This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reed Pederson has been a musician, corporate businessman, entrepreneur, investor, corporate board member, and now author. A graduate of the University of California, San Diego with bachelor’s degrees in economics and Spanish Literature, he also has a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh. A humorous and imaginative outlook towards life has kept him sane and smiling despite numerous ups and downs.
In his very rare spare time, he enjoys travelling, spending time with his family, landscaping (weed-whacking), barbequing (anything), working out, watching sports, and sometimes even golf.
Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
Reed Pederson’s Rise of the AInimals follows Theorin Silverling, heir to Silverling & Sons Circus Extraordinaire, as he steps toward leadership of the famous family business. Theo has spent his life preparing for the circus, but shrinking audiences place its future in question as opposition to performing animals increases. The company’s worsening finances leave him searching for a way to preserve a tradition that has carried the Silverling name for generations. His path crosses with Mica, a young Animal Rights Society activist whose connection to the movement places her on the other side of the public fight surrounding his company. Then Theo sees a possible answer in robotic animals. Determined to keep the Silverling name alive, he bets his inheritance on a new future built around artificial intelligence.
Reed Pederson’s Rise of the AInimals is brilliant AI science fiction. It's a lot of fun, and more than just a little bit anxiety-inducing, as the story turns machinery into something that belongs under the big top. That machinery changes the animal names to start with an M, where pink Mflamingos swing from trapezes, and white Mswans join in with an ode to classical music. I love Robert Ottendorfer, Robotomica’s lanky owner, whose delighted introduction to the prototypes in Austin puts him among my favorite characters. He is so well drawn that I'd rank him among some of the other similar greats, including Dahl’s Willy Wonka and Wells' Mr. Cavor. The science fiction works so well inside the circus, which is described in near-cinematic detail. The standouts are hidden high-speed nets firing beneath aerial performers during dangerous routines, and metal boxes packed with Mwasps and Mbats. Well written and wonderfully imaginative, readers who enjoy AI science fiction with a unique circus angle and pressure to succeed will adore this.
