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Condition #2
Condition - Book Two: The Curing Begins...
What have the Nazis got to do with a miracle?Discovering an infamous Nazi doctor conducted abortions in Argentina after the Second World War may not come as a surprise, but why was the twisted eugenicist not only allowed to continue his evil experiments but encouraged to do so? And what has that got to do with a respected neurologist in 2027? Surely the invention of a cure for nearly all the world's ailments can't possibly have its roots buried in the horrors of Auschwitz?The unacceptable is about to become the disturbingly bizarre. What has the treatment's 'correction' of paedophiles got to do with the President of the United States, the Pope and even the UK's Green Party?As if the CONDITION trilogy wasn't unsettling enough...The surprise element was next-level. I was downloading book three, The Final Correction, within minutes of finishing book two. This series has utterly consumed me - Hall Ways BlogThe story and implications are amazing - LomeranielThe Curing Begins deals with very intense subjects, and I was consistently floored by how well Alec had conveyed the different personalities of his characters - Bookworms Corner Blog SpotI would recommend to anyone seeking a complex, intelligent, and contemplative thriller - Carolyn M Walker, author
272 pages, Paperback
Published January 28, 2017
40 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Alec Birri
13 books24 followersAlec Birri served thirty years with the UK Armed Forces. He commanded an operational unit that experimented in new military capabilities classified at the highest level (Top Secret Strap 3) and it is this that forms the basis of his novels.
Although semi-autobiographical, for national security and personal liberty reasons, the events and individuals portrayed have to be fiction, but are still nonetheless in keeping with his experiences.
Although semi-autobiographical, for national security and personal liberty reasons, the events and individuals portrayed have to be fiction, but are still nonetheless in keeping with his experiences.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 18, 2018
Overall Rate: 5
Performance Rate: 5
Story Rate: 5
The first words to leave my mouth when I finished this book was simply: Wow.
In addition to the fact that I was breath-taken by this book, I am aware that this book is definitely not for the faint-hearted.
This book is a whirlwind of so many different ideas reaching back to the past and going into the (not too distant) future. The beginning had me confused, and wondering what it had to do with the rest of the book although I enjoyed the roller-coaster of these initial chapters. These first chapters are disturbing in many ways. An Argentinian police officer going to investigate an illegal abortion clinic run as part of an orphanage and discovering the preserved remains of the abortions.
Continuing to follow the officers investigation into this clinic/orphanage we find ourselves finding a much darker connection to not only the orphanage, but the world itself.
The rest of this book maintains the intensity of the first chapters, Alec Birri had my mind whirling with questions of what was going to happen next? What was the intention of certain characters? What is their end game? I was definitely kept on my toes!
The writing in Condition: The Curing Begins deals with very intense subjects, and I was consistently floored by how well Alec had conveyed the different and sometimes abrasive personalities of his characters. The topics addressed in The Curing Begins are extremely thought provoking, sometimes very dark, but consistently well written.
I am so impressed by Jonathan Keebles voice acting talents. Keeble narrates different accents in this audiobook and he does it well! As I had said in my review of the first book in the trilogy, it is as if there are multiple people narrating the book. He maintains the energy of Condition, mirroring the intensity of Birri's writing, and conveys the unique personalities of each character. I find myself getting lost in this world that Alec Birri writes about, and the atmosphere that Jonathan creates compliments the writing style beautifully.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Alec Birri. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
Performance Rate: 5
Story Rate: 5
The first words to leave my mouth when I finished this book was simply: Wow.
In addition to the fact that I was breath-taken by this book, I am aware that this book is definitely not for the faint-hearted.
This book is a whirlwind of so many different ideas reaching back to the past and going into the (not too distant) future. The beginning had me confused, and wondering what it had to do with the rest of the book although I enjoyed the roller-coaster of these initial chapters. These first chapters are disturbing in many ways. An Argentinian police officer going to investigate an illegal abortion clinic run as part of an orphanage and discovering the preserved remains of the abortions.
Continuing to follow the officers investigation into this clinic/orphanage we find ourselves finding a much darker connection to not only the orphanage, but the world itself.
The rest of this book maintains the intensity of the first chapters, Alec Birri had my mind whirling with questions of what was going to happen next? What was the intention of certain characters? What is their end game? I was definitely kept on my toes!
The writing in Condition: The Curing Begins deals with very intense subjects, and I was consistently floored by how well Alec had conveyed the different and sometimes abrasive personalities of his characters. The topics addressed in The Curing Begins are extremely thought provoking, sometimes very dark, but consistently well written.
