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Biogenesis War #1
The Chiral Agent
First, they stole his identity. Now, they want him dead.
“intricate, action packed and ambitious." — Publisher’s Weekly BookLife Prize (starred review)
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His genetic code could destroy all life.
Shadow Recon pilot Micah Case awakens above an alien world, with no memory of his past and a mysterious voice inside his head. Worse, his own military is hunting him... and he has no idea why.
The voice leads to a discovery so unbelievable, enemy nations would kill to control it — to control him. Now, Micah must use every skill in his arsenal to secure the stolen research.
The stakes are impossibly high, but failure is not an option. The alternative could mean the extinction of a people Micah can no longer call his own. Humanity.
THE CHIRAL AGENT is a fast-paced, cerebral thriller that's part hard science fiction, part spy novel, and one hundred percent adrenaline. It’s sure to keep you guessing every step of the way.
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“A provocative science fiction thriller novel with intelligent ideas…in a genre that is saturated by robots and aliens. Richman’s writing makes it even larger and more encompassing, as the author writes with bold and evocative strokes [that] keeps you in the zone. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐” — Reader’s Favorite Book Reviews
“The excellent prose makes this thriller compulsively readable and the suspense creates an exhilarating experience for the reader. The Chiral Agent is tightly plotted and packed with action. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐” — Reader’s Favorite Book Reviews
“intricate, action packed and ambitious." — Publisher’s Weekly BookLife Prize (starred review)
_________________________________
His genetic code could destroy all life.
Shadow Recon pilot Micah Case awakens above an alien world, with no memory of his past and a mysterious voice inside his head. Worse, his own military is hunting him... and he has no idea why.
The voice leads to a discovery so unbelievable, enemy nations would kill to control it — to control him. Now, Micah must use every skill in his arsenal to secure the stolen research.
The stakes are impossibly high, but failure is not an option. The alternative could mean the extinction of a people Micah can no longer call his own. Humanity.
THE CHIRAL AGENT is a fast-paced, cerebral thriller that's part hard science fiction, part spy novel, and one hundred percent adrenaline. It’s sure to keep you guessing every step of the way.
_________________________________
“A provocative science fiction thriller novel with intelligent ideas…in a genre that is saturated by robots and aliens. Richman’s writing makes it even larger and more encompassing, as the author writes with bold and evocative strokes [that] keeps you in the zone. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐” — Reader’s Favorite Book Reviews
“The excellent prose makes this thriller compulsively readable and the suspense creates an exhilarating experience for the reader. The Chiral Agent is tightly plotted and packed with action. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐” — Reader’s Favorite Book Reviews
- GenresScience FictionFiction
448 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 21, 2020
About the author
L.L. Richman
25 books32 followersL.L. Richman writes military science fiction grounded in real-world physics, informed by a background in radiation science and aviation and close ties to the special forces community.
Richman’s work blends small-unit military action with near-future science, delivering high-stakes missions shaped by technology rooted in hard science.
New projects are in development. Learn more at www.llrichman.com.
Richman’s work blends small-unit military action with near-future science, delivering high-stakes missions shaped by technology rooted in hard science.
New projects are in development. Learn more at www.llrichman.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
June 19, 2021
Great book
Excellent adventure, full of action and plot twist. I found it easy to get into the storyline and the characters were very believable. I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it.
Excellent adventure, full of action and plot twist. I found it easy to get into the storyline and the characters were very believable. I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it.
January 11, 2023
A plot like I've never read before. Really interesting science concept but basic war storyline.
June 20, 2021
Micah Case woke up in morgue storage locker with no idea how he got there. Then a volce in his head told him he had better get out or he would die. The Chiral Agent is the story of how he discovers who he is and what makes him unique among humans.
Mankind has managed to escape the bounds of our own solar system and migrated to the stars. Brave souils traveled to other systems and established footholds. Eventually scientists in the an alliance of star systems known as the Gemminate Alliance developed “gates” that allowed instantaneous travel between star systems. One of the systems, the Akkadians, when instanteous travel between systems became a reality, lost its commercial advantage when its products were no longer consider scarce or exotic.— they ended up on the road to financial ruin.
