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Point 4 #2
1.4
It's a brave new world. In the far future, people no longer know what to believe...Did Kyle Straker ever exist? Or were his prophecies of human upgrades nothing more than a hoax? Peter Vincent is nearly 16, and has never thought about the things that Strakerites believe. His father - David Vincent, creator of the artificial bees that saved the world's crops - made sure of that. When the Strakerites pronounce that another upgrade is imminent, Peter starts to uncover a conspiracy amongst the leaders of the establishment, a conspiracy that puts him into direct conflict with his father. But it's not a good idea to pick a fight with someone who controls all the artificial bees in the world.
368 pages, Paperback
First published May 7, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
December 9, 2014
In joint first place with 0.4 (Human.4) as the best book I have ever written.
September 10, 2014
I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the first book, but it's still an excellent read.
I was just a little disappointed that it didn't pick up where 0.4 left off.
Uh oh. I've just discovered there's no book 3. Bummer! I really HATE that.
September 21, 2012
Rating: 3.5
This series is actually relatively solid science fiction, me like.
This series is actually relatively solid science fiction, me like.
June 3, 2013
like the first book, interesting theory but shitty writing.
May 24, 2012
As the sequel to a young adult dystopian book I truly loved (Human.4), this novel had big shoes to fill. I had my doubts as the book opened, but I soon realized they were misplaced. This story delivers, absolutely.
Set a millenia after Human.4, 1.4 brilliantly folds the previous novel into its "mythos" while offering new characters and raising the stakes for their conflict. As the two young protagonists uncover the mysteries of the pending "upgrade" to humanity, and their parents' relationship to it, the reader is treated to another fast-paced and yet thoughtful meditation on what it means to be human. I especially admired how this, too, is a "revealed/preserved text." The larger framing story has yet to be explored. (Hear me? I'm ready for the third book now, thank you very much.)
I'm being deliberately vague here so as not to give spoilers, but I do heartily recommend this book. It's a worthy successor to Human.4, and a treat for science fiction fans, and that's high praise indeed.
Here are a few favorite passages:
I stood up and said, 'You're new.'
'I know,' Alpha replied impishly. 'I was just made yesterday in a secret factory. The same place they make sarcasm and the dappling of light through trees.'
'I meant to this class.'
'I know what you meant,' she said. 'And I deflected your observation with some sparkling wit. It's called a defence mechanism.'
I sat there, trying to get it all straight in my head. A story from many centuries ago, that I had been raised to regard as a fairy tale, but now looked to be the secret history of the world.
I'd spent my whole life thinking that the world was one way, and then in the space of a day or two I'd discovered that maybe I was wrong. I'd spent too much time believing the words of others, and not enough time opening my eyes and just looking at what was really around me. It made me feel... well, kind of an ass, if I'm honest.
'Things are going to change, one way or the other.'
'Things always change,' Alpha said. 'It's what you do when it does that's important.'
Set a millenia after Human.4, 1.4 brilliantly folds the previous novel into its "mythos" while offering new characters and raising the stakes for their conflict. As the two young protagonists uncover the mysteries of the pending "upgrade" to humanity, and their parents' relationship to it, the reader is treated to another fast-paced and yet thoughtful meditation on what it means to be human. I especially admired how this, too, is a "revealed/preserved text." The larger framing story has yet to be explored. (Hear me? I'm ready for the third book now, thank you very much.)
I'm being deliberately vague here so as not to give spoilers, but I do heartily recommend this book. It's a worthy successor to Human.4, and a treat for science fiction fans, and that's high praise indeed.
Here are a few favorite passages:
I stood up and said, 'You're new.'
'I know,' Alpha replied impishly. 'I was just made yesterday in a secret factory. The same place they make sarcasm and the dappling of light through trees.'
'I meant to this class.'
'I know what you meant,' she said. 'And I deflected your observation with some sparkling wit. It's called a defence mechanism.'
I sat there, trying to get it all straight in my head. A story from many centuries ago, that I had been raised to regard as a fairy tale, but now looked to be the secret history of the world.
I'd spent my whole life thinking that the world was one way, and then in the space of a day or two I'd discovered that maybe I was wrong. I'd spent too much time believing the words of others, and not enough time opening my eyes and just looking at what was really around me. It made me feel... well, kind of an ass, if I'm honest.
'Things are going to change, one way or the other.'
'Things always change,' Alpha said. 'It's what you do when it does that's important.'
December 21, 2012
The problem I have with reviewing books I give 100% is that I don't have much to say.
I'd say 1.4, the sequel to the amazing 0.4, is much different. It's almost a stand-alone, except for references and plot points you need to know from its predecessor. 1.4 has a great attention to detail, and a much grander scope than 0.4, not meaning better, just meaning it has a different goal in mind. While all those hings are great, its characters are lacking. The protagonist, Peter Vincent, is a very normal character. There wasn't any depth to him. No bite. I felt I was reading a stereotype of a protagonist.
It was the reactions of the characters that were good. Their reactions to the things happening were quite realistic, and things I would do.
Ultimately, it didn't gave me the same feelings as 0.4 did, and it wasn't scary, but I got different feelings, and I really enjoyed it.
I'd say 1.4, the sequel to the amazing 0.4, is much different. It's almost a stand-alone, except for references and plot points you need to know from its predecessor. 1.4 has a great attention to detail, and a much grander scope than 0.4, not meaning better, just meaning it has a different goal in mind. While all those hings are great, its characters are lacking. The protagonist, Peter Vincent, is a very normal character. There wasn't any depth to him. No bite. I felt I was reading a stereotype of a protagonist.
It was the reactions of the characters that were good. Their reactions to the things happening were quite realistic, and things I would do.
Ultimately, it didn't gave me the same feelings as 0.4 did, and it wasn't scary, but I got different feelings, and I really enjoyed it.
September 15, 2012
Imagine that you are a kid living at home (unless you are a kid living at home, in which case just go with it) and your parents tell you to get in the car because they have somewhere special to take you. The last time your parents sprang a surprise trip on you, you ended up at the amusement park so you're really excited. You get in the car and your father (let's assume he's at the wheel) starts driving.
