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allysonbogie's review against another edition
2.0
I like the premise but have two big complaints that really ruined it for me. One, I thought the characters were flat, and most (including the main character) didn't seem to be constructed as whole people. Two, the descriptions of the setting and action were confusing. They weren't clear or precise. The plot is promising but these two things made me just not care.
beastreader's review against another edition
3.0
Owen Gray finds himself in trouble after the government passes a ruling that all amplified "Amp" humans inserted with a neural autofocus MK-4 brain implant chip are not considered to be protected humans. Owne learns from his father that he is considered to be an Amp. Years ago, Owen was in a bad accident one that Owen's father had no other choice but to insert Owen with a chip or lose his son forever. Now, Owen's father tells Owen to head to a trailer park called Eden in Eastern Oklahoma. There he will find others like Owen.
I was very excited to check out this book. After seeing a friend rave about Mr. Wilson's first novel, Robopocalypse, I knew I had to check our Mr. Wilson and Amped. Also, I have recently gotten into this genre. Ok, so sadly, I was not as impressed by this book as I had hoped to be. The concept was intriguing and would have worked if I had felt anything for the characters. It was like watching a remake of the Terminator, where the viewer or in this case the reader is suppose to cheer for the Amps as they are just as human as the rest of us and they have rights. So what if they have super human abilities. First in order to get someone to like or even to cheer for them, you have to make that person have a personality and second they have to have likability. In the case of this book, I never worked up to either case on a full scale. On the other hand, Lyle the leader of the Amps were one scary dude that I would not want to mess with. The Amps in this story were just as bad of guys as the humans. They picked on the humans and they thought they were above the govenment and could get away with anything. Also, the chapters read a bit choppy. There were many times that I put this book down and had no problems walking away from it. Although, I do have to say that on a positive note, there was some glimmer of brilliance. Enough that I would consider checking out Mr. Wilson's prior novel, Robopocalypse.
I was very excited to check out this book. After seeing a friend rave about Mr. Wilson's first novel, Robopocalypse, I knew I had to check our Mr. Wilson and Amped. Also, I have recently gotten into this genre. Ok, so sadly, I was not as impressed by this book as I had hoped to be. The concept was intriguing and would have worked if I had felt anything for the characters. It was like watching a remake of the Terminator, where the viewer or in this case the reader is suppose to cheer for the Amps as they are just as human as the rest of us and they have rights. So what if they have super human abilities. First in order to get someone to like or even to cheer for them, you have to make that person have a personality and second they have to have likability. In the case of this book, I never worked up to either case on a full scale. On the other hand, Lyle the leader of the Amps were one scary dude that I would not want to mess with. The Amps in this story were just as bad of guys as the humans. They picked on the humans and they thought they were above the govenment and could get away with anything. Also, the chapters read a bit choppy. There were many times that I put this book down and had no problems walking away from it. Although, I do have to say that on a positive note, there was some glimmer of brilliance. Enough that I would consider checking out Mr. Wilson's prior novel, Robopocalypse.
seymoregulls's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
books4biana's review against another edition
3.0
Another dystopian book...only our main character is a 29 year old male teacher.
christajls's review against another edition
3.0
Originally reviewed at Hooked on Books
Robopocalypse by Daniel H Wilson was one of my favourite reads last year. So I jumped at the chance to review Amped when I saw it up on NetGalley. I loved the innovative way Robopocalypse was set up and I was happy to see Daniel H Wilson kept certain elements in this books. Court case rulings, press releases etc. These little extras give Amped a much more authentic and in-the-moment feel.
Amped, is an exciting and action packed read. It is like there is a consistent level of adrenaline running through this book at all times. Lots of fighting, lots of running. It's a book that'll make your heart pound. If you insert some military grade, human being amplification tools in people's brains there are bound to be some great fight scenes. If all that action wasn't exciting enough there are some really great twists that will keep you guessing.
