Title | : | Amped |
Author | : | |
Rating | : | |
ISBN | : | - |
Language | : | English |
Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
Number of Pages | : | 384 |
Publication | : | First published March 28, 2012 |
Note: WIRED was the #1 bestselling Kindle book of 2011 in two major categories: science
fiction and technothrillers (and 19th overall).
Kira Miller is a brilliant scientist who discovers how to temporarily boost human IQ to dizzying levels. But this transcendent intelligence brings with it a ruthless megalomania. Determined to use her discovery to propel human civilization to a higher plane, despite this side effect, Kira and ex-special forces operative David Desh recruit a small group of accomplished scientists, all of whom are safely off the grid. Or so they think . . .
Soon Kira and her team are fighting for their lives against unknown but powerful adversaries. Worse still, while on the run and being relentlessly attacked from all quarters, Kira comes across evidence of savage acts that the enhanced version of Desh kept hidden, even from himself. Now both she and Desh must question everything they think they know. Can they trust each other? Can they even trust themselves?
And all the while, the greatest threat of all may be coming from an entirely unexpected direction. A threat that could lead to devastation on a global scale. And time is quickly running out . . .
Like its predecessor, AMPED is a smart thriller crammed with breakneck action, unexpected twists, mind-blowing science, and philosophical and ethical concepts readers will be contemplating long after they've read the last page.
Amped Reviews
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Pretty good futuristic twist on mind expansion. An interesting premise on how intelligence would bring world peace.
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My wife and I became huge fans of Richards when we fell in love with 'Wired', having read it last year. We waited eagerly for the sequel to come out, and now, after having just finished reading it, I can say that it was a great read! 'Amped', like 'Wired', belongs to the genre of Sci-Fi, but to me it is the kind that's a touch different from the mainstream variety. One that is rooted in humanity's pressing conditions. It deals with matters that are at the heart of serious planetary issues that we have just begun to acknowledge now - barely, actually.
There is, of course, Kira Miller (the protagonist, in a manner of speaking) and her group that, in the story, must overcome insurmountable resistance from various forces. She, along with her carefully chosen group, are discoverers and inventors of some truly amazing facts and things, but there is a price for each of their discovery/invention, and if those discoveries and inventions fall in the wrong hands, then even God can't save the planet. With great power comes great responsibility, as they say, and Kira with her astounding intelligence and depth and breath of perception is all too aware of that adage. She must help her group navigate some very dangerous waters before she can put her discoveries to good use for humanity. Whether she is successful in this, you must read the novel to find out.
But, of course, there is more to 'Amped' than the above. In many ways, the author uses the story of Kira Miller and her remarkable group of scientists/individuals to invite the reader to ponder on many of the deeper philosophical, ethical, religious, moral and scientific issues concerning our modern lives and the direction we as a species are headed toward. For me, some of the most memorable passages from the novel were the ones that engaged me as a thinker. Many of the stances held and expressed by the different characters, I agreed with, but there were others that made me think harder about my own positions apropos several aspects of my existence as a member of my species. Some of the debates in the novel were highly engaging, intellectually that is. But they also touch you in a visceral manner. Visceral and intellectual engagement, if you will!
I loved reading the enlightening conversations among/between some of the very smart individuals in the novel. Some of the cases for self-deception were truly astounding. As also the habit for self-destructive behavior. This was aptly highlighted by Matt Griffin, the computer genius, who narrates the story of the scorpion and the frog toward the end of the novel. Well, if you wish to engage your mind in some fun, exciting and thrilling read for a few hours, then by all means get a copy of 'Amped' and start reading. I would of course highly recommend 'Wired' as well!
