**************************************************************************************
SHOWCASE REVIEW
“The Immortality Virus” by Christine Amsden is a thought provoking dysopian science fiction epic set in a future world where tinkering with viral vectors stopped mankind from aging.
A great mixture of a creation of knurly characters, developed painstakingly through their trials, wild adventure, and a deep set of subplots, Christine paints with words a highly visual and vicariously empowered dialogue with the reader.
This is the sort of “fun book” that is hard to put down – the adventures, the intrigue and the characters so engaging as to create in this reader a discipline issue – where I had intended to take my time and read the book a chapter or two at a time, I waxed the read in just a few sessions.
Most impressive to me was the personal growth of the characters – the realistic development is an author’s fine art, and it is done well in “The Immortality Virus.”
I should reveal that I’d been privileged to read a pre-release copy of this book, in exchange for my opinion of the novel. I’d be very pleased if I had bought my own copy and paid shipping – in fact I hope to finagle a signed copy someday.
Very much a novel that is easy to recommend, and will stand the test of time as a SciFi Dysopian classic among the best of the genre.
And most importantly I had a blast reading this book!
Steve at Goodreads on May 18, 2011
**************************************************************************************
“…The conversations are witty and the action is thrilling. You’ll be on the edge of your seat until the final page.”
Elizabeth Franklin at Portland Book Review (follow link for full review) on May 22, 2011
—————————————————————————————————————————-
“…I quite enjoyed all the characters in the story, they were believable and did not stray off their original content. Author Christine Amsden really knows how to write to keep her reader interested and interacted with the story. I thought the idea of the immortals to be a novel approach and honestly, my imagination of picturing all those thousands of people standing in the park in the middle of January trying to keep warm while they hope The Establishment drops nutribars on their heads from helicopters was quite vivid. I had never thought of a population explosion in such a way before and it was rather disturbing!…”
Heavensent at One Day at a Time (follow link for full review) on May 16, 2011
—————————————————————————————————————————-
“Oh boy! You know, I’m usually not a huge Science-Fiction or Dystopian fan, but I really couldn’t wait to read this one. The description kept calling me and I am just too curious for my own good! And let me tell you, I am definitely not regretting picking it up….”
Rebecca at Kindle Fever(follow link for full review) on 5/3/11
—————————————————————————————————————————-
“…
Christine Amsden writes with flair. Her action sequences are absorbing and believable. Her heroine, Grace Harper, is a character with whom I could embrace. She has a sarcastic wit that I enjoyed. All in all the story was very good and it makes you stop and question what is the price of eternal life? …”
A Mother’s Touch (follow link for full review) on 5/3/11
—————————————————————————————————————————-
” The Immortality Virus is a dark dystopian Science Fiction novel by Christine Amsden. It’s an action-packed, fast-paced and thrilling book, spiced up with mystery and sprinkled with a tiny bit of romance. Everything is perfectly balanced, making this book a great treat for every Science Fiction fan. …”
Evie at Bookish (follow link for full review) on 4/29/11
—————————————————————————————————————————-
“…I really enjoyed this book. It flowed well and kept my attention. It was a well written, thought-out storyline with lots of action to keep everything moving forward. Grace Harper is a strong character with a wonderfully sarcastic wit who prefers working alone to get the job done. Ms. Amsden takes this strength and starts bending it as we see Grace gradually learning to trust others and realizing it’s not a weakness to accept help….”
To Read, Perchance to Dream (follow link for full review) on 4/28/11
—————————————————————————————————————————-
“…I was so engrossed in this book that I finished it in a day. I love how this book is something new instead of the same old romance story or action story. It’s something that I’ve never read about in a book and definitely a unique topic….”
Books Ahoy! (follow link for full review) on 4/22/11
—————————————————————————————————————————-
“…This book is imaginative and quick to read. If you enjoy urban futuristic stories you will enjoy this. The author even mixed in a tiny bit of romance that always makes life worth living and books worth reading. I hope the future is better than this.”
Book Him Danno! (follow link for full review) on 4/19/2011
—————————————————————————————————————————-
“…I really liked was the way that the darkness and misery of society was woven into the novel. The author didn’t just set a scene at the beginning, she continually enhanced your picture and understanding of the world as the story progressed.
The main character of Grace Harper seems to have a sense of basic goodness within her. It is easy therefore to like and relate to her, especially when you see the type of society she currently inhabits. She is also quite cyincal, which can be seen in some her thoughts regarding various people in need that she comes across, however she always seems to end up helping them….”
Killie at Books and Things (follow link for full review) on 4/7/2011
—————————————————————————————————————————-
“What is the greatest fear of the human race? Death. Its greatest dream? Immortality. But what if humanity’s fondest wish came true? Would it be heaven on earth, or… something less pleasant? In The Immortality Virus, Christine Amsden explores that very concept, in a riveting kind of futuristic, hard-boiled Maltese-Falcon-noir sort of way. And we find out – immortality isn’t all it’s cracked up to be…”
Stephanie Osborn, author of Burnout: the mystery of Space Shuttle STS-281 and co-author of Extraction Point! (2011)