Though I really enjoyed this novel I find that I need to bring up an issue with the female characters. Or lack thereof. There was only one female. And she was a pretty one dimensional one at that. She's a regular human in a community of amped individual. She adopted a little boy, cooked food for elderly people, is the love interest for the main character. A form character if I ever saw one. This was incredibly disappointing to me. I'm not saying a woman needs to be a main character or even a central one but in a book filled with characters there could have easily been more than one and at the very least one that was more significant/equal to the other characters.
As a feminist and science fiction fan I often find myself torn over certain books/movies/shows etc. On the one hand this is a really fun and exciting read. On the other I can't ignore the implications a feminist reading brings to the surface. So what it comes down to is this - while I loved Robopocalypse, I simply liked Amped. It is an enjoyable but somewhat problematic read.
Robopocalypse by Daniel H Wilson was one of my favourite reads last year. So I jumped at the chance to review Amped when I saw it up on NetGalley. I loved the innovative way Robopocalypse was set up and I was happy to see Daniel H Wilson kept certain elements in this books. Court case rulings, press releases etc. These little extras give Amped a much more authentic and in-the-moment feel.
Amped, is an exciting and action packed read. It is like there is a consistent level of adrenaline running through this book at all times. Lots of fighting, lots of running. It's a book that'll make your heart pound. If you insert some military grade, human being amplification tools in people's brains there are bound to be some great fight scenes. If all that action wasn't exciting enough there are some really great twists that will keep you guessing.
Though I really enjoyed this novel I find that I need to bring up an issue with the female characters. Or lack thereof. There was only one female. And she was a pretty one dimensional one at that. She's a regular human in a community of amped individual. She adopted a little boy, cooked food for elderly people, is the love interest for the main character. A form character if I ever saw one. This was incredibly disappointing to me. I'm not saying a woman needs to be a main character or even a central one but in a book filled with characters there could have easily been more than one and at the very least one that was more significant/equal to the other characters.
As a feminist and science fiction fan I often find myself torn over certain books/movies/shows etc. On the one hand this is a really fun and exciting read. On the other I can't ignore the implications a feminist reading brings to the surface. So what it comes down to is this - while I loved Robopocalypse, I simply liked Amped. It is an enjoyable but somewhat problematic read.
laurazdavidson's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting (sci fi/dystopian) look at what makes us human and the effect of technology on our humanity. Most people are good, right?
mxsallybend's review against another edition
4.0
Although I've had a copy of Robopocalypse on my shelf since it was released last year, it never quite made it to the top of my TBR pile. That is an issue I plan to rectify soon, based on the fact that Amped turned out to be one of my favourite reads of 2012.
This is a book that works on two levels - it's both a thoroughly enjoyable adventure and a deeply thoughtful look at class warfare and social prejudice. Wilson has previously been compared favourably to Michael Crichton, and based on this, I can definitely say the comparison is warranted. Both gentlemen know how to spin a yarn that pairs scientific and technical concepts with philosophical and political ideals, all without boring the reader or coming across as preachy.
The science here is fascinating, a minor tweak to humanity designed to correct our flaws and failings. Originally intended to heal, the very first implants allowed the blind to see and the deaf to hear; it gave epileptics control over their seizures; it enabled children with birth defects or mental impairments to function 'normally'; and, when paired with some mechanical enhancements, it allowed the physically disabled to walk. However, the bio-mechanical implants have an interesting side-effect, enhancing other abilities along the way. Suddenly, amped children are not only functioning normally, but are proving to be super-intelligent; and amped adults are not only moving as if they'd never lost a limb or use of their body, but are proving to be super-strong and super-fast.
It doesn't take long before significant divides begin to form in society. with 'normal' humans feeling left behind, fearing a future in which they cannot compete. As the story begins, the Supreme Court has ruled that amped individuals are no longer human . . . no longer protected from harassment or discrimination . . . and no longer able to enter into contracts, own property, or have any legal standing. Bolstered by the hate-mongering of the Pure Human Citizens Council, society has turned on its amped neighbours, confining them to slums and trailer parks, just waiting for an excuse to exterminate them all.