He drives and drives and you notice that you have passed-by the turnoff to the amusement park, so apparently that's not where you're headed. You have your face pressed eagerly to the car window watching as the movie theatre, the ice cream parlour and the arcade all flash by as well. Then you notice the envelopes peeking out of your father's pocket and you get the sneaking suspicion that you've been tricked into a trip to the post office. Even after you recognize the route, which confirms your suspicion, you still can't let go of the hope that maybe your father will suddenly turn off the road and bring you somewhere fun and exciting after all, but no- it's the post office that he is headed to, just as you feared. There, he mails his letters, after which he gets back in the car and drives you home, where you sulkily skip dinner in protest and go to bed.
That's pretty much what reading The Future We Left Behind was like for me.
Human 0.4 was one of my favorite YA reads of last year. I had no idea what to expect when I went in to the book and was delightfully surprised at what I encountered there. So I had some pretty big expectations for The Future We Left Behind, which, as you have probably guessed, were not met.
Unfortunately the author seemed to assume that what worked for book 1 would work for book 2, even with all of the surprises having already been sprung. But this was not the case. What I liked about Human .4 was that I had no idea what was going on and was completely bowled over when all was revealed but replaying all of that in a future timeline, just with different, and more informed protagonists, didn't excite me.
As I continued reading I kept hoping that perhaps the story would focus on some of the interesting details that I had glimpsed as we sped by. For example, at one point Peter realizes that there are people living among them from previous versions of humankind who no one can see, except when photographed. Now I had expected this revelation to turn into something, and I'd been really excited about that. Who exactly are these people? How do they live? How long have they been around? Can Peter find a way to communicate with them? But- no. The story did not follow that tantalizing trail and instead kept stubbornly plowing forward.
I still didn't give up hope that the ending would make up for the rest of the book by throwing in something truly unexpected, but the only thing that surprised me was how disappointing it all turned out to be.
Even the big struggle between Peter and his father fell completely flat. They get into a violent altercation about something that really didn't matter in the least, considering how the story ended. I didn't even see any reason for Peter's beliefs or actions to have been the right ones, as opposed to his “evil� father's, though I assume that was the idea.
And that was another thing that irritated me. The kids in the book are all clever, smart and sensitive while the adults are all evil, bumbling idiots with no compunctions about mowing down children (including their own) who get in the way of their nefarious plans. It was like watching an episode of one of those teen shows on the Disney Channel. It was all just too over the top to be believable in any way.
The book ended in the way that I expected it to, based on what took place so far, and left me with no interest in continuing on to book 3.
To read more of my reviews visit my blog,
He drives and drives and you notice that you have passed-by the turnoff to the amusement park, so apparently that's not where you're headed. You have your face pressed eagerly to the car window watching as the movie theatre, the ice cream parlour and the arcade all flash by as well. Then you notice the envelopes peeking out of your father's pocket and you get the sneaking suspicion that you've been tricked into a trip to the post office. Even after you recognize the route, which confirms your suspicion, you still can't let go of the hope that maybe your father will suddenly turn off the road and bring you somewhere fun and exciting after all, but no- it's the post office that he is headed to, just as you feared. There, he mails his letters, after which he gets back in the car and drives you home, where you sulkily skip dinner in protest and go to bed.
That's pretty much what reading The Future We Left Behind was like for me.
Human 0.4 was one of my favorite YA reads of last year. I had no idea what to expect when I went in to the book and was delightfully surprised at what I encountered there. So I had some pretty big expectations for The Future We Left Behind, which, as you have probably guessed, were not met.
Unfortunately the author seemed to assume that what worked for book 1 would work for book 2, even with all of the surprises having already been sprung. But this was not the case. What I liked about Human .4 was that I had no idea what was going on and was completely bowled over when all was revealed but replaying all of that in a future timeline, just with different, and more informed protagonists, didn't excite me.
As I continued reading I kept hoping that perhaps the story would focus on some of the interesting details that I had glimpsed as we sped by. For example, at one point Peter realizes that there are people living among them from previous versions of humankind who no one can see, except when photographed. Now I had expected this revelation to turn into something, and I'd been really excited about that. Who exactly are these people? How do they live? How long have they been around? Can Peter find a way to communicate with them? But- no. The story did not follow that tantalizing trail and instead kept stubbornly plowing forward.
I still didn't give up hope that the ending would make up for the rest of the book by throwing in something truly unexpected, but the only thing that surprised me was how disappointing it all turned out to be.
Even the big struggle between Peter and his father fell completely flat. They get into a violent altercation about something that really didn't matter in the least, considering how the story ended. I didn't even see any reason for Peter's beliefs or actions to have been the right ones, as opposed to his “evil� father's, though I assume that was the idea.
And that was another thing that irritated me. The kids in the book are all clever, smart and sensitive while the adults are all evil, bumbling idiots with no compunctions about mowing down children (including their own) who get in the way of their nefarious plans. It was like watching an episode of one of those teen shows on the Disney Channel. It was all just too over the top to be believable in any way.
The book ended in the way that I expected it to, based on what took place so far, and left me with no interest in continuing on to book 3.
To read more of my reviews visit my blog,
January 5, 2013
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Lancaster shows us that technology isn’t all that its cracked up to be.
Opening Sentence: The story of Peter Vincent might easily have never been heard.
Review:
Technology plays an integral part of our lives. In The Future We Left Behind, the follow up book to Mike A. Lancaster’s Human.4, Lancaster takes us on a futuristic look at the differences between humanity and technology. I was really excited when I received this book. I love it when the topic brings a certain perspective into play. It was fascinating to see Human.4’s story unfold, and I couldn’t wait to dive into The Future We Left Behind.
The Future We Left Behind takes place thousands of years after the events of Human.4. According to the Straker Tapes, humans have been upgraded many times. From 0.4 to 1.0, humans are different, but only a select few still believe that 0.4 actually happened and not in fact a work of fiction. Young Peter Vincent quickly realizes that life doesn’t reveal everything as it should. From living a mundane life, Peter yearns for something more, something beyond all of the science.
A group of believers, who have dubbed themselves the Strakerites, are the only ones who believe the Straker Tapes happened. Lancaster introduces us to new characters, who each bring a different level of fiction to the story. Uncovering truths, especially the mysteries of human upgrades, and revealing who is and isn’t involved brings a strong message throughout the book.