I am so impressed by Jonathan Keebles voice acting talents. Keeble narrates different accents in this audiobook and he does it well! As I had said in my review of the first book in the trilogy, it is as if there are multiple people narrating the book. He maintains the energy of Condition, mirroring the intensity of Birri's writing, and conveys the unique personalities of each character. I find myself getting lost in this world that Alec Birri writes about, and the atmosphere that Jonathan creates compliments the writing style beautifully.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Alec Birri. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
October 6, 2019
Decided I would read this, the second book, even though the first book was not amazing. This book starts rather confusingly and once again I have no idea what is going on. But it was very interesting and made me want to read more, also Emil the protagonist was a likable character.
However half way through we are finished with Emil and go back to the characters of the first book, which were ok but not nearly as engaging for me.
I’m not sure how to describe this book, science fiction I suppose but not in a spacey way, in a this is what might happen to us here on earth in the future if we start playing with minds and playing ‘god’. I'm finding it hard to get really enthusiastic about this for some reason, I don’t know why I don’t like it more, the premise is a good one, perhaps it’s just the slow pace that is off for me.
One book in the trilogy left and I will read it just not getting very excited about it. As with the first book this is getting 3*/5
However half way through we are finished with Emil and go back to the characters of the first book, which were ok but not nearly as engaging for me.
I’m not sure how to describe this book, science fiction I suppose but not in a spacey way, in a this is what might happen to us here on earth in the future if we start playing with minds and playing ‘god’. I'm finding it hard to get really enthusiastic about this for some reason, I don’t know why I don’t like it more, the premise is a good one, perhaps it’s just the slow pace that is off for me.
One book in the trilogy left and I will read it just not getting very excited about it. As with the first book this is getting 3*/5
August 20, 2017
https://anaslair.wordpress.com/2017/0...
The clock goes back on book #2 of this trilogy, more precisely to the 70s.
The narrative takes place on a different country too, more specifically in Argentina.
Although I was a bit thrown back since book 1 took place in 2026, I soon got in step with it, though it again felt bumpy. I just could not seem to connect to the characters. And in this book this difficulty was augmented due to the insta-love. Goodness, how I hate insta-love.
Our main character meets a young girl who just happens to be the only good looking person in the entire village he is assigned to, and soon enough he is thinking of marrying her. The first time they kiss felt awkward and inappropriate - he is a sergeant, after all - and I felt it completely came out of the blue.
Oh and it seems it is reciprocate, though for the life of me I could not tell why, because, get this: She hesitated after a few steps and turned back to her new love interest. Who says that? And why? I get instant attraction, but love? Sorry if I sound too harsh but this kind of thing truly bums me out.
Anyway... As the story advances we get the picture that something incredibly wrong is going on. There is police corruption, poverty, naivety and a lot more. Granted, I don't know much about Argentina, let alone in the 70's, but I found it safe to assume that the author's depiction was probably a fair one. I could see that stuff happening. And going on and on because, really, what are you going to do? I enjoy reading about characters who are not openly good or bad.
Then a bit before halfway through the book the narrative advances to 2026 and we are left wondering how the two timelines relate. I have to admit I was impressed, especially towards the end, when all the mind-blowing stuff is thrown at us, much as in the first book.
I did feel I did not have enough time to process or digest all the revelations. I mean, everything that they would entail is just beyond comprehension.
Even if I am not 100% fan of the books' execution, I will definitely handle it to the author, he has an amazing imagination, and I am again left quite scared that this is actually based on his personal experiences.
Disclaimer: I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The clock goes back on book #2 of this trilogy, more precisely to the 70s.
The narrative takes place on a different country too, more specifically in Argentina.
Although I was a bit thrown back since book 1 took place in 2026, I soon got in step with it, though it again felt bumpy. I just could not seem to connect to the characters. And in this book this difficulty was augmented due to the insta-love. Goodness, how I hate insta-love.
Our main character meets a young girl who just happens to be the only good looking person in the entire village he is assigned to, and soon enough he is thinking of marrying her. The first time they kiss felt awkward and inappropriate - he is a sergeant, after all - and I felt it completely came out of the blue.
Oh and it seems it is reciprocate, though for the life of me I could not tell why, because, get this: She hesitated after a few steps and turned back to her new love interest. Who says that? And why? I get instant attraction, but love? Sorry if I sound too harsh but this kind of thing truly bums me out.
Anyway... As the story advances we get the picture that something incredibly wrong is going on. There is police corruption, poverty, naivety and a lot more. Granted, I don't know much about Argentina, let alone in the 70's, but I found it safe to assume that the author's depiction was probably a fair one. I could see that stuff happening. And going on and on because, really, what are you going to do? I enjoy reading about characters who are not openly good or bad.
