What would you give to live forever? Elijah Brighton wants to become an ascender—a post-Singularity human/machine hybrid—after all, they’re smarter, more enlightened, more compassionate, and above all, achingly beautiful. But Eli is a legacy human, preserved and cherished for his unaltered genetic code, just like the rainforest he paints. When a fugue state possesses him and creates great art, … great art, Eli miraculously lands a sponsor for the creative Olympics. If he could just master the fugue, he could take the gold and win the right to ascend, bringing everything he’s yearned for within reach… including his beautiful ascender patron. But once Eli arrives at the Games, he finds the ascenders are playing games of their own. Everything he knows about the ascenders and the legacies they keep starts to unravel… until he’s running for his life and wondering who he truly is.
The Legacy Human is the first in a philosophical HopePunk sci-fi series that explores the intersection of mind, body, and soul in a post-Singularity world.
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A really different story and thoroughly enjoyable.
What if wee were able to upload our memories and live as the ghost in the machine? Not everyone would want this and those left behind might not have the same rights. Great exploration of the question leading to even more questions. Solid beginning to a great series!
Good plot! Makes you want to read the sequel
4.5 stars–THE LEGACY HUMAN is the first installment in Susan Kaye Quinn’s young adult, Singularity Dystopian, Sci-Fi series that looks at the merging of technology with the body, mind and soul. Following the ‘Singularity’ that resulted in the most of the world’s population transforming themselves into a hybrid known as the Ascended, the few remaining humans become what is known as the Legacy-the true descendants of humankind.
The storyline follows seventeen year old Elijah Brighton who desperately wants to Ascend. An artistically gifted young man whose Ascended ‘patron’ Lenora knows there is more to Eli than a canvas and paint but Elijah’s talent comes at a price. When Lenora’s second (lover) Marcus offers to ‘sponsor’ Elijah for the Legacy Creative Olympics, Elijah jumps at the chance to become one of the Ascended in order to keep his ailing mother alive. With life ever lasting and access to all knowledge the ultimate prize, the Ascended are both revered and despised by the human population. To become one of the Ascended, technology must marry the body, mind and soul-but what becomes of the soul when your humanity is stripped away? To be Ascended means to become part of the whole; your choices are no longer your own.
THE LEGACY HUMAN parallels some of the premise and many of the scenarios found in Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games and Veronica Roth’s Divergent. Young men and women, under the age of eighteen must compete against one another to become one of the Ascended. If they win, their families and friends will benefit from the Ascended privileges but there is also the probability that they will never make it out alive. Sides are formed; allegiances sworn; a revolution is on the horizon. The Resistance is waiting for Elijah’s next move.
The world building is amazingly detailed, well organized and revealed as the storyline develops; the characters are colorful, eclectic and unique. Susan’s imagination knows no boundary.
Susan Kaye Quinn looks at the philosophical and theological questions: Does mankind really have a soul? To become one of the Ascended do we lose the freedom to think; to love; to believe in a higher power? If you had the choice to become one of the Ascended, would you risk your soul for everlasting life?
This was a fascinating sci-fi futuristic look at what makes people human, and how technology intersects with that. Good pacing, interesting characters. Nice twists and a splash of romance. I was glad to see Eli take action at the end, finally breaking out of just passively reacting to everything that was happening to him. I also liked how Eli’s artwork was described, as well as Kamali’s dancing. Even though this is a series, the book wrapped up very nicely and not on some horrible cliffhanger like some books.
This book is what I call, a must-read.
In my opinion, this book is pretty well written. So many books today are self published and not edited very well. The author has done the homework, and done a good job of getting all the mistakes corrected.
The story is entertaining and solid science fiction. Character development is done pretty well and you pick sides and root for the underdog. One of the better books I’ve read in a while.
Very interesting story with fascinating characters and a well constructed plot that keeps ones reading to the end wanting more.
It was not what I expected and I went into it not knowing if I’d like it, it it has been a fantastic read. The world could use some more expansion but it is very unique and has it’s own alien type culture.
Really enjoyed this read.
The story is about the moral consequences of artificially created eternal life. I liked it and found it to be inspirational and thought provoking.
Good solid story. I will read more from this author.
Slow start.
I thought it was pretty good.
Made me want to read the next book.
good world creation, and good characters
A great start to a page turning series! Well worth the read.