Writer Richard Bard successfully combines the power of a thriller with the twist of science-fiction in "Brainrush," the first in his well received series. The combination is a well-executed and fast-moving novel that takes Jake Bronson (a former military pilot with a dose of darkness and anti-hero legacy) from a near-death bout with an MRI to a battle with terrorists that starts in Italy and concludes in Afghanistan. Along the way, Bronson, who believes he's got just months to live, learns that his brain's been given him super smarts and super-fast physical abilities. He also runs into Luciano Battista, a true believer in the fact that all infidels must die. Battista is cut from the supreme evil cloth that wrapped every James Bond villain. He's smart, rich and nasty. He wants to eliminate all non-believers, and he's not to be underestimated. Bronson would rather not have anything to do with the guy, but he's honorable and was a badass before Battista went after him. Battista's interest in Bronson began when a YouTube video showed everybody how smart he was and how he could seemingly pluck a beer mug from the air as it hurtled toward his head. Battista had been conducting experiments to make an army of super-smart soldiers of Allah. He believes Bronson could supply the missing piece of information that would enable his neuro implants to succeed. Bronson, whose life has been marked with continued tragedy, finds romance, teams with some very tough special-operations soldiers and has some of the best friends a guy could ever need especially if he's thrown into a Bond-like adventure. What a treat! It feels like a literary version of The Bourne Identity, A-Team, and Mission Impossible rolled into one. Brainrush truly adheres to its promise of a thriller story. Jake develops enhanced physical and mental abilities after a head trauma during an MRI malfunction. The amazing change catches the attention of Luciano Battista who is leading an experiment to intentionally awaken these heightened abilities through the science of transcranial magnetic stimulation. But Battista's secret intentions under the cover of his research is more treacherous, and he thinks Jake is the key to increase success in his experiments: creating the perfect fighting machine out of soldiers with enhanced abilities to carry out his terroristic acts against the west. The beginning of the story starts with the harsh reality of Jake facing imminent death, and from there goes on highs and lows, twists and turns, and a speed of events that gets your adrenaline going. All characters are unique and well drawn-out, their voice and action distinct from one and the other. Bonds of loyalty, friendship, and trust are apparent in each crucial scene that makes this otherwise hardcore action more appealing to me. The writing is emotive and effective in immersing me to what is taking place. This story is truly impressive, and it's something that would be very hard to forget.
What do You think about Brainrush (2011)?
Very entertaining listen, not for claustrofobics. really looking forward to listen to audio book 2.
—Jul
Excellent book, a fun adventure with a little sci-fy. I had to read the second one in the series.
—rayraymb
I enjoyed this fast paced adventure. Left me wanting to read the next one.
—ramsacked