Then a bit before halfway through the book the narrative advances to 2026 and we are left wondering how the two timelines relate. I have to admit I was impressed, especially towards the end, when all the mind-blowing stuff is thrown at us, much as in the first book.
I did feel I did not have enough time to process or digest all the revelations. I mean, everything that they would entail is just beyond comprehension.
Even if I am not 100% fan of the books' execution, I will definitely handle it to the author, he has an amazing imagination, and I am again left quite scared that this is actually based on his personal experiences.
Disclaimer: I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
March 24, 2018
Note: This review CONTAINS spoilers! That being said, onward! :)
The stunning conclusion to book 1 left us realizing that Squadron Leader Daniel Stewart was in fact not the real identity of the protagonist! Rather he was a man named Brian Passen and he was part of a much larger scheme run by the Professor Savage in charge of apparently curing his old age Alzheimer’s. The larger scheme is the highly advanced capability of merging human consciousness with artificial intelligence for continued “virtual life.”
With this shocking revelation in our mind, Birri shocks us further by backtracking at the top of book 2. The first half of the novel explains the “origins” of the medical practices that seem to lay the groundwork for the future trials. We shift to the year 1977, following a policeman in Venezuela named Emil. Emil is tasked with investigating suspected abortions taking place in a remote country village. Emil discovers a Nazi is behind the suspicious and horrifying experiments that were conducted on children. Unfortunately the Nazi had abandoned ship and is at large. Also during his investigation, Emil meets the beautiful Maria and romance blossoms. The romance was sudden but a nice addition to the daunting story at hand. This book also had a bit more dialogue than the first installment.
The second half of the book ties this backstory in to the present year of 2026 and how it all relates. The final revealing of the correlation is a surprise much like the one at the end of book 1! We discover that the experiments conducted in Venezuela and the future Alzheimer’s trials were conducted by none other than the same individual, which means Professor Savage is really the infamous Nazi from years prior (Joseph Mengele). The unfolding of the story is slow and at times I was impatient for a conclusion but it allowed for an enjoyable story that forces the reader to take in the many details that have significance. Again, we are left with a colossal cliffhanger, to be concluded in book 3!
Overall, I give this experience 4 stars for an excellent continuation of the series. I look forward to the exciting conclusion! I would recommend to anyone seeking a complex, intelligent, and contemplative thriller.
The stunning conclusion to book 1 left us realizing that Squadron Leader Daniel Stewart was in fact not the real identity of the protagonist! Rather he was a man named Brian Passen and he was part of a much larger scheme run by the Professor Savage in charge of apparently curing his old age Alzheimer’s. The larger scheme is the highly advanced capability of merging human consciousness with artificial intelligence for continued “virtual life.”
With this shocking revelation in our mind, Birri shocks us further by backtracking at the top of book 2. The first half of the novel explains the “origins” of the medical practices that seem to lay the groundwork for the future trials. We shift to the year 1977, following a policeman in Venezuela named Emil. Emil is tasked with investigating suspected abortions taking place in a remote country village. Emil discovers a Nazi is behind the suspicious and horrifying experiments that were conducted on children. Unfortunately the Nazi had abandoned ship and is at large. Also during his investigation, Emil meets the beautiful Maria and romance blossoms. The romance was sudden but a nice addition to the daunting story at hand. This book also had a bit more dialogue than the first installment.
The second half of the book ties this backstory in to the present year of 2026 and how it all relates. The final revealing of the correlation is a surprise much like the one at the end of book 1! We discover that the experiments conducted in Venezuela and the future Alzheimer’s trials were conducted by none other than the same individual, which means Professor Savage is really the infamous Nazi from years prior (Joseph Mengele). The unfolding of the story is slow and at times I was impatient for a conclusion but it allowed for an enjoyable story that forces the reader to take in the many details that have significance. Again, we are left with a colossal cliffhanger, to be concluded in book 3!
Overall, I give this experience 4 stars for an excellent continuation of the series. I look forward to the exciting conclusion! I would recommend to anyone seeking a complex, intelligent, and contemplative thriller.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2021
Sometimes you have to go back to understand how to move forward. This book takes us back to the beginnings of the methods that Professor Savage uses. This was an interesting continuation of the series, and filled in some gaps. I am curious to see where the series goes from here.
Disclaimer: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Disclaimer: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
June 12, 2018
Note: This is Book 2 in the series and works best if you enjoy Book 1 first.
