands out is how knowledgable he is when it comes to technology. Which is ironic because I'm considered by most tekkis as a luddite.
First I will start with the pro's. I really enjoyed the way he had multiple point of views rotating through out the story. My personal favorite was the chapter's written from the "unknown" writer. They were also the ones that resonated w/ me.
I have had numerous conversations w/ friends who have read about similar types of medical studies being done w/ putting some type of mechanical cells in your body that could treat things before they ever get to the point of ailing you. No more sickness, suffering, etc.
In our world (which is already ridiculously over- populated) this would be a nightmare. Just look at plastic surgery; it is good when it comes to reconstructive procedures, but it's already being abused to people can stop the aging,& fattening process. Btw it's not working.
Back to the novel. I thought the book drew me in right at the cover. Being a hypochondriac the idea of having anything inside me, duplicating , instantly would have me feeling like gizmo ( the good idea) had been fed after midnight & now was wreaking havoc on me.
"How you say? Well I don't think the government should be as intrusive in our lives as they already are. The thought they had the option to "shut me down" at will would terrify me. They are sneaking it into our mindset already w/ phone locating GPS, 4square, safety barcode's inserted in your beloved pet it infant. All with positive outcomes. It's a trial run & that god for authors like Tony Bertuaski for unveiling the threat & showing it to reader's through the eyes of the future. "Mother" has already begun.
With his alternating view points at times you could even see the hunch back of Norte Dane's logic. I didn't agree w/,his methods but I did understand some of them.
Nix reminded me of Reed in "annihilation of Foreverland "- the way he was intelligent & strong. When he escaped into his "lagoon" it was reminiscent of when Reed would think of "the red-haired girl". Even the ocean, the visual imagery was similar with Nix & Raine.
I thought the book would appeal to a lot of different reading genre's. it would also appeal to fans of Phillip K Dick's writing, the movie "Strange Days", Minority Report. As well as the Matrix would appreciate the way the author is able to take such technical terminology of computer technology & make it read so simply.
Even the way "Danny boy " was able to understand and take it so much further with Hacking into a system , Cali was also able to explain as a character involved in the story how she was manipulating the system .
I have to say that I think this book along with all the other novels written by this author would appeal to all age groups & might give a moments pause to the readers before they jump head- first into this new, sterile, cold, lonely technologically controlled world.
We would be more free in a single room "unaccounted" for than if we had the whole world to roam but could constantly be tracked.
I will be looking forward to the next book by this author. I would also recommend this book to any friend. It's a chilling but highly possible way to imagine what our future could be.
Sometimes those dystopian theories almost sound homey:)
Review written by Clare Dooley for the "Read it & Reap"( a totally awesome idea btw) on goodreads. I was given a copy of this book for an honest review. The most honest I could get is, had I not been lucky enough to receive a copy I would have bought it.
First I will start with the pro's. I really enjoyed the way he had multiple point of views rotating through out the story. My personal favorite was the chapter's written from the "unknown" writer. They were also the ones that resonated w/ me.
I have had numerous conversations w/ friends who have read about similar types of medical studies being done w/ putting some type of mechanical cells in your body that could treat things before they ever get to the point of ailing you. No more sickness, suffering, etc.
In our world (which is already ridiculously over- populated) this would be a nightmare. Just look at plastic surgery; it is good when it comes to reconstructive procedures, but it's already being abused to people can stop the aging,& fattening process. Btw it's not working.
Back to the novel. I thought the book drew me in right at the cover. Being a hypochondriac the idea of having anything inside me, duplicating , instantly would have me feeling like gizmo ( the good idea) had been fed after midnight & now was wreaking havoc on me.
"How you say? Well I don't think the government should be as intrusive in our lives as they already are. The thought they had the option to "shut me down" at will would terrify me. They are sneaking it into our mindset already w/ phone locating GPS, 4square, safety barcode's inserted in your beloved pet it infant. All with positive outcomes. It's a trial run & that god for authors like Tony Bertuaski for unveiling the threat & showing it to reader's through the eyes of the future. "Mother" has already begun.
With his alternating view points at times you could even see the hunch back of Norte Dane's logic. I didn't agree w/,his methods but I did understand some of them.
Nix reminded me of Reed in "annihilation of Foreverland "- the way he was intelligent & strong. When he escaped into his "lagoon" it was reminiscent of when Reed would think of "the red-haired girl". Even the ocean, the visual imagery was similar with Nix & Raine.
I thought the book would appeal to a lot of different reading genre's. it would also appeal to fans of Phillip K Dick's writing, the movie "Strange Days", Minority Report. As well as the Matrix would appreciate the way the author is able to take such technical terminology of computer technology & make it read so simply.
Even the way "Danny boy " was able to understand and take it so much further with Hacking into a system , Cali was also able to explain as a character involved in the story how she was manipulating the system .
I have to say that I think this book along with all the other novels written by this author would appeal to all age groups & might give a moments pause to the readers before they jump head- first into this new, sterile, cold, lonely technologically controlled world.
We would be more free in a single room "unaccounted" for than if we had the whole world to roam but could constantly be tracked.
I will be looking forward to the next book by this author. I would also recommend this book to any friend. It's a chilling but highly possible way to imagine what our future could be.
Sometimes those dystopian theories almost sound homey:)
Review written by Clare Dooley for the "Read it & Reap"( a totally awesome idea btw) on goodreads. I was given a copy of this book for an honest review. The most honest I could get is, had I not been lucky enough to receive a copy I would have bought it.
October 13, 2016
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for honest feedback.
I had some expectations on how Halfskin was going to go: Lots of action scenes, rebellions against the government, etc., so I was surprised when the novel took on a different direction, which isn't a bad thing at all.
For me, Halfskin was a character study kind of novel. It was the story of Cali, Nix, and Marcus, and their thoughts, beliefs, and struggles in a world with the technology of biomites: artificial cells can repair major injuries to change the color of your eyes. There was less action (though that still existed in the novel) and a lot more introspection.
I liked how the author showed the different views on biomites and didn't really give a definite answer on whether biomites are good or bad, leaving it up to the reader's interpretation. Marcus, especially, was an interesting POV character choice, because although I really hated him (in a good way, like the way good villains elicit the appropriate emotion from the reader) I could definitely imagine someone like him in real life, with the same stubborn beliefs and hypocrisy and blind dedication to his work.
Another thing I liked about the novel were the twists for Cali and Marcus's characters. I didn't expect them but now that I think of it, there were hints early on and I think it was excellent how the author wrote them into the novel.
Unfortunately, though, there were a lot of editorial mistakes in the copy I received, mostly missing words or words that shouldn't be there. They distracted me from the story a bit and I hope they get fixed in future versions.
I also thought that some chapters were unnecessary. They didn't add anything to the narrative and were a repetition of everything that was already mentioned earlier.
Overall, though, I liked Halfskin. It had a page-turning quality to it and I even felt my heart beating fast in some chapters. I think that with tighter editing it could turn out to be an even more awesome novel.
I would recommend this novel for readers who love reading about character introspection, and how future technological advancements can affect their lives.
December 5, 2012
I've been getting a little burned out on urban fantasy lately, so I was glad to jump at the chance to review this little sci-fi novel. Sci-fi and high fantasy were my first favorite genres and I like to sample them on occasion when I grow bored of my new favorite genre.
The story got off on a bang, and sucked me in from the start. In the world that the author has created, mankind is using nano technology to improve our health, looks, and intelligence. As the technology evolves, as with anything, the government feels it has to control it. Soon laws declare that once a human is more than 40% biomite, they are no longer entitled to exist. Once they hit 50% they are killed.
Like all good science fiction, this story brings up the question what is it that truly makes us human? The bad guy in this thinks that humans are playing God, and that biomites (the nanos) are satanic, and if you use them you are evil. On the other hand, the protagonists view them as help for humanity much as a transplant, or a pill, or a pacemaker would be. Of course all three main characters, Cali, Nix and the bad guy Walter are deeply flawed (I like a good character study).
Pros: I really enjoyed the mix of Brave New World with 1984 going on in this book. We have the technology that is changing humanity from what it is, and the government control that not only watches you, but decides who lives or dies and can switch you off at any moment. It was also scary seeing through events that happen in the book how easy it is to manipulate technology. Other than the nanobots, I think every computer manipulation that occurs in the book, could occur today, and it's really scary how the government/bad people could destroy you on a whim.
Cons: There aren't many cons. This book was a quick read, it was thought provoking, it was even an edge of the seat thriller at times. The only issues I found were the last maybe 15-20% of the book. There were a lot of sequences and flashing back and forth between inner and outer reality. It was confusing and hard to keep track of. The last scene where Cali sets up the bad man were so vague, I'm still not sure what went on.
Overall, this was a decent novel. I think it could have been longer, it ended rather abruptly and I'm still not sure why the evil agent was going to stop chasing them. However, the action never stopped, it was interesting, and I couldn't put it down. I'd definitely recommend it to lovers of the sci-fi genre, and even those who only like the genre on occasion. This book wasn't so intense in the science jargon as to put off any casual partakers of the genre.
The story got off on a bang, and sucked me in from the start. In the world that the author has created, mankind is using nano technology to improve our health, looks, and intelligence. As the technology evolves, as with anything, the government feels it has to control it. Soon laws declare that once a human is more than 40% biomite, they are no longer entitled to exist. Once they hit 50% they are killed.
Like all good science fiction, this story brings up the question what is it that truly makes us human? The bad guy in this thinks that humans are playing God, and that biomites (the nanos) are satanic, and if you use them you are evil. On the other hand, the protagonists view them as help for humanity much as a transplant, or a pill, or a pacemaker would be. Of course all three main characters, Cali, Nix and the bad guy Walter are deeply flawed (I like a good character study).
Pros: I really enjoyed the mix of Brave New World with 1984 going on in this book. We have the technology that is changing humanity from what it is, and the government control that not only watches you, but decides who lives or dies and can switch you off at any moment. It was also scary seeing through events that happen in the book how easy it is to manipulate technology. Other than the nanobots, I think every computer manipulation that occurs in the book, could occur today, and it's really scary how the government/bad people could destroy you on a whim.
Cons: There aren't many cons. This book was a quick read, it was thought provoking, it was even an edge of the seat thriller at times. The only issues I found were the last maybe 15-20% of the book. There were a lot of sequences and flashing back and forth between inner and outer reality. It was confusing and hard to keep track of. The last scene where Cali sets up the bad man were so vague, I'm still not sure what went on.