My feeling is that there is much more that Richards will offer in the future. There should be another novel in the future to make this series into a wonderful trilogy. -
When I started reading this sequel, I was curious where the author would take the story. After all, what do you do with these "enhanced IQs"? Kira Miller, the brilliant geneticist who created the gelcap that could allow your IQ to climb to unprecedented levels, is now happily partnered with David Desh or is she? When she comes across some damning evidence that David has kept secret from her, she doesn't know what to believe. Is this the same man she fell in love with? At the same time David has found his own troubling evidence that points him in a direction and paints Kira as the dangerous psychopath the government thinks she is. The stakes are higher than ever: the government is still after them with only one objective in mind--elimination, no questions asked. As if that isn't enough, there is another elusive enemy out there waiting and biding his time for the perfect time to strike out at Kira and David.
These 2 events would be enough for most thriller-type novels, but Mr. Richards throws in another fantastic science-fiction scenario at the readers and makes it work. The action is non-stop, the characters are fully fleshed out and the science used is enough to satisfy even the toughest scifi critic. I thought I had figured out the who, what and where only to find out that I had only scratched the tip of the iceberg. I kept reading at a voracious pace to find out what was the "real" story and who were the bad guys. Could I trust my own judgment of character to even figure that much out or would Mr. Richards blow that out of the water too?
AMPED is a smart, action-packed thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last page is read. Fans of science fiction and thrillers will certainly want to add this one to their library. It's a keeper. Highly Recommended. -
I was really torn on what to rate this one at, to be honest. The author's writing has definitely matured from the first book, which I'm very happy about (the exclamation points are kept to a minimum, happily). The story itself is what has left me pondering how many stars, though. On one hand, it's brilliant & I loved certain aspects of the story - I am a HUGE fan of any story that makes me think & the philosophical elements in both stories in the series have really been awesome. BUT, I also found myself a bit frustrated that such incredibly intelligent & experienced people would get themselves caught as many times as they did. I also wish the author would tone down the Mary Sue-ness of Kira, as she's an awesome character, but not everyone is going to love her all the time. No woman is perfect & has all the menfolk falling in love with her in reality & I hate any character that is described thus - male OR female. Overall, I had to give it 4 stars because in the end, I couldn't put the story down & I really did like it. A strong editor, again, would turn this really excellent story line into an amazing book worth 5+ stars. :)
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AMPED picks up just a short time after WIRED ends. If you thought everything was settled at the end of WIRED and the future looked rosy, think again! Now the stakes for humanity and the future are even higher, and Kira, Desh, Matt, and the others must figure out how to fight their enemies while simultaneously saving the world. A great sci-fi thriller.
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I LOVED Wired, the first in the series - awesome book. But this one was way too far fetched for me. I liked the philosophy of the first book and this carries it on but it just wasn't in the realms of plausibility as a techno-thriller and yet also wasn't sci-fi.
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I had low expectations for this book and they were amply met. Written for young adults, I found it pompous and pretentious. I'm only giving a second star because I finished it, driven by a sense of morbid curiosity. In brief, our gelcap powered superheros save the human race. As usual:
* The bad guys feel obliged to lay out their nefarious plans to our captive protagonists who, as could be expected, escape.
* The good guys seemingly suffer setbacks. But wait! It's all part of the plan.
* Painfully immature philosophical digressions about the meaning of God, the Borg, and humanities intractability only serve to convince the reader that the author is hitting a checklist.
Enough. If I spend any more time on this I'll have to deduct a star. -
The Solution to the Annihilation of Mankind?
Part two of Douglas Richards Wired series just keeps on blowing your mind away. I tried so hard to recap book one and came up wordless.
I find myself even more so with Amped. Much like the mythical intelligence pill that the protagonist, Kira Miller, invents, once you come back from it, words don't translate.
There is so much technology, genetics, physics, quantum mechanics and molecular biology theory stuffed into this book that I couldn't begin to highlight anything.
And the Macheavelian cum Disney Outlook of the plot twists will keep you scratching your head, blinking your eyes and reaching for your drink of choice as you try to figure out what is going to happen next. Fabulous book! -
Excellent follow up
It was great because I'm a sci-fi fan, I always love when new energies are revealed and mankind has to work together thrown in with the idea of enhanced intelligence. S hats off to the movie "Lucy" with Scarlett Johansson the enhanced mins theory. There is actually proof that think tanks are thinking about this LOL😄 -
I think Douglas E. Richards books are very good. The first book in the Wired series was very good. This one, the 2nd in the Wired series was kind of out there. It was ok and earned a 4 star but def not a 5 star.
