Enigma

The Belt #4

by Gerald M. Kilby

On the eve of Luca Lee-McNabb’s twenty-third birthday the quantum intelligence, Athena delivers her some bad news. Due to a devastating attack on its infrastructure it can no longer protect her and keep her hidden. She must leave Earth immediately and try to make it to New World One, a gargantuan habitat being constructed out in the asteroid belt.

For Luca, leaving her home means potentially exposing herself to the powerful VanHeilding family, who will stop at nothing to harvest her unique biology. They have created a formidable army of Node Runners, people who can jack-in to the data-grid, corrupt the flow of information and attack the QI network. Not only that, but they are now actively searching for her, hunting her down.

If Luca wants to get to New World One and see her family again then she must dig deep and face her biggest fear — jacking-in to the data-grid and facing down the Node Runners. But by doing so she faces a very real risk of brain death. Yet it is either that, or ending up being dissected in a VanHeilding genetics lab.

Genres: Science Fiction

201 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 12, 2020

Reviews

[Scott Shjefte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have 6 book set purchased for $9.99 on July 2, 2023. Interesting space opera, with a bit of alien intrigue and AI involvement, and gangster types, and pirate types involved as well. Finished the first 5 of the series- a genetically advanced woman and her family strive against corporate CEOs who have no scruples.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth book out of a six book set. Each book is not very long, but they do contain exciting stories. Some of the circumstances they find themselves in are due to their own actions which are sometimes not very smart! We have moved some twenty years further in the story. A lot has changed since Commander Scott McNabb (now just Scott McNabb) and a small crew were able to get a quantum communications device installed in Athena. Athena, as you know is the QI that now controls most all AI activity in the northern hemisphere. She is also now connected with a greater QI quantum communications network that allows instantaneous communications throughout the Solar System. Along with Solomon (Europa), Homer (Ceres), Aria (Mars) and Athena (Earth), they now control what the AIs can and cannot do. More importantly, these AI can no longer be influenced by the Seven, a group seven mega-corporations heads that cause wars to be fought so they can make profits.

The worst of the Seven is Fredrick VanHeilding. He is, quite simply, a megalomaniac bent on controlling everything. His plans suffered a serious setback when Scott McNabb installed the quantum comm device in Athena. As expected he has been working for the last twenty years to circumvent the situation with the IQs. He thinks he knows how is about to launch a surprise attack using his Node Runners against Athena or at least one of her data nodes.

Additionally, Miranda Lee-VanHeilding had been tricked into going home to Earth to have her child. That child was the product of Miranda and Scott’s union and it was only two years old when Scott had last seen her. Unknown to either Miranda or Scott, while Miranda was pregnant, the VanHeilding physicians were experimenting on the unborn fetus. They were making genetic changes to her that would lengthen her lifespan and something else. What that other genetic change was about was a highly kept secret.

Thankfully, Miranda had managed to escape from the VanHeilding space station taking Luca (her daughter’s name) with her. But Scott and Miranda both felt that Luca had to be protected from Fredrick VanHeilding. He or his henchmen had tried to kidnap Luca on at least one occasion. So, they needed to find a place to hide Luca so she could grow up into the young lady without being treated like a lab rat. The decided to place her on Earth in a research facility ran by Dr. Stephanie Rayman, a former crew member of the Hermes, and a close friend of both Scott and Miranda. The facility was also watched over by Athena which provided even greater security, or so they thought. Here she would grow and develop more naturally with the help and assistance of Dr. Rayman.

Yet, there was something about young Luca that just wasn’t right or so she felt. She didn’t think she fit in anywhere, but didn’t know why. Then something happened and she and Steph decided that Luca had to flee Earth so they were going to head to The Belt and join with her Father and Mother for the first time in a long time. Except that didn’t happen, at least not the way they planned nor as quick as they had planned. It was very hard to stay hidden from Fredrick VanHeilding even thought Luca had done it for twenty years, but now she was going to be found and there was nothing anyone could do about it.

So, this book is very exciting. Some of the things that happen are not surprising given the enormous resources the Seven manage and their insanely driven idea to control everything. After twenty years of peace under the guidance of the IQs, things were about to change. Would they be for the good, probably not, but more importantly, would everyone survive?

I’m not going on to the next book 5, “[Exodus](https://amzn.to/3K7632B)”, since I prefer a break between stories. I’ll be back to finish reading the last two books in this series for sure.

