What do you think?
Rate this book
Prime
The bestselling Apex novella in a new author's definitive edition--with bonus content and at an unbelievably low price!!!
**This ebook edition of PRIME includes a bonus short story and FREE excerpt of Kenyon's upcoming sci fi thriller RIDING THE WIRE! 150 pages of new fiction. Won't remain available for long--don't miss it!
HOW DO YOU STOP A KILLER WHO ISN’T REAL?
There’s never been anyone quite like William Bellow. People say he’s the first of an entirely new species, the next step in human evolution. He almost lost his life five years ago inside the Net, but when the New London network asks for his help against a vicious new virus, he can’t say no.
When he falls for a newborn sex clone of a Hollywood movie star, Bellow starts to wonder if he’s in over his head. There’s something about Kara that drives him crazy, in all the right ways, but she’s a distraction he can’t afford. She’s young, she’s beautiful, and she just might get him killed.
When Bellow goes underground and taps into a shadowy network of extremists who live off the grid, he uncovers a vast conspiracy that leads to the highest levels of society. Every step he takes leads him closer to uncovering a secret that threatens to tear him apart--and closer to a bug that will not stop until he’s dead.
REVIEWS
“To say that this is Kenyon’s best work is a bit of a misnomer—indicating his other works are of lesser quality, which is simply not true. Prime, however, is much more ambitious, and offers serious introspection on the nature of man and technology…and where our world is headed. In a way-–while carefully avoiding hyperbole–-Prime offers a similar impact as Bradbury’s classic Fahrenheit 451, because in a world that becomes ever more “plastic”, where ‘reality’ is so easily simulated…Kenyon’s story is hauntingly plausible.”
--SHROUD Magazine
“Kenyon takes readers on a fast-paced thrill ride, blending the best of noir mystery and science fiction. After a brilliantly executed series of twists, Kenyon delivers an emotionally powerful ending. Fans of authors like Philip K. Dick should find Kenyon’s foray into science fiction a worthy read.”
--DARK SCRIBE Magazine
“Will entice many a science fiction reader (five stars)!”
--Midwest Book Review
“Nate Kenyon excels at world building as he crafts a world in which technology dominates society. However, PRIME is not the sort of tale in which the technical details overwhelm the story. Instead, Nate Kenyon uses this backdrop to address issues of today as he offers a startling grim look at what can go awry when the lines between reality and the virtual world are blurred.
PRIME is a short book but one that produces some very thought provoking questions with each reread offering a new perspective. Nate Kenyon’s science fiction tale has all the earmarks of a classic. Bravo!”
--Book Illuminations
“A gripping read. Bellow’s character is a joy to follow as he works his way through the mystery and finds out how his involvement runs deeper than he thought. Not only does Bellow’s development proceed at a natural pace but he is also hard as nails at the same time. This makes for some intense moments that inject fresh life into the plot and keep things buzzing.”
--Graeme’s Book Review
“An interesting cyber-mystery set in a cool world.”
--SF Signal
“Kenyon has already proven himself a hell of a writer, but PRIME puts him on a whole new level.
**This ebook edition of PRIME includes a bonus short story and FREE excerpt of Kenyon's upcoming sci fi thriller RIDING THE WIRE! 150 pages of new fiction. Won't remain available for long--don't miss it!
HOW DO YOU STOP A KILLER WHO ISN’T REAL?
There’s never been anyone quite like William Bellow. People say he’s the first of an entirely new species, the next step in human evolution. He almost lost his life five years ago inside the Net, but when the New London network asks for his help against a vicious new virus, he can’t say no.
When he falls for a newborn sex clone of a Hollywood movie star, Bellow starts to wonder if he’s in over his head. There’s something about Kara that drives him crazy, in all the right ways, but she’s a distraction he can’t afford. She’s young, she’s beautiful, and she just might get him killed.
When Bellow goes underground and taps into a shadowy network of extremists who live off the grid, he uncovers a vast conspiracy that leads to the highest levels of society. Every step he takes leads him closer to uncovering a secret that threatens to tear him apart--and closer to a bug that will not stop until he’s dead.
