In Daniel H. Wilson’s AMPED, his vision for the future of technology has gone well beyond the size of our cell phones or the processing speed of computers. Technology has become a “prescription.” What was once considered incurable: mental retardation, autism, learning disabilities, even the ability to work hard labor at the ripe old age of seventy, is cured with the implant known as NEURAL AUTOFOCUS^® MK-4.

According to the owner’s manual, the Neural Autofocus MK-4 Brain Implant is used to send electrical impulses to specific parts of the brain, as well as to sense brain activity. Its main purpose is to increase your ability to concentrate on mental and physical tasks by sensing brainwave states associated with inattention and stimulating them toward Beta One (focused attention).

In addition, the MK-4 also serves as a BCI, or Brain-Computer interface, that allows for the operation of external medical exoskeletons or powered prosthetic limbs on the sheer basis of thought, giving movement and independence to those written off as invalid.

Other benefits include increased intelligence, acute thinking capabilities, and for a select few, heightened military skills, tactics and survival.

Individuals receiving the MK-4 are known as “amplified” humans, or “amps” for short.

As with all good things though, they must come to an end. Personal agendas, fear of the different, and politicians exploiting those fears make for an explosive mix. It’s not long before those fears lead to persecution, legalized racism and organized hate groups like Pure Human Citizen’s Council (PHCC), seeking to rid the world of “amps.”

Unable to vote or enter into a binding contract and denied basic human rights by being declared an “unprotected class,” amps are rounded up and grouped into designated camps for their “protection,” adding fuel to an already explosive civil situation.

Wilson’s AMPED is a tech-laced cocktail that is nothing short of persuasive. Strong characters and familiar situations make this a 2012 heavyweight contender. This novel will have all you tech-geeks out there drooling and asking your mom if you can get an MK-4. The minute you crack open the book and read the NEURAL AUTOFOCUS^® MK-4 user’s manual you'll become aware of two things. 1.) Daniel H. Wilson is probably an “amp”, and 2.) You’re in for one helluva fun ride.

What has made me such a huge fan of Wilson is his ability to create realistic, believable characters, taking the average person and thrusting them into a not so average situation. This makes for strong characters that are easy to care about and Wilson seems to have this down to a science (no pun intended).

When you look at the protagonist in AMPED, Owen Gray, he’s a simple teacher dealing with everyday fears, problems, and concerns like the rest of us. But when the government decides to crack down and herd “amplified” humans into makeshift confinement camps, Gray is able to make the transition from quiet teacher to modern-day savior in a way that the reader can strongly identify. This is the difference between a good writer, and a great one.

I loved all the historical “legal” documents spread throughout. They were not only cool, but shed insight into the government’s state of mind in response to public outcry. These added to the story in a simple, yet effective way.

Another detail that I really enjoyed was how some on the “amps” had pimped out their implants. Discontent to just have it lodged in their brain like some tick, some modified them to emit glowing neon colors that throbbed and changed to the beat of music, while others worked at ways of concealment.

Such a clever detail that some may miss. It sets the story in a base of reality by showing behaviors that truly exist today. Whenever a new technology comes out, it’s not long before someone finds a way to crack its security and make it better or more accessible, and true to life, Wilson’s amps are no different. It’s these types of subtleties that really made AMPED sink in and take root for me.

Like ROBOPOCALYPSE, Wilson’s AMPED has gained entry into my top-ten favorites list. It’s an imagination-fueled adventure of page-turning fun that I sat and read in a single afternoon. And the last time I did that was, well … never.

So when that voice in the back of your mind asks you: Would you like to read AMPED by Daniel H. Wilson? Do you consent?

Promptly reply: Yes!

Miriam Black can see the future. With a simple touch she’ll witness, like some sick Hollywood production, when and how the touched will die—right down to their last gurgling breath.

When a chance encounter with a late-night trucker reveals an unexpected twist, her life’s downward spiral loses control until she’s forced to confront her past, present and future—whether she wants to or not.

And thus begins Chuck Wendig’s story that will drag you kicking and screaming to its twisted and violent end.

Books come and books go. Some of them I’ll soon forget while others, like BLACKBIRDS, I’ll remember long after they've been tucked away in the attic.

What makes a book memorable you ask? For some it may be a complicated process: literary depth (blue curtains meaning more than just blue curtains), the number of syllables in a word, an author’s extensive use of every word in the dictionary, how many times the word “suddenly” appears, and the list goes on.

Fortunately, I’m simple. I don’t care if you have an extensive vocabulary, or spend your days writing literary prose with words that no human being will ever speak. I want to be entertained. Entertain me with clever characters and clever scenes. Like Stephen King once said: I can read a clunker as long as the engine runs.

Wendig’s BLACKBIRDS is not only clever, but filled with witty writing, great characters and an outstanding female lead. Many scenes stood out, but my personal favorite is when Miriam is first introduced to Frankie and Harriet:

Miriam crumples it up, goes to throw it, and finds herself face-to-face with a gawky, bony Italian-looking dude in a trim black suit.

"Jesus Christ," Miriam says.

The Italian nods, though he is clearly nobody's Lord and Savior … Miriam sees a small woman approaching, a short chubby thing with black eyes like hot coals and a set of bangs that look like they were cut with a hedge trimmer and a ruler.

"Evening," the woman says.

"Scully," Miriam says to the woman. To the man, she nods: "Mulder."

Simple. Funny, easily recognizable and the scene before sets it up perfectly. I loved it and laughed out loud. I mean, who doesn’t enjoy a witty reference to unrelated characters they know and love?

So let’s talk about the elephant in the room for a minute. You did see the elephant, right? How can a guy, who’s a guy’s guy none-the-less, write a female lead and pull it off?