Chiral organisms are mirror images of each other because the atoms that make up their molecules are either left handed or right handed in orientation as to shape. They can eat each others food but receive no nutritional value from their opposites victuals. The financially stressed system gets wind of chiral agents and decids to steal the research into the chiral discovery from a single system where it is naturally found and weaponize it.
Micah Case and the doctor taking care of him and his chiral twin along with an intelligence agent are declared figitives and have to flee for their lives. Another doctor and a security officer chase them. Not everyone is who they appear to be. Espionage and double dealing is rift through the story. Qusilings are rampant and there are enough space battles to make the most dedicated military science fiction fan happy.
The excitment increases in tempo the farther into the book you get. As you progress through The Chiral Agent you weill find yourself turning pages faster and faster as you rush to see what will happen next. You will not be disappointed at the end of this, the first book in The Biopgensis War series
Mankind has managed to escape the bounds of our own solar system and migrated to the stars. Brave souils traveled to other systems and established footholds. Eventually scientists in the an alliance of star systems known as the Gemminate Alliance developed “gates” that allowed instantaneous travel between star systems. One of the systems, the Akkadians, when instanteous travel between systems became a reality, lost its commercial advantage when its products were no longer consider scarce or exotic.— they ended up on the road to financial ruin.
Chiral organisms are mirror images of each other because the atoms that make up their molecules are either left handed or right handed in orientation as to shape. They can eat each others food but receive no nutritional value from their opposites victuals. The financially stressed system gets wind of chiral agents and decids to steal the research into the chiral discovery from a single system where it is naturally found and weaponize it.
Micah Case and the doctor taking care of him and his chiral twin along with an intelligence agent are declared figitives and have to flee for their lives. Another doctor and a security officer chase them. Not everyone is who they appear to be. Espionage and double dealing is rift through the story. Qusilings are rampant and there are enough space battles to make the most dedicated military science fiction fan happy.
The excitment increases in tempo the farther into the book you get. As you progress through The Chiral Agent you weill find yourself turning pages faster and faster as you rush to see what will happen next. You will not be disappointed at the end of this, the first book in The Biopgensis War series
June 6, 2021
This was a really fun novel to listen to! The narrator Tom Taylorson was spot on, giving a stellar performance! This is only the second time that I've had the pleasure of listening to Tom but now he's definitely one of my favorite narrators (I'll be on the look out for more of his work.)
Anyway as other reviews have pointed out the book starts out a little slow, but it quickly picks up speed and once it's really moving, oh-boy-howdy, the action and tension mount fast enough to make your head spin.
The book has a fantastic group of characters and even some doppelgangers which includes a couple of panthers (oh my,😮) in a tight character driven plot, and there's even a few pop culture references thrown in to give you a smile!
So you're definitely gonna want this Military Scifi Thriller in your library!
The Chiral Conspiracy by LL Richman
This was a surprise bonus novella attached at the end of Chiral Agent... A prequel that laid a little bit of ground work for the series! But having just read the Chiral Agent the mystery was kinda gone ... (spoiler: we know who the antagonists are) but the story was good, and watching it play out was such fun that I really didn't mind the slightly odd sequencing of the books! I was simply happy to find this nice gift waiting for me, as I wasn't quite ready to leave LL Richman's imaginerium behind!
And Tom Taylorson narration was pretty terrifical too!
Anyway as other reviews have pointed out the book starts out a little slow, but it quickly picks up speed and once it's really moving, oh-boy-howdy, the action and tension mount fast enough to make your head spin.
The book has a fantastic group of characters and even some doppelgangers which includes a couple of panthers (oh my,😮) in a tight character driven plot, and there's even a few pop culture references thrown in to give you a smile!
So you're definitely gonna want this Military Scifi Thriller in your library!
The Chiral Conspiracy by LL Richman
This was a surprise bonus novella attached at the end of Chiral Agent... A prequel that laid a little bit of ground work for the series! But having just read the Chiral Agent the mystery was kinda gone ... (spoiler: we know who the antagonists are) but the story was good, and watching it play out was such fun that I really didn't mind the slightly odd sequencing of the books! I was simply happy to find this nice gift waiting for me, as I wasn't quite ready to leave LL Richman's imaginerium behind!
