PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY:
Adam, crippled by muscular dystrophy, and five other terminally ill teenagers
sacrifice their bodies and upload their minds into weaponized robots to battle
a dangerously advanced artificial intelligence program bent on destroying humanity.
REVIEW: Two questions…
1. If you were
terminally ill but were given the chance to live forever as a robot – would you
take it?
2. What if we
developed a super computer programed to learn from their mistakes who decided
humans were expendable?
Both of these premises
come together in Mark Alpert’s thrilling novel, “The Six”. Adam and five other
teenagers are given the opportunity to cheat death by having their brain
functions transferred into an android. The kids and their families have a
massive decision to make. Will they lose their personality? What part of us truly
makes us human?
Adam’s father is also
the computer expert who had developed the super computer who learns from its
mistakes. Ahh, if only us human’s would too… The computer deducts that humans; infallible
and emotional creatures that we are, can shut it down permanently. The computer’s
self-preservation tells it that it needs to eliminate us as a potential risk.
Thus we become its prime target. The government, who has funded both products, sees
the teens as an unknown equation for the computer. Perhaps they are the only
way to save humanity from the super-computer we’ve created.
I was intrigued by
both plot scenarios and how the author was able to meld them into a
thought-provoking, high-action story. The reader is kept on the edge of their
seats as the teenagers struggle to adapt to their new forms and their mission.
The teens acted like teens, sometimes rebellious, sometimes cooperative, and
never predictable. The computer scenario reminded me of an updated version of
the 1980’s hit movie called “WarGames”. I can tell that the author, Mark Alpert,
who is the editor for “Scientific American” has done his homework! This is a
great book I could easily recommend to anyone from middle school to adult. The
story had a satisfying conclusion but left the door open for future adventures.
I can’t wait to see if there are sequels!
FULL DISCLOSURE: copy obtained through Sourcebook publishing.
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