Crux

More moving parts in the second installment of the series, and more excellent sci-fi. The tech is all plausible and the story keeps me guessing.

Executive Summary: Another great entry in this series. Can't wait for [b:Apex 20424928 Apex (Nexus, #3) Ramez Naam https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1422812013s/20424928.jpg 30020583]!Audio book: I'm was bummed that [a:Luke Daniels 2978188 Luke Daniels https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1331514576p2/2978188.jpg] didn't read this one. But that's not meant as a slight against Mikael Naramore. What it really means is that Mr. Naramore had extra work to do in order for me to be happy. I'm pleased to report he does a good job. Fairly early on, I was over the fact of the narrator change. In fact if he had been the narrator for the first book, I'd have no reason to complain. It's my first time listening to a book read by him. He does a good job with voices and inflection to make the audio book a good option to do this book in my opinion.Full ReviewI wish there were more books like this. I'm not a big sci-fi reader, but this sort of near-future plausible technology books. The only other author I know writing this sort of thing is [a:Daniel Suarez 1956402 Daniel Suarez https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1265394868p2/1956402.jpg], and his last few books Much like the first book, for me the large part of my enjoyment stems from thinking about the ideas presented here. It's one of those rare books that I keep thinking about even when I'm not reading it.This book does a pretty good job further exploring the ideas introduced in the first book and setting the stage for the final book while managing not to suffer from “middle book syndrome”.The characters are once again interesting and conflicted. The ideas presented here are not black and white. That's largely the reason I think this book sticks with you even after you put it down.I like that despite the fact that there are some pretty scary things that could occur if such a thing were possible, Mr. Naam makes it a point to explore some of the positive as well. That more the feasibility of the technology makes this book feel more realistic. There are good people out there. I'd like to hope more good than bad. People would use this technology for the betterment of humanity just as they would use it as a means to gain power, wealth or any other thing they might desire.Much like the last book, my main complaint is that the negative side effects of the drug seemed to be mostly ignored in favor of abuses it allows humanity to do to one another. He does explore the addiction aspect a little bit. However that seems to be something that the drug/technology enables you to do, rather than an effect of its use.Overall this is as enjoyable as the first. I hate to use a term like “more of the same” because that has a negative connotation to it. Personally I'd love a lot more of this type of story and eagerly look forward to reading [b:Apex 20424928 Apex (Nexus, #3) Ramez Naam https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1422812013s/20424928.jpg 30020583] this week. I'm so eager to read it in fact, that I'll be foregoing my preferred audio format in favor of the eBook due to the complete lack of information on it's release.

Knowing how difficult it is to write a follow up book to a well received first one, I must salute Ramen. The second edition picks up right from where the last one left us both in terms of speed and almost in terms of narrative. We see the best of Nexus before we see its worst. We also see the introduction of some new characters both black and white. And the finale is equally sumptuous with all the key players converging in Burma. Being Asian I loved the justice done to this part of the world in the first book and Ramez does even better this time. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Onwards