Genome (The Extinction Files, 2)

Riddle, A. G. Genome (The Extinction Files, 2). 2017; see Internet Speculative Fiction Database for publication as ebook, digital audio, and in other media, at link.[1]

Spoiler of sorts: The central secret conspiracy involves implants into human beings which, crucially, will allow uploading of consciousness into a quantum computer, after which the body can be "euthanized"; this reveal is in ch. 71, and to some extent chapter 72 (in the Audible Studio audiobook, to which Erlich listened). Cf. uploading and conscious existence in a virtual reality (VR) in THE MATRIX and such books as Permutation City and The Annals of the Heechee.[2]

By novel's end, note also issues of technocratic control balanced by medical progress through nanites (also called nanorobots and other terms).[3] And also by novel's end the blurring of distinctions among VR and material worlds, and, with that, the idea of multiple (many? infinite?) parallel universes and the possibility of device-mediated communication between at least two.

RDE, finishing, 4/5Oct21