Kris PR is a cyberpunk sci-fi techno thriller featuring the
challenges faced by Kris Peterson, a police officer who stumbles into a
complicated situation. The story is set in Manchester, England, in a future
where humanity is becoming lost in a world of gene enhancement, cybernetic
implants, and a world controlled by corporate greed and control.
I was taken in by the story from the opening pages. It is a fast-paced
thriller that kept me enthralled all the way through. I enjoyed the twists and
turns as the story unfolded. Kris quickly became a character I deeply cared
about. The book has deep emotional content thanks to the well-written
characters.
Manchester is a beautiful city today, but Morgan envisions the Manchester of
the future to be much like the city depicted in the Blade Runner (1982)
film. The entire city is lit up by neon advertisements, that is, except for the
dark alleys where some of the book is set.
Kris PR has an interesting philosophical element involved as he tries
to sort out how to be a better human. Pay attention to the epigraphs at the
beginning of each chapter.
While on patrol, Manchester Police Officer Kris Peterson is approached by a
young girl requesting his help because she is being chased by a stranger. When
he moves to help her, he comes under attack and barely escapes. He takes the
girl, Aimee, to his home because of a special ability she has.
He learns she has been kept in a facility under less-than-ideal
circumstances. As he investigates her story, he finds himself embroiled in a
desperate fight, almost losing his life.
The same person who nearly beat Kris to death drops him off at an office
where he receives illegal military-grade implants greatly augmenting his
already genetically enhanced abilities. Unfortunately, this combination is
unacceptable to the society he lives in. He is an outsider, shunned by nearly
everyone, and his new mission is to survive and stay away from the Corp, who
desperately wants him under their control.
There are numerous characters introduced in this first installment of
Morgan's Fractured Ascension series. The principal character, Kris, is
the point-of-view character for most of the book. He is what is known as an
"Edit," someone who has had their genes edited to make them the best
human specimens they can be. Kris, for the most part, is just a person. Because
of his genetics, he has abilities beyond others. Kris is an admirable person
with a good sense of right and wrong. He thinks situations through, and this is
what gets him into trouble, because he cannot see what is happening below the
surface and it costs him dearly. He is going to have a difficult time keeping
ahead of the Corp as he fights a system that has little value for life beyond
what it can do for them.
My favorite plot point in Kris PR is the very detailed description of
the installation of Kris' cybernetic enhancements and his recovery from the
beating he took. That part of the book was some of the best sci-fi writing I
have ever read! It made me cringe several times as I read it and was so well
written that I could see exactly what was happening in my mind's eye. Amazing
stuff!
Another favorite part was the banter between Kris and Aimee, while she was
at his apartment. While Kris is smart, Aimee seemed smarter than him in other
ways. They were a bit standoffish when they first met, but once Aimee learned
she could trust Kris, their interaction was a blast to read.
A theme that stands out to me in this tale is the growing conflict between
humanity and technology. Currently, we are at the dawn of integrating
technology into our lives in many ways. One of the most recent is the use of
artificial intelligence. A friend who teaches writing is constantly finding her
students submitting papers that are completely written by AI. My friend is
becoming frustrated by this trend and has to submit numerous disciplinary
reports to the dean of the college every semester. It is getting worse all the
time. What the author of this Kris PR does - for me, at least - is
project the use of technology far into the future, and what the implications
might be when integrated into humans. The character Kris gets tech installed in
a deep way, and doesn't want it, but it is there, nevertheless. What ethical
questions arise as a result? Is it good or bad? These are just a couple of
questions humans will face as we move into the future.
This is not a new trope in science fiction literature, but I like the way
the author handles it because Kris is so determined not to lose his humanity.
My takeaway from Kris PR is to wonder whether post-humanistic ideas
are being forced upon us, or is it a continuation of evolution? Now, there's
something to think about.
At the bottom line, Kris PR is a great work of modern sci-fi. It is
deeply entertaining while still making one think about future implications. It
deals with complicated issues, but the writing is so clear, those ideas are
easily communicated to the reader. The emotional context is all over the
spectrum. The world-building is great, colorful, and oftentimes on the scary
side.
Readers who are sensitive to graphic scenes of violence may want to think
about whether they want to read this. But if you enjoy lots of action with
interesting characters, pick this one up. High recommendations!
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
His debut novel, Kris PR: Deus Ex Homine, fuses genetic supremacy,
cybernetic warfare, and post-human philosophy into a noir-drenched vision of
collapse and transformation. When he’s not writing about illegal augments,
rogue cops, and the machinery of faith, Morgan explores cognitive failure in
decision-making - and why humanity is so good at choosing the worst possible
option.
He lives online at www.gs-morgan.com and can be found lurking in neon-lit
dystopias on X @GSMorgan.
Well, there it is...
Qapla!
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