Note: I received a copy of Adam in exchange for an honest review.

Adam Review

By: Rae

“It’s okay, you did your best… I wish I could have done more. I wish I could take back what I did… Me too…” – James Bushill, Adam

When Frankenstein comes to the future, things are bound to get interesting. James Bushill takes readers on a science fiction adventure where the biblical creation story of Adam and Eve meets the classic horror story of Shelley’s Frankenstein in his debut novel Adam. In 2091 scientists Victor and Maria have reached the last of their funding in an attempt to create a rat cell based biological computer system to be used as a copilot. After a stream of failed attempts Victor uses his own cells and Adam is born. Maria treats the supercomputer like a child, loving it and teaching it through its initial phases of life. She dreams of a better world. But everything changes when Victor makes the decision to sell Adam. The couples’ debts are paid but at what cost? Victor and Maria travel to a mining asteroid to get Adam settled and then time shifts and it is 2101.

Amidst the action packed pages, a story unravels of a supercomputer who becomes bent on revenge for his neglect by Pharix and his creators. People die. Secrets come out. Victor is forced to phase the consequences of every decision following taking that sample of his cells to create Adam. The plot twists and turns and is supported with flashbacks to explain why everything is happening now. Initially, I was a little confused of the time jumps and had to turn back to see what date was listed at the beginning of the chapter. The story was also a tad packed with backstory, but my curiosity was piped by the death on the first few pages. While I don’t read much science fiction I can say Adam pleasantly surprised me. I enjoyed the fractured quality of a creation story gone wrong. My complete sympathy also lies with Adam. This also was the case with Shelley’s Frankenstein.

The characters are rich with their own oddities and ticks. Whether they are good or bad, each of them has their own part to play. I appreciated how realistic they were. Every little detail to describe them, such as the book Victor gives Maria for their anniversary, only adds to the tale. The plot was easy to follow, full with descriptions to create an edge to a lonely world, and I wasn’t lost among scientific explanations of futuristic gadgets. Plus, how can you not love a supercomputer who can quote Shakespeare? Overall it was surreal to be in a world that I know yet don’t and realize that this sort of thing, a biological supercomputer, could very well be created. Let’s just hope he or she is better treated than Adam.

I was connected until the very end that left me wishing for more. I cannot of course reveal the ending without spoiling anything but I can say it packs a punch. If you like science fiction with a dark undertone I suggest giving Adam a read. You’ll be left wondering what else the future has in store.

To learn more about Adam’s author James Bushill, click here to visit his website.