[Judith Trail · Rating 4 out of 5]

This took off in a direction I did not expect! The novel opens years from the end of volume 3 in the series, with Luca, daughter of Miranda and Scott, now an adult, being forced out of protection by Athena, a QI, to flee to New World One, where she can hope to avoid her powerful family, the VanHeildings. Attacks are being made by powerful corporate families against the QI network initially conceived by Athena in a grab for power. Luca is trying to get to safety while both her parents are forced into action to try and protect her. Luca, as a result of genetic manipulation, possesses powers greatly desired by her family and others of the seven corporate families. This book follows her discovery of her abilities and how she can use them to maintain her independence and the safety of her family. Sort of a race through space. Again, the characters are very engaging, the story plausibly complex given the different political powers, focusing mostly on human drama in a technically advanced society. Another good entry in this 6 book series. I will keep reading.

[Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enigma picks up with one of the protagonists of the story, Luca Lee-McNabb, as her 23rd birthday approaches. She gets a message from the quantum intelligence, Athena, and suddenly she has to flee Earth to stay alive and escape the VanHelding family. She’s drawn into the data-grid and forced to face her deepest fear: battling Node Runners that she is ill-equipped to do in a digital realm where jacking in risks brain death. It was one of the more exciting and enjoyable books in the series because it shifts the focus to Luca, ramps up the stakes, and keeps you turning pages to figure out what is going to happen.

[Gwen Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must admit, I did not like this book. I LOVED IT! Finding Scott and Miranda's daughter Luca was something that Miranda's father, Frederick VanHeilding, had been unable to do for years. So starts the race to get her when she leaves Earth with Dr Stephanie Rayman to get to New World One to be with her parents. And what a tumultuous ride it is. I don't wish to ruin the story for others to shall leave it at that. But I can't wait for the next book in this series.

[Tressa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some of the characterization felt off in Enigma for me. There were a lot of info dumps that I had previously waived in the prior books, but this was a lot. As there is a conclusion to the events that built up from the first book in this book, I've decided not to read the next book in the series.

[Zeb Kantrowitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Luca Comes to the Fore

Luca is finally able to understand the special genetic changes that were made to her genome to make her the equal to a QI computer. In a battle between Luca and the SEVEN, she was able to come out on top. But the SEVEN will not give up, they have returned to Earth where they will plan their next war.

[Allan Ashinoff · Rating 2 out of 5]

vacuous characters. This far into the story line there is no connection between the characters other than superficial camaraderie coming from mutual danger. Parents who aren't. A child who has no true parents. Yes,it entertaining but there no depth emotional whatever.

[PresPetunia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy moly! What!? Didn't quite expect that ending although I should have. Okay, next book. Where are the non-human intelligences? Not the scary ones. I feel like I'm experiencing a typewriter instead of a computer. What kind of chaos is in store for me now?

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

What a great cliff hanger...thank gawd I already know the next book exists or I would be a little irritated. The fear that we have that computers at decide to terminate us for our own good... let's see how this delima gets resolved, ok? On to the next book.

[Lumi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinary

It is a one of a king story narrated with a lot of talent. Amazing characters, divergent points of view. You won't be able to stop reading the books one after another.

[Robert Knudsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

Wow, what was that about an 18-year jump in the story, I'm impressed, I love where the story is going,I am loving how the characters have evolved in the story, well on to book five

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Complex and near fantasy

I was expecting a more realistic story. This one is full of adventure, twists, and turns but borders on fantasy. Mind reading with control over the physical realm. Struggled to finish. Way too far-fetched for me.

[Richard W. McCuistian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great storytelling

This is so totally refreshing when compared to so many other books that cannot tell a story without f-bombs and other objectionable elements. Thank you Mr. Kilby!

[Benjamin Irving · Rating 3 out of 5]

implausible from beginning to end

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book in the series so far.

[Name · Rating 2 out of 5]

lazy writing, drivel

[Gerry Lynch · Rating 2 out of 5]

Worst book in series.

[Ralf Schönian · Rating 5 out of 5]

His best in the belt series

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent series. Enigma picks up some 20 years later with the focus now on their daughter, yet all the characters we've enjoyed are still around.

[S D Lawrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent episode. I like the way time marches onward and new characters take over.

[Ernest Dorsett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book

Looking forward to the next book in the series. I like the addition of the new character and looking forward to how she reacts to new situation.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plenty of action in this episode of an ongoing story. Some political intrigue from the former aristocracy. Lots of thoughts and concerns on AI, QI and human quantum neurology.

[Richard C Strack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

I found this hard to out down once I got into the story. A very good read. Looking forward to the next book, 5.

[Timothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice fairly easy sci-fi read. Some innovative ideas about technology and civilization. The plot moves along logically and sets up the finale in the 5th book. I'll read it and see how the story finishes.