Science Fiction/ Suspense: State of Mind, by Sven Michael Davison

If you could look and feel the way you wanted, be able to eat and do what you wanted, all by implanting a small micro-chip into the base of your head, would you? Smoke all you want, eat all you want, and be able to control how your body responds, would you?

State of Mind by Sven Michael Davison takes place in the near future, 2030. At this time, so much of our world is run by computers, including people. Jake Travissi is an LA police officer who has been implanted with the revolutionary new P-Chip as part of an elite unit of Homeland Security. With his new chip and newly enhanced partners, Jake takes on the scum of the Jihad Brotherhood... or does he?

This book is, to me, a combination of the futuristic technology of J.D. Robb and the governmental scariness of George Orwell. Remember how closely the government of 1984 watched you? At least during that time your private thoughts were your own. Now think of 1984 hopped up on technology, only this time your thoughts, and sometimes your actions, are not even your own.

I enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and interesting, and well written. The plot was well thought out and the technology was shown in a plausible way.

There were some minor technical issues, but this was an uncorrected proof, so they were expected. In addition, there was a relationship between Marta (an HLS agent) and Jake that I do not feel was fully explained. Overall, though, a good read.

On a scale of 1-4, I give this book a 3.5. Good, scary plot, but a small lack of connection with regards to Marta and Jake.

This book was published by Bedouin Press.
ISBN: 978-0-9666149-2-3