Peter lived a normal life, according to the standards set in his era. His father taught him a lot, school taught him about the importance of science, but deep down Peter believes there is something more. After the Strakerites contact Peter, he developed a new way of thinking. He becomes a different person analyzing what the world has deemed important and question what should really be important. Peter is a good protagonist, level headed and open-minded. He was someone that I instantly connected with, and his need for information and knowledge was an added bonus. Lancaster wrote him well, giving him different layers, each one for a different kind of reader.
Lancaster’s world has evolved, but there is still familiar pieces that act as the skeleton of this new futuristic world. Everything revolves around the tapes and the upgrades, but there’s something about the world that stands out. It’s intriguing in a dystopian way, having this “one-mind� mentality, taking in information without questioning it. In our day and age, Lancaster makes The Future We Left Behind very relevant, showcasing the flaws of technology as well as the imperfections.
Upgrades and those who do not upgrade would be another element of the world. Those who exist and those who choose not to, all coexisting in Lancaster’s story. The Future We Left Behind has a different tone throughout the book. Where Human.4 set the pacing, The Future We Left Behind completely surpassed it. It can act like a separate book altogether, having it’s own identity, but I’m glad it was a follow-up.
I enjoyed this, much more than I expected to. There are compelling issues that Lancaster forces a reader to think about, and there are points of view that a reader is simply surprised to see. It is a fantastic read, and I highly urge you to read this soon.
Notable Scene:
The problem is we shouldn’t have trusted the Link to remember things the way they happened. Details can be changed, and memories edited.
History itself can be rewritten. You only need to change a word here, and event there. Even things like emphasis and importance can be up- or down-graded to make history say what they want it to say. To make it read how they want it to read.
My memories are no different. I remember things because I put them on the LInk. That’s what we all do.
But I can no longer be sure that what’s stored there is the truth.
FTC Advisory: EgmontUSA provided me with a copy of The Future We Left Behind. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,� or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Lancaster shows us that technology isn’t all that its cracked up to be.
Opening Sentence: The story of Peter Vincent might easily have never been heard.
Review:
Technology plays an integral part of our lives. In The Future We Left Behind, the follow up book to Mike A. Lancaster’s Human.4, Lancaster takes us on a futuristic look at the differences between humanity and technology. I was really excited when I received this book. I love it when the topic brings a certain perspective into play. It was fascinating to see Human.4’s story unfold, and I couldn’t wait to dive into The Future We Left Behind.
The Future We Left Behind takes place thousands of years after the events of Human.4. According to the Straker Tapes, humans have been upgraded many times. From 0.4 to 1.0, humans are different, but only a select few still believe that 0.4 actually happened and not in fact a work of fiction. Young Peter Vincent quickly realizes that life doesn’t reveal everything as it should. From living a mundane life, Peter yearns for something more, something beyond all of the science.
A group of believers, who have dubbed themselves the Strakerites, are the only ones who believe the Straker Tapes happened. Lancaster introduces us to new characters, who each bring a different level of fiction to the story. Uncovering truths, especially the mysteries of human upgrades, and revealing who is and isn’t involved brings a strong message throughout the book.
Peter lived a normal life, according to the standards set in his era. His father taught him a lot, school taught him about the importance of science, but deep down Peter believes there is something more. After the Strakerites contact Peter, he developed a new way of thinking. He becomes a different person analyzing what the world has deemed important and question what should really be important. Peter is a good protagonist, level headed and open-minded. He was someone that I instantly connected with, and his need for information and knowledge was an added bonus. Lancaster wrote him well, giving him different layers, each one for a different kind of reader.
Lancaster’s world has evolved, but there is still familiar pieces that act as the skeleton of this new futuristic world. Everything revolves around the tapes and the upgrades, but there’s something about the world that stands out. It’s intriguing in a dystopian way, having this “one-mind� mentality, taking in information without questioning it. In our day and age, Lancaster makes The Future We Left Behind very relevant, showcasing the flaws of technology as well as the imperfections.
Upgrades and those who do not upgrade would be another element of the world. Those who exist and those who choose not to, all coexisting in Lancaster’s story. The Future We Left Behind has a different tone throughout the book. Where Human.4 set the pacing, The Future We Left Behind completely surpassed it. It can act like a separate book altogether, having it’s own identity, but I’m glad it was a follow-up.
I enjoyed this, much more than I expected to. There are compelling issues that Lancaster forces a reader to think about, and there are points of view that a reader is simply surprised to see. It is a fantastic read, and I highly urge you to read this soon.
Notable Scene:
The problem is we shouldn’t have trusted the Link to remember things the way they happened. Details can be changed, and memories edited.
History itself can be rewritten. You only need to change a word here, and event there. Even things like emphasis and importance can be up- or down-graded to make history say what they want it to say. To make it read how they want it to read.
My memories are no different. I remember things because I put them on the LInk. That’s what we all do.
But I can no longer be sure that what’s stored there is the truth.
FTC Advisory: EgmontUSA provided me with a copy of The Future We Left Behind. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,� or bribes were exchanged for my review.
April 12, 2016
An Electronic Advanced Reader Copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review. Quotes have been pulled from an ARC and may be subject to change.
At 21, you're scheduled to to get married. A list with candidates will be given to you and one will simply make it shortlisted to three, when you will finally announce your engagement. Peter's world is a lot more advanced than the straker's world. For one, people have filaments which extend from their body and act as a port to send and receive data. Secondly they use the Link which helps them shop for clothes, read books, find information and even communicate with others just by thought alone. Thirdly, The amount of living space has decreased so citizens are forced to live in buildings with as many levels that can be built. Technology is vastly increased. People use the Link to play games, watch movies, even shop. No more stores to go to!
Jumped into this one right after reading 0.4, and humans are still dependent on technology. Technology has fused together with humans and have created upgraded humans. Imagine humans as software and all you do is plug in to be upgraded to the latest tech! That's the work that Peter and Alpha live in.
At least with this novel, the book didn't end so quickly. There was definitely a bigger story-line and the characters had to endure a lot more than Straker and Lily. I'm still confused. My answers from the previous book were not answered. But I rather enjoyed the technology in this one. Downloading clothes was one thing that I thought was rather fun and interesting. There was also the added suspense during the entire book that kept me reading.