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Brilliant
It's like a roller coaster ride with no seat belts. Love the pop and geek culture references, love the little anecdotal tales. Highly recommended. -
Amped - Another Thought Provoking Pure Fun Adrenaline Ride - I Love This Series!
Rating: 5 of 5 (RMBOA Recommended)
Author: Douglas E. Richards
Format: Kindle, Paperback
Determined to fight for a greater humanity but knowing the megalomanic side effects her IQ boosting technology can create, Kira Miller and her husband David Desh, along with their colleagues, set up a hidden organization to create their breakthroughs. Aptly named Icarus, after the Greek god who flew too close to the sun due to his hubris, Kira is careful to the point of paranoia in allowing only those who meet the strictess criteria for selflessness to become a part of their plans. So strict are her rules, that none of the original founding members including herself or David would even meet them. And when their organization is suddenly found and they are hunted once more, the only explanation is someone with enhanced intelligence is behind the plot to destroy them. But Kira knows that is impossible as she has accounted for every IQ pill there is, unless the one betraying them is from within, perhaps even an enhanced versions of one of themselves whose hapless everyday self is unaware they are the betrayer?
I have to admit, I loved "Wired" and after reading it wrote that I had no idea how one could write an effective sequel but Richards has gone way beyond what I could have imagined. Amped picks up where Wired left off and this volume is jam packed full of twists and turns, action, betrayal and plenty of philosophical head scratchers that I found myself up late at night thinking through their implications. It is these nuggets of intellectual insight that I love best about this book. One of my favorite examples, and one that still haunts me, involves a man who dies, goes to the afterlife and can pursue his wildest dreams for all eternity - but eternity can be a long time and the end of this tale is chilling. This anecdote is just one of many that are well woven and infused into Amped whose plot is rich but implications are far reaching. Some reviewers note they figured out the end, and I admit I did as well, but it wasn't until I was well into the book and at the end of the day, so what! This was a great read and one I'll be revisiting and talking about with friends and family for some time.
Great stuff. Bring on this next one! -
I have just finished reading AMPED.... Oh MY GOD.... this book takes WIRED and AMPS IT UP.... are you sure you did not take any gellcaps to finish this book? The twists - the turns - the suspense - the horror ... oh JESUS.... Man I freaked out when Desh was seen on that video; I begged for the tape to be doctored - and the ending was TOTALLY unexpected.... WOW! This book ROCKS.
The best part about it is, I didn't re-read WIRED to be prepared for AMPED. Why is that the best part? Because, I know the story from WIRED already, having read the book. But since I haven't re-read it, I did not remember anything about Frey. Yet, your masterful storytelling made me understand who he was again even without the details from the first book. I knew what he did and how he doublecrossed and why ... even although I didn't remember from the first book. THIS WAS VERY VERY VERY VERY WELL DONE.
Also, the depth of research and physics and even bringing in the religious aspect. WOW. I can't stop gushing about this book.
You have a dedicated FAN here! -
Didn't expect to be giving this one 4 stars. After reading 'Wired', I didn't expect this next book to measure up, since the first one was such an enjoyable read. I was certainly mistaken. The two books are two halves of one really great story. The characters were well developed in the first book, so you already know them when this book starts. Or at least you think you do. The sci part is mind-bending, but the -fi part makes it easy to deal with. The only problem I had with this book was that there were so many plot twists, that when I got to the end I wasn't convinced it was over. Still, the writing was very good and made all those twists very plausible.
Looking forward to another book from Mr. Richards. -
This book was very nearly as good as the first. Another fantastic adventure that builds on everything set up in the initial release. More from the core protagonists that readers have already come to love, and obviously there are new bad guys this time around. The good news is, the bad guys are so bad they don't disappoint. Not only are there multiple antagonists but there is a cataclysmic threat to the world. When Doug Richards wants to raise the stakes, he knows how to turn the threat dial.