REVIEWS
“To say that this is Kenyon’s best work is a bit of a misnomer—indicating his other works are of lesser quality, which is simply not true. Prime, however, is much more ambitious, and offers serious introspection on the nature of man and technology…and where our world is headed. In a way-–while carefully avoiding hyperbole–-Prime offers a similar impact as Bradbury’s classic Fahrenheit 451, because in a world that becomes ever more “plastic”, where ‘reality’ is so easily simulated…Kenyon’s story is hauntingly plausible.”
--SHROUD Magazine
“Kenyon takes readers on a fast-paced thrill ride, blending the best of noir mystery and science fiction. After a brilliantly executed series of twists, Kenyon delivers an emotionally powerful ending. Fans of authors like Philip K. Dick should find Kenyon’s foray into science fiction a worthy read.”
--DARK SCRIBE Magazine
“Will entice many a science fiction reader (five stars)!”
--Midwest Book Review
“Nate Kenyon excels at world building as he crafts a world in which technology dominates society. However, PRIME is not the sort of tale in which the technical details overwhelm the story. Instead, Nate Kenyon uses this backdrop to address issues of today as he offers a startling grim look at what can go awry when the lines between reality and the virtual world are blurred.
PRIME is a short book but one that produces some very thought provoking questions with each reread offering a new perspective. Nate Kenyon’s science fiction tale has all the earmarks of a classic. Bravo!”
--Book Illuminations
“A gripping read. Bellow’s character is a joy to follow as he works his way through the mystery and finds out how his involvement runs deeper than he thought. Not only does Bellow’s development proceed at a natural pace but he is also hard as nails at the same time. This makes for some intense moments that inject fresh life into the plot and keep things buzzing.”
--Graeme’s Book Review
“An interesting cyber-mystery set in a cool world.”
--SF Signal
“Kenyon has already proven himself a hell of a writer, but PRIME puts him on a whole new level.
156 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2009
1 person is currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Nate Kenyon
32 books203 followersNate Kenyon's latest novel is the techno-thriller Day One (Thomas Dunne/St. Martins Press). Booklist gave it a starred review, calling it "exciting and inventive." Library Journal called it a "must" and Kenyon's "scariest to date."
Kenyon grew up in a small town in Maine. His first novel, Bloodstone, received raves from places as varied as Library Journal, Fangoria, Publishers Weekly, about.com, Cemetery Dance and The Romance Studio, and praise from authors such as Brian Keene, Tim Lebbon, Douglas Clegg, Mort Castle and Rick Hautala. Bloodstone was a Bram Stoker Award finalist and and P&E Novel of the Year Award winner. It was released in paperback from Leisure Books.
Nate's second novel, The Reach, received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, which called it "superb." The Reach is in development as a major motion picture. His third novel, The Bone Factory, and his science fiction novella, Prime, were released in 2009. The Bone Factory was called "masterful" by Booklist, and Shroud Magazine called Prime "a blistering, fast-paced tale."
Nate's fourth novel SPARROW ROCK was also optioned for film. He has written the novel StarCraft Ghost: Spectres, based on the bestselling videogame by Blizzard and published by Pocket Books, and Diablo: The Order, also based on a Blizzard game and published by Gallery Books.
Nate is one of four authors featured in the Dark Arts Books anthology When the Night Comes Down, March 2010.
Nate's dark fiction stories have appeared in various magazines such as Shroud and The Belletrist Review, and in the horror anthologies Terminal Frights, Northern Haunts, Legends of the Mountain State, and Monstrous, among others. Kenyon has worked at the Brookline Public Library in Brookline, Mass. and the Boston College Law School as their Director of Marketing & Communications. He is a member of the Horror Writers Association and International Thriller Writers.
Kenyon grew up in a small town in Maine. His first novel, Bloodstone, received raves from places as varied as Library Journal, Fangoria, Publishers Weekly, about.com, Cemetery Dance and The Romance Studio, and praise from authors such as Brian Keene, Tim Lebbon, Douglas Clegg, Mort Castle and Rick Hautala. Bloodstone was a Bram Stoker Award finalist and and P&E Novel of the Year Award winner. It was released in paperback from Leisure Books.
