My son writes. He’s been doing it for 15 years now, and is on the verge of making a living at it. He’s had a film script made into a great Indie dramedy (“Family Weekend”), he’s was one of 8 writers selected out of over 4,000 applicants by the ABC Writers Program to work at ABC Studios for a year, he’s written scripts for a TV series, and now he’s getting a terrific sci-fi novel published. The novel is called Genesis, it’s a near future techno-thriller that mixes heart-pounding action with heady reflections on humanity — and a lot of humor. The setting is Seattle, circa 2030. Here’s the plot in a capsule: “Seattle tech icon Aiden Markusson has it all—the lake house, the luxury car, the fastest growing company in Seattle, and the love of his life wearing his engagement ring. But his perfect life comes apart when he begins to experience pixelating headaches and strange bursts of physical ability. Follow him down a rabbit hole of corporate conspiracy as he finds out he’s not losing his mind, it’s much worse than that.”
The e-book version has been available on Amazon for awhile, and has a 4.4 out of 5 rating (4.6 out of 5 from sci-fi interested readers). Ninety percent of the reviewers rated it 4 or 5 stars.
Before the print edition comes out, my son is running a special promotion on the ebook — you can get a free download from Amazon (you don’t have to have a Kindle Reader to open the download). Send an email to GenesisGiftCopy@gmail.com, and the download will be sent to your email address.
Kirkus Reviews featured its review of Genesis in its monthly magazine (less than 10% of the books Kirkus reviews get this treatment), and wrote:
“When a man can’t trust his own body and mind, where does he turn? Turner explores that central question in this debut sci-fi novel.
When some men stumble into the perfect life, they’re grateful. Others are proud. But Aiden Markusson can’t help but feel suspicious of his own amazing fortune. With a beautiful home, an enormously successful tech startup, and an incredible level of physique and intellect (matched only by that of his fiancee, Ever), Aiden believes it’s all too good to be true, guided by some unseen hand. Soon enough, his paranoia begins to bear fruit, as his body starts acting strangely, and he finds he’s being followed, not by a business rival but by NuGen, a company on the cutting edge of biomechanical research. Aiden digs deeper into the mystery and discovers that the closer he looks, the more mistrustful he becomes. Even when his most promising lead seems to be nothing more than a garden-variety conspiracy theorist—not to mention a registered sex offender—Aiden can’t put aside his trepidation, and his flawless life descends into a mess of shifting loyalties, fear, and violence.
Even some of his pursuers don’t seem to know the whole story. Aiden starts wondering whom he can trust while questioning his own identity: “You really don’t know what’s going on, do you?” But if he’s going to save himself, not to mention his new wife, he’ll need to find out, and fast. While the broad strokes of the initial mystery become clear very quickly, the enthralling thriller delivers surprising layers and keeps readers guessing throughout. Is this player the man behind the curtain or just another piece of the puzzle? Is this character a sidekick or a villain poised to double-cross the hero? These sorts of questions add to the tension created by Aiden’s terror and uncertainty, while insightful descriptions of near-future technologies, from cybernetics to transportation and home computers, give the novel a sense of depth and realism that’s easy to neglect in this sort of sci-fi work. Readers should be left begging for a sequel.
A striking thrill ride through a future both frightening and tantalizing.”
Here’s what some of the readers of the e-book have said:
“This is not at all what I expected. It's SO much better! Genesis is more than just another sci-fi tale, more than another love story, more than action and adventure...more and better. Not only does it make one stop to think, but to feel, gasp, cry, sigh, and rejoice. Well-written seems not nearly strong enough to say. Don't like books about robots, artificial intelligence, enhanced and mechanized humans? Forget it. You'll like this one. Highly recommended!”
“Genesis should be made into a movie, I kept thinking as I read Matt Turner’s debut novel. There are plenty of action sequences, but in between, Turner paints his characters and the scenes surrounding them with such intricacy, I could visualize everything I was reading in great detail. I instantly was brought back into Aiden and Ever’s world every time I began reading. The character development is not rushed, rather unfolding at a natural pace with great detail, therefore their evolution throughout the book doesn’t feel contrived, but derived from their experiences. I found myself thinking about the characters and situations when I wasn’t reading it, always the sign of a good book! Genesis is witty, humorous, compelling, fresh and original and has universal appeal; it’s not just for Sci-fi lovers!”
“ What a surprise. I stumbled onto this book through a recommendation by a friend and gave it a go. In a world where people rush through characters and keep things at a surface level, Turner seems to spend time creative emotional depth and weaving his characters into a world of action and humor with ease. It's rare to find a book where I naturally find myself wondering what I would do if I was in the same position as the characters. Most of the time if I read fiction, I'm simply there for entertainment. In the case of Genesis I was projecting myself into the story. Pretty cool.”
“Can't say enough about this book. Considering this isn't a genre that I typically go for, this book BLEW. ME. AWAY. From the first page I couldn't put it down. The style of writing is so elegant. It is fast paced and action-packed but somehow at the same time allows you to really feel the emotions of the characters . . . just outstanding! CANNOT wait to see what's next!”
“I usually read at night to go to sleep. This was an exception. Genesis is a fast-paced thriller that just lets up long enough to develop each character and the story. The book is action-packed and full of humor and wit. I will definitely read a sequel. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to getting some sleep.”
If you are intrigued, please request the free download of the e-book! Making a living as a writer is such a slog. You can help my son enter the land of the successful wordsmiths by getting a download of Genesis, and if you like the novel, posting a review on Amazon! Get the download at “GenesisGiftCopy@gmail.com”.