Against that backdrop we have the story of one man, implanted as a child, who is only beginning to comprehend the extent of his abilities. As someone who never really considered himself to be fully amped, Owen acts as an intermediary for the reader, allowing us to truly appreciate what society has come to. As he explores his potential - and, ultimately, his choice to either preserve or destroy - we also get to explore what it means to be human, and what it means to be amped.
Surrounding Owen are some strong supporting characters, but if there's one failing it's that almost all of those characters are amped. Normal humans are not portrayed positively at all (with one notable exception), presenting a rather one-sided view of the conflict. Much of that is due to Owen being the narrator, and it does help to drive home the message of how quickly and how thoroughly we can latch onto our differences and use them as excuses to hate one another, but it does make for a rather bleak and hopeless tale.
The story moves a long at a brisk pace, with some big budget action scenes near the end that really work well. There are also a few interesting twists along the way, and even if I suspected the biggest one about halfway through, the way it played out was more than satisfactory. An all-around great summer read, Amped is a story that will open your eyes as it entertains you, and really make you think about how little it would take to turn us against one another.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
This is a book that works on two levels - it's both a thoroughly enjoyable adventure and a deeply thoughtful look at class warfare and social prejudice. Wilson has previously been compared favourably to Michael Crichton, and based on this, I can definitely say the comparison is warranted. Both gentlemen know how to spin a yarn that pairs scientific and technical concepts with philosophical and political ideals, all without boring the reader or coming across as preachy.
The science here is fascinating, a minor tweak to humanity designed to correct our flaws and failings. Originally intended to heal, the very first implants allowed the blind to see and the deaf to hear; it gave epileptics control over their seizures; it enabled children with birth defects or mental impairments to function 'normally'; and, when paired with some mechanical enhancements, it allowed the physically disabled to walk. However, the bio-mechanical implants have an interesting side-effect, enhancing other abilities along the way. Suddenly, amped children are not only functioning normally, but are proving to be super-intelligent; and amped adults are not only moving as if they'd never lost a limb or use of their body, but are proving to be super-strong and super-fast.
It doesn't take long before significant divides begin to form in society. with 'normal' humans feeling left behind, fearing a future in which they cannot compete. As the story begins, the Supreme Court has ruled that amped individuals are no longer human . . . no longer protected from harassment or discrimination . . . and no longer able to enter into contracts, own property, or have any legal standing. Bolstered by the hate-mongering of the Pure Human Citizens Council, society has turned on its amped neighbours, confining them to slums and trailer parks, just waiting for an excuse to exterminate them all.
Against that backdrop we have the story of one man, implanted as a child, who is only beginning to comprehend the extent of his abilities. As someone who never really considered himself to be fully amped, Owen acts as an intermediary for the reader, allowing us to truly appreciate what society has come to. As he explores his potential - and, ultimately, his choice to either preserve or destroy - we also get to explore what it means to be human, and what it means to be amped.
Surrounding Owen are some strong supporting characters, but if there's one failing it's that almost all of those characters are amped. Normal humans are not portrayed positively at all (with one notable exception), presenting a rather one-sided view of the conflict. Much of that is due to Owen being the narrator, and it does help to drive home the message of how quickly and how thoroughly we can latch onto our differences and use them as excuses to hate one another, but it does make for a rather bleak and hopeless tale.
The story moves a long at a brisk pace, with some big budget action scenes near the end that really work well. There are also a few interesting twists along the way, and even if I suspected the biggest one about halfway through, the way it played out was more than satisfactory. An all-around great summer read, Amped is a story that will open your eyes as it entertains you, and really make you think about how little it would take to turn us against one another.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
weltenkreuzer's review against another edition
3.0
Spannendes Thema kurz und bündig zu Ende gedacht, vom Stil her allerdings zu nüchtern und unpersönlich