Synapse

WOW! James is a new author to me, and "Synapse" was the best way to start, I think! I was blown away at how this book challenged me, made me think, connected me to characters and made me tear up during a few moments. I don't know how James has been off my radar up to this point, but it is safe to say he will be one I watch out for in the future. I am glad I picked it up at the library and had extra time to read it right now."Synapse" is set 30 years in the future, but could easily have been written in 2020 as technology continues to advance. The world the characters inhabit has a lot of the same things we do now, with the added complications of artificial intelligence and robotics that are almost as lifelike as humans, called Artificials. There are two very different schools of thought amidst the culture-- the Purists, who refuse technology's advances and have used their ideas to craft homegrown terror cells, and the rest of the world, the Naturals, who have easily adapted to the improvements over time. There are also the in between citizens, those who are nicknamed "Plussers," who have had partial limb replacements with robotics and synthetic skins or upgrades done to their bodies by adding improvements such as supersonic hearing.Kestrel Hathaway is a woman who has recently suffered a loss, upending her faith and her vocation as a minister. She can barely begin processing her grief when she aids a victim of a terrorist attack she's witnessed at the Terabyne facility where her brother, Trevor, works as a software developer.As the investigation develops, Kestrel is drawn into portions of the world she's become jaded to. While not being someone who rejects the tech culture, she is also cognizant of the dangers of hosting Artificials in people's homes, the oversaturation of tech addictions and the disconnect between humans.Federal counterterrorism agent Nick Vernon is the first to cover the attack and suspects there is more danger ahead. Terabyne's new product is about to be released to the public, which means the press conference would be a perfect opportunity for a repeat attack. Nick continues to gather evidence, connecting with Kestrel and her brother during his investigation.Trevor delivers Kestrel a gift, much to her chagrin. She doesn't trust robots and has no intention of activating this Artificial named Jordan. After Trevor discusses his reasoning behind the gift, she decides to give Jordan a chance--and that decision will alter Kestrel's life forever.Filled with intrigue, suspense, spiritual wrestling and the discussion of what truly makes one human (or inhuman), "Synapse" is a book that pulls you in from the first page and will not let go until the very last page. I am thankful I took a chance--this book is full of thought provoking, honest discussion on weighty matters of the soul. It is not preachy, it touches on both spiritual principles and the delicate balance of life and death. I connected deeply with the characters and was sad to come to the end of this futuristic adventure. "Synapse" is one I plan on purchasing a copy of so I can mark the many moments I felt were profound. I would love to see this book made into a movie--it was awesome.

Steven James taught a class, “Story Trumps Structure” at a writer’s conference. He is one of the best writing teacher’s I’ve come across and I had to read one of his books to see how he applied what he taught. I was not disappointed.Synapse is outside the typical scope of my reading selections. I tend to prefer YA fantasy to adult Sci-Fi. But Synapse is more than a Sci-Fi story. It’s a philosophy book and a deep theological thinker’s delight.Thirty years in the future people are in a war between “purists” who fear artificial intelligence vs those who prefer to glean from its conveniences. Kestrel, a pastor who won’t go so far as to call herself a purist, yet isn’t a fan of AI befriends a new improved, deep thinking, more self-aware “artifical” named Jordan.After losing her newborn baby, Kestrel stops to assist a victim of a terrorist attack thereby plunging her headfirst into the midst of a terrorist plot. As she assists Nick, a federal agent, with his investigation of the attack, she buries her daughter, gets to know her new artificial, deals with cleaning her ransacked home, and struggles with a crisis of faith due to the loss of her daughter.Meanwhile, Jordan struggles with the loss of his “mother”–whether she is in the man-made version of heaven with all the collective consciences of past artificials–and questions whether God can forgive a created being such as himself.If you enjoy futuristic, fast-paced, thought-provoking, unpredictable, page turners that will keep you thinking long past the last word on the final page, Synapse is a MUST read.

Took me by surprise. Well thought out premise and interesting twists and turns kept me on my toes and engaged to the end. Very entertaining without the gratuitous sex and gore usually found in thrillers.

Synapse is much more than a page-turning thriller. Following in the footsteps of Jules Verne, H. G. Wells, and Arthur C. Clarke, Steven James offers a peek into the future where AI is as integral to our everyday life as the Internet is today. Kestrel, the principal protagonist, teams up with Jordan, her AI “Artificial,” to help stop a terrorist attack. The reader is held captive not only by a ticking clock, but also by the penetrating thoughts and questions raised by Jordan regarding God and heaven. That these philosophical struggles are being experienced by a non-human not only connects the reader closely with an AI, it also sharpens our own thinking about life and death. The author deserves high praise for a crackerjack thriller, fascinating predictions about the near future, and an ability to trigger thoughts about faith that will last long after the read is completed.

Wow, I was recommended this from a podcast and I dont regret it at all....I enjoyed it so much I am going to purchase more from this author!

I started reading this book with guarded skepticism. As a Christian there was a lot in this book I did not agree with. Although with AI coming to this earth and much talk about it today and the talk of robots parts of the book was interesting. I can't imagine with the way the earth is going today that it world still around in 30 years as we know it.

Thoughtful, well-written science fiction tale examining the spiritual and social implications of advanced machine intelligence. The novel not only works expertly as a fast-paced suspense thriller, but also excels in the area of characterization—the reader feels as attached to Jordan, the main Artificial human, as he or she does to Kestrel, the main human character. In addition, the narrative honestly tackles the issue of the problem of pain: If God is a loving God, why does he allow unmitigated suffering to occur? Only rarely has written prose brought me to tears, but this novel’s moving conclusion did just that.