This book starts off in 1970s Argentina instead of 2026 UK where Book 1 left us, so be prepared for that. Perhaps half the book is spent in the past instead of the near future and while that initially threw me for a loop, I was also immediately drawn into the life of a young cop in Argentina. He’s been assigned to look into a missing person case even though there isn’t much hope in finding the person. If I recall correctly, his name is Emmanuel…. but I could be wrong.
So in this little village of native Argentinians, there is an orphanage and the local reverend appears to be helpful. His assistanct at the orphanage is Maria who is perhaps in her early 20s. Now I didn’t really care for the instant love thing that happens between her and Emmanuel but I did like both characters quite a bit.
As Emmanuel digs into the case, he notices some very odd things about the kids. They seem to have undergone some brain surgeries and some seem to be mentally slow while others have other abilities. Then there’s the mysterious Uncle Joe who is nowhere to be seen but everyone speaks highly of him as the village’s savior. Eventually, as the description of the book says, Emmanuel discovers he’s dealing with a former Nazi in hiding. Things turn exciting in Argentina!
Then we jump forward a few years as the hunt continues, then a few more years, and eventually we find ourselves in 2026 UK for the second half of the book. Once again, we get to hang out with Professor Savage, nurse Tracy Richards, Dr. James Adams, and PM Alex Salib. Several months have past since we last saw them. The remainder of the Alzheimer’s patients from Book 1 have died, either by natural causes or voluntary suicide.
The first half of this book was very well done. The characters were interesting and in an interesting plot. Maria, while the only female character with lines and a name, had plot relevant status. She had dimension and secrets of her own. Meanwhile, in the second half of the book, the ladies are back to being love interests and comforters. Tracy has potential but mostly she’s here for the sex fantasies. Alex Salib is a little more interesting this time around but she’s still pretty one dimensional – righteous anger.
On the other hand, the plot has thickened. Professor Savage isn’t up to what I thought he was up to. Now I think he’s determined to do something much more wide-ranging and sinister. I’m very intrigued by him. Then I also really felt for Dr. Adams though I felt he gave up the fight a little too easily. He is positive he didn’t download that image of a child yet other than some verbal protests he caves in to Professor Savage’s suggestions and guidance really easily.
The ending leaves us with plenty of questions for where Savage plans to take the world and the future for these beloved characters. I also look forward to seeing what the solid tie is between Argentina 1970s and Savage of 2026 UK. I have an inkling but I want my guess confirmed. Looking forward to Book 3! 4.5/5 stars.
The Narration: Jonathan Keeble did a great job with this narration. I loved all his accents and he kept each character distinct. His female voices were believable. I especially liked his portrayal for Emmanuel who goes through some character growth and also quite the range of emotions in this story. 5/5 stars.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Alec Birri. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
This book starts off in 1970s Argentina instead of 2026 UK where Book 1 left us, so be prepared for that. Perhaps half the book is spent in the past instead of the near future and while that initially threw me for a loop, I was also immediately drawn into the life of a young cop in Argentina. He’s been assigned to look into a missing person case even though there isn’t much hope in finding the person. If I recall correctly, his name is Emmanuel…. but I could be wrong.
So in this little village of native Argentinians, there is an orphanage and the local reverend appears to be helpful. His assistanct at the orphanage is Maria who is perhaps in her early 20s. Now I didn’t really care for the instant love thing that happens between her and Emmanuel but I did like both characters quite a bit.
As Emmanuel digs into the case, he notices some very odd things about the kids. They seem to have undergone some brain surgeries and some seem to be mentally slow while others have other abilities. Then there’s the mysterious Uncle Joe who is nowhere to be seen but everyone speaks highly of him as the village’s savior. Eventually, as the description of the book says, Emmanuel discovers he’s dealing with a former Nazi in hiding. Things turn exciting in Argentina!
Then we jump forward a few years as the hunt continues, then a few more years, and eventually we find ourselves in 2026 UK for the second half of the book. Once again, we get to hang out with Professor Savage, nurse Tracy Richards, Dr. James Adams, and PM Alex Salib. Several months have past since we last saw them. The remainder of the Alzheimer’s patients from Book 1 have died, either by natural causes or voluntary suicide.
The first half of this book was very well done. The characters were interesting and in an interesting plot. Maria, while the only female character with lines and a name, had plot relevant status. She had dimension and secrets of her own. Meanwhile, in the second half of the book, the ladies are back to being love interests and comforters. Tracy has potential but mostly she’s here for the sex fantasies. Alex Salib is a little more interesting this time around but she’s still pretty one dimensional – righteous anger.