Nate's second novel, The Reach, received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, which called it "superb." The Reach is in development as a major motion picture. His third novel, The Bone Factory, and his science fiction novella, Prime, were released in 2009. The Bone Factory was called "masterful" by Booklist, and Shroud Magazine called Prime "a blistering, fast-paced tale."
Nate's fourth novel SPARROW ROCK was also optioned for film. He has written the novel StarCraft Ghost: Spectres, based on the bestselling videogame by Blizzard and published by Pocket Books, and Diablo: The Order, also based on a Blizzard game and published by Gallery Books.
Nate is one of four authors featured in the Dark Arts Books anthology When the Night Comes Down, March 2010.
Nate's dark fiction stories have appeared in various magazines such as Shroud and The Belletrist Review, and in the horror anthologies Terminal Frights, Northern Haunts, Legends of the Mountain State, and Monstrous, among others. Kenyon has worked at the Brookline Public Library in Brookline, Mass. and the Boston College Law School as their Director of Marketing & Communications. He is a member of the Horror Writers Association and International Thriller Writers.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 14, 2010
This thin book is "thin" in most respects. Interesting ideas, but nothing truly explored. As mystery, Scooby-Doo exposition never wins my affection. As science fiction, I enjoy these ideas, but "half-baked"(SFSignal.com)is a review I agree with. The prose, which shows brief flashes, feels that way as well.
A character as a clone is interesting, but it does not create an interesting character. Likewise, a novel as clone can be interesting, but only if it can fool you into believing it is unique.
Kenyon has award nominations for Stokers, so I'm inclined to believe he was trying to step out of a comfort zone with this idea. I don't really know.
I think it's a tough task to deliver trans/post human science fiction along with the deeper implications the subject demands. Threading those ideas within an entertaining narrative is a difficult trick.
Gorgeous cover by Katja Faith.
katjafaith.deviantart.com
A character as a clone is interesting, but it does not create an interesting character. Likewise, a novel as clone can be interesting, but only if it can fool you into believing it is unique.
Kenyon has award nominations for Stokers, so I'm inclined to believe he was trying to step out of a comfort zone with this idea. I don't really know.
I think it's a tough task to deliver trans/post human science fiction along with the deeper implications the subject demands. Threading those ideas within an entertaining narrative is a difficult trick.
Gorgeous cover by Katja Faith.
katjafaith.deviantart.com
April 16, 2017
Nate Kenyon’s short futuristic novel is a quick read and a perfect book to read while you are on the road. The slightly larger than normal print makes reading the book very easy on the eyes. The tale takes place in the not too distant future and it focuses on the problems and benefits of the mixing of man and machine. I found the book to be at times predictable but at other times the plot turned and made me rethink my first guess. I like this, because I felt like I was moving through the story with the characters, at times knowing what was happening and then being surprised…which is what happens very often in real life. I look forward to more science fiction books from Mr. Kenyon as he improves his craft.
March 4, 2014
Four -- maybe 4 1/2.
Not my usual genre (futuristic), but still an enjoyable, well-written piece. I would recommend it. It was definitely "different," but I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.
Not my usual genre (futuristic), but still an enjoyable, well-written piece. I would recommend it. It was definitely "different," but I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.
June 30, 2009
My sci fi short novel
April 20, 2010
Very Gibsonesque. While not that much new to the genre and a bit um... OK, manly and gender roles hide bound... a good read.
October 2, 2010
I liked it.
It is short, even for a novella. It is more like a novelette.
The story line is an ambitious undertaking for Nate and I wish it were more richly written. Still, it is worth reading.
It is short, even for a novella. It is more like a novelette.
The story line is an ambitious undertaking for Nate and I wish it were more richly written. Still, it is worth reading.
January 18, 2011
Very well written but the subject matter just wasn't for me. Reminded me of an updated Blade Runner but I struggled with the technical details and tech talk.
December 23, 2013
This was strangely disturbing reading, though a little too complex to grasp in a single sitting, despite its length. Certainly an author to take note of.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews