Martian terraformer Kaylee Fourteen is a recent immigrant from Earth. Residents of the domed colonies of Mars can practically smell the day they’ll be able to walk outdoors on their own planet without the need for air supplies. But the committees on Earth control the resources the colonists need and their interference threatens the terraforming project’s very existence…
Until a group of radicals takes hostages to force the release of the tech and materials the terraformers need.
Caught in the crossfire, Kaylee has to navigate the delicate line between sympathy for her captors’ goals and horror at their methods. If she can’t keep the peace and find a way to get the hostage takers what they ask for, humans and robots alike will pay with their lives.
How can anyone negotiate a hostage crisis with a bomb locked around her neck?
The fate of two worlds and the balance of power between humans and robots hang on that answer.
I am a creator of worlds and a destroyer of words. As a fantasy writer, my works range from traditional epics to futuristic fantasy with starships. I have worked as an unpaid Little League pitcher, a cashier, a student library aide, a factory grunt, a cubicle drone, and an engineer--there is some overlap in the last two.
Through it all, though, I was always a storyteller. Eventually I started writing books based on the stray stories in my head, and people kept telling me to write more of them. Now, that's all I do for a living.
I enjoy strategy, worldbuilding, and the fantasy author's privilege to make up words. I am a gamer, a joker, and a thinker of sideways thoughts. But I don't dance, can't sing, and my best artistic efforts fall short of your average notebook doodle. When you read my books, you are seeing me at my best.
My ultimate goal is to be both clever and right at the same time. I have it on good authority that I have yet to achieve it.
“They were all human. They were all robots. The future spread out before them with limitless possibilities.” Set 100 years after the last book, Human Phase (Robot Geneticists, Book 6) is a fantastic conclusion to J.S. Morin’s masterpiece of a series that gives long-time series’ readers the ending they need as well as giving newcomers a great tale. I love this series, from its premise to execution. On the surface this is an imaginative story arc of the rebirth of humans thanks to one survivor following humanity’s near destruction as the hands of aliens (and the evolution of reborn humanity and their determination to become independent of their robotic saviors). It’s also a tale with betrayals, deception, loyalties, victories against odds and real adventure. If that’s not already enough, at its heart it’s a delving into the nature of humanity. Heady stuff, especially when provided in the context of really well developed plots that are wonderfully written and have amazingly strong character development. So thanks for a great story Kaylee 14, goodbye to Abby and other friends (especially the wonderful Eve 14 and Charlie7 who have been so wonderful to watch grow older and stringer in so many ways while they achieve their place in society - and history - as true heroes). And yes, goodby Charles Truman and even Gemini (a fantastic character who is so much more than just the “Creator”). But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review to my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on with praises. The book definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the book is most definitely one to read, and it is easy to highly recommend. I’m going to miss this series, just as I’ve missed others (especially the prior Black Ocean stories and the Fallen Angels series). If you’ve not read all of the Robot Geneticists stories you’ve missed out an I strongly recommend going back and starting from book 1. As for those of us who have eagerly read everything this author HS produced, at least we can take solace that latest new series, the Black Ocean: Mercy for Hire tales is turning out to be incredible fun.
The final book in the Robot Geneticists series, Human Phase, was terrific. I read it so quickly and was sad to see it come to an end. I'm really going to miss the characters of Eve Fourteen and Charlie 7. This time they are fighting moral dilemmas on more than one front.
Dealing with extremists who want to rid Mars of robots and will go to any lengths to get their demands met to forward their agenda to terraform Mars. And humans dealing with the morality of uploading their conciousness into robots to avoid death of the human body.
Eve Fourteen has a difficult decision to make. Is it for herself or for someone she loves? Will she make the right decision? How much influence does her family including Charlie 7 have on her?
In the end, they find out more than they ever bargained for. Something, Charles Truman dreamed of happening.
A good end to a great series. I'm glad to have been involved. I was lucky enough to have been chosen to have received a free advanced copy of Human Phase from the author just to leave my honest opinion in a review.
A great novel in terms of forward-thinking and as well the great what if and what would occur if the human race only had one chance of survival no spoilers, the books and series, in general, are worth the read because it follows many characters from beginning middle and ends you will understand what I mean.
As the saying goes, "We have met the enemy and he is us". Humanities new crisis revolves around other humans and requires a great negotiator to find a solution.
This (satisfying) conclusion to the Robot Geneticist series continues the tradition of asking some tough questions and dealing with human nature all wrapped up in an entertaining story.
This final book takes us to an ending readers have been wondering about for the previous five books. This is a book you must read if you finished the rest of the books in the series. Very satisfying.
In all truthfulness the story was getting a little tired by this sixth book, but the ending was handled so well that I'm leaving the series with more fondness than I would have at any other point. It was an interesting journey and we went full circle.
I wasn't sure how much I was enjoying the beginning of this book and the jumps in the history made before this book and the one before it too. However by the final chapters everything fit together quite nicely and made for an excellent conclusion of the entire series.
Martians, I repeat, there are martians. Okay they are just people born on mars but still cool, I was happy to see Charlie again and it was fun to see the later generations.