And Tom Taylorson narration was pretty terrifical too!
June 21, 2021
Lisa Richman takes Military SCI-Fi to a new level!! A different type of a combo of Hard SCI-Fi with a realistic take on the future of the way a Tier one Special Operations Team will work…I am a retired Special Operator and the way the author leads us up and down the halls of a Spec Ops team in action is reminiscent of how they work now yet she elevates it to a higher level…I can clearly see how this would play out in a future scenario. Absolutely spot on military acronyms and chains of command, a comparison to the way SOAR and Delta work together to achieve an objective. Very well done in the area of Space Adventure combined with a spy thriller reminiscent of Vince Flynn. Excellent world building and top notch character development. You’ll lose sleep over this one, then add in the interesting genetic component and you’ll be thinking about this well after you read it. Great Physics including one of the holy grails of science, Quantum Entaglement! This hits on every level and is utterly visceral…you don’t wanna miss this…
R.Ballon, SGM (R) ACE
R.Ballon, SGM (R) ACE
November 20, 2021
Not sure.
The concept has possibilities, not sure it has achieved them yet
I can see why it won the award, it's just not my usual kind of book. It possibly takes itself too seriously. The animals hopefully alleviate that in future books if the author goes with that idea
A clone that is intrinsically linked to its original due to some weird physics makes for some clever storylines and abilities, but comes with a few downsides, that you see towards the end. It's a clever take on quantum theory and given the ending opens up a whole realm of other possibilities. I struggled with the first half of the book as things were explained and theories expanded, but the 2nd half managed to hold my attention and get me through to the end
If this was a one off if have rated it 2*, but as a trilogy, it bears sticking with, just to see where it goes
The concept has possibilities, not sure it has achieved them yet
I can see why it won the award, it's just not my usual kind of book. It possibly takes itself too seriously. The animals hopefully alleviate that in future books if the author goes with that idea
A clone that is intrinsically linked to its original due to some weird physics makes for some clever storylines and abilities, but comes with a few downsides, that you see towards the end. It's a clever take on quantum theory and given the ending opens up a whole realm of other possibilities. I struggled with the first half of the book as things were explained and theories expanded, but the 2nd half managed to hold my attention and get me through to the end
If this was a one off if have rated it 2*, but as a trilogy, it bears sticking with, just to see where it goes
June 19, 2020
A really well done, fast-paced, hard science fiction book.
First of all I like the eclectic group of characters that were assembled in this book. They will make an excellent team, please don’t kill any of them. They’re a are a lot of personalities to get to know and care about. And you care about some of them already if not most. The action and hard science fiction were well done and interspersed throughout the book.
The inter-action between the characters is well done and believable. This book is a solid winner. I’m marking my calendar until the next one.
It is well worth the read.
First of all I like the eclectic group of characters that were assembled in this book. They will make an excellent team, please don’t kill any of them. They’re a are a lot of personalities to get to know and care about. And you care about some of them already if not most. The action and hard science fiction were well done and interspersed throughout the book.
The inter-action between the characters is well done and believable. This book is a solid winner. I’m marking my calendar until the next one.
It is well worth the read.
September 27, 2020
When you turn
I have been a SciFi since I was a child. I just turned 52 about a week ago. Why is this germain? Because of history when you look at SciFi history like star trek with touch screens and portable communicators, you see the future and reading this just sent a tingling through me from mini-drones to internal communications is all being worked on now. Some will say oh hell naw but I once thought using a card to pay for everything was stupid but look at me now. I wonder what's next. This book has all of the hallmarks of as a legendary SciFi author Robert Heinlein would say is Future History in the making.
I have been a SciFi since I was a child. I just turned 52 about a week ago. Why is this germain? Because of history when you look at SciFi history like star trek with touch screens and portable communicators, you see the future and reading this just sent a tingling through me from mini-drones to internal communications is all being worked on now. Some will say oh hell naw but I once thought using a card to pay for everything was stupid but look at me now. I wonder what's next. This book has all of the hallmarks of as a legendary SciFi author Robert Heinlein would say is Future History in the making.