Overall, The Future We left Behind will have you questioning whether or not our society is heading in the same direction or if we're already there?
At 21, you're scheduled to to get married. A list with candidates will be given to you and one will simply make it shortlisted to three, when you will finally announce your engagement. Peter's world is a lot more advanced than the straker's world. For one, people have filaments which extend from their body and act as a port to send and receive data. Secondly they use the Link which helps them shop for clothes, read books, find information and even communicate with others just by thought alone. Thirdly, The amount of living space has decreased so citizens are forced to live in buildings with as many levels that can be built. Technology is vastly increased. People use the Link to play games, watch movies, even shop. No more stores to go to!
Jumped into this one right after reading 0.4, and humans are still dependent on technology. Technology has fused together with humans and have created upgraded humans. Imagine humans as software and all you do is plug in to be upgraded to the latest tech! That's the work that Peter and Alpha live in.
At least with this novel, the book didn't end so quickly. There was definitely a bigger story-line and the characters had to endure a lot more than Straker and Lily. I'm still confused. My answers from the previous book were not answered. But I rather enjoyed the technology in this one. Downloading clothes was one thing that I thought was rather fun and interesting. There was also the added suspense during the entire book that kept me reading.
Overall, The Future We left Behind will have you questioning whether or not our society is heading in the same direction or if we're already there?
March 16, 2013
This book was a little disappointing when compared to Human.4. It took me till about halfway through before I really got into it. This was a super fast read for me, only took about a couple of hours. The characters were a little weak for me but the premise and plot were really good. I loved the ending of this book. I would recommend this to anyone that likes a sci-fi thriller.
April 11, 2013
Excellent book. I liked the first one but this far surpasses it. I read it in one sitting, with barely a break for dinner. I'm amazed by the author's ability to invent and use alien technology in such a matter of fact and easy manner. I'm looking forward to book 3!
May 19, 2012
The best thing ever happened to me.
I found out there was a sequel, on the DAY IT WAS RELEASED.
I am crying. Oh my god I am so excited
I found out there was a sequel, on the DAY IT WAS RELEASED.
I am crying. Oh my god I am so excited
March 1, 2013
One of the best sci-fi books, actually one of the best BOOKS i've picked up and read in a long time. Finished it in a day, I couldn't even put it down. I don't think i've ever read a book so fast.
January 11, 2014
Actual title of this book: The Future We Left Behind, #2 in Point 4.
A worthy sequel to Human.4.
But where's the 3rd book???
A worthy sequel to Human.4.
But where's the 3rd book???
July 24, 2016
"You think the world is one way, and you believe it for your whole life, and then something happens and shows you that you were wrong; the ground you thought was solid is made of ice, and it’s melting away beneath you. You deal with it how you can. That’s all any of us do."
Source: LinkData\LinkDiary\Live\Thadeus_Granada31\Book_Reviews
Introduction
1.4 isn't exactly a sequel of the first book, 0.4. Instead, it's set millennia after the Millgrove revelation or the . Since it's set millennia of the first novel, everything is different and futuristic. Revolves around the neo-world of Peter Vincent, the son of a well renowned scientist, David Vincent. His father is most famous for saving the world by making artificial bees when the mites' population grown bigger, killing millions of bees and went through an almost-extinction. So... how does a son of the 'savior' of the Earth, want to stop his father? And from what?
LinkList/Thadeus_Granada31/
My 5 favorite things about 1.4 or The Future We Left Behind.
5. The List
4. The Future
3. The Characters
1. Strakerites
@&^*($*23KJLKASDLKJSSeawiuro9034028140eria[po-/sdjf hgasd/90452poweiqwifadslkfasderqntveexndfa
DFJKKEWLRQNWDXSXDSCkjdsflsflfeoiwr98998989888 **** ))))l`kdfsjadlfewr
LINK DIARY CRASHING---READ/WRITE ERROR.
LINK DIARY OFF---REBOOT.
CONTINUE ENTRY
[BELOW INCLUDES HUGE SPOILERS FROM FIRST AND SECOND BOOK.]
What I expected and what I got:
Expected: An unlikely friendship from the three teenagers: Amalfi, Peter, and Perry.
Got:
Expected: Another human upgrade and the conflict between to be or not to be upgraded.
Got:
Expected: Amazing book.
Got:
I'm just here... waiting for a possible sequel or interquel. Any quel is good, to be honest.
LINK DIARY OFF.
Source: LinkData\LinkDiary\Live\Thadeus_Granada31\Book_Reviews
Introduction
1.4 isn't exactly a sequel of the first book, 0.4. Instead, it's set millennia after the Millgrove revelation or the . Since it's set millennia of the first novel, everything is different and futuristic. Revolves around the neo-world of Peter Vincent, the son of a well renowned scientist, David Vincent. His father is most famous for saving the world by making artificial bees when the mites' population grown bigger, killing millions of bees and went through an almost-extinction. So... how does a son of the 'savior' of the Earth, want to stop his father? And from what?
LinkList/Thadeus_Granada31/
My 5 favorite things about 1.4 or The Future We Left Behind.
5. The List
I must admit that I really love the notes from the first novel. Although there were less notes indicated here, the list that Peter Vincent made, did not only made me chuckle but helped build the world of his current generation.
4. The Future
The list is one of the mediums that help build the world of 1.4, it is mostly made by the protagonist's point of view. What do we see in the future? When we say futuristic, what comes to our mind? Yes, it's technologies. Being millennia away from this generation, it's not that hard to believe that the societies that live in the 1.4 generation is that reliant on technology. And of course, the technologies aren't the only thing that evolved. Like the 1.0 version, humans from the current version still has the filaments mentioned from book one.
3. The Characters
Unlike the first novel, the characters of this sequel is more complex. There is Peter Vincent, the protagonist of the story, and throughout the 4-5 days span of the novel, a huge character development went through him. (Did it start from adding English literature to his subjects, or meeting Alpha?) And there is Amalfi, Alpha for short. That chick from every book that protagonists can't get their eyes off. Except she isn't the usual chick. She is smart. She is mysterious. And everyone loves mysterious. There is Perry, Peter's closest friend. David Vincent, as Peter's father. A hacker. A missing father. Thousand eyes. A dead mother. Ghosts. Bees. A madman who k---
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LINK DIARY CRASHING---READ/WRITE ERROR.
