Drew Harrison – Author Anthony Avina

The Synopsis

Inscrutable and Ever-Watchful Masters

The Renn of Fort Hope place their faith in simple laws. They must trust the Dicta, those wise rules left by their forebearers; they must fear the savage Krieger, whose raids keep Renn walls perpetually splintered; and they must revere the Men of the Mountain, the magnanimous mystics who are stewards of their world.

For Cade, a clanless trapper, survival is a matter of following the rules. But when the Men of the Mountain took his sister—the only Renn ever chosen to return to their sacred peaks—Cade’s faith withers over five years of agonizing silence.

Now, a star has fallen from the sky, and its arrival threatens to spark an inferno. The Dicta are clear: all things from the sky belong to the Mountain. To hide its discovery is a death sentence… but its crater also houses a secret the Men of the Mountain would kill to protect. Forced to defy his gods alongside unlikely allies, Cade is drawn into a conflict where every secret he uncovers reveals a more terrifying lie at the heart of his world… everything is a cage, and the price of freedom is paid in blood and ash.

The Review

Immediately what stands out to the reader is how immense and powerful this world the author has created seems to be. The detail and depth the author goes into really highlights the world building the author managed to capture, making the long narrative that was developed feel both necessary and inviting. The detail also helps elevate the setting and the imagery in the author’s writing really brings the visuals of the action and the characters to life on the page.

Aside from the world building, the character growth and dynamics was astonishing, delving into themes of friendship and found family as the story develops and revelations about the world around them come to life. The protagonist is complex, giving readers not a straight and narrow hero who becomes one-dimensional, but instead a multi-dimensional hero whose mistakes and faults blend with his tendencies to do what’s right and defy the laws that hinder the rights of his people. The connection between him and Robin was especially interesting, showcasing the ability to bridge the gap between two worlds as they come from very different places.

The Synopsis

The Price of Tomorrow, Paid Today

“Early Adopter” is a collection of short stories from the edge of human progress. Eight stories hold dark mirrors to our own world… experience thought-provoking sci-fi, technologic tragedy, and pulse-pounding thrillers.

To Run Again: Dr. Laura Brandie is ready to change the world.

She’s the lead researcher behind the KSE, a revolutionary cure for paralysis and neurodegenerative conditions. And now, by good fortune, she’s found the perfect candidate for her first human trial: a man who suffers from locked-in syndrome.

Brett Harmon’s paralysis is total: he can’t move his arms, legs, torso, neck, or face. To the outside world, he’s little more than a statue that breathes… but Dr. Brandie’s KSE might be the miracle that allows Brett to run again.

Homonoia: The world faces an unprecedented alignment of catastrophes and failing systems, far too intricate and interconnected for any human to solve. Frank Burman joins with seven other volunteers for Project Homonoia–a radical, last-ditch effort to postpone the apocalypse. Separate minds link to form one multidisciplinary consciousness, the world’s first human superorganism… a hive mind. But with the world’s health rapidly failing, can Project Homonoia work out its kinks in time to make a difference?

Early Adopter: A loner enters into a relationship with a new type of partner: an AI agent, programmed to be the “perfect companion.”

Sure, it’s all self-deception and a game of pretend, as she’s not actually real… but where simulated consciousness is concerned, maybe the lines between real and real enough can get blurry.

And many more!

The Review

The thoughtfulness and heart that the author writes within this narrative were compelling to me as a reader. The imagery and rich descriptive nature of the stories in this collection allowed the reader to picture these scenes playing out across the page. The tension that mounts as the stories progress and the wealth of character development that builds throughout the tales in this collection will keep readers invested in the book.

I got the privilege to review the audiobook version of this book, and the heartfelt delivery of these stories from the narrators was so engaging. The story that I immediately felt drawn to was To Run Again; as someone who personally deals with mobility issues and autoimmune disorders, the idea of technology being possibly an answer to ending those types of problems is an instant draw, and while the stories found within definitely twist and turns the technology as the plot develops, the thoughtful development of the stories made these tales stand out.

The Verdict

Author Drew Harrison’s “Early Adopter” is a must-read tech thriller that is tense, entertaining, and cinematic in delivery. The story’s twists and turns, the powerful message of technology, and how humanity is reflected in the narratives will stay with readers (and listeners) long after the collection. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

I’m a 29-year-old teacher living in Florida who graduated with a degree in broadcast and electronic journalism. Storytelling has always been my passion, but years ago I made the decision to pivot from telling stories about the real world—the domain of newspaper reporters—and instead moved into the realm of the imaginative and fantastical through private creative writings. I eventually mustered the courage to post flash-fiction online through my reddit account, and the reaction was far warmer than I’d have ever imagined. In the years since that moment, I’ve managed to rack up literal millions of upvotes, and my short-form dramatic/comedic writings in post comments have launched my profile to the top 100 in comment karma of all 430 million active site users. The mass feedback and constant encouragement cemented my passion for creative writing—one can only read “you should be a professional writer!” so many times before the belief proves contagious. Now, with my first two novel manuscripts completed, I’m eager to share my stories with the wider world that inspired me… publication can’t come soon enough!

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