Probably a lot easier said than done. While some readers may not see past a man writing a female lead, Wendig does it with a style and class that’s certain to please those who give it a chance. Miriam is a strong, witty (tired of the word “witty” yet? Tough. It’s my blog: witty witty witty witty witty) and self-aware woman. And while most women can’t see the future, I’m certain they’ll be able to relate to her being misjudged as a weak individual and the strengths she’s been forced to gain as a result. Miriam is NOT a pushover. She will fight when confronted, be sexual when it suits her, smoke cigarettes and drink beer when she damn well feels like it. She’s not one to be fucked with and Wendig does a great job bringing her to (believable) life.

BLACKBIRDS is a riveting and fantastic read that will keep you glued to the pages and longing for more. This is a MUST-HAVE on your summer reading list.

Nick is your regular seventeen year old. He has broken down car and no money to fix it, a not so popular social circle and dreams of one day becoming a prolific detective. In order to accomplish this, he decides to take on one of the most bizarre cases a detective might encounter; who is stealing all the neighborhood pumpkins?
He manages to narrow down the leads and evidence to two major players, the cranky old lady at the end of the street, or his arch-nemesis (the ultimate bully) Lou. As circumstances unravel, something more sinister seems to have taken over control of the town. But is Nick prepared to take it on?

Charles Day came up with a good premise, a cool throw back to the scary stories you might hear around a campfire. A legend comes to life. Though pitched as YA horror, I found it to be more of a juvenile mystery. For me horror is gruesome and dangerous, always pushing the boundaries of what can be put out for the public to consume. This reminded me more of the Hardy Boys of yesteryear, with a frightening twist.
I enjoyed it enough however, that if I had kid I would definitely whip it out on a stormy night and see if the demands of a nightlight would slip into the conversation.

Jack Sloan is trying to take a breather after he and his wife narrowly escape death. But while horseback riding in the back woods of his ranch he stumbles across a satchel full of cash. Unsure of what to do he brings it home and makes some phone calls. He quickly discovers that the money is attached to the kidnapping and murder for ransom of a prominent New York hedge fund manager. Suddenly both are sucked into a mystery that could very well take their lives.
Along with the FBI and AFI, Sloan discovers that the abduction may have been staged, that the satchel of cash is nothing compared to the 500 million that is actually missing, and that everyone involved, the victim’s wife, mistress and the boss of one of Mexico’s largest drug cartels, are looking for the ultimate payday.

17 Degrees North is a fast paced and nerve twisting mystery. With every turn of the page there seems to new plot twists and attacking assassins. No one is who he or she seems to be. No one is to be trusted. I was caught up in the story and the lives of the characters from the very first chapter, caring for the innocent victims even though some were only alive for a few pages. A crafty thriller, this second installment in the Jack Sloan series is certain to get your blood boiling and your mind racing. And just when you think you’ve figured it out. PLOT TWIST.

“My name is Jimmy Hendricks and I’m a recovering idiot.”

That opening line to John Blumenthal’s THREE AND A HALF VIRGINS gives insight into the life and times of Jimmy Hendricks. John’s witty humor about a man coming to terms with growing older and the realization that we’re never quite free of our insecurities, is a true pleasure to read.

Jimmy’s journey to self-enlightenment begins with a celebratory dinner of his fortieth birthday at which his wife calmly states: “I want a divorce.”

And thus begins his quest to set right what once went wrong (and no, there’s no Ziggy here).

After his wife moves out and then in with a neighbor a few houses away, he decides that before he can move on he needs to clear his conscience and apologize to the women he’s wronged in his past. What Blumenthal treats us to is a story of friendship, love and loss that is sometimes serious, most of the time hilarious, but always entertaining as Hendricks relives his past in order to right his future.

Jimmy Hendricks’s character is instantly likeable and one that many will relate to. We’ve all made decisions at one time or another that we weren’t proud of and we’ve all been faced with guilt that’s kept us awake at night. In fact I dare say that Jimmy’s character isn’t too far from most men’s.

THREE AND A HALF VIRGINS is a coming of (middle) age story, that falls somewhere between American Pie, Crazy, Stupid Love and The Forty Year-Old Virgin.

From a priest’s daughter who wants one last kiss, to a shotgun bearing literary loony, Jimmy’s journey to apologize for his past transgressions will have you laughing, shocked and ultimately feeling good.

With a clever cover and some hilarious revelations, if you’re looking for a nice break from the norm, I’d like to introduce you to Jimmy Hendricks, a recovering idiot.

One last full moon and Jake Marlowe will end it all. He has lost the will to live after finding out that he is the last known werewolf. All he wants to do is hunker down, drink, smoke and pen his over 200 year old story in a journal. But WOCOP (World Organization for the Control of Occult Phenomena) has other plans. They want to capture and preserve the last werewolf for their own agenda. When Jake finds out he’s got a tail (not the furry one), he’s reluctantly force to run. And what he encounters as he goes, is a web of lies so deep that only a mysterious woman can help him.

I would love to go into more detail about the storyline, but I don’t want to include spoilers in my review. I will say this; the dichotomy of man and monster is wonderfully written, never losing pace of the overall theme. There’s definitely a literary allusion to Shakespeare and Eliot that came through, but without it being overly pretentious Duncan’s writing is powerful, intoxicating, gritty, seductive and perhaps even hypnotic, as I found myself wanting more of his ‘turn of phrase’ than the actual story. Although, there is a tremendously shocking end that has me writing down on my calendar when the sequel, Tallula Rising, drops.

I found The Last Werewolf, which I thought would be cliché city, a refreshing read on a tired subject.