Neuropath

by R. Scott Bakker

Book Overview

"Neuropath" . . . crackles with energy, a thriller that presents a frighteningly plausible look into the future of neuroscience. . . . [I]t raises some big, big questions about free will and the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0765321890
• ISBN13: 9780765321893
• Release Date: October 2009
• Publisher: Tor Books
• Length: 316 Pages
• Weight: 1.18 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

exhilarating frightening modernization of Dr. Frankenstein

Psychologist Tom Bible still misses Nora and their two children following her divorcing him and he loathes his teaching position lecturing bored grad students. He muses about his best friend Neil Cassidy who teaches in California to bored grad students; and recalls the "Argument" re free will or lack of as his friend firmly believed everyone's brain is pre-wired forcing an individual to choose a pre-determined selection. Neil visits Tom out of the blue to discuss the Argument in person; proclaiming he has done work for the NSA on destroying the minds of terrorists. Soon after showing up Neil vanishes. The Feds follow him to interrogate and then enlist Tom in their quest to find Neil, who they claim has lost his mind as they show the video of a woman whose brain was rewired; a skill only Neil has. FBI agent Samantha "Sam" Logan insists Tom's best friend has switched from rewiring known terrorists to average American citizens with his target apparently those inside of Tom's inner circle. NEUROPATH is an exhilarating frightening modernization of Dr. Frankenstein using modern science to change the brain, which causes conflict as R. Scott Bakker makes a strong case that naturing is much more powerful than nurturing. The story line is fast-paced even when the lead character debates with himself over what he knows about Neil. Although some subplots seem stretched, fans will appreciate this extremely dark taut thriller filled with shocking twists that looks deep into the Argument of free will vs. pre-determinism; in a modern context of chemical syntax making the choices instead of rational minds. No one who reads Mr. Bakker's tale will simply accept the words I love you in the same way. Harriet Klausner

Just what is a human being? Less than we think it seems...

This is truly one of the darker and more frightening books I have ever read. Seemingly well versed in neuro-science, Bakker uses this novel to argue that at the root of things, the human 'self' does not exist and is merely an illusion, an accidental byproduct of a neural system that simply 'is'. Of course, he never totally succeeds as the character he uses as his vehicle remains all too human, even when stripped of compassion, objectivity and purpose itself. But he comes close. The creature revealed when the humanity is stripped away seems to me to reflect the image of the Ipsissimuss, the ultimate mystic and magician freed of all restraint and identity (read some Crowley if this interests you, but don't expect the aptness of the analogy to leap at you). One of the finest novels I have read in what must surely be a fairly new sub genre. Highly recommended.