LINK DIARY OFF---REBOOT.
CONTINUE ENTRY
Where was I... yes. Number 2.
2. The Twists
If you think the twists from the first book blew your mind, get your head ready, because here... it will blow your mind, MULTIPLE TIMES. There are few anticlimactic moments but there are scenes that would mess your mind up. I would not go further into details because I might ruin people's reading experiences.
1. Strakerites
So, first of all, what are Strakerites? These are people who believe the Kyle Straker cassette tapes, and that humans undergo upgrade by aliens or higher beings. Every time Strakerites, Kyle Straker, or Lilly Dartington are mentioned, I get excited for this book might answer some of the questions from the first book, and boy, did it! I thought it'd be one of those sequels that would just mention few names or things that happened in the first book. But even after millennia, the Strakerites words' live through. The two's hard work will live on, just as I wish Vincentiums' (Yep, I just made it.) words will live on. Long ling Strakerites & Vincenti---
@&^*($*23KJLKASDLKJSSeawiuro9034028140eria[po-/sdjf hgasd/90452poweiqwifadslkfasderqntveexndfa
DFJKKEWLRQNWDXSXDSCkjdsflsflfeoiwr98998989888 **** ))))l`kdfsjadlfewr
LINK DIARY CRASHING---READ/WRITE ERROR.
LINK DIARY OFF---REBOOT.
CONTINUE ENTRY
[BELOW INCLUDES HUGE SPOILERS FROM FIRST AND SECOND BOOK.]
What I expected and what I got:
Expected: An unlikely friendship from the three teenagers: Amalfi, Peter, and Perry.
Got:
Expected: Another human upgrade and the conflict between to be or not to be upgraded.
Got:
Expected: Amazing book.
Got:
I'm just here... waiting for a possible sequel or interquel. Any quel is good, to be honest.
LINK DIARY OFF.
March 16, 2015
Hey, guys! So, earlier this week I discovered that Human.4 (which I read like three years ago and absolutely loved) has a sequel, and I've been oblivious about it since 2012! Needless to say, I was beyond exited! I practically stormed the library to check the book out and then finished it in basically a day. It was great, the book before it was great, and you should read both.
The Cover:
It shows a mechanical bee (I know it doesn't look like a bee but trust me) flying near a person's head. These bees are actually a really significant part of this book. Peter's, the main character's, dad engineered mechanical bees when the bees started becoming extinct. These fake bees crowded out the natural bees, killing them all. While that's not a very important part of the plot it shows Peter's dad's nature.
My Review:
This book was so cool. It picked up a thousand years after book one. At first, I was skeptical about this change but it was obviously for the best. The human race is still being upgraded and it seems like another update is imminent.
People who believe that what is detailed in book one, the Strakerites, are hated and laughed at. This led Mike Lancaster to be able to do something incredible, reference his own book within the current book. Human.4 had become a bible of sorts to the Strakerites. This probably doesn't seem very neat, but I loved this little detail! For example, at one point, Peter goes through the list of books he will read in his English class. They include Shakespeare, William Faulkner, Beowolf, Human.4, etc. It was just so gutsy and fantastic. This author won a lot of points with me by doing that.
The characters were all fantastic. They were three dimensional with their own motivations, however ill guided they were. They seemed alive. Also, there was a LOT of character development, which I'm a big fan of, especially with Peter. It was nice.
The plot was great! It was exciting and lovable and full of tension. Unrelated things built off of each other. There were twists and turns, betrayal and loyalty, love and hatred. It was just fantastic. I read this 300-some page book in almost a single sitting as a result.
I also liked its formatting. The entire situation is set up like an encrypted computer diary that someone decoded. So at the beginning of chapters, we have a line of computer code to run the next section of the diary, etc.
Quote:
"In the entire history of the world the answer to a question about the way things wok has never been 'magic', 'the supernatural' or 'pixies'.
Examples:
1) An apple falls. Was it pulled down by hands of angles? No. I think you'll find the answer to that one is 'gravity'.
2) Bright fire fizzes across the night sky. Are the Gods fighting? No, that one is an electrical discharge, and we have called it 'lightning'.
3) The sun is devoured by blackness in the sky. Surely the Gods are angry with us? Uh, no, the moon has just moved in front of the sun. We call that 'an eclipse'. "
Phrase:
Kyle paradigm
Happy Reading!
The Cover:
It shows a mechanical bee (I know it doesn't look like a bee but trust me) flying near a person's head. These bees are actually a really significant part of this book. Peter's, the main character's, dad engineered mechanical bees when the bees started becoming extinct. These fake bees crowded out the natural bees, killing them all. While that's not a very important part of the plot it shows Peter's dad's nature.
My Review:
This book was so cool. It picked up a thousand years after book one. At first, I was skeptical about this change but it was obviously for the best. The human race is still being upgraded and it seems like another update is imminent.
People who believe that what is detailed in book one, the Strakerites, are hated and laughed at. This led Mike Lancaster to be able to do something incredible, reference his own book within the current book. Human.4 had become a bible of sorts to the Strakerites. This probably doesn't seem very neat, but I loved this little detail! For example, at one point, Peter goes through the list of books he will read in his English class. They include Shakespeare, William Faulkner, Beowolf, Human.4, etc. It was just so gutsy and fantastic. This author won a lot of points with me by doing that.
The characters were all fantastic. They were three dimensional with their own motivations, however ill guided they were. They seemed alive. Also, there was a LOT of character development, which I'm a big fan of, especially with Peter. It was nice.
The plot was great! It was exciting and lovable and full of tension. Unrelated things built off of each other. There were twists and turns, betrayal and loyalty, love and hatred. It was just fantastic. I read this 300-some page book in almost a single sitting as a result.
I also liked its formatting. The entire situation is set up like an encrypted computer diary that someone decoded. So at the beginning of chapters, we have a line of computer code to run the next section of the diary, etc.