On the other hand, the plot has thickened. Professor Savage isn’t up to what I thought he was up to. Now I think he’s determined to do something much more wide-ranging and sinister. I’m very intrigued by him. Then I also really felt for Dr. Adams though I felt he gave up the fight a little too easily. He is positive he didn’t download that image of a child yet other than some verbal protests he caves in to Professor Savage’s suggestions and guidance really easily.
The ending leaves us with plenty of questions for where Savage plans to take the world and the future for these beloved characters. I also look forward to seeing what the solid tie is between Argentina 1970s and Savage of 2026 UK. I have an inkling but I want my guess confirmed. Looking forward to Book 3! 4.5/5 stars.
The Narration: Jonathan Keeble did a great job with this narration. I loved all his accents and he kept each character distinct. His female voices were believable. I especially liked his portrayal for Emmanuel who goes through some character growth and also quite the range of emotions in this story. 5/5 stars.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Alec Birri. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
October 16, 2017
So this is the second book in the series, you don't have to read book one to follow this one but it helps!
In this book we get transported back into a time when war, nazi's and hitler still ran everything.
The most wanted Nazi in the world is hiding out in a small town, his name is now "uncle Joe" but no one knows who he really is. A young cop is sent there because he's told by his boss that the church is performing abortions and murdering young children. When the cop arrives at this small town, he finds that no one is being murdered but that the town's people, if you can call them that want to report a missing person.
We quickly learn that this "uncle Joe" has been performing horrible procedures on the children of the town, since every child has major facial deformities, along with growth issues.
As we continue throughout the story we learn more about his procedures, and what exactly was done to the children.
Now we fast forward to the year 2026, a miracle cure has began to take place for Alzheimer patients (remember book 1?) well now it is in full production, but many patients after being cured are taking the death with dignity act, which allows them to die whenever they wish. The scientist in charge of this who calls himself Sir John Savage, is working on curing more than Alzheimer patients, he is trying to rehab murder's, rapist, the worst of the worst. His partner has just been arrested for child porn, but he never looked, searched or downloaded child porn, so how did it get onto his computer?
Sir John Savage has what he hopes to be a solution to a lengthy prison sentence, he will perform this procedure to rehabilitate his work partner... Except after the procedure is done, he finds himself amazed by what was done, he can think faster, see the beauty in everyone and everything, do things beyond any human could ever dream.
Fast forward to 2027-2028 Sir John savage is arrested and the court is trying desperately to put him behind bars, except his sister arrives in the court and demands to him that he tell the court who he really is.... I can't ruin anything but it will blow your mind ! Worth the read if you were a fan of book 1 !!
In this book we get transported back into a time when war, nazi's and hitler still ran everything.
The most wanted Nazi in the world is hiding out in a small town, his name is now "uncle Joe" but no one knows who he really is. A young cop is sent there because he's told by his boss that the church is performing abortions and murdering young children. When the cop arrives at this small town, he finds that no one is being murdered but that the town's people, if you can call them that want to report a missing person.
We quickly learn that this "uncle Joe" has been performing horrible procedures on the children of the town, since every child has major facial deformities, along with growth issues.
As we continue throughout the story we learn more about his procedures, and what exactly was done to the children.
Now we fast forward to the year 2026, a miracle cure has began to take place for Alzheimer patients (remember book 1?) well now it is in full production, but many patients after being cured are taking the death with dignity act, which allows them to die whenever they wish. The scientist in charge of this who calls himself Sir John Savage, is working on curing more than Alzheimer patients, he is trying to rehab murder's, rapist, the worst of the worst. His partner has just been arrested for child porn, but he never looked, searched or downloaded child porn, so how did it get onto his computer?
Sir John Savage has what he hopes to be a solution to a lengthy prison sentence, he will perform this procedure to rehabilitate his work partner... Except after the procedure is done, he finds himself amazed by what was done, he can think faster, see the beauty in everyone and everything, do things beyond any human could ever dream.
Fast forward to 2027-2028 Sir John savage is arrested and the court is trying desperately to put him behind bars, except his sister arrives in the court and demands to him that he tell the court who he really is.... I can't ruin anything but it will blow your mind ! Worth the read if you were a fan of book 1 !!
March 16, 2018
This book goes to the origins of the the Condition, mixing a bit of history with dystopia. I don't want to explain more to avoid revealing too much.
It was really interesting to learn about how it all started but the execution could have been a bit better in my opinion. This book feels like two different books, one after the other. I think it would have worked better to have both stories, present and past, told alternating them. The beginning of the first part felt also a bit rushed, and a bit more character development would have helped me to connect to the characters and care for the story. There is a sudden romance in that first part that felt absolutely forced. The two characters were just acquaintances and suddenly she was the love of his life. Having a build up would have helped here.
The story and implications are amazing, and this is totally worth a listening. It's clear that Birri has a lot of experience in top secret operations, but I think he may need to work a bit on his storytelling skills.
Jonathan Keeble's style was the appropriate for this kind of story, and he delivered great character's interpretations. The only setback I want to mention is his pronunciation of Vazquez. In Spanish the 'u' after 'q' is mute, something Keeble did not apply here. I would have passed this if the character pronouncing it were an English speaker, but in this case all characters were Argentinian. Keeble's accents were acceptable, but not spot on.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Alec Birri. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
It was really interesting to learn about how it all started but the execution could have been a bit better in my opinion. This book feels like two different books, one after the other. I think it would have worked better to have both stories, present and past, told alternating them. The beginning of the first part felt also a bit rushed, and a bit more character development would have helped me to connect to the characters and care for the story. There is a sudden romance in that first part that felt absolutely forced. The two characters were just acquaintances and suddenly she was the love of his life. Having a build up would have helped here.
The story and implications are amazing, and this is totally worth a listening. It's clear that Birri has a lot of experience in top secret operations, but I think he may need to work a bit on his storytelling skills.
Jonathan Keeble's style was the appropriate for this kind of story, and he delivered great character's interpretations. The only setback I want to mention is his pronunciation of Vazquez. In Spanish the 'u' after 'q' is mute, something Keeble did not apply here. I would have passed this if the character pronouncing it were an English speaker, but in this case all characters were Argentinian. Keeble's accents were acceptable, but not spot on.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Alec Birri. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
March 18, 2018
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Alec Birri. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
This second book in the trilogy starts with a detective in Argentina who is sent to a village to dispose of evidence of experiments done by an ex-Nazi doctor. He can’t believe the atrocities he finds in the village or the fact that the government wants to cover it up. He decides to track down the doctor to get answers. I didn’t know what this first half had to do with the first book, but I was eventually enlightened.
The second half of book 2 takes place in 2027, and doctors continue to work on a new treatment to cure all of the world’s physical and mental ailments. AIs are also becoming common. With so many improvements so fast, what will happen? How far is too far when it comes to improving and lengthening our lives?
The narrator did a good job with timing and pacing as well as the different voices.
There are a couple surprises and I can’t wait to listen to book 3 to find out what happens. This book could be read as a stand-alone but I recommend reading the first book to get the full appreciation of what occurs in book 2.
This second book in the trilogy starts with a detective in Argentina who is sent to a village to dispose of evidence of experiments done by an ex-Nazi doctor. He can’t believe the atrocities he finds in the village or the fact that the government wants to cover it up. He decides to track down the doctor to get answers. I didn’t know what this first half had to do with the first book, but I was eventually enlightened.
The second half of book 2 takes place in 2027, and doctors continue to work on a new treatment to cure all of the world’s physical and mental ailments. AIs are also becoming common. With so many improvements so fast, what will happen? How far is too far when it comes to improving and lengthening our lives?
The narrator did a good job with timing and pacing as well as the different voices.
There are a couple surprises and I can’t wait to listen to book 3 to find out what happens. This book could be read as a stand-alone but I recommend reading the first book to get the full appreciation of what occurs in book 2.
March 19, 2018
The medical experiments that took place during the Nazi regime are, to this day, horrifying and a look at just how evil humanity can be in the name of science. A young Argentinian police officer, Emiliano—who becomes unrealistically entangled in a romance with Maria—is not prepared, though, to find evidence of continuing work being done in an orphanage, leading to a hunt for the former Nazi who’s involved.
That hunt goes on for years until we find ourselves in the year 2026 and back among some of the characters from the first book including Professor Savage and Nurse Tracy. Tracy is still just as unlikeable as before and still just a foil for sexual fantasies but we learn much more about what the professor is really up to. I’m looking forward to getting the true story with Book Three, The Final Correction (an ominous subtitle if there ever was one).
Jonathan Keeble continues to be an excellent narrator in this second book of the trilogy; he has a wonderful tone to his voice and his interpretation of various characters is quite good albeit with some limitations with the Argentinians.
That hunt goes on for years until we find ourselves in the year 2026 and back among some of the characters from the first book including Professor Savage and Nurse Tracy. Tracy is still just as unlikeable as before and still just a foil for sexual fantasies but we learn much more about what the professor is really up to. I’m looking forward to getting the true story with Book Three, The Final Correction (an ominous subtitle if there ever was one).
