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A Step Beyond is the second book in the Horsemen trilogy. Readers will find that this book stands alone and can be thoroughly enjoyed without having read the first.
Fans of such series as The X-Files, Black Mirror, Dark Angel, and Humans will find this novel well to their liking.
The protagonist, Dr. Brigitte Sheen, together with her colleague develop a system to extend human lifespans. This highly-sought after technology is pursued with a vengeance in a heated proxy battle between a global, highly diversified Chinese conglomerate and those in the West simply known as the Horsemen, a dark shadow government cabal that desperately needs the technology to complete a program started decades ago that involves taking mankind off-planet and into its inevitable transhuman future. Pursued by a crazed super soldier with enhanced physical abilities, Dr. Sheen, with help from others, must overcome dark intentions of unseen powers... But are those intentions really that evil? Can she trust the Chinese capitalists? What exactly are their motives?
A Step Beyond explores many of the same themes as my first book, The Fiduciary Delusion, such as balancing the needs of the individual versus society, and the dualistic nature of strength, power, technology, and the human mind. As we all march forward into what seems to be an inevitable transhuman future, will we be able to maintain our humanity? Or will artificial intelligence and genetic engineering simply hand us the noose to hang ourselves?
Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite
A perfect mix of thriller and suspense, A Step Beyond is a great entry in The Horsemen Trilogy by John Molik. This is a rollicking adventure that involves science and intrigue at their best. Meet Dr. Brigitte Sheen, an up and coming scientist with big ambitions. She and her colleague have just created a technology to enhance human genes and extend human life, and they are about to put it on the market, but this technology seems to attract all kinds of bidders and the problem is who can they trust with this controversial technology? The scene is set involving powerful groups, including the Chinese, a shady cabal based in London called The Horsemen, and many of their allies. With her husband and a number of friends, can Sheen make decisions that will allow her technology to serve rather than ruin humanity?
John Molik has created a story that involves a set of powerful tools, themes, and a complex plot, featuring genetic engineering at its best, artificial intelligence, enhanced humans, cyborgs, and others. A Step Beyond provides a lot for the reader to find ample entertainment, starting with the exquisite writing, the gorgeous characters, and the intense action that is happening in the story. I enjoyed the complexity of the plot and the numerous secrets it holds. One wants to read about characters who are driven, well-rounded, and believable, and Dr. Brigitte Sheen and her clique are just an exceptional cast. The author integrates elements from the previous book without leaving the reader bored in any way. This one was an exciting read for me and I won’t hesitate to pick it up again.