This appears to be the conclusion to the two book series. And while I'm disappointed there won't be more from these characters, this was a great story to end on. -
I am now a HUGE fan of Douglas E. Richards. I've loved every book of his that I've read so far. Wired and Amped were fast moving adventure / sci-fi thrillers with futuristic nanotechnology that could well become realized! These were page turners I couldn't put down! Thanks for creating a brilliant, world-saving female character like Kira Miller. Love David Desh and the compter-hacking Matt too! Looking forward to more books by Douglas E. Richards!
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Kinda predictable
So, all the novel ideas - sped-up brain, out-thinking everybody else, ..., were the anchor of the first book. This one just spins a yarn with the previous ideas (and characters). The yarn is fine, but derivative of the first book, with lots of plot twists arising from characters having super-brains, I *will* give the author credit for plot twists.
Read this book if you like the writer / style, but don't expect new Sci-Fi ground. -
Must be read and just imagine....
"Humanity's enormous capacity for self-destructive behavior" we need Kira now. This book will be with me for a long time, my Echo is playing John Lennon's IMAGE. Mind blowing science, ethical concepts. Somebody like Kira has to pull back humanity from the edge of abyss. -
Fast read with plenty of action.
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This book was trying to do too many things. I wish it would have given some more attention to each idea rather than quickly solve them.
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A good read!
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I recommend Amped which is another 4-5 star Sci-fi thriller by Douglas E. Richards that reads so fast its 350+ pages seem like a short story. Mystery has been one of the factors Mr. Richards loves to weave into his action, adventure, Sci-fi thrillers. In that way he reminds me much of Isaac Asimov and his way to "teaching" through the dialogue of his characters reminds me of Robert Heinlein.
Read this ebook and listen to the eAudiobook simultaneously in three session between Tuesday, October 8, 2019 and Thursday, October 10, 2019. I recommend this 4-5 star thriller.
Google (ebook),
LCCN: 2012935403 (Library of Congress Paperback),
World Catalog Audiobook
See my Sagely Fox reviews on blogspot here.
See my Sagely Fox reviews on Wordpress here. -
Ouch, this was partly painful. This book follows
Wired and starts about a year or two later and it is still an interesting idea with humans with super human intelligence combined with becoming sociopaths. The problem is that it repeats the weak points from the previous book but even worse. The story telling is fair, the base premise is interesting, but in between it's all a mess.
Any book where the author can take you anywhere can be exciting or frustrating. This is just frustrating. If done well, you will go back and realize that the path was obvious. If done less well, there is no path, just disconnected stories. With gaps. The problem with super humans is that they need to be both omnipotent and, to create surprise and conflict, flawed and that can be pretty random.
The book is also used for political messages. Of the kind: The world is facing doom. Strangely enough climate change, the most obvious doom threat, is not mentioned.
So the question is mostly, why a full two stars? Because it's good story telling, even if the story is awful. I wouldn't recommend it, but I have to admit I actually went through the whole book. -
This is not a genre I usually read but Wired was recommended after I read the Brainrush series. I only read that because book one was free. I loved Brainrush and if this is a genre you enjoy I highly recommend that series. That being said Wired and Amped are both excellent reads.
I felt like the major players may have been captured and escaped too many times but each time I wondered if this time one of the main characters wouldn’t make it! The author had no trouble knocking off key characters.
Characters were believable and charismatic and I loved or hated them according to their roles.
The ending was a huge surprise. I never saw it coming! And through it all the author made me question the wisdom of longer life, unlimited intelligence and man’s ability to cause great harm and great good. -
Well, after reading 5 or 6 of Douglas E. Richards' books one after another all I can say is that "Enough".
I can understand that writing a thriller is just following a predetermined steps. I know that it should not be taken seriously. I know that it is just couple of "what if"s that make the book written. But still, there can only be enough of the crap that one can handle. Add the infinite hatred his characters feel toward anything non American (specifically Islamic oriented) and all the other obvious characters that are either supreme good or supreme evil and then its enough already.