October 19, 2020
It Starts Slow
But then picks up. A decorated pilot is dead... and not so much. He awakes hearing a voice in his head telling him to get out of dodge and in a hurry and he gets help doing just that and while others are plotting to hint him down and kill him for good while making off with the secret... and killing anyone who knows about it.
Great stuff to read any my favorite parts? The panthers and their peculiar sense of humor and one that becomes known because what happened to the hero of the story happened to them first.
This book becomes a good read after a slow start.
But then picks up. A decorated pilot is dead... and not so much. He awakes hearing a voice in his head telling him to get out of dodge and in a hurry and he gets help doing just that and while others are plotting to hint him down and kill him for good while making off with the secret... and killing anyone who knows about it.
Great stuff to read any my favorite parts? The panthers and their peculiar sense of humor and one that becomes known because what happened to the hero of the story happened to them first.
This book becomes a good read after a slow start.
September 21, 2021
DNF. I'm sure the hard SF purists must be raving about the science, but the humans could have used some of the same thoughtful attention. Somewhere around the halfway mark, I was startled to learn that one character had a romantic interest in another, having seen no previous signs of such a thing developing other than the odd caveman protection reflex. I also found myself vastly irritated to see yet another enemy culture modelled after Asian cultures. A little imagination, maybe? Why write science fiction if it's only to project existing tensions and conflicts into space?
October 26, 2022
Would have made a good short story or functional outline of a book.
Readers of hard sci fi are greedy. They want to have the science served up to them in compelling & entertaining ways. They also want great characters who will develop in expected and unexpected ways.
This book has some of the science, a reasonable concept, some promising action and little else.
You don’t get a feeling of individual characters who are well defined, or you can differentiate between, they don’t develop and you remain indifferent to their fate throughout the story from beginning to the end.
Readers of hard sci fi are greedy. They want to have the science served up to them in compelling & entertaining ways. They also want great characters who will develop in expected and unexpected ways.
This book has some of the science, a reasonable concept, some promising action and little else.
You don’t get a feeling of individual characters who are well defined, or you can differentiate between, they don’t develop and you remain indifferent to their fate throughout the story from beginning to the end.
July 16, 2020
Future imperfect.
A fast paced, action packed, futuristic thriller. We have the Geminate which is a thriving society pitted against Akkadia, a proletarian state. Geminate scientists have taken a step too far though and Akkadia wants the research and will do anything to get it. Given that they have sleeper agents throughout the upper echelons of the Geminate government, they may just succeed.
A fast paced, action packed, futuristic thriller. We have the Geminate which is a thriving society pitted against Akkadia, a proletarian state. Geminate scientists have taken a step too far though and Akkadia wants the research and will do anything to get it. Given that they have sleeper agents throughout the upper echelons of the Geminate government, they may just succeed.
March 1, 2021
An excellent read (one that needs to be truly Read)!
As a reader whom sometimes gets excited reading and starts speed reading. I had to stop and backup to get all the information the gifted author had presented in this
Series. The premises of Chiral factors are quite intriguing , this really unusual novel has gotten stuck in my mind. Wonderfully developed characters, story line exceptionally well executed!
Great job
As a reader whom sometimes gets excited reading and starts speed reading. I had to stop and backup to get all the information the gifted author had presented in this
Series. The premises of Chiral factors are quite intriguing , this really unusual novel has gotten stuck in my mind. Wonderfully developed characters, story line exceptionally well executed!
Great job
April 6, 2024
The science behind Chiral has always interested me. While the author, L.L. Richman, concentrates on the fiction and military part of the science-fiction military genre, the base for the science-fiction element has a solid reality.
But first and foremost, this is a science-fiction spy thriller - we wake up in a morgue about to be incinerated with our hero and keep moving from there. I really enjoyed the ride.
But first and foremost, this is a science-fiction spy thriller - we wake up in a morgue about to be incinerated with our hero and keep moving from there. I really enjoyed the ride.
July 21, 2020
Having read a lot of sci fi, this concept had that element of newness we all look for in a story. Interesting connection between the two versions of the hero. Never did understand quantum entanglement, and I still dont, but it was fun to seee the way LL Richman spun the tale. Really enjoyed the inclusion of the cats, no story is ever complete with out a couple of (big) cats.
