Upgrade is a biotech thriller set in the near future written by Blake Crouch. Released 12th July by Penguin Random House on their Ballantine imprint, it's 352 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is a biotech thriller in the tradition of Crichton, M. R. Carey, and J. A. Konrath. It's not derivative at all, but fans of the aforementioned will fiind lots to like here. The story is fast paced, action driven, and engaging from the start. It's set in the near might-as-well-be-right-now future and readers will have no problems orienting themselves in the setting and story. There is some technical jargon and basic biology/tech concepts, but readers probably won't encounter problems with the terminology in context.
The language is occasionally rough, R-rated, and there are disturbing descriptions and story elements included in the story. The entire basic storyline - what is the essence of humanity and what can, and more importantly, should science do to and for mankind is thoroughly examined. I felt a deep sense of melancholy throughout much of the book. The denouement and resolution come as inevitable but satisfying. It's well written and engaging and well based in the science as we currently understand it.
Four stars. Definitely highly recommended for fans of SF/speculative biotech fiction.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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