Jonathan Keeble continues to be an excellent narrator in this second book of the trilogy; he has a wonderful tone to his voice and his interpretation of various characters is quite good albeit with some limitations with the Argentinians.
March 17, 2018
4.5 Stars. Audio book review. WOW...there's A LOT going on in Condition: The Curing Begins, the second book in The Condition series. I didn't want to miss a thing, so I listened to it straight through in a day. As it was with book one, it served me well not to read the description because the surprise element was next-level. Though I had a little trouble getting oriented to this book, the premise(s) kept me glued to the story.
There is a slow but engrossing main build in Condition: The Curing Begins, but there are also several other sub-plots that wind their way throughout the book and give readers much to ponder. There are considerable religious implications, which I wish had been further explored and characters’ rationales better explained, particularly with the Argentinian Padre. I wondered how such a devout man could be led so far astray – but people being led astray is part of the very essence of this book.
"As long as people think struggling through life as an obedient slave will eventually be rewarded, one person can control millions."
If you look at the cover and read the book jacket, it’s no surprise that the Nazis rear their ugly head in the story. There are some interesting discussions between characters about the higher purpose of Nazi experimentation and politics. At times, this felt more like an opportunity for platforming than genuine discourse. There are some holes and some character thoughts and actions that don’t add up, but again, the subject matter is fascinating. The only thing I really didn’t like in part one was the insta-love/romance. The connection between these characters is necessary but could have been handled better and differently to be more feasible.
About three and a half hours into the book, readers are taken back to just a few months after where book one left off, and those characters are reintroduced. In part two, we leap from the 1970s to 2027 and must reacquaint ourselves with that setting. Scenes are sometimes confusing because it’s difficult to tell whether character experiences are real or virtual…or, are their virtual experiences the new reality? Author Alec Birri is intentional here, I think, to keep readers in the same mindset as the characters -- where lines between reality and virtual reality are blurred. There continue to be some plot holes and situations where the level of suspension of disbelief is pushing the limits.
Jonathan Keeble returns to narrate book two, and again, is exceptional in his performances. He deftly handles all the voices, male and female, and all the accents. He brings life to the characters by projecting the nuances of the characters’ personalities. It is apparent he spent time studying the character profiles. I caught a few small oddities in pronunciations this time around, and the initial narration of the American president is cringe-worthy --even for a cringe-worthy character. Thankfully, that accent mellowed a bit and ended up working better. Overall, outstanding narration. I am a solid fan.
The difference between good and evil is often in the eye of the beholder.
By the end of Condition: The Curing Begins, almost all the early questions are answered/resolved, and the reader feels uncomfortable and unsettled by the implications and applications of medical and technological advances. The “revelation” at the end is jaw-dropping – I was downloading book three, The Final Correction, within minutes of finishing book two. This series has utterly consumed me.
Thank you to Audiobookworm Productions and the author for providing me a free audio download in exchange for my honest opinion – the only kind I give. This full review and other features on Hall Ways Blog http://bit.ly/ConditionTwo
There is a slow but engrossing main build in Condition: The Curing Begins, but there are also several other sub-plots that wind their way throughout the book and give readers much to ponder. There are considerable religious implications, which I wish had been further explored and characters’ rationales better explained, particularly with the Argentinian Padre. I wondered how such a devout man could be led so far astray – but people being led astray is part of the very essence of this book.
"As long as people think struggling through life as an obedient slave will eventually be rewarded, one person can control millions."
If you look at the cover and read the book jacket, it’s no surprise that the Nazis rear their ugly head in the story. There are some interesting discussions between characters about the higher purpose of Nazi experimentation and politics. At times, this felt more like an opportunity for platforming than genuine discourse. There are some holes and some character thoughts and actions that don’t add up, but again, the subject matter is fascinating. The only thing I really didn’t like in part one was the insta-love/romance. The connection between these characters is necessary but could have been handled better and differently to be more feasible.
About three and a half hours into the book, readers are taken back to just a few months after where book one left off, and those characters are reintroduced. In part two, we leap from the 1970s to 2027 and must reacquaint ourselves with that setting. Scenes are sometimes confusing because it’s difficult to tell whether character experiences are real or virtual…or, are their virtual experiences the new reality? Author Alec Birri is intentional here, I think, to keep readers in the same mindset as the characters -- where lines between reality and virtual reality are blurred. There continue to be some plot holes and situations where the level of suspension of disbelief is pushing the limits.
