A terrifyingly aggressive computer virus faces off against a quantum computer in this unforgettable debut novel from John Akers. Oreste Pax is one of the foremost pioneers of technology. His Univiz has changed the world with its capability to switch between Virtual Reality and a real world that features self-driving cars and computer controlled households in every home. Pax is on the verge of the next breakthrough: a means to interact with the Univiz using only thought. Again, he’s going to revolutionize life, but thought-controlled technology seems trivial after Oreste joins his long-time friend and rival, Cevis, for dinner. After years of methodical testing and gene mapping, Cevis has invented a medical treatment with extraordinary repercussions for humanity. And Cevis wants Pax to join him in undertaking this treatment. With his life on such a high note, it’s a cruel joke that a drone and a small army of miniature robots kidnap Pax from his home that same evening.

John Akers’ debut novel, The Infinet, is a highly compelling novel that avoids the clichés while presenting arguments that are both intelligent and immediately plausible. This book makes you wish you knew the author so you could discuss it with him in depth. The setting is advanced enough to feel futuristic while still conveying a sense of realism through the current day roots of the technology it contains. There were occasions where the dialogue and exposition were so technical that I had trouble following it, but these paragraphs were brief and did not impact my ability to follow the plot. The Infinet is not a fast-paced novel, but Aker’s excellent tension control ensures the novel is gripping from start to finish.

The Infinet: Trivial Game Book 1 by John Akers is set in a world where augmented reality is as much a part of society as we dream and hope. Our novel is set around Oreste Pax, a genius who invented a device called Univiz that can switch between virtual reality and augmented reality. This jump started his career and now he is living his dream as the owner of a very successful business. However, not all is good in his life; he could lose the helm of his company thanks to a rift between him and his shareholders.

He believes that he can retain control of his company by creating another revolutionary project that will help him take human cognition to the next level. Little did he know that it was not going to be as easy as he thought! There is a nefarious plan being hatched against him. A man named the Mechanic has plans to break society because of what it is and destroy everything that comes with it. Soon Oreste realizes that it is so much more than just a madman who is hell-bent on destroying everything. There is something that needs to be done about this man, but who will do it? Can Oreste Pax do anything and save humanity from the clutches of this madman?

Creating the perfect blend of thriller and science fiction, The Infinet is a brilliant novel that covers very large ground, yet nothing is muddled. John Akers gives total attention to every single detail and allows them to fully bloom into an entity that demands the attention of the reader. I loved the psychotic tendencies of the Mechanic and I appreciated how Oreste was not able to magically fix everything. He had to work hard to find a solution and the Mechanic did not make it easy for him. This is truly a gripping tale of the near future that is scarily real and enticing at the same time.