I, Human

Do you prefer to be simply human or more-than-human? That’s easy? Think well before answering, because it’s not a question as simple or smooth as it seems. It involves not only our concept of what means to be “human”, but also the future of medical research, neurological and chemical applications, and the government approach and assessment of the problem.

See, at the end of 21st century, the intelligence analyst Alan Reynolds lives in a split society: the vast majority of people with neural brain processors, that increase their intelligence, but suppress emotional empathy – and the “Bornies”, people who accept the limitations and emotions they are born with.
Alan is somewhat exceptional, because he has a high IQ, but also a not negligible emotional empathy. This is useful in his missions to track down malfunctioning people. But, when he is sent to infiltrate a Bornie group, he discovers that the leader, Maria Fria, is able to heal and restore people in ways impossible to the brain processors. Very soon Alan “converts” himself to the world vision and capabilities of Maria, and begins to develop a plan of his own…

So, returning to the opening question, is this the answer? Bornies are better? Well, if you read the novel, you’ll see that there can be a third, maybe a fourth possibility.

“I Human” by John Nelson is not a “thriller”, in the sense of heavy action and heartthrobbing suspense. But it will be a thrill for your mind, wondering about the brain and brain implants possibilities, our functioning as a whole society, our true integration of intelligence, feelings and emotions… Read it with your mind open and you’ll discover yourself looking at the reality and the other people in subtly different ways.

A highly intellectual look into a dystopian future where the use of neural implants and drug conditioning are used to keep the population calm and malleable. Difficulty is that this conditioning represses feelings and intuition and can cause mental breakdowns in the population that represent future problems for the government. In addition a segment of the population has refused the treatment and are involved in living and working in a low tech environment. They are known as bornies; and have evolved living completely apart from those that have accepted the treatment and its consequent enhanced functioning.
Alan Reynard, a government agent is given the assignment of infiltrating a spiritual commune run by a healer named Maria Fria who has modified the implants for increased functionality. Alan grows to believe in what Maria is doing and causes him to begin to work towards modifying the government's social control.
The thesis of the book is interesting and the concept possible. But Mr. Nelson falls into the trap of an overabundance of explanation of what is happening and could very easily lose the reader in sheer wordiness.

I received an ARC of this book. I asked for a copy because it was described as a cross between 1984 and Brave New World, two of my all time favorite books. There were definitely parallels to the former, but not obviously so for the latter. I was in love with the first third of the book, but then it took a turn that wasn't as enjoyable for me as the beginning. It was an enjoyable read throughout, but the pacing seemed to be off at times.

I greatly enjoyed reading John Nelson's take on the trans-human, the next stage of human evolution explored in many ways by many authors. John Nelson presents a future society in which bio-engineered neural implants enhance human functioning on every level, while at the same time ensure a government-sanctioned homogeneity of what is acceptable behavior. At the same time a different more organic evolution of human consciousness is taking place, a development closely monitored and outlawed by the powers that be. Neither bio-engineered, drug-induced, nor techno-engineered, this version of the trans-human is rarely presented in the genre, and depicts the full flowering of human potential.

Presented as a futuristic spy-thriller, this book captured my attention and interest, and kept me reading even though the sometimes preachy or awkward writing style occasionally bogged me down in parts. Definitely overall thought-provoking and highly recommended reading.

Really interesting view of a dystopian future where people's brains are augmented, but there are doubts about how safe the implants that provide the augmentation are. The second part of the novel does feel a tad "new age", but if you're inteerested in the AI debate, well worth a read

Awesome read, will be recommending!!

Unable to put down, from start to finish!!

An exciting Sci-Fi romp. I finished it in one night; simply could not put it down. This futuristic spy-thriller engages the reader from the first page. Guaranteed to be the latest success.