Overall, this was a decent novel. I think it could have been longer, it ended rather abruptly and I'm still not sure why the evil agent was going to stop chasing them. However, the action never stopped, it was interesting, and I couldn't put it down. I'd definitely recommend it to lovers of the sci-fi genre, and even those who only like the genre on occasion. This book wasn't so intense in the science jargon as to put off any casual partakers of the genre.
December 30, 2014
I rate a book as good if it can keep me up at night. This is one of these books. The thing I liked about it is that it was a different story then vampires and werewolves that we are coming across these days. Not that I don't like it, but with very little effort you can "see" this happening in the future, with all the nanotech people are trying to develop nowadays. And the fanatics brr!
Tony Bertauski did a good job portraying all these aspects, I loved it. The only reason I gave it three stars was because with all the information, all the knowledge our main characters have they would rather escape into illusion. Or isn't it?
I liked the guessing, not too much of it. So maybe I might change my ratings in time, maybe when I read it again.
It is a very good, easy read, not too long, not too short. There is a lot of development going on and be prepared to get surprised!
Trying not to give away any spoilers here, so I'll stop at it. But I would recommend this story for a bit of nice, light reading.
Tony Bertauski did a good job portraying all these aspects, I loved it. The only reason I gave it three stars was because with all the information, all the knowledge our main characters have they would rather escape into illusion. Or isn't it?
I liked the guessing, not too much of it. So maybe I might change my ratings in time, maybe when I read it again.
It is a very good, easy read, not too long, not too short. There is a lot of development going on and be prepared to get surprised!
Trying not to give away any spoilers here, so I'll stop at it. But I would recommend this story for a bit of nice, light reading.
February 21, 2019
Surprisingly good.
October 6, 2018
I hope an author never feels slighted when I say that his or her work was one of the books that I read in between other books. I read so many different things, for so many different reasons, but there is certain type of book that takes me back to being a teenager and helps me to refresh and just be entertained.
Neat concepts here, and while I could never get my book club to read something like this, my brain won't let me ignore the fact that there could be some great discussions around the bioethics and right to life implications of the technology.
I did not see the plot twist coming, but I don't put a lot of energy into that anyway. In hindsight, the clues were definitely there. The author says the technology is impossible...but for how long?
Neat concepts here, and while I could never get my book club to read something like this, my brain won't let me ignore the fact that there could be some great discussions around the bioethics and right to life implications of the technology.
I did not see the plot twist coming, but I don't put a lot of energy into that anyway. In hindsight, the clues were definitely there. The author says the technology is impossible...but for how long?
September 14, 2015
https://anaslair.wordpress.com/2015/0...
Halfskin gripped me from the beginning. This is a perfect example of a well written book. It is so rich and yet never heavy because the language is extremely accessible and it keeps a great pace.
When I read that first part, my first impression was that there were a lot of characters. But as the narrative advanced, I could keep up with most of them easily enough. I was baffled at how such an ordinary situation, one all of us can relate to in our own lives, could open the door to such a wondrous world, where everyone wants to be seeded with biomites. These things will cure any disease, and overall enhance your physical and intellectual abilities. Naturally, everyone wants them, but by law people can only get them at 15 years old.
After that, the narrative advances 10 years, and we are shown a blog post that sounded so realistic. If something like this ever happened, I could totally see someone posting something along those lines.
During most of the book, we get to see what Nix and his sister Cali are thinking and going through. However, every now and then, the story is interspersed with accounts of what appears to the first people seeded - their newfound abilities and everyone's reaction. That means that, although we do not know how the world came to be, we get to discover little by little a bit of the beginning of biomites being introduced to society. It's the best of two worlds and, as I said, it's never a bad or boring/confusing thing.
This is probably not a new theme in sci-fi. However, the way it was approached was innovative and just plain brilliant. Not only because of the narrative construction above mentioned, but also because it is such a thought-provoking book. It manages to get us thinking about all sorts of issues, and even wonder whether the bad guy may be right about some things. Is this how God intended us to evolve? At which point do you stop being human? These and several other questions are addressed, and I for one felt there was not a clear answer to them.
The story had just the right pace. I have to admit I felt it was a bit slow at times, but the wonderful writing still kept me interested. In some sequences, the prose had a dreamlike, almost poetic quality that I thoroughly enjoyed, even though it is usually not my cup of tea. The story was mysterious and suspenseful but very clear, and the imagery reflected was stunning, particularly of the lagoon. Some scenes were very touching, and I was absolutely mesmerized at the thought of people crying charcoal tears because of the biomites, not to mention the grey blood.
The technology is obviously astounding as well, and there really isn't much wrong with this book. It wasn't perfect, of course. There were a few sentences I wished had been phrased differently, and sometimes I felt the verb tenses weren't correct, like Nix just finished draining the dishwasher when the doorbell rang; I would think had just finished would be the correct form. There were other similar issues here and there, no big deal.
There were a few instances where I felt that a transition was missing, or a more adequate one was needed. For instance, when I was reading a bit from a previous time frame and then the narrative returned to present day, or vice versa, that transition wasn't always very clear. I think just a blank line between the two paragraphs would have made a huge difference.
I have to say I think things got a bit repetitive with Marcus Anderson going on and on about how biomites would be the end of humankind... I mean, I'd read it not only when he was thinking it, but pretty much every single time he talked with someone. It was a bit too much.
And that cover... Yeah, it could definitely be better.
Some spoilery thoughts:
But overall, this is simply a great sci-fi book.
There were plenty of plot twists, especially in the last quarter of the book, and my interest never really waned. If there were things that might not even been thoroughly explained, or may have come off as too easy, the way the story was developed and the wonderful writing totally made up for it, to the point where I cannot actually recall anything major. And when I thought I knew what was going to happen, the author would totally pull the rug from under my feet.
Halfskin was a thoroughly enjoyable experience and I cannot recommend it enough. Also, it's the first book in a series, but it reads just as well as a standalone. Don't let it slip your mind, get it now!
Disclaimer: I would like to thank the author for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Halfskin gripped me from the beginning. This is a perfect example of a well written book. It is so rich and yet never heavy because the language is extremely accessible and it keeps a great pace.
When I read that first part, my first impression was that there were a lot of characters. But as the narrative advanced, I could keep up with most of them easily enough. I was baffled at how such an ordinary situation, one all of us can relate to in our own lives, could open the door to such a wondrous world, where everyone wants to be seeded with biomites. These things will cure any disease, and overall enhance your physical and intellectual abilities. Naturally, everyone wants them, but by law people can only get them at 15 years old.
After that, the narrative advances 10 years, and we are shown a blog post that sounded so realistic. If something like this ever happened, I could totally see someone posting something along those lines.
During most of the book, we get to see what Nix and his sister Cali are thinking and going through. However, every now and then, the story is interspersed with accounts of what appears to the first people seeded - their newfound abilities and everyone's reaction. That means that, although we do not know how the world came to be, we get to discover little by little a bit of the beginning of biomites being introduced to society. It's the best of two worlds and, as I said, it's never a bad or boring/confusing thing.
This is probably not a new theme in sci-fi. However, the way it was approached was innovative and just plain brilliant. Not only because of the narrative construction above mentioned, but also because it is such a thought-provoking book. It manages to get us thinking about all sorts of issues, and even wonder whether the bad guy may be right about some things. Is this how God intended us to evolve? At which point do you stop being human? These and several other questions are addressed, and I for one felt there was not a clear answer to them.
The story had just the right pace. I have to admit I felt it was a bit slow at times, but the wonderful writing still kept me interested. In some sequences, the prose had a dreamlike, almost poetic quality that I thoroughly enjoyed, even though it is usually not my cup of tea. The story was mysterious and suspenseful but very clear, and the imagery reflected was stunning, particularly of the lagoon. Some scenes were very touching, and I was absolutely mesmerized at the thought of people crying charcoal tears because of the biomites, not to mention the grey blood.
The technology is obviously astounding as well, and there really isn't much wrong with this book. It wasn't perfect, of course. There were a few sentences I wished had been phrased differently, and sometimes I felt the verb tenses weren't correct, like Nix just finished draining the dishwasher when the doorbell rang; I would think had just finished would be the correct form. There were other similar issues here and there, no big deal.
There were a few instances where I felt that a transition was missing, or a more adequate one was needed. For instance, when I was reading a bit from a previous time frame and then the narrative returned to present day, or vice versa, that transition wasn't always very clear. I think just a blank line between the two paragraphs would have made a huge difference.
I have to say I think things got a bit repetitive with Marcus Anderson going on and on about how biomites would be the end of humankind... I mean, I'd read it not only when he was thinking it, but pretty much every single time he talked with someone. It was a bit too much.
And that cover... Yeah, it could definitely be better.
Some spoilery thoughts:
But overall, this is simply a great sci-fi book.
There were plenty of plot twists, especially in the last quarter of the book, and my interest never really waned. If there were things that might not even been thoroughly explained, or may have come off as too easy, the way the story was developed and the wonderful writing totally made up for it, to the point where I cannot actually recall anything major. And when I thought I knew what was going to happen, the author would totally pull the rug from under my feet.
Halfskin was a thoroughly enjoyable experience and I cannot recommend it enough. Also, it's the first book in a series, but it reads just as well as a standalone. Don't let it slip your mind, get it now!
Disclaimer: I would like to thank the author for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
February 1, 2015
Cross-posted from Papyrus Independent Author Reviews (http://papyrus.calebblake.net/2013/03/12/halkskin-by-tony-bertauski/)
Biomites. Artificial stem cells, revolutionary in the treatment of almost everything – repairing or enhancing. But at what point does the artificial overwhelm the natural? At what point to we replace ourselves with our invention? What does it mean to remain human in an in-human age?
Halfskin is, at its heart, a techno-thriller. The main character targeted for death by an almost dystopian society because of the technology within him. However, I think the author is also painting in shades of grey to an extent.
Biomites are invented for medical reasons – rapid healing, saving lives; stem cells that replicate to repair the body, like a self-sustaining robot army for good. It’s soon discovered that Biomites are also useful for enhancing – improving intelligence, strengthening the body, reversing the ageing process.
It’s not difficult to understand that such an invention is going to cause some societal issues. In our story, moral lobbying helps introduce some extreme laws that state a Biomite composition of over 40% leads to quarantine and 50% results in a form of execution – or as the law states “shutting down”. Nix, our main character is stuck in this web of legislative murder. As a young boy his life is saved after an horrific car crash by a massive injection of Biomites, but as the Biomites replicate over the years and the new laws are introduced, Nix finds himself quarantined on what would be called Death Row – if the law still considered him human. It’s easy for the reader to smart at the injustice of Nix’s fate, to brand those protecting humanity as inhuman and the author does a great job of playing that angle. However, again, I don’t think the message is one-sided.
The author intersperses the action with small news stories or fragments of history that briefly touch upon the invention of the Biomite and a small sample of events that might start to explain how laws of selective “culling” could be introduced: the spelling bee where impossibly difficult words for a child are being spelled with ease, the baseball game with the baseball pitcher with almost super strength in his throwing arm, a number of events that would, over time, turn public opinion against those with Biomites.
What was fascinating to me was not so much how society might have reacted in the story, but how I would have reacted in a similar situation. The questions begin to float off the page:
“Are these super beings actually human?”
“If not, how do we protect ourselves from an in-human race?”
I found this to be a rather chilling aspect of the novel. We are presented with a main character and his older sister who are essentially the heroes of the novel, fighting the injustice of the laws and trying to escape their fate. It is easy to invest in them, follow them through the story and hope that they succeed. However, I was left with a nagging feeling, despite my sympathetic reaction, that perhaps I was on the wrong side.
I liked that the novel made me examine my reactions to the characters and the context of the story. I find it refreshing to have a response slightly more complex than “hero = good, villain = bad” and I think Halfskin delivered on this well. I liked the pacing and the more mind-bending elements; the discovery that the main characters can exert a kind of control over Biomites leads to some interesting scenes and one rather large twist.
There were a few things here and there that didn’t satisfy me quite as much as I would have liked. I found the ending petered out rather than closing confidently. It almost felt that the author had decided to make this part of a trilogy towards the end of the writing and it became important to have an ending that was merely a pause between novels. It wasn’t a cliffhanger and there is some closure – but it just felt a little limp to me. I would have much preferred this to remain a standalone novel foregoing a sequel. It’s a personal reaction, but one that I couldn’t shake off.
The novel was well written. However, I did feel that there were enough typos for me to think this required an extra proof-read. None of the errors really damaged the telling of the story, so it’s more of a minor quibble. But I thought it worth noting for those who are adamant that released novels should be error free.
Overall, I was satisfied with this novel. Last year I read and reviewed The Annihilation of Foreverland by the same author and I was similarly happy. The author creates stories that I want to read, an important talent for a novelist. I’m sure I’ll read more of his work in the future.
Biomites. Artificial stem cells, revolutionary in the treatment of almost everything – repairing or enhancing. But at what point does the artificial overwhelm the natural? At what point to we replace ourselves with our invention? What does it mean to remain human in an in-human age?
Halfskin is, at its heart, a techno-thriller. The main character targeted for death by an almost dystopian society because of the technology within him. However, I think the author is also painting in shades of grey to an extent.
Biomites are invented for medical reasons – rapid healing, saving lives; stem cells that replicate to repair the body, like a self-sustaining robot army for good. It’s soon discovered that Biomites are also useful for enhancing – improving intelligence, strengthening the body, reversing the ageing process.
It’s not difficult to understand that such an invention is going to cause some societal issues. In our story, moral lobbying helps introduce some extreme laws that state a Biomite composition of over 40% leads to quarantine and 50% results in a form of execution – or as the law states “shutting down”. Nix, our main character is stuck in this web of legislative murder. As a young boy his life is saved after an horrific car crash by a massive injection of Biomites, but as the Biomites replicate over the years and the new laws are introduced, Nix finds himself quarantined on what would be called Death Row – if the law still considered him human. It’s easy for the reader to smart at the injustice of Nix’s fate, to brand those protecting humanity as inhuman and the author does a great job of playing that angle. However, again, I don’t think the message is one-sided.
The author intersperses the action with small news stories or fragments of history that briefly touch upon the invention of the Biomite and a small sample of events that might start to explain how laws of selective “culling” could be introduced: the spelling bee where impossibly difficult words for a child are being spelled with ease, the baseball game with the baseball pitcher with almost super strength in his throwing arm, a number of events that would, over time, turn public opinion against those with Biomites.
What was fascinating to me was not so much how society might have reacted in the story, but how I would have reacted in a similar situation. The questions begin to float off the page:
“Are these super beings actually human?”
“If not, how do we protect ourselves from an in-human race?”
I found this to be a rather chilling aspect of the novel. We are presented with a main character and his older sister who are essentially the heroes of the novel, fighting the injustice of the laws and trying to escape their fate. It is easy to invest in them, follow them through the story and hope that they succeed. However, I was left with a nagging feeling, despite my sympathetic reaction, that perhaps I was on the wrong side.
I liked that the novel made me examine my reactions to the characters and the context of the story. I find it refreshing to have a response slightly more complex than “hero = good, villain = bad” and I think Halfskin delivered on this well. I liked the pacing and the more mind-bending elements; the discovery that the main characters can exert a kind of control over Biomites leads to some interesting scenes and one rather large twist.
There were a few things here and there that didn’t satisfy me quite as much as I would have liked. I found the ending petered out rather than closing confidently. It almost felt that the author had decided to make this part of a trilogy towards the end of the writing and it became important to have an ending that was merely a pause between novels. It wasn’t a cliffhanger and there is some closure – but it just felt a little limp to me. I would have much preferred this to remain a standalone novel foregoing a sequel. It’s a personal reaction, but one that I couldn’t shake off.
The novel was well written. However, I did feel that there were enough typos for me to think this required an extra proof-read. None of the errors really damaged the telling of the story, so it’s more of a minor quibble. But I thought it worth noting for those who are adamant that released novels should be error free.
Overall, I was satisfied with this novel. Last year I read and reviewed The Annihilation of Foreverland by the same author and I was similarly happy. The author creates stories that I want to read, an important talent for a novelist. I’m sure I’ll read more of his work in the future.
July 26, 2013
*
4.5 stars
First off I'd like to thank the author for providing a copy to me for review. Halfskin is the third of Tony Bertauski's novels that I have read so far, and as with the other two I thoroughly enjoyed it. We are introduced to a world where people are using biomites to improve their abilities and make themselves stronger. Nix, an eighteen year old boy, is approaching the point where he is almost 50% biomite - which would make him both halfskin and illegal. Marcus Anderson is the man toally against biomites and will make sure that every halfskin is captured and put into a program. Cali, Nix's old sister, will do anything to make sure that doesn't happen.
-----------
*THOUGHTS*
In a break from the norm of writing book reviews, I first want to comment on the ending. I have noticed (and this is part of the reason why Tony Bertauski's books are so good) that he always manages to add that little twist, that little extra something that really keeps you thinking and is that great way to make someone remember and ponder of the story even after you turn the last page. This is one of the features I think that sets him apart from some other authors as he has this talent to always throw something in that you just didn't see coming - either at the beginning, middle or end of the book. .
Plot wise, this book doesn't move insanely fast because it keeps you in the loop with what each character is thinking, planning on doing, and includes news reports about biomite-related issues. I always love to see perspectives from the other characters, and again this is something that Tony Bertauski always seems to get spot-on. In this book you really get the opportunity to understand the characters deeply and their inner lives and thoughts. They were all superbly developed and each was unique in their individual development
*So you may be thinking 'after all this praise, why did you give it a 4.5 and not a 5?
Well, the only answer I can think to that question is that the past two book I read of his (
and
) were just too darn good. Living up to expectations like that is pretty difficult and I still think this book was certainly a success in its own right.
*CONCLUSION*
In conclusion, Halfskin by Tony Bertauski was another sci-fi novel that I really enjoyed. He keeps impressing me with these really well thought-out and though-provoking creative storylines that hit the mark every time. As usual, I'm definitely looking forward to reading what he writes next.
First off I'd like to thank the author for providing a copy to me for review. Halfskin is the third of Tony Bertauski's novels that I have read so far, and as with the other two I thoroughly enjoyed it. We are introduced to a world where people are using biomites to improve their abilities and make themselves stronger. Nix, an eighteen year old boy, is approaching the point where he is almost 50% biomite - which would make him both halfskin and illegal. Marcus Anderson is the man toally against biomites and will make sure that every halfskin is captured and put into a program. Cali, Nix's old sister, will do anything to make sure that doesn't happen.
-----------
*THOUGHTS*
In a break from the norm of writing book reviews, I first want to comment on the ending. I have noticed (and this is part of the reason why Tony Bertauski's books are so good) that he always manages to add that little twist, that little extra something that really keeps you thinking and is that great way to make someone remember and ponder of the story even after you turn the last page. This is one of the features I think that sets him apart from some other authors as he has this talent to always throw something in that you just didn't see coming - either at the beginning, middle or end of the book. .
Plot wise, this book doesn't move insanely fast because it keeps you in the loop with what each character is thinking, planning on doing, and includes news reports about biomite-related issues. I always love to see perspectives from the other characters, and again this is something that Tony Bertauski always seems to get spot-on. In this book you really get the opportunity to understand the characters deeply and their inner lives and thoughts. They were all superbly developed and each was unique in their individual development
*So you may be thinking 'after all this praise, why did you give it a 4.5 and not a 5?
Well, the only answer I can think to that question is that the past two book I read of his (
and
) were just too darn good. Living up to expectations like that is pretty difficult and I still think this book was certainly a success in its own right.*CONCLUSION*
In conclusion, Halfskin by Tony Bertauski was another sci-fi novel that I really enjoyed. He keeps impressing me with these really well thought-out and though-provoking creative storylines that hit the mark every time. As usual, I'm definitely looking forward to reading what he writes next.
December 23, 2012
Humanity is on the brink of a new dawn. Biomites, nanobots cabaple of biological manipulation, have pushed mankind to the realm of perfection...but at a cost. Biomites, medicine, & lives collide in a new world with religion & law. Now, people with over 50% biomites in their body are termed as 'halfskins', people who have no right to live, and are terminated by a supercomputer who can't be escaped. But Cali and Nix, just might do the impossible...
The theme
Halfskin by Tony Bertauski is a novel which employs all of my favourite elements. Like Bertauski's previous novel, Halfskin deals mainly with technology and it's impact on society. More than just a story, though, the story was a subtle social commentary.
