Upgrade by Blake Crouch. Pub Date: July 12, 2022. Rating: 🌟🌟🌟. I know this author is must read for a lot of people, but for me I think his work is too science dense and I feel very lost whenever I try to read his work. This is a sci-fi read that spans topics of ethics, evolution, philosophy and AI/genetic modification. Unfortunately I just couldn’t follow this one, but if those topics interest you then definitely pick this one up! Thanks to #netgalley and #ballantinebooks for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. #bookstagram #bibliophile #bookworm #igreads #theupgrade

If I had four or five PHDs I still wouldn’t understand a fraction of all the scientific data in this book. Quantum computing applications, intersection of science and philosophy, a war of genes and mutations, a war with natural selection, a slap dash heart racing sci-if thriller. I just wish I understood more of the background garble. Despite all that, it was an action packed story that never let up.

In the most simplistic terms this book examines stakes that are larger “than ideology, territory or even religion. The stakes were the future of our species. Where we were going. What we would become.” Set amidst a decayed and decaying country, much of which is unrecognizable to us in this century, a titanic battle between siblings is being waged. Each is only concerned with the salvation of the human race - it is all in the perspective and they are diametrically opposite.

Rounding up as I thank Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the copy.

Okay, I thought that I would love everything Blake Crouch has ever written...but this book is the exception. I just couldn't get that into it. Logan wasn't my cup of tea!

Blake Crouch is a sci-fi genius. This is a mix of sci fi and thriller. Who wouldn’t want an upgrade to their genetic makeup? If it comes with the task of saving the human race maybe you wouldn’t want that kind of upgrade! A dark family thrill ride that involved the future of humanity... I will say I preferred Dark Matter and Recursion but I felt Upgrade was right in the same wheelhouse. I never felt bored. It is set in a dystopian near future. Excited to see what Crouch comes up with next.

Upgrade is an intricately plotted, lightning-fast tale that charts one man’s thrilling transformation, even as it asks us to ponder the limits of our humanity—and our boundless potential.

“You are the next step in human evolution.”
An ordinary man undergoes a startling transformation—and fears that all of humanity may be next.

Do you read the letter from the editor at the beginning of books? I always do and the one written for this book really set the premise for me and prepares me for what was to come. I became even more intrigued and excited after reading the letter written by editor Julian Pava. The topic is so fascinating to me, and I have become more interested in this area since watching movies and series along the same theme with my son. I absolutely can easily picture this book as a movie or series and it is one my son would watch together. The writing is impressive and sophisticated, is very creative and innovative, and I appreciated the talent put into it. It is not a book that flows easily, adept attention is required, yet not so much that you are lost. That being said, I do feel that I could read it again and maybe pick up on some things I missed the first time, especially now that I know what happens. Topics like this really make me think, and ponder whether these things could happen, and if so, when? And would I welcome it or resist it? Truly compelling read, and one that screams immense talent by the author.

May contain spoilers .....

One of the few 5 star reads of this year. Finished within 2 days. This was an enjoyable, exciting, fascinating read. I'm guaranteed to always enjoy a great read from the author and this book was no different. The writing flowed and reading was tight. While the deep details of the subject matter was over my head, it was written in a way that was easily understood. The characters weren't always likeable; but they came across as relatable. Reading, I imagined myself imagining those situations and how I would handle it. Overall, there wasn't a right or wrong; you could understand the decisions made by the characters. The rate we're going as a society, we could find ourselves facing the same issues. Will the same solution chosen help us?

#NETGALLEY #UPGRADE

This was a great book! Thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Fast paced and the characters were relatable. I really liked the science fiction aspect of it even though I usually don't read science fiction. Very good premise.

Blake Crouch has never disappointed before, and this novel was no exception! It’s got it all. If you’re looking for a thought-provoking read with great characters and a fantastic plot, pick this up. You won’t regret it.

Blake Crouch writes a cautionary but fascinating tale of a future that has a very real possibility of being true. The world of genetic enhancement has become less a question not of "could we" but "should we"? What will we sacrifice to live longer, be stronger, smarter, more powerful and knowledgeable? Our humanity, itself?

Thought-provoking and we'll told, this is one you can't put down until the last page.

Didn’t love this much as the other books by Crouch. 😬 it was hard to get into this one. It was a bit too much science for me and I was unable to really connect with any of the characters.

You know that Bradley Cooper movie where he invented that pill to make him smart and then kinda trolls the world? Upgrade is like that, but smarter with nerds and I felt dumb reading it,but liked it? Idk Blake Crouch does an excellent job of writing the same story over and over again and yet I always forget he's doing that because I'm trying to figure out the technology stuff.

