“The future was here, and it was a fucking mess.”

Blake Crouch continues to firmly secure his spot as one of my all time favorite authors. While I equally love Dark Matter and Recursion, the scientific threats in those feel much more abstract and not as immediate, whereas Upgrade feels as though it is here and now. And it’s terrifying.

I admire and applaud the level at which these books are researched. It makes them fully immersive, provided you give them the attention to understand and learn as you go along. If you just jump over all the scientific complexities because they’re challenging, you won’t enjoy these books as much as you could.

This was a brilliant portrait of the convergence and divergence of cognition and emotion, and the role they play in humanity. I couldn’t put it down. Action packed as per usual, but equally bringing me to tears with the poignance.

Love love love love love and can’t wait for the next.

Based on the premise of this book I thought I was really going to enjoy it. It started off strong but got a little boring for me very a quickly. The chapters were too long so it made the book seem much slower paced than it was. I didn’t really love the characters of the writing style, and in the end the plot wasn’t all that engaging for me either. I did enjoy the overall message but I think this book just wasn’t for me.

This was very smartly written and hugely entertaining. I cannot believe this is the first book from this author that I’ve read. It will not be my last. ARC from Random House - Ballantine and Netgalley.

As always with Blake Crouch, I find myself engrossed in his stories, despite my general aversion to anything science related. Somehow he is able to make me be interested in DNA, genetic sequencing, and evolutionary changes in Homo sapiens in a way that has me desperate to learn the ending.

"Upgrade" is pretty good! Not my favorite of Blake's novels, but still a good story of genetic manipulation, science fiction, and trying to do what's best for humanity.

I’ve noticed this year I’ve been reading a lot more dystopian fiction on the future of mankind. I know it’s probably because it’s being written about more often now. 𝘜𝘱𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦 by Blake Crouch (@blakecrouch1) is dystopian science fiction story and the dystopian parts are so subtle (like shortage of meat) that you can almost think it’s present day. The only thing that’s not subtle about it is that the threat of the end of the 𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘰 𝘚𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘯 species is closer than ever. ⁣
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⁣After a sting operation gone bad, government agent Logan Ramsay finds that his genes have been altered. And he’s not the only one. On the run from the very government he’s dedicated his life to, Logan is trying to not only right the wrongs of his mother but to also make sure another gene-altering virus isn’t unleashed on the world, one that may end up killing more people than it helps. ⁣
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⁣As always, I enjoyed Crouch’s story and found it riveting. I’d love to see his works as movies bc I feel like they would translate so well on screen! At the same time, some parts do get a little too “science-y” for me and I find it hard to keep up bc it’s too smart for me 😅. ⁣
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⁣I really enjoyed the epilogue and so much of what the character said resounded with me. I’ve included some of the quotes (swipe to see the slides if interested). I do agree that human beings are only able to care about a finite number of people - BUT I don’t find that a plausible excuse to not want the survival of all races. We are a selfish species and our extinction will eventually come. The question, for me, will always be if we deserve it by that point. ⁣
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Have you guys read this, or is it on your TBR? Do you like science fiction?

⁣Definitely would recommend this book if you like dystopian science fiction!

Thank you @netgalley for the e-Arc!

Save a dying world by surreptitiously installing DNA "upgrades?" Let me think on that for a bit. When it means a billion human beings will be collateral damage? Um...

There's plenty more food for thought in this fascinating tale of a radical plan to keep the human race going for more than the century some experts insist it's got left. Problem is, it's illegal. Following a colossal disaster brought on by Logan Ramsay's brilliant geneticist mother Miriam, the Gene Protection Agency was formed and the practice of so-called gene-editing became a federal crime. Now, Miriam is long gone, Logan is all grown up, married with a young daughter and working for the GPA. When they learn about an illicit gene lab, a team that includes Logan heads out to shut it down. And that's when everything goes haywire and the nonstop action begins in a setting in which half of New York City and Miami are under water, Lake Mead has dried up and the outlook for the rest of the planet looks bleak at best.

When the lab explodes, you see, Logan is injured by sharp objects; soon, it becomes apparent that he's changing. Suddenly, he's physically stronger, has a noticeably sharper mind and somehow has acquired the ability to "read" other people and their thoughts. In other words, his genome has been altered - but by whom? And perhaps more importantly, why?

The answer, at least to Logan, is absolutely mind-blowing and changes his life forever - even more so when he learns of a plan to "save" civilization by way of the aforementioned genetic upgrading. What should he do? Clearly, the world won't survive much longer if nothing is done - but is this the only solution? Should there be a solution at all? Heavy questions with no easy answers for Logan (or for readers, except maybe for climate deniers). Whatever he decides to do, it won't be easy; of course, I'll save the details for those who want to tackle this intriguing and thought-provoking story that I'm glad I had the chance to read. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the pre-release copy to read and review.

Whew!

I was a little hesitant about reading this one because I'm not the biggest sci-fan fan and am pretty intimated by the genre typically. If you find yourself in the same boat as me, please let this be an encouragement to you to give this one a try anyways. While a lot of the super smart science talk was all Greek to me, I think it's all Greek to most people and the book was still very much enjoyable for me.

I absolutely loved the main character and how he had to grapple with really hard decisions that could ultimately save or destroy humanity!

This definitely reminded me of the movie Limitless, which I loved. If you enjoyed that, then I think you'd like this as well.