In our world, Technological advancement is a common phenomenon, but at what point does it become bad? Who decides whether we are fit to live? And what is the cost? That's the question explored.
Everything is made for the good of humanity. Biomites help in repairing wounds that should have been impossible to heal. But, unfortunately, not everything that is good remains, so. And, as we are already aware in today's society, the consequences of the clash are staggering....portrayed beautifully and realistically.
The Writing
When I first read Tony's Annihilation of Foreverland I was struck by his amazingly lucid writing and believable character. And his latest novel doesn't disappoint. I could practically SEE the scenes playing in my head, Nix, nearly half-dead, yet running with Cali to save themselves....the dreamland, the escape, everything.
His attention to detail is amazing. Not a single thing is out of place. For me, it's always the little details that make the story, the sound the sights, the words...and with Halfskin, I had no reproach. The last twist...DID NOT SEE THAT COMING!
Characters too, are amazing. I loved how real they were...flawed, chipped but holding on. Real human beings aren't perfect. They make bad judgement calls...they do things they shouldn't; in the end, that's what makes them human
Conclusion
To sum it up, I loved the book. The writing was flawless, characters impressive. And the little details made it all the more real.
So far, I have read three of Tony's books, and I have to say - this is the best one yet!
The theme
Halfskin by Tony Bertauski is a novel which employs all of my favourite elements. Like Bertauski's previous novel, Halfskin deals mainly with technology and it's impact on society. More than just a story, though, the story was a subtle social commentary.
In our world, Technological advancement is a common phenomenon, but at what point does it become bad? Who decides whether we are fit to live? And what is the cost? That's the question explored.
Everything is made for the good of humanity. Biomites help in repairing wounds that should have been impossible to heal. But, unfortunately, not everything that is good remains, so. And, as we are already aware in today's society, the consequences of the clash are staggering....portrayed beautifully and realistically.
The Writing
When I first read Tony's Annihilation of Foreverland I was struck by his amazingly lucid writing and believable character. And his latest novel doesn't disappoint. I could practically SEE the scenes playing in my head, Nix, nearly half-dead, yet running with Cali to save themselves....the dreamland, the escape, everything.
His attention to detail is amazing. Not a single thing is out of place. For me, it's always the little details that make the story, the sound the sights, the words...and with Halfskin, I had no reproach. The last twist...DID NOT SEE THAT COMING!
Characters too, are amazing. I loved how real they were...flawed, chipped but holding on. Real human beings aren't perfect. They make bad judgement calls...they do things they shouldn't; in the end, that's what makes them human
Conclusion
To sum it up, I loved the book. The writing was flawless, characters impressive. And the little details made it all the more real.
So far, I have read three of Tony's books, and I have to say - this is the best one yet!
February 18, 2013
I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for a fair review.
Let’s just be honest, Tony Bertauski doesn’t need to butter up his readers with free goods to get nice reviews, because his work more than speaks for itself. Everything of Tony’s I read is even better than the last, and once I started this book, I had to finish it.
Halfskin was not only an intriguing concept, but was fantastic in its execution. Tony is an author that excels in writing about technology that is amazing and terrifying on one fell swoop. Biomites were bred out of the bionanotechnology boom, which, considering our real world current research, isn't a far cry.
His work is, yet again, a delicious cautionary tale of technology that has gone too far. Biomites, which serve to make us better, are slowly taking over people's bodies. Once they reach 'redline' status (40% biomite), they undergo "observation", and at 'halfskin' status (50% biomite) they are shut down by M0THER.
This story should be considered for philosophy classes, as it brilliantly encounters the question of "What makes us human?" without bashing it in your face.
Here, you are taken on a journey with Cali and Nix, siblings who have been 'cursed' by horrible misfortune in their family. At an early age, Nix is seeded with biomites in order to save his life from a tragic accident that killed their parents. 10 years later, Cali is still taking care of Nix, who is just shy of redlining.
When he is taken from their home, Cali decides she will stop at nothing to get her brother back. Their perilous journey takes them in and out of grips with reality, and pits them against a idealistic "purist" who wants to see them both shut down by M0THER, a program that tracks and watches all seeded individuals and reports their redline or halfskin statuses.
My least favorite thing about this journey, the constant and intense emotional turmoil Cali and Nix face, is probably also one of its best features. You really feel for Cali and Nix, and I found myself legitimately worried for them, and nearly in tears at one point.
Seriously, thank you Tony for making me look forward to, and dread, the technological advancements of the future!
Let’s just be honest, Tony Bertauski doesn’t need to butter up his readers with free goods to get nice reviews, because his work more than speaks for itself. Everything of Tony’s I read is even better than the last, and once I started this book, I had to finish it.
Halfskin was not only an intriguing concept, but was fantastic in its execution. Tony is an author that excels in writing about technology that is amazing and terrifying on one fell swoop. Biomites were bred out of the bionanotechnology boom, which, considering our real world current research, isn't a far cry.
His work is, yet again, a delicious cautionary tale of technology that has gone too far. Biomites, which serve to make us better, are slowly taking over people's bodies. Once they reach 'redline' status (40% biomite), they undergo "observation", and at 'halfskin' status (50% biomite) they are shut down by M0THER.
This story should be considered for philosophy classes, as it brilliantly encounters the question of "What makes us human?" without bashing it in your face.
Here, you are taken on a journey with Cali and Nix, siblings who have been 'cursed' by horrible misfortune in their family. At an early age, Nix is seeded with biomites in order to save his life from a tragic accident that killed their parents. 10 years later, Cali is still taking care of Nix, who is just shy of redlining.
When he is taken from their home, Cali decides she will stop at nothing to get her brother back. Their perilous journey takes them in and out of grips with reality, and pits them against a idealistic "purist" who wants to see them both shut down by M0THER, a program that tracks and watches all seeded individuals and reports their redline or halfskin statuses.
My least favorite thing about this journey, the constant and intense emotional turmoil Cali and Nix face, is probably also one of its best features. You really feel for Cali and Nix, and I found myself legitimately worried for them, and nearly in tears at one point.
Seriously, thank you Tony for making me look forward to, and dread, the technological advancements of the future!
March 1, 2013
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This was a new and different concept for me and I thought that the idea was well established and believable but the story was a bit blah for me, but I will say the conspiracy theorist in me was pleased by the 1984 reference:
"I mean, Big Brother was just a pea shooter compared to M0ther."
and I did enjoy all the scientific back round with the Biomites and M0ther but the story itself was not that exciting.
Cali and Nix were a cute pair, a brother sister duo whose main purpose in life seems to be to protect and care for one another through the many hard times they faced and I was rooting for them to succeed. When I read the summary I thought the book would be about Nix, but it was more about the struggle between Cali and the God fearing man hell bent on destroying Biomites, Marcus Anderson, and it was good just not what I expected.
The big turn off for me was the M0ther stories peppered into the book all over the place and although they were pretty cool and informative they would mess up my rhythm of the book and I found it a little random.
The ending was a BIG shocker for me I did not see that coming but the excitement showed up a bit late and as good as it was it did not save it for me. Overall this book was okay but it did not wow me or leave me hungry for more.
"I mean, Big Brother was just a pea shooter compared to M0ther."
and I did enjoy all the scientific back round with the Biomites and M0ther but the story itself was not that exciting.
Cali and Nix were a cute pair, a brother sister duo whose main purpose in life seems to be to protect and care for one another through the many hard times they faced and I was rooting for them to succeed. When I read the summary I thought the book would be about Nix, but it was more about the struggle between Cali and the God fearing man hell bent on destroying Biomites, Marcus Anderson, and it was good just not what I expected.
The big turn off for me was the M0ther stories peppered into the book all over the place and although they were pretty cool and informative they would mess up my rhythm of the book and I found it a little random.
The ending was a BIG shocker for me I did not see that coming but the excitement showed up a bit late and as good as it was it did not save it for me. Overall this book was okay but it did not wow me or leave me hungry for more.
December 15, 2012
Before anything else. I LOVE THE COVER! As an art enthusiast, I like the way the image somehow conveys the feeling of mixed fragility and power both meld on each other.
To be honest, I'm not much of a sci-fi reader, But then I felt like I'm being burned out by all the urban fantasy thingy lately, So yeah, This was a reprieve. Okey,back to serious business. I liked the story on this book, It was original, The POV's constantly shift so as to give each character fairness on their cause. I especially like Marcus's POV, Because he is presented in a manner that shows how he think he's saving the world and doing the entire human race a big favor. Though I enjoyed it, I find Nix's fantastical mental lagoon boring and pointless.
By the way, I receive this book in ebook form via Goodreads, Shut Up and Read's Read it and Reap-it.
To be honest, I'm not much of a sci-fi reader, But then I felt like I'm being burned out by all the urban fantasy thingy lately, So yeah, This was a reprieve. Okey,back to serious business. I liked the story on this book, It was original, The POV's constantly shift so as to give each character fairness on their cause. I especially like Marcus's POV, Because he is presented in a manner that shows how he think he's saving the world and doing the entire human race a big favor. Though I enjoyed it, I find Nix's fantastical mental lagoon boring and pointless.
By the way, I receive this book in ebook form via Goodreads, Shut Up and Read's Read it and Reap-it.
December 10, 2012
I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. I was skeptical when I saw how short it was but I was anything but disappointed. The concept is amazing and the characters were so well written that I really felt like I was right there with them. I didn't expect to have such strong emotional reactions but there were a few points where I couldn't do anything but think "oh my gosh...". My biggest complaint with shorter books is that I almost always have so many questions when I'm finished and I'm typically unhappy with the ending itself. Neither of these were an issue. I felt like everything was beautifully explained and the ending was absolutely perfect. This was definitely a great, quick read and I would definitely recommend it!
December 12, 2012
I read this one two days ago, but I forgot to put up a review. So here it is!
Don't have much to say actually. I liked it. The idea of the story was original, what I like in a book, and the characters were also fun. So yeah, it was good! It's not my favorite kind of book, but nonetheless, I enjoyed reading it. So thumbs up to the author!
Sorry the review is kind of short. =)
I received a copy of this book through the Read it and Reap-program from Goodreads-group Shut up & Read in exchange for an honest review.
Don't have much to say actually. I liked it. The idea of the story was original, what I like in a book, and the characters were also fun. So yeah, it was good! It's not my favorite kind of book, but nonetheless, I enjoyed reading it. So thumbs up to the author!
