Amped Paperback – July 23, 2012

A super sequel to Wired. Jeeze. Was not disappointed at all.We have an attack on the headquarters for Kira and Desh.Metzger is killed and Kira and Desh are on the run to an alternate site.We also have Jake, a Spec Ops Colonel, who is after Kira and Desh. He believes what he's been told. They are terrorists. Jake has a team of very, very good Spec Ops guys who are moving heaven and earth to kill Kira and Desh.Jake isn't a murderer though and any of the civilian scientists, if caught, are to be well treated. He thinks they are dupes in Kira's world. Jakes is actually a very honorable guy. A fact that both Kira and Desh are amazed to learn.Loads of secrets in this one. First from Kira and Metzger, who surprise, wasn't really killed. He and Kira's alternate are trying to save the day along with Matt.Desh is captured because he refuses to kill any of Jakes Spec Ops guys. Of course being Spec Ops himself ain't no way he's gonna kill guys who are just doing their job.Kira trades herself for Desh and then meets Jake face to face. Jake keeps his word and Desh is left where he can be found. Kira, of course, enhanced herself with a time release gel cap. Jakes treats her well but doesn't trust her. Kira tries to make her case to Jake but he ain't buyin it.He believes what he's been told about both Kira and Desh.Once she's enhanced she makes her escape. Right through Jake and four guards. Way ta go Kira. Desh pickes her up later and they discuss Jake and whats going on.We also have an alien space ship that arrives and sprinkles nanites all over earth. This of course freaks out most of the planet. A load of super scientists from all over the world converge on a cruise ship off Angola. The UN is running the show and no one can figure out what the heck is going on with the nanites. Really scratched my head over the alien threat. I should have known it wasn't what it seemed.Jake contacts Kira and asks for her help. She sends Matt and Desh. Desh who was wounded trying to take out Frey who has returned from Wired.Seems he wasn't really dead and is hellbent on running his own show killing anyone in his way is easy for the enhanced Frey. Desh is okay to go with Matt after enhancment. He's there for security for Matt. He and Jake meet and low and behold they like each other from the get go.This book is a roller coaster of a ride. Loads of good guys, Kira, Desh and her crew along with Jake who turns out to be a man of honor and someone they can all trust. I'll look forward to seeing Jake in the next novels. Also glad Metzget is still around.Lost Jim Connelly is this one though. Gonna miss Desh's old boss big time.Five Stars

With strength, beauty and enormous intelligence, Kira Miller makes a great protagonist in Douglas E Richards' Amped, sequel to Wired. The mix of super-science, fast action and philosophical musings continues unabated as Kira's foundation of amped-up scientists takes on the problems of the world, trying to bring the future into the present. Kira's gell-caps amp their intelligence to superhuman levels, but experience has shown (in Wired) that the side-effects can be disastrous. Super-humans seem innately prone to pour scorn on their more normal counterparts, and the scientists only risk amplifying their intelligence under secure conditions and for very short times.Kira's labs work in secret, but, of course, the army would love to have access to her skills. As would certain bad guys who try to infiltrate her organization. Soon Kira and David are on the defensive again, but the world's in deadly danger and perhaps a ceasefire might be needed if they're to solve a problem suddenly threatening humanity.Plot and counter-plot twist their way through this tale as allies turn into strangers and setbacks lead to opportunity. An exciting denouement on board a refitted cruise ship might inspire some questions of plausibility, but the writing's tense and taut enough to leave reader's waiting for answers which do eventually, very satisfyingly, arise.Amped repeats Wired's concern that super intelligence might deny faith, but readers are left to their own conclusions while questions and answers rage on morality, honesty and motivation. The story is thoroughly enjoyable on its own. But I'm still hoping there might be more tales in the series, please...Disclosure: I won free ecopies of Wired and Amped from a book review blog.