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AKW books :: -Science Fiction :: Enhanced
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Author: Al Philipson
Very unusual story. I thought all the super hero plots had been done and repeated ad-nauseam.
Well, Zac isn't really a "super hero", but he's a step in that direction (the beggar can't fly ;-)...
In any case, a very entertaining story with enough twists to keep me coming back for more.
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Author: John Bowes
I saw an interview with Ben Brown that said he never finished high school because he was too dyslexic to read, so I couldn't imagine someone like that writing an action thriller. Well, somewhere along the way, Ben did learn to read and he sure as hell learned to write! Enhanced is probably the most exciting novel I've read in several years. The characters are well rounded and the action is pure kick-ass--it's literally like watching a Jet Li movie, only it's in a book.
Ben Brown's imagination is amazing. The plot twists constantly take you by surprise, and his knowledge of weapons and aircraft are also impressive. The science is a little bit out there, but as you read along you begin to wonder...maybe something like this could really happen? (We thought Star Trek was pretty farfetched when it first came out, but now personal communicators (cell phones) and medical scanners are so common they make us yawn.)
You don't want to miss Enhanced--it will keep you on the edge of the planet until the very last page.
(I understand Ben has written another book as well. I haven't read it yet, but that's my next project.)
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Author: Sam White
Playing like an R-rated version of the X Men (the jet Aurora sounds a lot like the that series' Blackbird) or a TV-MA version of the TV show Nikita with a lot of genetic tampering, Enhanced is a breakneck (often literally) thrill ride as Zac and his allies deal with super powered maniacs.
This would make a really good comic book mini-series from an independent publisher or 12-13 episode anime. It has kick-ass action scenes that rival most Hollywood blockbusters, a diverse (both figuratively and literally) cast of characters brimming with depth & personality not matter how small their role, save for one unfortunate exception (more on that later), a grounded take on super-science you can understand for a change (usually), and things get more and more interesting as it goes along.
But it's not perfect. It's biggest flaw is its villain. Dominic is often depicted the kind of autocratic megalomaniac that's been used many times before, with henchmen & even pawns that are more interesting than him. Attempts to humanize him, be it through exposition or telling the story from his point of view, do little to change this (some POV scenes actually make it worse). There are also problem with some issues with pacing, but the story often moves along at a good rate, so it's not too bad a problem.
That said, it's still an exciting, engrossing read that hits the ground running and seldom lets up. If you want a super hero story that takes risks that Hollywood just won't take these days, look no further!
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Author: Fred Hernandez
I found Enhanced an action packed page turner.
The fast paced action and twists and turns kept me wanting to jump ahead to the next chapter. Genetically Enhanced heroes and villains, the fight between good and evil, jet setting to a combat zone…it was quite a ride.
I found the characters interesting and they meshed well and grew together as the book progressed. Ben Brown keeps you at the edge of your chair. I can’t wait to see his next project.
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Author: Travis Sharpe
What a great read! Enhanced jumped right into the action and never stopped. The unexpected twists kept me so I couldn\'t put it down. Definitely recommend for any action/thriller fan.
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Author: Richard Winder
A superhero tale told with abandon
Most superhero stories play upon a central idea: maybe you don't have super-powers, but wouldn't it be awesome if you did? The twist in Ben Brown's tale 'Enhanced' is that you might indeed have those powers, if you possess the right kind of 'ancient DNA' and the secret to unlocking its potential. The action comes fast and furious in this story, as the protagonist Zac confronts this new truth in himself, and the reality that he must unleash these powers to save the world from others like him. The others are led by a megalomaniac named Dominic, who naturally seeks to dominate the world with his 'superiority.' Zac isn't alone. His mentors include Dominic's father, Skinner- the very savant that discovered the secret of unlocking ancient DNA. Then there is beautiful, competent Lea, another enhanced person who's powers pale in comparison to Zac's, but who's affection for the hero grows as the story progresses. Zac also has another advantage – a secret base set up by Homeland Security and the assets of the world's military elite at his disposal. Being the bad guys they are, the villains have their secret bases and technology to challenge this- along with an army of enhanced agents devoted to Dominic. As the action unwinds like the sudden release of a super-tight spring, there are a few characters that don't make it to the end of the story. Nay, that's not fair. There are quite many that don't make it to the end, and most of their deaths are quite horrible, violent, and shocking. Brown certainly doesn't shy away from the gruesome side of combat.
Overall, the story develops some interesting ideas about human potential and technology, and I found the themes concerning abandonment worked well in gluing the story together. Quite a few characters in the story wrestled with being abandoned to their fate, or not abandoning others to their fate, and the dialogue and friendship building around that theme was engaging and pulled one into the ensuing conflict. While I enjoyed reading the story and found the conclusion to be be satisfying, I do think that some improvements would be needed to raise my rating for this one. The pace goes through some wicked double-clutching on the curves, but that's to be expected with such frenetic action. The description of action is often very strong; the narrative occasionally tells rather than shows. Some of the under-villains are great, but the uber-villain seemed to remain something of a cipher- perhaps that was deliberately left for the next story to explore (and rest assured, Brown has left himself an option or two for that). To rate another star, I also think that more in-depth exploration or explanation for the origin of the ancient DNA would be needed to increase credibility. Fossil DNA does indeed exist in our cells- it is thought to be a kind of evolutionary 'parts repository' providing raw material for new genes, and it's a great idea to use it in this context. But if these genes have superior adaptive qualities, why are they now dormant? It seems to run counter to evolution. How could Zac's body perform these incredible feats if there is no evidence of such behaviour in past humans or their ancestors? Perhaps all of these issues aren't too important, since most superhero stories lean towards younger adults, but the violence in this one is definitely far R, for the copious blood and gore crowd only. I think the story should entertain those that like James Bond, superhero, and combat stories. Just make sure that you hit the ground running, so you don't get left behind!
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