Sorry the review is kind of short. =)
I received a copy of this book through the Read it and Reap-program from Goodreads-group Shut up & Read in exchange for an honest review.
July 1, 2013
I really enjoyed both of the books in the "Foreverland" series, so I figured I would give this one a try. I was not disappointed. The idea that people have to be "shut down" when their biomites get over 50% of their body is kind of frightening, but the story is very well executed. This author obviously has some kind of fascination with dreams and dreamworlds. The only complaint I had was that Nix's dreamplace wasn't explored just a bit more, but that may be coming in a sequel (if a sequel is planned).
April 28, 2016
3.5 stars
Halfskin deals mainly with technology and its impact on society. However, its main flaw is in its lack of character balance. There is only 1 religious person in the novel, and he’s an extreme conservative. He’s what the media likes to make Christians out to be, intolerant and stubborn. While Bertauski religious fanatic’s reasonings made logical sense and portrayed the character as genuinely seeing his job as saving humanity, I really wanted to see another religious person who was accepting of the technology. Everyone else was an atheist. So I found this disappointing. The question is raised: At what point are we no longer human? I’m not sure that was ever answered fully. I appreciated Nix’s argument that God gave us a brain to think and create and grow. But the rest of the characters seem to rail against God about their lives. Yes, that happens, but there was no counter argument to balance things out. Christianity is not meant to be intolerant. Jesus never taught intolerance. Its people, sadly, that make doctrines suit their own beliefs. I would have liked another person as a counterpoint to the antagonist’s crazy religious strictness.
Bertauski wallops the reader with a HUGE surprise near the end. I thought the story was headed the way of “Inception” when Cali notices something off with her bio readings. But the true discovery of what was not reality was a shocking turning point! And it gave heart to the brother-sister relationship. What a concept to explore! Using biomites not only to cope but also to alter reality so it becomes less painful after heavy personal loss… would you do it if you could? More of Cali’s healing after the discovery would have added nice depth, but I think there was enough to finish this novel up reasonably. The ending, however, was not strong like the rest of the storyline. It kind of fizzled out quietly. I wanted that big revelation moment perhaps in the future when Cali and Nix are 100% biomites and see how they interact and feel at that time. I’m sure that’s for the next novels though.
The world depicted by Tony Bertauski is close enough to our own for a reader to quickly find their way in it. The story’s foundation is grounded solidly in a relatable reality. I found the story, plot, and characters easy to understand. However, the short M0THER blogs were not consistent. At first I thought it was Cali blogging. Then it seemed as if there was another omnipotent narrator out there. Perhaps the major mother machine of them all: M0THER? It was never clarified. I really liked the delvings into the development of the biomite technology, very interesting, and they did shed light on the pros and cons of biomite technology through society. However, the blogs were not consistent as to how the narrative was being given. I liked it, but it seemed more like random thoughts and perhaps should have been titled/presented differently. We’re not spoon fed answers but given questions to chew on slowly and digest. I appreciate that quality in stories. The concept as a whole is quite the thought-provoker: the biomites that once saved lives are now the cause of the end of lives. Is it worth its price?
I like how the good as well as the consequences are explored when it comes to technological advances. There is another question raised: Just because we can does not mean we should. Medicine can cure any ill in Bertauski’s reality. Unfortunately, the organic cells eventually become overrun with synthetic (is resistance futile???). Does this mean the end of humanity? Could this be considered evolution? These concepts are touched upon. I hope they are explored more in the next novel of this series. However, the story does not give much in the way of answers. Since we do not know Cali before her seeding, we do not know how she’s changed as her biomite cells gradually accumulate her up to half-skin status. So it’s hard to gauge how this changes her humanity. I wanted a little more exploration. Bertauski has his characters go through a lot of introspection, but I never felt I knew the characters enough to see their growth in the story. The only truly personal portion is when Cali RE-discovers her loss and Nix comes to her side to save her.
Summary: A compelling story which I found at times I couldn't put it down. But there were other aspects that could have been explored. How would a hypochondriac react to having biomites put into their bodies to multiply and replace their cells? Wouldn’t that seem creepy to some people? And, of course, another religious-based more-tolerant character was needed.
Overall, this is a story you can envision happening in real life. The advantages are society altering, but the consequences on a personal level are staggering. I would read more from this author. He has a good narrative style. I hope the next book in this series carries the same page-turning quality and explores more of the concepts the author introduces through this futuristic setting.
Halfskin deals mainly with technology and its impact on society. However, its main flaw is in its lack of character balance. There is only 1 religious person in the novel, and he’s an extreme conservative. He’s what the media likes to make Christians out to be, intolerant and stubborn. While Bertauski religious fanatic’s reasonings made logical sense and portrayed the character as genuinely seeing his job as saving humanity, I really wanted to see another religious person who was accepting of the technology. Everyone else was an atheist. So I found this disappointing. The question is raised: At what point are we no longer human? I’m not sure that was ever answered fully. I appreciated Nix’s argument that God gave us a brain to think and create and grow. But the rest of the characters seem to rail against God about their lives. Yes, that happens, but there was no counter argument to balance things out. Christianity is not meant to be intolerant. Jesus never taught intolerance. Its people, sadly, that make doctrines suit their own beliefs. I would have liked another person as a counterpoint to the antagonist’s crazy religious strictness.
Bertauski wallops the reader with a HUGE surprise near the end. I thought the story was headed the way of “Inception” when Cali notices something off with her bio readings. But the true discovery of what was not reality was a shocking turning point! And it gave heart to the brother-sister relationship. What a concept to explore! Using biomites not only to cope but also to alter reality so it becomes less painful after heavy personal loss… would you do it if you could? More of Cali’s healing after the discovery would have added nice depth, but I think there was enough to finish this novel up reasonably. The ending, however, was not strong like the rest of the storyline. It kind of fizzled out quietly. I wanted that big revelation moment perhaps in the future when Cali and Nix are 100% biomites and see how they interact and feel at that time. I’m sure that’s for the next novels though.
The world depicted by Tony Bertauski is close enough to our own for a reader to quickly find their way in it. The story’s foundation is grounded solidly in a relatable reality. I found the story, plot, and characters easy to understand. However, the short M0THER blogs were not consistent. At first I thought it was Cali blogging. Then it seemed as if there was another omnipotent narrator out there. Perhaps the major mother machine of them all: M0THER? It was never clarified. I really liked the delvings into the development of the biomite technology, very interesting, and they did shed light on the pros and cons of biomite technology through society. However, the blogs were not consistent as to how the narrative was being given. I liked it, but it seemed more like random thoughts and perhaps should have been titled/presented differently. We’re not spoon fed answers but given questions to chew on slowly and digest. I appreciate that quality in stories. The concept as a whole is quite the thought-provoker: the biomites that once saved lives are now the cause of the end of lives. Is it worth its price?
I like how the good as well as the consequences are explored when it comes to technological advances. There is another question raised: Just because we can does not mean we should. Medicine can cure any ill in Bertauski’s reality. Unfortunately, the organic cells eventually become overrun with synthetic (is resistance futile???). Does this mean the end of humanity? Could this be considered evolution? These concepts are touched upon. I hope they are explored more in the next novel of this series. However, the story does not give much in the way of answers. Since we do not know Cali before her seeding, we do not know how she’s changed as her biomite cells gradually accumulate her up to half-skin status. So it’s hard to gauge how this changes her humanity. I wanted a little more exploration. Bertauski has his characters go through a lot of introspection, but I never felt I knew the characters enough to see their growth in the story. The only truly personal portion is when Cali RE-discovers her loss and Nix comes to her side to save her.
Summary: A compelling story which I found at times I couldn't put it down. But there were other aspects that could have been explored. How would a hypochondriac react to having biomites put into their bodies to multiply and replace their cells? Wouldn’t that seem creepy to some people? And, of course, another religious-based more-tolerant character was needed.
Overall, this is a story you can envision happening in real life. The advantages are society altering, but the consequences on a personal level are staggering. I would read more from this author. He has a good narrative style. I hope the next book in this series carries the same page-turning quality and explores more of the concepts the author introduces through this futuristic setting.
June 1, 2017
I got this autographed paperback copy from the author. Thank you again, Tony Bertauski. I have read Humbug: The Unwinding of Ebeneezer Scrooge of the Claus series and really enjoyed it. When the author asked who wants to get a copy of this book, I was faster than Road Runner and responded to his call.
This book reminds me of Robin Cook's Chromosome 6 and Ken Follet's Third Twin. One thing common among them is the theme--bio-engineering thriller. This book is at par with the two famous writers' work mentioned above. This is a very engrossing read. Makes you think of the possibilities and implications if this book were true. I think I would like biomite injection to remove all those unwanted hairs in my body. Hairs in the armpit, legs, etc. It would really be a great convenience to the women of the world. Or I could also have biomites to improve brain function to the point of having a photographic memory. It would be so awesome to recall facts and figures just from having browsed or read them at one time.
This book talks of a time when diseases are no longer the culprit for the loss of lives. Anything can be cured and any imperfection can be corrected. Biomites are artificial stem cells, they are the answer, whether medical or just for enhancement --superficial or necessary. Then, this poses the question of morality. Up to what point can you have too much biomate in your system? When do you ceased to be human and become a machine?
Cali Richards is a brilliant nanobiometric engineer and she's using every ounce of her skill and access to save his brother. The only family she has left, apart from her daughter. Cali is one bad-ass heroine. She's like a hacker and a doctor combined. The book talked about how Cali was able to bypass and cheat the system so she can save herself and her brother from being terminated because they both have 50% biomites in their bodies. 50% the threshold for too much biomites and is grounds for termination--death. She has to outwit and outlast the system tracking biomites in humans and the one person who made it his life's mission to rid the world of biomite-infested machines. Too him, they are no longer humans. So, killing them is not murder but a service to the human race. How twisted is that?
In a way, the story of Cali and her brother Nix is tragic. Nix has escaped death because of biomites and then hunted down to be killed because he has too much of it in his body. How cruel is that? From the frying pan into the fire. I am fervently rooting for them to outsmart everyone and escape their death sentence.