Jonathan Keeble returns to narrate book two, and again, is exceptional in his performances. He deftly handles all the voices, male and female, and all the accents. He brings life to the characters by projecting the nuances of the characters’ personalities. It is apparent he spent time studying the character profiles. I caught a few small oddities in pronunciations this time around, and the initial narration of the American president is cringe-worthy --even for a cringe-worthy character. Thankfully, that accent mellowed a bit and ended up working better. Overall, outstanding narration. I am a solid fan.
The difference between good and evil is often in the eye of the beholder.
By the end of Condition: The Curing Begins, almost all the early questions are answered/resolved, and the reader feels uncomfortable and unsettled by the implications and applications of medical and technological advances. The “revelation” at the end is jaw-dropping – I was downloading book three, The Final Correction, within minutes of finishing book two. This series has utterly consumed me.
Thank you to Audiobookworm Productions and the author for providing me a free audio download in exchange for my honest opinion – the only kind I give. This full review and other features on Hall Ways Blog http://bit.ly/ConditionTwo
November 7, 2018
[Audio Review] Condition Book 2 – The Curing Begins by Alec Birri The Story:After A Medical Thriller I couldn’t wait to listen to this part of the trilogy. We start off part one of this book in 1970’s Argentina when an office is asked to visit a town in search of a missing person.
You soon realise there is more to this village than meets the eye and the dots start to connect with events from book 1 and then we are thrust forward to 2026, the pill is being used to cure more than just mental health issues but religious views and sexuality. This book really gets you thinking of the ethics behind Dr Savage work and the implications of it all.
If you thought book 1 was weird then Birri has stepped it up a few notches more in this book.
The Narrator:Again Johnathan Keeble proves he is the right actor for this trilogy. He is able to do accents and gender tones well and flows seamlessly between them making it easy to keep track.
You soon realise there is more to this village than meets the eye and the dots start to connect with events from book 1 and then we are thrust forward to 2026, the pill is being used to cure more than just mental health issues but religious views and sexuality. This book really gets you thinking of the ethics behind Dr Savage work and the implications of it all.
If you thought book 1 was weird then Birri has stepped it up a few notches more in this book.
The Narrator:Again Johnathan Keeble proves he is the right actor for this trilogy. He is able to do accents and gender tones well and flows seamlessly between them making it easy to keep track.
March 14, 2018
This book is a very imaginative read on many levels. Book two, The Curing Begins of the Condition trilogy makes for another entertaining book. Alec Birri does a great job of creating his characters with their own quirks and motivations. In each book there seems to layer upon layer of the plot revealed.
December 20, 2017
Liked this one as much as the first and am looking forward to the final book in the series. I enjoy reading this author ... he is easy to read and, although I get a bit confused with some of the future technology, it still holds my interest.
May 5, 2018
I enjoyed this book but maybe not quite as much as book 1. There are actually no likeable characters. They are all flawed in some way. I did like the Argentina/Nazi tie in. Artificial Intelligence is a scary thought.
August 25, 2017
Excellent follow up
Part 2 of Condition is excellent and sets the stage for the final part. Great imaginative writing by Mr Birri.
Part 2 of Condition is excellent and sets the stage for the final part. Great imaginative writing by Mr Birri.
March 20, 2018
The Story:
After A Medical Thriller I couldn’t wait to listen to this part of the trilogy. We start off part one of this book in 1970’s Argentina when an office is asked to visit a town in search of a missing person.
You soon realise there is more to this village than meets the eye and the dots start to connect with events from book 1 and then we are thrust forward to 2026, the pill is being used to cure more than just mental health issues but religious views and sexuality. This book really gets you thinking of the ethics behind Dr Savage work and the implications of it all.
If you thought book 1 was weird then Birri has stepped it up a few notches more in this book.
The Narrator:
Again Johnathan Keeble proves he is the right actor for this trilogy. He is able to do accents and gender tones well and flows seamlessly between them making it easy to keep track.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Alec Birri. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
After A Medical Thriller I couldn’t wait to listen to this part of the trilogy. We start off part one of this book in 1970’s Argentina when an office is asked to visit a town in search of a missing person.
You soon realise there is more to this village than meets the eye and the dots start to connect with events from book 1 and then we are thrust forward to 2026, the pill is being used to cure more than just mental health issues but religious views and sexuality. This book really gets you thinking of the ethics behind Dr Savage work and the implications of it all.
If you thought book 1 was weird then Birri has stepped it up a few notches more in this book.
The Narrator:
Again Johnathan Keeble proves he is the right actor for this trilogy. He is able to do accents and gender tones well and flows seamlessly between them making it easy to keep track.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Alec Birri. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
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