Review: Amped

By Daniel H. Wilson
Available now from Doubleday (Random House)
Review copy

In near future America, approximately half a million adults and children are amped.  One short procedure, one little machine in your head, and you're practically a whole new person.  The amps can cure bipolar disorder, ADHD, PTSD, alcoholism, epilepsy.  And they aren't just medical.  Some of the amps make you faster, smarter.  And the regular humans aren't happy about being outclassed.  A faction known as Pure Pride, led by Senator Joseph Vaughn, pushes through legislation and legal decisions degrading the amps' human rights.

The beginning of AMPED seems extremely unbelievable.  Things are happening too fast and people abruptly treat the amps like third-class citizens without even thinking about the behavior.  But protagonist Owen repeatedly emphasizes that he was ignoring the political situation.  He believed nothing would apply to him, since he had a purely medical implant.  But even medical amps face discrimination

Then Owen's father confesses that his amp isn't purely medical.  It's something more and he needs to go to Jim in Oklahoma for help.  Quickly, because the government knows about Owen's amp and they're going to come for him.

In the Eden Trailer Park of Oklahoma, Owen meets a wide variety of amps and Lucy, the one pure human living among the amps.  Most importantly, he meets Lyle, who used to be part of an amped Special Forces Squad.  He decides to follow Lyle, despite the fact Lyle is clearly nuts.  As a couple of characters point out, Owen ain't the brightest.

There's a philosophical underpinning to AMPED.  What makes us human?  How far can technology take us and where to we draw the line?  But AMPED isn't really interested in exploring those questions.  They add some depth to the story, but that isn't the point.  AMPED is not a character-driven exploration of existentialism.  It's a conspiracy thriller with a science fiction twist.

And as a conspiracy thriller, AMPED delivers.  There's lots of action and there's several twists, although most of them are pretty predictable.  It's quick, it's fun, and fortunately not dumb.  Just don't read it expecting DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP?

Seventh Annual 48 Hour Book Challenge Start Post

Here it is!  For the first time I'm participating in MotherReader's 48 Hour Book Challenge.  I'm pledging a quarter and hour and hope to raise a full $12!  I'm showered, I'm fed, I've played with my dog so he should let me read in peace.

I am starting with AMPED by Daniel H. Wilson.  Mostly because I'm already on page 155 and I want to finish the book.  Stay tuned for reviews of books I finish here and updates on my Tumblr.

Hello to participants stopping by my blog, and good luck.

Update 1

I see people are putting updates on their starting posts as they read!  (Maybe I should've done some social time earlier.)

I have finished:
AMPED
LOSERS IN SPACE
EARTHSEED
GUILTY
and
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU AND ME
for a total of 1,275 pages and 4.5 books in 7 hours and 7 minutes.  With blogging, I'm at 9 hours and 43 minutes.  I have now spent 43 minutes being social, for a total of 10 hours and 26 minutes.

I am now going to start reading THE CRANES DANCE by Meg Howrey.

Update 2

I have now finished and reviewed THE CRANES DANCE.  I spent 3 hours and 2 minutes reading it, bringing my time total to 13 hours and 28 minutes.  My page total is 1,648 and my book total is 5.5.  Add in my blogging time and I'm at 14 hours and 7 minutes.  I think I'm going to try to read and review one more book before bed.  We'll see how I do!

Update 3

I read CAPTURE THE FLAG by Kate Messner in 54 minutes, bringing my totals to 1,879 pages, 6.5 books, and 15 hours and 1 minute.  I spent six minutes writing a review before deciding I should wait until after I slept.  (Although adding up in the morning, I should have 15 hours and 19 minutes. I missed 13 somewhere last night.)  Several hours of sleep later, I finished the review and scheduled it for July 1st.  My total time is now 15 hours and 48 minutes.

Update 4

I have finished two books in the Chronicles of Nick series by Sherrilyn Kenyon.  My INFAMOUS review will appear later on TGTBTU and here is INVINCIBLE.  I also started my audiobook, which is a collection of short stories.  I listened to 20 minutes of "Ten Carats of Lead" by Stewart Sterling and narrated by Alan Skiar.  I plan to listen to more late tonight.  That reading time brings me up to 19 hours and 44 minutes.  I have now read 8.5 books and 2,767 pages.

I took 34 minutes to network earlier today, bringing my time up to 20 hours and 18 minutes.  Adding in my blogging time during this period, I'm at 21 hours and 17 minutes.  Shouldn't be hard to hit 24 hours, but I doubt I'll hit 36 like I wanted to.  On to the next book!

Update 5

I've finished two more books and added two reviews: STEALING KEVIN'S HEART and THE FLAME OF OLYMPUS.  There was a long break during this period while I ran errands and ate dinner.  Adding in my reading time brings me to 23 hours and 53 minutes.  I've finished 10.5 books for a total of 3,387 pages.  Time spent writing those two reviews brings me to 24 hours and 46 minutes.

I spent 34 minutes social networking, which how do I spend the exact same time social networking twice in a row?  It's totally random.  With that, and the time spent writing this quick update, I'm at 25 hours and 25 minutes.  I'd need 10 hours and 35 minutes to hit my goal of 36 hours.  Given that my time is up at 10:45 AM tomorrow morning I can do it - if I stay up the entire night and take absolutely no breaks.  Given my need for sleep, that's a no go.  I'll try to read as much as possible to increase my donation.

I'm going to shift gears with a nonfiction book, PEOPLE WHO EAT DARKNESS by Richard Lloyd Parry.  (Now: 25 hours and 28 minutes.)