Kindle Edition Amazon Amazon Amazon Kindle Category:  Science Fiction ISBN-10:  B006CEXYTM Type: Fiction In this sequel to Post-Human, humanity will be forced to face a future more advanced than it could have imagined if it wants to survive. Nineteen months have passed since the AI turned against humanity and was subsequently destroyed. In the meantime, James Keats has turned over the AI's powers to a non-intelligent, easily controlled operating system. He and Thel have left the planet and spent six months vacationing on Venus, which has been newly terraformed without the consent or knowledge of the Governing Council. The AI has been deleted, but the message it sent out into the abyss of space in search of a companion has been answered. An alien force dwarfing the Earth is on its way to find out why the AI has stopped communicating. Keats and company can only assume its intentions will be hostile when it finds out the truth. Only one thing is for sure: nothing will ever be the same again. Welcome to the Trans-Human era. Welcome to the singularity.   Excerpt It was the sort of pain that took any idea of there really being a “you” out of the picture.You were nothing.You were a series of nerve endings that were all firing at once, uncontrollably. Old-timer’s only wish was for a quick death. It wouldn’t come. Finally, the drills stopped... His jaw was locked closed and his eyes were clamped shut and filled with tears. He took a breath, but the pain it caused was so intense that he stopped breathing rather than repeat the experience—better to suffocate. “And now you will learn,” the man said finally. Old-timer opened his eyes. They were wild with hatred for the man. The man’s face remained hard like stone. Old-timer continued to shake, his hair soaked with sweat as tears streamed down his face. The man’s eyes dropped from Old-timer’s eyes and fell onto the gaping hole in Old-timer’s torso. “Look at it,” he said. Sadistic, Old-timer thought. He obeyed, though; this man was not above anything—Old-timer would never refuse anything he asked. He lowered his eyes and looked down. He cringed as he imagined what the damage must have looked like. The drill had been deep inside him, spinning for a full minute. He imagined blood. He imagined organs, shredded into twisted meat. Nothing that he imagined could compare with the hideousness of what he saw. “What have you done to us?” Old-timer bellowed. “We’ve saved you,” the stone faced man replied.

Patrick
This novel depicts, in a quite unprecedented way, the great potential of humanity to exceed its own natural boundaries and become something greater, while still remaining true to our virtues. It is thought-provoking without impeding the flow of the story. David Simpson does a fantastic job of tying together a multitude of compelling concepts in a way I haven't seen before.

Paul Hurley
It's rare in entertainment that one will find that a follow-up story or sequel that matches or even transcends the original. For every Terminator 2 or Dawn of the Dead, there are five Terminator 3's. David Simpson's Trans-Human fortunately dodges this bullet and presents an entertaining and thoughtful sequel to his Post-Human novel. The story keeps us with the same, future universe that Simpson introduced us to in his first novel. We have most of the same characters confonting a new threat. I think anyone who is even remotely into sci-fi/fantasy will get something out of Trans-Human. The autor incorporates some interesting theories and science into the story and does not attempt to spoon-feed it to the reader. You really need to pay attention. In fact, it is one of those books that you should really read twice to get all the little things you might have missed the first time. Another thing I like about the novel are the characters. Simpson seems to be a fan of classic, fictional heroes who are determined to do the right thing. He presents most of his protagonists this way and gives you characters you can really care about and cheer for. The threats in the novel shift consistently and you never really know who the bad guy really is. It is almost like a galactic whodunit. Simpson's writing has really grown in this novel has the storyline is more sophisticated and multi-layered. I did have an issue with the characterization of Old-timer. I don't eant to give spoilers, but there was some inconsistencey. However, I think Simpson might havebeen planting seeds for another follow-up. All in all, really good! Simpson is really coming into his own as a novelist. I am looking forward to reading his new one, The God Killers!

AJ
Trans-Human was even better than Simpson's debut novel, Post-Human. I'm not a hardcore sci-fi reader, but I do have an interest in cyberpunk and great dystopian novels, so I gave Post-Human a try last year. I loved that book for its unique vision of the future, but more so for its readability. Simpson is an expert at weaving a story, seemingly effortlessly, through intense action and gripping characters. In Trans-Human, he takes it up a notch. If you enjoyed the first book, you'll love the second. Simpson revs the story right back up again in the first few pages and, from then on, the action goes full throttle. The plot is much more complicated this time around though, with far more twists and turns than even the first book had. With the few people I have discussed Simpson's writing with in the past, the common thread is always that the readers felt Simpson is in a class by himself when it comes to expertly twisting a plot so that it is virtually impossible to predict the ending. The tension keeps you on the edge of your seat and you can't put the book down.

I was worried that Simpson wouldn't be able to live up to my expectations for this sequel; after all, Post-Human was his debut novel. Perhaps he would be a flash in the pan? I am so pleased to report that Trans-Human is an even better book than the first, with more action, yet delving deeper into even more engrossing philosophical questions about the destiny of our species.

Definitely 5 stars