I give this book 4/5 wheel chairs. This is a very captivating read. It has been years since I last read a book of this genre. I always have this fascination for medical thrillers. I had no inclination or fantasies of being a doctor, except when I was about 6. It was in Kindergarten and I was asked what would I want to be when I grow up. I can't remember what prompted me to think of being a dentist. Probably, it was because no one in the class has taken it yet and everyone else has claimed the other professions which earn one a title such as a doctor, lawyer and engineer. Up until the first two years of high school, it was what I thought I wanted but realizing it entails studying dead bodies and a high tuition that my parents can't afford, I decided I am not suited to be one. I'm not sure if this special fascination for this genre is brought about by my younger and idealistic self's frustrated dream.
I am looking forward to know what happens to our three protagonists. Will they be able to escape Marcus Anderson's reach? I will definitely want to read the next two books in the series.
But this man, he would dog them to the end of the world just so he could watch them die.
- Tony Bertauski, Halfskin -
Other books by Tony Bertauski:
Humbug: The Unwinding of Ebeneezer Scrooge (Claus #4)
This book reminds me of Robin Cook's Chromosome 6 and Ken Follet's Third Twin. One thing common among them is the theme--bio-engineering thriller. This book is at par with the two famous writers' work mentioned above. This is a very engrossing read. Makes you think of the possibilities and implications if this book were true. I think I would like biomite injection to remove all those unwanted hairs in my body. Hairs in the armpit, legs, etc. It would really be a great convenience to the women of the world. Or I could also have biomites to improve brain function to the point of having a photographic memory. It would be so awesome to recall facts and figures just from having browsed or read them at one time.
This book talks of a time when diseases are no longer the culprit for the loss of lives. Anything can be cured and any imperfection can be corrected. Biomites are artificial stem cells, they are the answer, whether medical or just for enhancement --superficial or necessary. Then, this poses the question of morality. Up to what point can you have too much biomate in your system? When do you ceased to be human and become a machine?
Cali Richards is a brilliant nanobiometric engineer and she's using every ounce of her skill and access to save his brother. The only family she has left, apart from her daughter. Cali is one bad-ass heroine. She's like a hacker and a doctor combined. The book talked about how Cali was able to bypass and cheat the system so she can save herself and her brother from being terminated because they both have 50% biomites in their bodies. 50% the threshold for too much biomites and is grounds for termination--death. She has to outwit and outlast the system tracking biomites in humans and the one person who made it his life's mission to rid the world of biomite-infested machines. Too him, they are no longer humans. So, killing them is not murder but a service to the human race. How twisted is that?
In a way, the story of Cali and her brother Nix is tragic. Nix has escaped death because of biomites and then hunted down to be killed because he has too much of it in his body. How cruel is that? From the frying pan into the fire. I am fervently rooting for them to outsmart everyone and escape their death sentence.
I give this book 4/5 wheel chairs. This is a very captivating read. It has been years since I last read a book of this genre. I always have this fascination for medical thrillers. I had no inclination or fantasies of being a doctor, except when I was about 6. It was in Kindergarten and I was asked what would I want to be when I grow up. I can't remember what prompted me to think of being a dentist. Probably, it was because no one in the class has taken it yet and everyone else has claimed the other professions which earn one a title such as a doctor, lawyer and engineer. Up until the first two years of high school, it was what I thought I wanted but realizing it entails studying dead bodies and a high tuition that my parents can't afford, I decided I am not suited to be one. I'm not sure if this special fascination for this genre is brought about by my younger and idealistic self's frustrated dream.
I am looking forward to know what happens to our three protagonists. Will they be able to escape Marcus Anderson's reach? I will definitely want to read the next two books in the series.
But this man, he would dog them to the end of the world just so he could watch them die.
- Tony Bertauski, Halfskin -
Other books by Tony Bertauski:
Humbug: The Unwinding of Ebeneezer Scrooge (Claus #4)
September 29, 2014
(Book provided by the author through ARR #728 in the Making Connections group, in exchange for an honest review.)
This book surprised me in more than one way. It wasn't exactly what I expected it to be at first (I think I expected something like car chases and the usual stuff you see in books/movies when an innocent has to elude the government/FBI/police), but this in itself wasn't a problem, because what I got instead was just as interesting, if not more.
A few months ago, I read "The Annihilation of Foreverland" by the same author, which was already quite good in my opinion (and I could sense its shadow in the 'dreamland', too). In "Halfskin", his writing is even better, and I had no problem picturing scene after scene. The world depicted by Tony Bertauski here is close enough to our own for a reader to quickly find his/her way in it. The major difference is the importance of widespread biomite technology, a technology that brings a lot of good things to humanity (healing, improved brain abilities...) yet has an underlying 'dark side', as biomites themselves behave like cancerous cells and keep on replicating, gradually replacing human tissues, even sane ones. The issues raised by this pervade the story, both through the main characters' narratives and through the short blog entries and stories of a few other people; while the latter may seem unrelated at first, they do shed light on the pros and cons of biomite technology, in a balanced way that makes it hard to decide quickly "this is good" or "this is bad". Here lies another side of the book I appreciated: it contains a lot of potential for such questions, but it doesn't give us the answers, instead leaving us to reflect upon the technology itself and make our own opinion about it.
The characters themselves, especially Cali, Nix and Marcus, are all interesting in their own way, as well as believable. Nix just wants to live, like any other 17-year-old young man wants to, and it is later proved that he's actually quite generous, . Cali has already lost too many beloved ones, and her desire to save her brother is very human and understandable. As for Marcus, his position is that of an integrist, yet it isn't a totally blind one, for it is motivated by genuine concernt about what makes human beings human, and how to ensure that humanity as a whole doesn't cross a supposed line that would doom it.
I found a few scenes in the last chapters confusing, though, especially the one in the hotel (I had to go backwards and read some things again to fully get what was happening); but I'm partly at fault, because I wasn't reading in the best conditions either. I'm also not sure yet about the role played by the lagoon, although I think it made an interesting parallel to ; but I like to think that said lagoon (and Raine) will be important in a potential sequel, and if there is one, I hope that the dreamland, as well as a couple of elements at the very end, will play a part.
This book surprised me in more than one way. It wasn't exactly what I expected it to be at first (I think I expected something like car chases and the usual stuff you see in books/movies when an innocent has to elude the government/FBI/police), but this in itself wasn't a problem, because what I got instead was just as interesting, if not more.
A few months ago, I read "The Annihilation of Foreverland" by the same author, which was already quite good in my opinion (and I could sense its shadow in the 'dreamland', too). In "Halfskin", his writing is even better, and I had no problem picturing scene after scene. The world depicted by Tony Bertauski here is close enough to our own for a reader to quickly find his/her way in it. The major difference is the importance of widespread biomite technology, a technology that brings a lot of good things to humanity (healing, improved brain abilities...) yet has an underlying 'dark side', as biomites themselves behave like cancerous cells and keep on replicating, gradually replacing human tissues, even sane ones. The issues raised by this pervade the story, both through the main characters' narratives and through the short blog entries and stories of a few other people; while the latter may seem unrelated at first, they do shed light on the pros and cons of biomite technology, in a balanced way that makes it hard to decide quickly "this is good" or "this is bad". Here lies another side of the book I appreciated: it contains a lot of potential for such questions, but it doesn't give us the answers, instead leaving us to reflect upon the technology itself and make our own opinion about it.
The characters themselves, especially Cali, Nix and Marcus, are all interesting in their own way, as well as believable. Nix just wants to live, like any other 17-year-old young man wants to, and it is later proved that he's actually quite generous, . Cali has already lost too many beloved ones, and her desire to save her brother is very human and understandable. As for Marcus, his position is that of an integrist, yet it isn't a totally blind one, for it is motivated by genuine concernt about what makes human beings human, and how to ensure that humanity as a whole doesn't cross a supposed line that would doom it.
I found a few scenes in the last chapters confusing, though, especially the one in the hotel (I had to go backwards and read some things again to fully get what was happening); but I'm partly at fault, because I wasn't reading in the best conditions either. I'm also not sure yet about the role played by the lagoon, although I think it made an interesting parallel to ; but I like to think that said lagoon (and Raine) will be important in a potential sequel, and if there is one, I hope that the dreamland, as well as a couple of elements at the very end, will play a part.
January 15, 2015
This review is for Halfskin audiobook by Tony Bertauski, narrated by David Dietz. Runtime 7.5 hours.
Brief Summary: Nix Richards nearly died in a car accident when he was young. Biomites saved his life. Ten years later, he's not so lucky. The Halfskin Laws decree a human composed of 50% biomites is no longer human. Halfskins have no legal rights and will have their biomites shutdown. It's not called murder, merely deactivation.
Cali Richards has been Nix's legal guardian since their parents died. She has lost far too many people in her life to let the government take Nix. She is a nanobiometric engineer and will discover how to hide him. But even brilliance can succumb to the pressure of suffering. And technology can't cure insanity.
Cali and Nix keep a slippery grip on reality as they elude a maniacal federal agent dedicated to saving humanity from what he calls "The Biomite Plague"?
I hate when someone writes a review that is just a summary of the novel while giving everything away, so I'm not going to give any spoilers here. I enjoyed this audiobook so much that I listened to it twice, waiting about a month apart to see if I had a different take on the book, and I liked it just the same the second time around. I found this novel lent itself quite well to an audiobook format and was easy to follow along without getting lost or missing important points. The narrator did a good job differentiating between the different characters by the tenor of the voice and changing the speech patterns per the character, though I did find the voice used for the niece a bit shrill and irritating. I also felt that the narrator did a good job of keeping the story moving along smoothly.
I found this novel to be a bit different than those that I usually listen to, while this might be considered a sci-fi thriller, I found it to encompass many more genres. I felt the writing is such that the Sci-Fi is not the main territory covered, it is the interpersonal relationships of the characters that I found so engrossing. The SciFi aspect of the Biomites is just the bones of the story, it is everything else that fleshes it out to reach out and grab you so you don’t want to stop listening. I like how each of the characters seems so believable in their reasoning and committed to their cause, you can see and understand and feel each of the characters, even if you don’t really like all of them. There are some aspects of the story where it seems to take you into left field and you are wondering what the side trip was about, but I found that it generally had a place in the end.
What I really liked about the book is that it stayed with me long after I finished it, which is what prompted me to listen to it again and see if it changed for me. I like how it examined the beliefs of the characters, and made you question aspects of the religious and political overtones found in the story, but I didn’t find these offensive like I have in other novels. It affected me on an emotional level, leaving me hopeful or despondent in turns, especially as you can find the parallels in modern society. I really liked the way the story progressed and will be purchasing more by this author in the future.