You like SciFi? Read this

I am a casual fan of Blake Crouch, though every time I read one of his works I wonder why he isn't on my favorite author list!

This science fiction thriller pulled me in from the start. It wasn't too scientific (I'm looking at you, Any Weir!) for me to understand, and I'm one who gets confused just *thinking* about the vastness of space.

Blake Crouch has a very nice writing style that pulls you in and keeps you there. I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns this book took and look forward to his next work!

Logan Ramsey's genome is altered, he is "upgraded", his senses are heightened, he is stronger and faster than ever before. At first there are plenty of questions: Why Logan? Who did this to him? Why do this at all? Once those answers are given and a more nefarious plot is revealed, Logan races against the clock to save the human race as we know it.

This was my second Blake Crouch book and it did not disappoint. The pacing was well perfect for a sci-fi thriller. The action doesn't let up and the plot is continuously moving. I was never bored and devoured this one quickly despite sci-fi not being my go-to genre. Happy to report the science-y bits weren't too heady. I'll definitely pick up whatever Blake Crouch writes next.

Rating: 4 stars

Special thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the ARC of Upgrade for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

To see an author continuously one up themselves from book to book is something a reader lives for. I've been with Crouch since Dark Matter and it is a marvel how he can balance such complex topics while still keeping his stories rooted in reality and overflowing with emotion. Even sci-fi should be about people, and relationships, and Upgrade has this in spades. A feat.

I am a Blake Crouch fan, but this novel missed the mark for me. I could not sympathize or connect to the main character at all. Challenges never felt truly challenging to this character. I will recommend this author, but this book won't top my list of his titles.

I really enjoyed this novel, personally I would highly recommend it. It was interesting and entertaining. It kept me wanting more throughout the entire book- would recommended to anyone

I've always loved her style of writing. Such a great story and kept me engaged throughout. Thank you Netgalley for this copy.

I really enjoyed both Dark Matter and Recursion, but this book didn’t connect in nearly the same way as those books. While I appreciate the amount of work and research that must have gone into writing this book, it just ended up being so boring. It started off pretty well, but around half way through I just found myself wanting to skim. This book just can’t compare, quality-wise with his previous books, which was very disappointing.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing me access to this eARC for my honest opinion!

Years ago, in the aftermath of widespread disaster caused by genetic manipulation, the practice of gene editing was outlawed. Logan Ramsay’s mother was the accidental architect of a catastrophe that killed millions. After being pardoned for his part in the disaster and released from prison, Logan took a job at the Gene Protection Agency, bringing in gene-splicing criminals. When a nighttime raid turns out to be a trap, Logan is infected with a gene-editing virus, which seems to have had no effect on his genome. But then he starts noticing little differences, both physical and mental. He’s smarter, stronger. And there appears to be a dangerous plan afoot which his transformation is only the first step in – a plan that only he has the power to stop.

This was my first Blake Crouch sci-fi novel and I loved it. I’ve seen several reviews saying this one isn’t as good as the others, but that just makes me REALLY excited to read the others. It’s a fascinating exploration of the concept of gene editing, as well as a look at what it means to be human, and the cost of becoming something more than human. The way that Logan’s narrative voice and the writing style shift as his mental processes evolve is also really interesting. The year this novel is set in is never stated, but it’s a near-ish-future setting, and many parts of the world are still recognizable – and both the improvements to society and the dystopic aspects of the novel feel very plausible.

Overall, a gripping and thoroughly enjoyable read. I can’t wait to dive into his other sci-fi books.

Representation: lesbian characters

What makes us human? What part, if changed or enhanced, would turn is into an all-new species?

Blake Crouch asks this question in his latest novel, Upgrade, and it really got me thinking. The difference between us and certain other species is only a 2% difference in our genome, so what would it mean for the human species if our genome were to be 'enhanced' and it ends up creating a 2% or more difference in our genome?

Another question he poses, this one is a morality one: would you be okay with potentially killing 1 billion people if that meant saving the other 9 billion and the human species as a whole?

That gave me a lot to think about. What some scientists were okay with doing was horrifying.

It also made me think, this is almost the opposite of what Dan Brown's villain in Inferno is worried about. There, he's worried about "overpopulation" of the world, where here in Crouch's world, the world is already at 10 billion people but possibly will end because of people's actions.

Anyway, I love books that make me think or open my eyes to something new or teach me something, and this book did all that while being an entertaining, fast-paced read, so I can't recommend it highly enough!

And as always, I already can't wait to see what Blake Crouch does next.