Thank you so much to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the E-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It's out now!

4.5 stars rounded up!

Despite a lot of scientific gobbledygook about DNA, this was enjoyable science fiction. The idea of DNA manipulation to save our species was explored. Some people are given souped up powers, while others die. The story built at a good pace and then the end read like an action movie. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an advance copy of this book.

Best Blake Crouch book I have read! Absolutely brilliant!! Sci-Fi is not my normal genre of books I read! I really enjoy his novels and learn so much from his work, only brilliant minds can create stories like Blake Crouch,

Y’ALL. THIS BOOK!!!! I can tell this is a book I will always been thinking about. What a world. What a fascinating concept. What a ride this was.

On the one hand, I want this level of intelligence. I want to sleep less and be able to read and retain all the books. But this also sounds TERRIFYING. And to set this all in a different kind of pandemic was a stroke of genius.

Because this all felt just so ~familiar. But also not. Because this is what our world could become, if we let it. This is what we’re inching toward.

So I loved this. I’m already a huge fan of Blake Crouch but Upgrade is on a whole other level. And I loved it. Especially the ending! I am so glad I had a chance to pick this one up and I’ll definitely continue to read anything Crouch writes. I miss the horror days but I am loving this sci-fi era and I can’t wait to see what Crouch comes up with next. Highly recommend both Upgrade and anything else by Crouch!!!

And thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review!

An incredible book by Blake Crouch! I have found his books to ask the big questions about humanity and human nature in a way that few science fiction books manage to achieve. His books do it gracefully, articulately and powerfully. This book brought tears to my eyes and it made my heart race. If you are searching for an amazing sci-fi book that looks at what it means to be human- this is the book for you.

Upgrade by Blake Crouch is a story about the fate of humanity and the role human nature will play in its determination.
Bearing the Stain of his family's involvement in pushing the world into a state of starvation and triggering gene protection laws Logan is a man working with a government area to prevent further tragedy by raiding and shutting down illegal labs when his life is turned upside down once again.Now his own genome is changing and no one however close can be trusted. He must learn the intentions of those who delivered the gene upgrade to him and prevent the damage that may be done if they release the upgrade on a wider scale all while wrestling with the line between saving humanity and dooming it to extinction.
Upgrade is a perfect fit for existing fans of Blake Crouch's earlier works but also a wonderful introduction to his writing for fans of science fiction's longest asked question. Is mankind really its own worst enemy?

Upgrade
By Blake Crouch

I really love Blake Crouch’s style of anxiety-inducing science fiction and his latest, UPGRADE is a fascinating sci-fi thriller that I think many readers will enjoy.

In Upgrade, we’re following Logan who, on a mission with the GPA (Gene Protection Act) task force, becomes exposed to something.

Upon healing, he finds himself not only recovering but surpassing his prior capabilities and being “upgraded”.

I loved the entire concept of the gene task force and I felt the science fiction aspects were believable. The writing was crisp and exciting and all of the characters seemed to come to life.

The story was held at a good pace and kept my attention throughout. I could see this book being adapted into a movie or tv show.

Thanks to Penguin Random House Audio, Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books for the advanced copies!

Upgrade…⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

i loved this book! i think the theme of the book was spot on and i really enjoyed all the science talk. it did feel a little drawn out at times though and i might have liked dark matter more. i will def be reading recursion to see where that stacks up!

I was a bit apprehensive going into this one after loving Dark Matter and being a bit disappointed in Recursion.

Luckily, Blake Crouch did not disappoint!! This was amazing and I may have loved it more than Dark Matter? Yet to be determined

This read like a thriller for most of the book and the plot was just the perfect amount of easy to understand science fiction.

Somehow Crouch is able to get to the bottom of humanity and the struggles we face between species survival, research ethics, evolution, and the environment.

I can’t share a small teaser for the plot here in fear of spoilers so just consider this: Is it ethical to use experimental research to ensure the survival of Homo sapiens?

I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

I put off reading this one for awhile, because I knew it was going to be a little bit heavier reading than I can handle right now. I wasn't wrong. Crouch delves <em>DEEP</em> into the science of genetic editing, which was both fascinating and boring at the same time (fascinating as to how to this can be done; boring because I wasn't familiar with a lot of the science terms and science isn't my forté). I really enjoyed the action scenes and the characters. I liked that as Logan became more "upgraded," the writing changed and seemed more advanced (meaning, bigger words, etc.). I enjoyed it, but I don't think this was as strong as <em>Dark Matter</em> or <em>Recursion</em>. I'd probably give it 3.5 stars, and I'm still going to suggest it for people to read.

A creative and brilliant read! Logan lives in the near-future and works for the government in the Gene Protection Agency (GPA). his job is to monitor and arrest those who violate the laws and hunt down scientists that are gene editing.

One day, Logan's world changed. He has been infected with an unknown virus. A virus that is upgrading his mind, body and giving him superhuman intelligence. Who is responsible for this virus?

Logan realizes that it is up to him to fix this and save humanity. He needs to stop this virus from being spread,

Blake Crouch knows how to write a thrilling, fun, sci-fi read! Loved this one and cant wait to see how they make into a movie! Look forward to more by this author.

I usually don't read sci fi books because most of them go right over my head but I did enjoy this book. It had some interesting concepts and gave a terrifying glimpse of what our future could look like.