Review: Human.4 by Mike A. Lancaster
Reviewed by Meghan S.
Kyle Straker volunteered along with three other people to be hypnotized during a talent show by one of his friends. He figured it’d just be him hypnotized to cluck like a chicken and that’d be it. Boy, was he wrong.
He and the three others wake up to find everyone sitting completely still, not blinking. Kyle, thinking it’s a joke, calls out to them that they can quit the joke. Nobody moves. That’s when Kyle thinks something a lot more sinister is going on. And when he and the others find that no communicational devices work in their village and the computers are streaming a weird, moving language, he knows something sinister is going on. Is it a plague? …Aliens??
Narrated through cassette tapes, Kyle Straker unfolds his chilling story of technology gone too far.
I want to say first that I did enjoy this book. There are several flaws, though, that held me back from liking it more.
The characters in Human.4 seemed a little flat and lacked personalities. I didn’t feel the fear that I thought I should have. I didn’t feel as much as I wanted to or thought I should for these characters. I was well aware that this was just a book the entire time. Usually, if a book is really great, it’ll have me feeling what the characters feel and have me silently cheering for their well being. In this book, I simply didn’t think of it.
The plot was a very interesting one and this is where Human.4 shines. Mike A. Lancaster dreamed up this amazing concept. The whole book was treated like these happenings really went on and that this whole thing was real, which I really liked. I wished that Lancaster would have touched upon and explained some things more, which makes me think that there will be a sequel, if not several. This brings me hope that I can feel more for the characters, if there is a sequel.
The writing was excellent, and it described things in a great way. I was imagining what Lancaster was describing for me, which is a very good thing.
Overall, the details and the plot saved this book for me and although it was not my favorite, it was a thoroughly enjoyable read and a worthwhile one. Do not let the flaws stop you from reading Human.4 and coming up with your own opinion.
Rating: 3/5
Meghan is a 17-year-old book blogger. She likes to read and write in her spare time and would like to become a published author one day.
Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Goodman Media International. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.
Category: Children's Books, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Young Adult
The books sounds kind of sci-fi to me. I’d probably like watching the movie, but not reading the book, much like the recent Leonardo DiCaprio movie!
I love Thrillers and that’s what this sounds like to me. I agree with Colleen that cover is chilling…but I love that! I grew up reading creepy books, the creepier the better. I love sitting down in a dark room and watching a Horror movie. There’s nothing like the adrenaline rush you get from being scared.
I will be picking this up because it sounds sorta like a techno thriller, which I really like and if there are sequels made to this book hopefully it clears up some of the parts that are missing.
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I first have to say that the cover of the book gives me the willies! I got a little chill when Meghan mentioned that all the people were staring, unblinking at the people when they woke up from their hypnosis…brr! I find hypnosis creepy enough (I would never let someone do that to me!) so the idea of waking up to a world gone silent really freaks me out. I do enjoy this quality in a book, however, when the timing is right. I might have to pick this book up just to see how much it can frighten me
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I did try to be hypnotized once when I was on vacation, and it just didn’t work on me…
I prefer more depth in personality over a fine plot. That is just a personal preference and since I am not big fan of this genre, I would rather read a book that shines with personalities and plot. Being creepy is not enough for me.
Carol Wong