October 20, 2023
Good book with interesting characters
This was a good book and introduction into the biogenesis war universe. The characters were interesting and detailed, the bad guys were shown to suck and thus explained why they were bad guys. The interaction of the high tech worked well with the story. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it.
This was a good book and introduction into the biogenesis war universe. The characters were interesting and detailed, the bad guys were shown to suck and thus explained why they were bad guys. The interaction of the high tech worked well with the story. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it.
June 3, 2020
Fascinating story of intrigue in space with lots of hard sci fi and loads of action. The protagonists are well developed and varied with interesting, likable personalities. The villains are tough, hateful, and dangerous.
June 19, 2020
Wonderfully, imaginative tale
A great tale with some delightful, and some delightfully unpleasant, characters.
Adventure and excitement from the start in a wonderfully rich and well thought out universe
A great tale with some delightful, and some delightfully unpleasant, characters.
Adventure and excitement from the start in a wonderfully rich and well thought out universe
June 23, 2020
Enticing new series
Richman does it again as her detailed intricate plots work so well and keep you guessing whilst enticing you into her characters lives and emotions.
I have great hopes for the rest of this series as based on her Aeon 14 work you can't go wrong.
Richman does it again as her detailed intricate plots work so well and keep you guessing whilst enticing you into her characters lives and emotions.
I have great hopes for the rest of this series as based on her Aeon 14 work you can't go wrong.
June 27, 2020
A satisfying read
I thoroughly enjoyed this book: interesting characters, a convincing setting, a story with enough twists to keep you involved, but not so many that you could get lost, and a satisfying conclusion, even as the foundation was laid for the next book in the series.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book: interesting characters, a convincing setting, a story with enough twists to keep you involved, but not so many that you could get lost, and a satisfying conclusion, even as the foundation was laid for the next book in the series.
July 16, 2020
Great scifi !!
Loved the story and really enjoyed the care in getting the physics right. Makes me excited for all the things we are still going to invent.
Looking forward top the next book
Loved the story and really enjoyed the care in getting the physics right. Makes me excited for all the things we are still going to invent.
Looking forward top the next book
August 9, 2020
Enjoyed
This series has turned out to be a much better story than I had originally thought it would be. I just hate that I found it at its beginning as I now have to wait for each book to continue this very good tale.
This series has turned out to be a much better story than I had originally thought it would be. I just hate that I found it at its beginning as I now have to wait for each book to continue this very good tale.
June 18, 2021
Interesting ideas, and "clone has original's memories" explanation I can accept.
Thrilling story, and it maintains the "are they going to make it or not" right to the end. Well done!
Worth reading, especially if you prefer harder science fiction.
Thrilling story, and it maintains the "are they going to make it or not" right to the end. Well done!
Worth reading, especially if you prefer harder science fiction.
February 21, 2022
Fred's back
Nice to meet up again with Fred, I had almost forgot about him. Just as good as the first Chiral novel. It could have ended here but LL has more up her sleeve so there is another novel to look forward to.
Nice to meet up again with Fred, I had almost forgot about him. Just as good as the first Chiral novel. It could have ended here but LL has more up her sleeve so there is another novel to look forward to.
March 14, 2022
The Chiral Agent
The Chiral Agent is a good book. It took me a couple of chapters to get into it but once I did I couldn't stop reading it. It took biological science to a different level. The science was well thought out and executed.
The Chiral Agent is a good book. It took me a couple of chapters to get into it but once I did I couldn't stop reading it. It took biological science to a different level. The science was well thought out and executed.
January 17, 2021
Excellent fast paced plot
This was a wild ride that kept me up til it was done.
I enjoyed the characters, including the wisecracking panther.
This was a wild ride that kept me up til it was done.
I enjoyed the characters, including the wisecracking panther.
May 11, 2021
This was can interesting take - what if someone was cloned but the chiral twist was reversed?
May 23, 2021
I thought that this was a good start to a series. Interesting plot with good characters to move along with each new book. Looking forward to reading the second edition.
June 24, 2021
Just couldn't care ... dnf'd at 30%
dnf-not-for-me
September 7, 20211/10: Couldn't get past the first few chapters; not for me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews