Clean Copy: A SciFi Thriller

by R.R. Brooks

Peter Valois is about to make history. A scientist on a hot project, his days consist of recording brains and sending the files into robots for "conditioning". His plan is to use the results to fix their behavior, and then use the same method with humans.

Peter's been on the straight and narrow and everything is going well, until problems with his teenage son force Peter out of his comfort zone. His scheme to save his son backfires when his cutting-edge research attracts the interest of someone who will stop at nothing to get what they want.

In danger of losing his son, his research, or both, Peter soon has to make drastic choices. But how much is he willing to sacrifice, and is there a way out?

The author blends international intrigue, industrial espionage, and futuristic technology to make Clean Copy an imaginative and entertaining read. His work compares favorably with that of Michael Crichton and Neal Stephenson. - Tom Hooker, co-author of The War Never Ends-

292 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 13, 2021

About the author

Robert R. Brooks (R.R. Brooks) spent his career as a researcher in a pharmaceutical company. Now living in western North Carolina, he has published both fiction and nonfiction, including science fiction and fantasy stories. A short play was performed in 2005 and 2007. Leo Publishing released his epic fantasy novel Justi the Gifted in 2015. A psychological mystery novel The Clown Forest Murders, co-written with A.C. Brooks, was published by Black Opal Publishing 2017. A science fiction-thriller-espionage novel will be out in 2019. A second fantasy novel is underway. He is a member of the Blue Ridge Writers Group, the Appalachian Round Table. He maintains author’s pages on Facebook, Amazon, and Goodreads.

Reviews

[Geza Tatrallyay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bob Brooks uses his extensive and broad-based scientific background to create a futuristic, sci-fi thriller that nevertheless is down to earth and within reach of today’s reality. The characters—even the robot, Kayten—are believable and well crafted. A research scientist in AI, Dr. Peter Valois, is engaged on a secretive mind control project that his firm, Cybernetics has taken on for the US Department of Defense. The Chinese military is interested in his work and hires a disaffected CIA agent to penetrate his lab and spy on his work. The Valois’ teenage son, Dan, is having drug issues, and this gives the Chinese an avenue to get to the scientist. The story moves forward at a rapid pace, from Beijing to San Diego to Mexico, with car chases, murders and kidnappings. Clean Copy is an enjoyable and gripping read, one that will expand the horizons of most readers. Highly recommended.

[Dave Nichols · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn't get into the characters, they needed more depth. The cyborg robot was a bit much.

[Lori Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received as an audio review copy from the narrator Greg O' Donahue, this is an honest review. This is one heck of medical techno-thriller filled with subtly nuanced characters brought to life through the narration that's engaging to make this book memorable. Through hard work and sacrifice, Dr. Peter Valois's scientific discover is going to change lives by "conditioning" a person's brain so they can become a better individual. The doctor never imagined his son would be such a person on need of this help; but a his son's drug abuse gets worse... makes him the perfect pawn by others that desire the technology for their own profitable agenda forces Peter Valois with the aid of their robot companion to find this son before it's too late. A beautiful, profound adventure with shady, questionable ethics. Highly recommended.