Quote:
"In the entire history of the world the answer to a question about the way things wok has never been 'magic', 'the supernatural' or 'pixies'.
Examples:
1) An apple falls. Was it pulled down by hands of angles? No. I think you'll find the answer to that one is 'gravity'.
2) Bright fire fizzes across the night sky. Are the Gods fighting? No, that one is an electrical discharge, and we have called it 'lightning'.
3) The sun is devoured by blackness in the sky. Surely the Gods are angry with us? Uh, no, the moon has just moved in front of the sun. We call that 'an eclipse'. "
Phrase:
Kyle paradigm
Happy Reading!
November 28, 2017
I loved The Future We Left Behind. It reminded me of other dystopian books that I read like the Maze Runner and the Giver. It had the same concept, one group of people thought that they where doing the right thing and making the world a better and more perfect place when they are actually not. Another group realizes this and tries to stop them. In the book, the main character Michael questions himself about The Link. He asks if it is a trustable device, or if its just something that has a negative effect on society. I can connect this to a real life question that everyone asks, “Does technology benefit us?� Some people think that technology helps up in life, while others think it takes away valuable time that we should be spending with family. I think that The Future We Left Behind is an amazing book everyone should read. It will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end.
January 24, 2013
Peter Vincent's life takes a drastic turn when he signs up for a literature course (instead of another science course) for the new semester. His father, who created the artificial bee that saved the world, would never approve. But Peter is enjoying the assigned reading and has found his usual ways of thinking challenged. Then he meets Alpha, who challenges his thinking even further: she's a Strakerite. This is a group of people much like a Luddite--a fringe group that believes technology only harms humans, especially since it gave aliens a chance to invade via our minds. Peter isn't sure what to believe after he meets her (especially since he likes her), but starts to wonder if what she says is true: there is more to life than meets the eye. Then they discover an old photograph of Alpha's father and a group of scientists working on the Straker diaries, and it also includes Peter's father. Suddenly his world is upside down and he needs to get to the bottom of what's happening.
Built on Human.4, this stands alone, creating a believable world that sometimes hits very close to home. In fact, I highly recommend reading The Future... first, and use Human.4 as a supplement (rather than a prequel). I love the idea the author used: a diary that is being recorded simultaneously as life happens, rather than thoughts that are recorded later. The narration flows better and the story doesn't feel forced. Readers also learn tidbits about the world through extra entries into the diary--like a top 5 playlist with annotation or the best computer games. Peter's growth is believable, as is his relationship with Alpha. The story reads quickly and the suspense will keep readers turning the pages. Hand to readers who loved Feed.
Built on Human.4, this stands alone, creating a believable world that sometimes hits very close to home. In fact, I highly recommend reading The Future... first, and use Human.4 as a supplement (rather than a prequel). I love the idea the author used: a diary that is being recorded simultaneously as life happens, rather than thoughts that are recorded later. The narration flows better and the story doesn't feel forced. Readers also learn tidbits about the world through extra entries into the diary--like a top 5 playlist with annotation or the best computer games. Peter's growth is believable, as is his relationship with Alpha. The story reads quickly and the suspense will keep readers turning the pages. Hand to readers who loved Feed.
January 6, 2013
You can also find this review at in the review archive.
Detailed Review: This book has so many surprises! Honestly that just managed to blow my head off a few times!
I didn't get to read the first book in the series but this book itself also works as a standalone.
Would you want to know how it feels like when your memories are tampered by an unknown person? Because this is what happens to the people in the book, including the main character, Peter. What if your mind is not controlled by you but by some alien programmers that can decide when the next upgrade is? You probably wouldn't want to know the answer to that.
A conspiracy that involves Peter Vincent's mother's appearance and an unknown upgrade that is arriving that can leave some people behind and bring others with them, as in the case with Kyle Straker and many others a hundred thousand years ago is just the ideal plot to make your head spin. Plus if your mother is willing to disappear just for your father's psychotic project, you find it even harder to believe that she loves her husband more than her son.
It hurts to know that, isn't it?
Betrayal and love are all mixed into this one spectacular story that will leave readers wondering the same things as Peter and Alpha ( his companion and girlfriend)
This follows the Kyle paradigm. ( Read the book to find out more! I highly encourage it because you won't know what I'm talking about!)
Brief Review: This book was unexpected in many ways that I lost count. The world that the author has created never ceases to amaze me.
Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'
Detailed Review: This book has so many surprises! Honestly that just managed to blow my head off a few times!
I didn't get to read the first book in the series but this book itself also works as a standalone.
Would you want to know how it feels like when your memories are tampered by an unknown person? Because this is what happens to the people in the book, including the main character, Peter. What if your mind is not controlled by you but by some alien programmers that can decide when the next upgrade is? You probably wouldn't want to know the answer to that.
A conspiracy that involves Peter Vincent's mother's appearance and an unknown upgrade that is arriving that can leave some people behind and bring others with them, as in the case with Kyle Straker and many others a hundred thousand years ago is just the ideal plot to make your head spin. Plus if your mother is willing to disappear just for your father's psychotic project, you find it even harder to believe that she loves her husband more than her son.
It hurts to know that, isn't it?
Betrayal and love are all mixed into this one spectacular story that will leave readers wondering the same things as Peter and Alpha ( his companion and girlfriend)
This follows the Kyle paradigm. ( Read the book to find out more! I highly encourage it because you won't know what I'm talking about!)
Brief Review: This book was unexpected in many ways that I lost count. The world that the author has created never ceases to amaze me.
Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'
February 25, 2013
The first book in this series left me with SO many unexplained questions, and I can't say that this really cleared anything up, but it was a good read. This isn't so much a sequel, it doesn't pick up where the last book left off, in fact the first book IS a book referred to by the characters in this one, like they have read it, just as we have. It's on the required reading list for the literature class in fact :)
In some of the other reviews, people note they didn't even realize (or realise, as is the spelling in this book) it was a second/sequel. The title causes some confusion, some calling it "Point 4" ... but look at the title in the image ... "The Future We Left Behind". This was true of the first book too, is it called "Human.4" or just "0.4" ?
This is written in a similar style, not a direct "copy" of transcribed tapes, but more a transcript of a diary. No "editor's notes" in this one (and one of the characters asks which version of "Human.4" one of the characters read, one with notes or w/o them, that she preferred them without the notes).
Again, some good points to ponder.
Borrowed digitally from the library, had to use Overdrive as it was not in Kindle format (which I prefer). Wasn't able to highlight, but did bookmark a couple of quotes.
In some of the other reviews, people note they didn't even realize (or realise, as is the spelling in this book) it was a second/sequel. The title causes some confusion, some calling it "Point 4" ... but look at the title in the image ... "The Future We Left Behind". This was true of the first book too, is it called "Human.4" or just "0.4" ?
This is written in a similar style, not a direct "copy" of transcribed tapes, but more a transcript of a diary. No "editor's notes" in this one (and one of the characters asks which version of "Human.4" one of the characters read, one with notes or w/o them, that she preferred them without the notes).
Again, some good points to ponder.
Borrowed digitally from the library, had to use Overdrive as it was not in Kindle format (which I prefer). Wasn't able to highlight, but did bookmark a couple of quotes.
February 26, 2013
This book really shouldn't be by Mike A Lancaster, because wasn't he the "editor" of the book "Human.4" ... and that was written 1000 years before this one. Explain that! Maybe it's his great, great, great ... grandson by the same name. *Ü* Unlike the first book, the editor(author) doesn't talk to the reader, although the text is diary entries, which is similar to the format of the transcribed tapes in Human.4.
While this could be considered a sequel, the first book in the series doesn't just lead to this book, it is discussed in this one AS a book. It's a piece of literature (required reading for one of the college classes) that some people have read, just as we readers have read it. They have their own copies of Human.4.
I didn't love the first book. I liked it, but thought there was a lot un-addressed, unanswered. Maybe that was why I picked up the second book, hoping maybe there would be some answers. I don't know that there really were. But I did still like the story.
Like the first book, it does bring up some interesting ideas, things that would be great for discussion and debate. Interesting thoughts on artificial improvements, on change, on what makes us human ... even on reading.
** Library Borrow
*** Overdrive
While this could be considered a sequel, the first book in the series doesn't just lead to this book, it is discussed in this one AS a book. It's a piece of literature (required reading for one of the college classes) that some people have read, just as we readers have read it. They have their own copies of Human.4.
I didn't love the first book. I liked it, but thought there was a lot un-addressed, unanswered. Maybe that was why I picked up the second book, hoping maybe there would be some answers. I don't know that there really were. But I did still like the story.
Like the first book, it does bring up some interesting ideas, things that would be great for discussion and debate. Interesting thoughts on artificial improvements, on change, on what makes us human ... even on reading.
** Library Borrow
*** Overdrive
August 15, 2023
I wasn’t expecting much from the sequel so I’ve resigned myself to the two stars and for such a short book, it took me a week and a half to finish it.
Alpha/Amalfi had more of a character arc as the female side character than Lily did, but Lancaster even works it into the plot that the two characters are repeats of Kyle and Lily. Which would have been fine if they were good characters in the first place�
He also admits in the plot that the world building inserts from the first book were annoying so at least he’s self aware - until he does the SAME in this one. This time it’s lists of Peters favourite apps/books - it just doesn’t do anything for me to add to the futuristic world.
It’s a sequel that knowingly follows a similar plot as the first, with a closed loop plot - no happy ending, the upgrade happened anyway and they’re non the wiser again. I actually like this choice but it could have been so much more interesting diving into the parents moving between upgrades, rather than villians that are easily convinced they’ve been wrong for decades by one comment from a 15 year old.
I also had to remind myself that it was published in 2012 and to not roll my eyes too hard at the ‘MyBook� and ‘FaceSpace� references. Shame Meta survives 1000 years in the future�
Alpha/Amalfi had more of a character arc as the female side character than Lily did, but Lancaster even works it into the plot that the two characters are repeats of Kyle and Lily. Which would have been fine if they were good characters in the first place�
He also admits in the plot that the world building inserts from the first book were annoying so at least he’s self aware - until he does the SAME in this one. This time it’s lists of Peters favourite apps/books - it just doesn’t do anything for me to add to the futuristic world.
It’s a sequel that knowingly follows a similar plot as the first, with a closed loop plot - no happy ending, the upgrade happened anyway and they’re non the wiser again. I actually like this choice but it could have been so much more interesting diving into the parents moving between upgrades, rather than villians that are easily convinced they’ve been wrong for decades by one comment from a 15 year old.
I also had to remind myself that it was published in 2012 and to not roll my eyes too hard at the ‘MyBook� and ‘FaceSpace� references. Shame Meta survives 1000 years in the future�
April 16, 2023
Originally published in Britain simply as 1.4, TFWLB is a worthy sequel to the original Human.4. Lancaster isn't a particularly strong writer ("my father put his hand into the graphic and pulled at it with his hand"), but he is a decent storyteller; and so as with the earlier book, he throws out a number of seemingly unrelated plot points that he once again ties neatly together by book's end.
One kvetch: believe this may be a particularly middle grade thing as I've noticed it in other similar books, but Lancaster does a pretty lame job of predicting what life will be like that far into the distant distance. The story takes place somewhere between several centuries and a full millennium in the future, and yet videogames and cosplay are still a big deal, as is "the Link," which is just a more omnipresent and intuitive version of the internet. Plus, the looming extinction of bees plays a key plot role - and while that's a serious issue today, I have to imagine that for better or catastrophically worse, that's going to work itself out in the next couple hundred years.
One kvetch: believe this may be a particularly middle grade thing as I've noticed it in other similar books, but Lancaster does a pretty lame job of predicting what life will be like that far into the distant distance. The story takes place somewhere between several centuries and a full millennium in the future, and yet videogames and cosplay are still a big deal, as is "the Link," which is just a more omnipresent and intuitive version of the internet. Plus, the looming extinction of bees plays a key plot role - and while that's a serious issue today, I have to imagine that for better or catastrophically worse, that's going to work itself out in the next couple hundred years.
January 21, 2013
Eh...
Didn't realize that it was the second book in the series. Wish I could've started with the first.
And may I say, kudos to you, Mike Lancaster. You've written one heck of a book--my head is still struggling to wrap around all the plot twists.
Basically, we're now an upgraded society. We have something called the Link, and it's every sci-fi writer's dream--we're all connected electronically, we have little wire/cable thingys to communicate and stuff, and you have to read the book to fully get it....but it was good, all the same.
Deep plot thought: When David's dad fixed the bee extinction problem, he ended up killing off the original bees. He could've saved them by getting rid of the mites that were causing the problem. This is a theme that comes back and hits you in the face at the end. BIG time.
No more talkin', else I might just spill the plot, and that's not what I'm trying to do. But if you like sci-fi, and deep books, you'll enjoy this one.
Didn't realize that it was the second book in the series. Wish I could've started with the first.
And may I say, kudos to you, Mike Lancaster. You've written one heck of a book--my head is still struggling to wrap around all the plot twists.
Basically, we're now an upgraded society. We have something called the Link, and it's every sci-fi writer's dream--we're all connected electronically, we have little wire/cable thingys to communicate and stuff, and you have to read the book to fully get it....but it was good, all the same.
Deep plot thought: When David's dad fixed the bee extinction problem, he ended up killing off the original bees. He could've saved them by getting rid of the mites that were causing the problem. This is a theme that comes back and hits you in the face at the end. BIG time.
No more talkin', else I might just spill the plot, and that's not what I'm trying to do. But if you like sci-fi, and deep books, you'll enjoy this one.
February 13, 2013
The Straker Tapes were recorded many years ago and although the records have survived there are those who believe that these events/myths are hoaxes, dreams with no scientific proof to back up these claims.
The Link has existed for as long as anyone can remember. It connects us all to each other with little more than a thought, it stores our memories, records our thoughts our life contains it defines who we are and the world we live in. But the Link is not limitless and not unable to be hacked. Memories can be altered, thoughts can be stolen and history can be rewritten. When who we are can change in an instant, all we can do is tell our story and hope we are remembered.
1.4 is an upgrade from the Straker Tapes to the Vincent. Many people have missed this upgrade and are living right by us but unknown to some. This book tells the frightening truth behind our very existence, behind the evolution of humans and many other beliefs retold as nobody would of expected.
The Link has existed for as long as anyone can remember. It connects us all to each other with little more than a thought, it stores our memories, records our thoughts our life contains it defines who we are and the world we live in. But the Link is not limitless and not unable to be hacked. Memories can be altered, thoughts can be stolen and history can be rewritten. When who we are can change in an instant, all we can do is tell our story and hope we are remembered.
1.4 is an upgrade from the Straker Tapes to the Vincent. Many people have missed this upgrade and are living right by us but unknown to some. This book tells the frightening truth behind our very existence, behind the evolution of humans and many other beliefs retold as nobody would of expected.
January 22, 2013
There isn't a whole lot of pure sci-fi in YA today, which is why I think this book really shines. It's got a really interesting premise that builds on Human.4 in a pretty unique way. The characters were, in general, pretty well formed, and I think Peter's world was hinted in ways that made it feel rich and full without having too much exposition or explanation.
I will definitely be checking out further books in this series, although I'm curious to see where the author could take it from here.
Definitely recommended for anyone interested in technology or science fiction. Great for younger readers, because although it has some complicated concepts and themes, there's no cursing and the romance isn't too romance-y.
I will definitely be checking out further books in this series, although I'm curious to see where the author could take it from here.
Definitely recommended for anyone interested in technology or science fiction. Great for younger readers, because although it has some complicated concepts and themes, there's no cursing and the romance isn't too romance-y.
January 2, 2013
The Future We Left Behind is definitely a worthy sequel to Human.4, and the repetitive plot didn't bother me in the least. I think it was used to illustrate the fact of the inevitability of the whole thing. Nevertheless, I would like to see a break in the plot by book three, which will probably be about a certain diary mentioned in this book.
What I liked was the symbolism, as I thought the "Greatorex" surname mentioned might mean "greater Rex, i.e., the greater king. Also, "del Rey" means "of he king". I also liked Lancaster's bang-up-job with the suspense and the fact that nobody, necessarily, was "evil".
What I liked was the symbolism, as I thought the "Greatorex" surname mentioned might mean "greater Rex, i.e., the greater king. Also, "del Rey" means "of he king". I also liked Lancaster's bang-up-job with the suspense and the fact that nobody, necessarily, was "evil".
March 2, 2014
3/5
Can't believe I've been a slow poke reader these days! hahaha.. Again tons of work, lots of stress and distractions made me stray away from my books. This would be my last book I guess for the month.
Now for the book ---
I felt it was more engaging than the first one.. but the ending its a blah for me.. I wished it was more stellar than I had hoped for it to end.
Truth be told, the book can be finished in one sitting.
"The future does not belong to the weak. To the cowardly. It belongs to people of vision. of courage. of fortitude..."
Though cocky, I really liked that passage -- it pumps me up to be the best that I could be. :D
Can't believe I've been a slow poke reader these days! hahaha.. Again tons of work, lots of stress and distractions made me stray away from my books. This would be my last book I guess for the month.
Now for the book ---
I felt it was more engaging than the first one.. but the ending its a blah for me.. I wished it was more stellar than I had hoped for it to end.
Truth be told, the book can be finished in one sitting.
"The future does not belong to the weak. To the cowardly. It belongs to people of vision. of courage. of fortitude..."
Though cocky, I really liked that passage -- it pumps me up to be the best that I could be. :D
November 17, 2014
(In America, it's called "The Future Left Behind"). Did you ever find a book you can't read fast enough? Like you need the ability to read twice as fast because it's just that fully engrossing? Or a book that is so unpredictable and has so many plot twists that you give up hypothesizing and just enjoy the ride? This is one of those, as was Human.4. If you like sci-fi, are a Doctor Who fan, or want the crap scared out of you so you never want to touch a computer ever again, read these books. You won't regret it...but will you remember it? (spoilers!). :)
March 29, 2013
Somehow even more satisfying than , this book is guaranteed to keep your attention right down to the final moments. Even though it's a very distant sequel, it still feels very closely connected to its predecessor, mostly because of the presence of Strakerists who are ostracized for their beliefs. This book doesn't seem to want to end, and I didn't want to end this one either, but alas all good things must come to an end, as we all know.
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