I was given this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.
Brief Summary: Nix Richards nearly died in a car accident when he was young. Biomites saved his life. Ten years later, he's not so lucky. The Halfskin Laws decree a human composed of 50% biomites is no longer human. Halfskins have no legal rights and will have their biomites shutdown. It's not called murder, merely deactivation.
Cali Richards has been Nix's legal guardian since their parents died. She has lost far too many people in her life to let the government take Nix. She is a nanobiometric engineer and will discover how to hide him. But even brilliance can succumb to the pressure of suffering. And technology can't cure insanity.
Cali and Nix keep a slippery grip on reality as they elude a maniacal federal agent dedicated to saving humanity from what he calls "The Biomite Plague"?
I hate when someone writes a review that is just a summary of the novel while giving everything away, so I'm not going to give any spoilers here. I enjoyed this audiobook so much that I listened to it twice, waiting about a month apart to see if I had a different take on the book, and I liked it just the same the second time around. I found this novel lent itself quite well to an audiobook format and was easy to follow along without getting lost or missing important points. The narrator did a good job differentiating between the different characters by the tenor of the voice and changing the speech patterns per the character, though I did find the voice used for the niece a bit shrill and irritating. I also felt that the narrator did a good job of keeping the story moving along smoothly.
I found this novel to be a bit different than those that I usually listen to, while this might be considered a sci-fi thriller, I found it to encompass many more genres. I felt the writing is such that the Sci-Fi is not the main territory covered, it is the interpersonal relationships of the characters that I found so engrossing. The SciFi aspect of the Biomites is just the bones of the story, it is everything else that fleshes it out to reach out and grab you so you don’t want to stop listening. I like how each of the characters seems so believable in their reasoning and committed to their cause, you can see and understand and feel each of the characters, even if you don’t really like all of them. There are some aspects of the story where it seems to take you into left field and you are wondering what the side trip was about, but I found that it generally had a place in the end.
What I really liked about the book is that it stayed with me long after I finished it, which is what prompted me to listen to it again and see if it changed for me. I like how it examined the beliefs of the characters, and made you question aspects of the religious and political overtones found in the story, but I didn’t find these offensive like I have in other novels. It affected me on an emotional level, leaving me hopeful or despondent in turns, especially as you can find the parallels in modern society. I really liked the way the story progressed and will be purchasing more by this author in the future.
I was given this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.
February 19, 2013
I found this book to be a little bit confusing. It was told from a bunch of different point of views, the story line on the other hand was really good.
Biomites are artificial stem cells, which can help keep a person alive who would other wise die. They are also used by selfish people for looks and everything else, if you had cancer or were in an accident then they would give you Biomites to get rid of that cancer or to repair the damage done by an accident. Everything was good and Biomites were what everyone wanted. Then they became against the law, once you had too many Biomites they would just shut them down. You can’t be more then 40 percent before they detain you, and they shut you down when you hit 50 percent.
Nix was just a boy who was in an accident that killed his parents in order to stay alive he needed Biomites, they never knew that nix might get taken and detained because of it. His sister Cali has lost to many family members to let anything happen to nix. She will do what ever it takes to keep her brother alive. Marcus is a politician/government agent who is hell bent on getting rid of the Biomites, he believes he needs to save humanity and that the Biomites are destroying society.
A long as there are Biomites there is someone watching your every move, and having to many Biomites can cause you a lot of trouble.
This book was short and enjoyable, I found Marcus’ character to be a little over the top. He hates people who use Biomites to save lives, he believes that they will turn into computers and humanity will be at stake. What he doesn’t know is that he is fighting a war that he cannot win and it will make him a little crazy. I enjoyed the story line of everyone is being watched, which they are, but technology is technology and people will do what it takes to make themselves look better and feel younger and anything else they can, even feed illusions. The book had really good writing and I would have finished it in one sitting if everyone didn’t quite bugging me. I like the concept of no matter how far technology advances there will always be someone there to make it illegal. Which is really how the world works today. If you like this sort of sci-fi I would definitely read this one as I have said before I’m not really a sci-fi reader but this book was enjoyable.
find this and other reviews at Moms Reading Corner
Biomites are artificial stem cells, which can help keep a person alive who would other wise die. They are also used by selfish people for looks and everything else, if you had cancer or were in an accident then they would give you Biomites to get rid of that cancer or to repair the damage done by an accident. Everything was good and Biomites were what everyone wanted. Then they became against the law, once you had too many Biomites they would just shut them down. You can’t be more then 40 percent before they detain you, and they shut you down when you hit 50 percent.
Nix was just a boy who was in an accident that killed his parents in order to stay alive he needed Biomites, they never knew that nix might get taken and detained because of it. His sister Cali has lost to many family members to let anything happen to nix. She will do what ever it takes to keep her brother alive. Marcus is a politician/government agent who is hell bent on getting rid of the Biomites, he believes he needs to save humanity and that the Biomites are destroying society.
A long as there are Biomites there is someone watching your every move, and having to many Biomites can cause you a lot of trouble.
This book was short and enjoyable, I found Marcus’ character to be a little over the top. He hates people who use Biomites to save lives, he believes that they will turn into computers and humanity will be at stake. What he doesn’t know is that he is fighting a war that he cannot win and it will make him a little crazy. I enjoyed the story line of everyone is being watched, which they are, but technology is technology and people will do what it takes to make themselves look better and feel younger and anything else they can, even feed illusions. The book had really good writing and I would have finished it in one sitting if everyone didn’t quite bugging me. I like the concept of no matter how far technology advances there will always be someone there to make it illegal. Which is really how the world works today. If you like this sort of sci-fi I would definitely read this one as I have said before I’m not really a sci-fi reader but this book was enjoyable.
find this and other reviews at Moms Reading Corner
January 13, 2013
Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Setting: 4
Execution: 3
Cover: 3
Halfskin by Tony Bertauski is a story set in a near future. Most of the setting is familiar except nanotechnology, in the form of biomites, is being used to enhance, heal, and perfect the human body. However, harkening to the well known “grey goo scenario,” there are those who fear that these biomites will ultimately bring out the extinction of mankind. As a result, laws have been put in place to limit the percentage of biomites that make up a person. When your percentage gets too high your biomites are shut down, usually killing the host. This technology is handled quite well by the author, though at times he almost writes himself into a corner, creating a few scenes that feel stretched.
One of the characters has an unusually high percentage of biomites for their age due to a car wreck as a child. As a result, this character approaches the critical percentage much sooner than is typical, forcing the government into action. A sibling rushes to his rescue and they are off on a thrilling chase, staying one step ahead of the heartless federal agent pursuing them.
I enjoyed Halfskin and at no point did I find the reading unpleasant. Anyone who likes near future science fiction will probably enjoy this story. There were echoes of Michael Crichton’s Prey as well as a bit of Logan’s Run throughout; though at no point did the plot seem derivative. I was not always happy with the author’s description of the setting and it left me confused occasionally, and I did find a few of the thematic devices a tad cliché. On the other hand, the characters were well developed and created a strong emotional attachment. Readers who like nice pretty bows on their stories may find the ending a bit unsatisfying, but I’m not one of those and felt that it was handled well.
Overall, a well-told, compelling story that I would recommend to those interested in this kind of work, though there is not a lot of overlap with other genres. For additional information on my rating system, please visit my review page at johncbrewer.com .
Characters: 5
Setting: 4
Execution: 3
Cover: 3
Halfskin by Tony Bertauski is a story set in a near future. Most of the setting is familiar except nanotechnology, in the form of biomites, is being used to enhance, heal, and perfect the human body. However, harkening to the well known “grey goo scenario,” there are those who fear that these biomites will ultimately bring out the extinction of mankind. As a result, laws have been put in place to limit the percentage of biomites that make up a person. When your percentage gets too high your biomites are shut down, usually killing the host. This technology is handled quite well by the author, though at times he almost writes himself into a corner, creating a few scenes that feel stretched.
One of the characters has an unusually high percentage of biomites for their age due to a car wreck as a child. As a result, this character approaches the critical percentage much sooner than is typical, forcing the government into action. A sibling rushes to his rescue and they are off on a thrilling chase, staying one step ahead of the heartless federal agent pursuing them.
I enjoyed Halfskin and at no point did I find the reading unpleasant. Anyone who likes near future science fiction will probably enjoy this story. There were echoes of Michael Crichton’s Prey as well as a bit of Logan’s Run throughout; though at no point did the plot seem derivative. I was not always happy with the author’s description of the setting and it left me confused occasionally, and I did find a few of the thematic devices a tad cliché. On the other hand, the characters were well developed and created a strong emotional attachment. Readers who like nice pretty bows on their stories may find the ending a bit unsatisfying, but I’m not one of those and felt that it was handled well.
Overall, a well-told, compelling story that I would recommend to those interested in this kind of work, though there is not a lot of overlap with other genres. For additional information on my rating system, please visit my review page at johncbrewer.com .
July 12, 2014
You know I had to read this after seeing that cover.
And the synopsis… like what?!
Ok, so this starts and I was completely into the narration. Loved every minute of it. The storyline is all about Nix and the narration surrounding him was so good that I knew when he was talking or when his sister was talking. It really helped me delve into this rather mysterious and just plain weird story.
This is dystopian and I just love, love, love dystopians. There so much that the characters have to deal with and being that it is normally “big brother” it is hard to escape. In this case it is “Mother” which honestly is even worse. But Mother can see your every move, not through your TV or your cell phone, oh no! She goes much deeper than that, she can read your mind. That is if you have had any nanomites inserted.
Totally freaky already right?
So, the storyline was wonderful but I have to put some emphasis on the fabulous narration for this one. As I said above I could tell everyone apart, but there was more to it than that. I found my heart palpitating and the narrator’s voice (David W. Dietz, III) would get higher or lower. He has this great intensity that I have just not found in a lot of other audio books. It was amazing and totally added to the horror of what these people were facing.
And needless to say, my attention never wavered. Between the fabulous plot and the great narration this was one that I did not want to put down.
Even with this being a dystopian you would think that the government would be the ones to watch out for, but there are bad guys everywhere. Marcus definitely seems like a really crazy bad guy. By the end of the book I was starting to wonder if this guy is a bit psychotic. I don’t know but I like him! He definitely has an edge to his character that I just cannot pinpoint. It’s great!
In short: This is an amazing first part. The synopsis is weird but if you’re into dystopians, trust me, you’ll enjoy this one! It is worth the read, or the listen. Now on to book two, Clay!
For a complete review of the audio version, please see the review over at AudioBookReviewer.com or for more of my reviews go to creating-serenity.com
And the synopsis… like what?!
Ok, so this starts and I was completely into the narration. Loved every minute of it. The storyline is all about Nix and the narration surrounding him was so good that I knew when he was talking or when his sister was talking. It really helped me delve into this rather mysterious and just plain weird story.
This is dystopian and I just love, love, love dystopians. There so much that the characters have to deal with and being that it is normally “big brother” it is hard to escape. In this case it is “Mother” which honestly is even worse. But Mother can see your every move, not through your TV or your cell phone, oh no! She goes much deeper than that, she can read your mind. That is if you have had any nanomites inserted.
Totally freaky already right?
So, the storyline was wonderful but I have to put some emphasis on the fabulous narration for this one. As I said above I could tell everyone apart, but there was more to it than that. I found my heart palpitating and the narrator’s voice (David W. Dietz, III) would get higher or lower. He has this great intensity that I have just not found in a lot of other audio books. It was amazing and totally added to the horror of what these people were facing.
And needless to say, my attention never wavered. Between the fabulous plot and the great narration this was one that I did not want to put down.
Even with this being a dystopian you would think that the government would be the ones to watch out for, but there are bad guys everywhere. Marcus definitely seems like a really crazy bad guy. By the end of the book I was starting to wonder if this guy is a bit psychotic. I don’t know but I like him! He definitely has an edge to his character that I just cannot pinpoint. It’s great!
In short: This is an amazing first part. The synopsis is weird but if you’re into dystopians, trust me, you’ll enjoy this one! It is worth the read, or the listen. Now on to book two, Clay!
For a complete review of the audio version, please see the review over at AudioBookReviewer.com or for more of my reviews go to creating-serenity.com
May 14, 2014
With the advent of nuclear power and nuclear weapons, as well as man's trips to the moon, the 20th century was the century of physics breakthroughs. The 21st century will be known as the century of biology. This book explores the up and coming field of nanotechnology.
In the not to distant future, artificial stem cells known as biomites are used to treat almost any affliction, from life saving to vanity procedures. However, the scientists have not found a way to turn the biomites off after they have finished doing the procedure for which they were intended, and continue to multiply and replace human cells. If left to their own devises, the human body would be completely composed of biomites. This brings up a slew of ethical questions, most notably when would a person no longer be considered human. A series of laws were enacted to deal with these issues. When a person reaches 40 percent biomites, they are sent to a holding facility to be monitored. When the biomites population reaches 50 percent, the government's supercomputer known as 'Mother' will shutdown the biomites leading to the person's death.
When he was a child, Nixon Richards, known as Nix, was in a car accident which claimed his parent's lives. Nix was severely injured and injected with biomites to save his life. Nix is taken in by his sister Cali, who just happened to be a brilliant scientist. Cali knew that it was only a matter of time before Nix redlined and was taken into custody by the government and eventually shut down. She began working on a biomite strain that could not be tracked or shutdown by Mother. Hounded by Marcus Anderson, a driven government agent, Nix and Cali try to go off the grid and live the rest of their lives in peace.
The ending was a bit weak, but there is a sequel. Overall, a very enjoyable book.
In the not to distant future, artificial stem cells known as biomites are used to treat almost any affliction, from life saving to vanity procedures. However, the scientists have not found a way to turn the biomites off after they have finished doing the procedure for which they were intended, and continue to multiply and replace human cells. If left to their own devises, the human body would be completely composed of biomites. This brings up a slew of ethical questions, most notably when would a person no longer be considered human. A series of laws were enacted to deal with these issues. When a person reaches 40 percent biomites, they are sent to a holding facility to be monitored. When the biomites population reaches 50 percent, the government's supercomputer known as 'Mother' will shutdown the biomites leading to the person's death.
When he was a child, Nixon Richards, known as Nix, was in a car accident which claimed his parent's lives. Nix was severely injured and injected with biomites to save his life. Nix is taken in by his sister Cali, who just happened to be a brilliant scientist. Cali knew that it was only a matter of time before Nix redlined and was taken into custody by the government and eventually shut down. She began working on a biomite strain that could not be tracked or shutdown by Mother. Hounded by Marcus Anderson, a driven government agent, Nix and Cali try to go off the grid and live the rest of their lives in peace.
The ending was a bit weak, but there is a sequel. Overall, a very enjoyable book.
February 21, 2013
I received this book for free from the auor for a Read 2 Reveiw in exchange for an honest review. This is the second book that I have read by Tony Bertauski and let me say that I liked this one better. This story had more life to it and I didn't find it as jumpy as the other one I read. Halfskin is an original idea that flowed freely throughout the whole book. I loved the idea of bio mites and the amazing things that they can do. I just wished that there had been more background information on the bio mites. For instance who decided that 50% biomite was to much. I can't wait to learn more about these little creatures in novels to come. Sci- fi isn't really my thing but if I kept reading awesome sci- fi books my mind my change.
I really liked Nix and Cali. They were a great brother sister team. They would risk their own lives in order to save each other. Cali seemed like the strong one, always taking charge and getting things done. Then she had a little meltdown and it changes things 180 degrees. Presently, Nix appears to be the one holding everything together. I did like how the author showed little blips of other characters lives, giving the reader information on what is going on outside of the story.
I will be continuing this series because I need to know what happens. This book kind of ends on a cliffhanger. I would recommend this book to sci- fi lovers, or to those like me who are still unsure about sci- fi.
I really liked Nix and Cali. They were a great brother sister team. They would risk their own lives in order to save each other. Cali seemed like the strong one, always taking charge and getting things done. Then she had a little meltdown and it changes things 180 degrees. Presently, Nix appears to be the one holding everything together. I did like how the author showed little blips of other characters lives, giving the reader information on what is going on outside of the story.
I will be continuing this series because I need to know what happens. This book kind of ends on a cliffhanger. I would recommend this book to sci- fi lovers, or to those like me who are still unsure about sci- fi.
April 23, 2014
While most calls for tighter regulation of nanotechnology these days relate to human health and safety risks, Halfskin comes at it from another angle: at what point does a genetically engineered person cease to be human? If their mere existence is a threat to the human race, do we have the right to shut them down?
The Richards' live in a world where artificial stem cells, called biomites, can replicate and improve upon the cells we were born with, called clay. Unfortunately, biomites continue to replicate and replace human cells until no 'clay' remains. The various world governments have ruled that anyone who reaches 50% biomites — the halfskin of the title — ceases to be human and is promptly shut down as a threat to all of humanity. Mix in a rather scary computer complex named M0ther tasked with monitoring every biomite in existence, plus her even scarier human supervisor, and we have the setting for a techno-thriller par excellence!
Nix Richards was mangled in an accident as a small child and healed with the new technology; his sister Cali is a biomite engineer trying to develop a new breed of biomite which doesn't self replicate, or at the very least flies below M0ther's radar. Our third primary character is Marcus Anderson, public face of the Halfskin Laws and M0ther's human supervisor. The book is a fast paced interweave of these three personalities against the ticking clock of Nix' immanent shutdown.
A fast, gripping read — highly recommended.
The Richards' live in a world where artificial stem cells, called biomites, can replicate and improve upon the cells we were born with, called clay. Unfortunately, biomites continue to replicate and replace human cells until no 'clay' remains. The various world governments have ruled that anyone who reaches 50% biomites — the halfskin of the title — ceases to be human and is promptly shut down as a threat to all of humanity. Mix in a rather scary computer complex named M0ther tasked with monitoring every biomite in existence, plus her even scarier human supervisor, and we have the setting for a techno-thriller par excellence!
Nix Richards was mangled in an accident as a small child and healed with the new technology; his sister Cali is a biomite engineer trying to develop a new breed of biomite which doesn't self replicate, or at the very least flies below M0ther's radar. Our third primary character is Marcus Anderson, public face of the Halfskin Laws and M0ther's human supervisor. The book is a fast paced interweave of these three personalities against the ticking clock of Nix' immanent shutdown.
A fast, gripping read — highly recommended.
March 4, 2013
I would want this to be a 4.5 so if anyone knows how to do that please help!!
Review: Halfskin by Tony Bertauski. It there was ever a book that could start a heated debate about morals and ethics it would be this one. If it were true of course. Talk about a roller coaster ride! I love the story line. I love how the author pulls you in, slowly but surely. I love how the author shows both sides of the ‘argument’ and lets you make up your own mind. But of course I cheered for the main guys (who wouldn’t) and let me just say this…Damn!...I did not see that coming! Avery! Sheesh, knock me over with a piece of dental floss. The wool was total pulled over my eyes. Well done! But so sad. My heart goes out to Cali, and I don’t blame her for what she did. Survival is the name of the game and we all strive to do it. Anyway we can. Any way that will help us. And her love for Nix is all consuming. I think subconsciously she knew about Avery because there were clues throughout the book that pointed to that. But what a world! And not so farfetched that it could not be true in the very near future. And what a conundrum it poses! To seed or not to seed? Well, I suppose there will always be sanctimonious pricks like Marcus Anderson to try show and teach us the error of our ways. Self righteous dumb ass.
This is an honest review given for the privilege of reading the book
Review: Halfskin by Tony Bertauski. It there was ever a book that could start a heated debate about morals and ethics it would be this one. If it were true of course. Talk about a roller coaster ride! I love the story line. I love how the author pulls you in, slowly but surely. I love how the author shows both sides of the ‘argument’ and lets you make up your own mind. But of course I cheered for the main guys (who wouldn’t) and let me just say this…Damn!...I did not see that coming! Avery! Sheesh, knock me over with a piece of dental floss. The wool was total pulled over my eyes. Well done! But so sad. My heart goes out to Cali, and I don’t blame her for what she did. Survival is the name of the game and we all strive to do it. Anyway we can. Any way that will help us. And her love for Nix is all consuming. I think subconsciously she knew about Avery because there were clues throughout the book that pointed to that. But what a world! And not so farfetched that it could not be true in the very near future. And what a conundrum it poses! To seed or not to seed? Well, I suppose there will always be sanctimonious pricks like Marcus Anderson to try show and teach us the error of our ways. Self righteous dumb ass.
This is an honest review given for the privilege of reading the book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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