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Wired (Wired #1)

by Douglas E. Richards (Goodreads Author)

3.55 of 5 stars 3.55 · rating details · 1,764 ratings · 275 reviews

"A keep-you-up-all-night thriller. Intense action, mind-blowing concepts, and breathtaking twists. Enjoy the ride." --Boyd Morrison, bestselling author of THE VAULT.
Kira Miller is a brilliant genetic engineer who discovers how to temporarily achieve savant-like capabilities in all areas of thought and creativity. But what if this transcendent level of intelligence brings...more

Paperback, 340 pages

Published July 23rd 2012 by Paragon Press (first published June 15th 2011)

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Jan 29, 2012 Noah Murphy rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I got 2/3rds of the way through before stopping, where while the Saturday morning cartoon villain reveals his oh so evil plot to our heroine(and this is a Saturday morning cartoon villain, despite what the book tries to pass him off as) Our hero, who had his intelligence enhanced, spends several pages mulling over his love for the heroine, going into the mating habits of prairie voles.

It wasn't like the previous 2/3rds was any better. It was nothing but giant expository conversations punctuate...more

15 likes · like · see review

Oct 13, 2011 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi-or-speculative, kindle

4 for concept, 2 for writing.

The writing seemed very immature and unsophisticated. Might have to do with the fact that the author until now has been known more for kidlit. (I should add, pretty decent kidlit: The Prometheus Project: Trapped etc.)

Or it could have to do with the fact that this was a 99-cent e-book download. I've been reading a lot of these lately and I've come to the conclusion that e-books that don't go through a paper edition first might as well be vanity press. I said this in a...more

7 likes · like · see review

Apr 03, 2012 Bry rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, kindle, mystery, thriller, stand-alone

Can you imagine a world where people 80 is the new 40 and people live to be 150 years old? Can you predict the strain on the resources, the crowding, the mass disease that would run rampant in a world over run but it's own population, the power vacume that would take place this ability to prolong life was doled out to only the rich and powerful?

Downright terrifying right??

This was a great read and I am so grateful for my Kindle because if I hadn't have gotten it I never would have read this boo...more

4 likes · like · see review

May 28, 2012 Rebecca Graf rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was describing Douglas E. Richard’s book, Wired, to a friend recommending that she read. At that time I was about 50% done and described it as thriller/spy/mystery novel. I have to correct myself. Finishing book, I have discovered that this book is much deeper than that.

I fell in love the book by the end of chapter one. It was action from the beginning. I was hooked. A pretty girl suddenly is much more than that with guns, stealth, and a price on her head. A special-ops man is called to hunt h...more

2 likes · like · see review

Oct 23, 2011 Quentin Stewart rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A fascinating story and a look at what mankind's capabilities might be if we could fully utilize our brain power. Richards does an excellent job of developing his characters and balancing action with a little down time so that the story can be developed. There are plenty of twists and turns in the book to keep one guessing as to what is going to happen next and should the hero trust anyone. Is the female character good or evil? Is there truly a terrorist plot planned if the right conditions are...more

2 likes · like · see review

Sep 26, 2011 Jeff Miller rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I don't remember what source recommended this to me, but this was another .99 cent deal.

As a thriller with biotech themes this was a very good novel. One of the those novels where you are not sure if somebody is the villain or someone setup by the real villain. David Desh an ex-Special Forces soldier is brought in to run to ground a bio-chemical genius who is said to be working with terrorists. David Desh runs is more like Parker's Spenser in that he is very well-read, but able to think on his f...more

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Jul 21, 2011 Amy Siggelow rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I won this book from the Member Giveaways on Library Thing.

I have to start by saying this is one of the best books I have read in a very long time! The subject material is astounding and very imaginative. This book is one that will make you want to keep reading and never put it down.

Enhancing human intelligence is the subject of this book. The main characters are Kira Miller, a genius who works in gene therapy, and David Desh, who is a retired Special Forces agent who served overseas. The govern...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jul 07, 2011 Cindi rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Not sure

Some parts of this book felt too much like teaching/lecturing about philosophy and science, etc...which I absolutely hate in books. Otherwise it was a good story line when it dealt with the characters, dialogue, events and such it was pretty good. If you like pondering things like superior intellect and theories of this and that then you will enjoy this book. If you prefer to read more character interaction and banter between characters all while unfolding whatever events are taking place then t...more

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 02, 2011 kent rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

With characters that came straight from central casting it was hard to personalize the book. Like the proverbial onion the story continually reveals layers and twists, many of which surprised me. the smart pills reminded me of LSD. when the author tries to explain quantum theory in 4 pages of epilogue it's a lot like LSD.
The book has the annoying part where the antagonist explains the whole thing to the bound and helpless heroes only to have everything go wrong in the last chapter. However in t...more

3 likes · like · see review

Dec 27, 2012 Mei rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am sorry but I did not enjoy this book at all. It was going to get 2 stars but then 3/4 of the way through it got WORSE and the only reason I finished was to justify the time I had already committed to the book.

That is time I am never getting back.

The science is a mile wide and an inch deep, which I could have handled, except that the whole book is a mile wide and an inch deep. Characters, dialogue, plot. And then, the flimsy science is used to create convenient leaps that magically fill the p...more

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 07, 2012 Sean Randall rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was quite a compelling thriller. The opening, which is what really gripped me, reads like a chase scene from a high-budget action movie and of course I had to read on then.

The religious overtones aren't overly bothersome; indeed you'll hardly notice them. Nevertheless Richards clearly does throw a religious motif, so the verbal aggression has that muted, God-fearing feel that the believer US novelist tends to adopt. There were a few stereotypes, such as the computer geek thrown into things...more

1 like · like · see review

Jun 18, 2012 Charline Ratcliff rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I just finished reading my copy of “Wired” by author Douglas E. Richards and...wow, what a riveting read! To sum up in one sentence or less...Richards is an amazing writer. “Wired” is an enjoyable yet gripping read that keeps you on the edge of your seat and the book’s characters practically jump out of the story and into your living room. Did I mention that Richards holds a master’s degree in molecular biology? I’ll be honest; having reviewed books by other authors who also hold degrees in the...more I just finished reading my copy of “Wired” by author Douglas E. Richards and...wow, what a riveting read! To sum up in one sentence or less...Richards is an amazing writer. “Wired” is an enjoyable yet gripping read that keeps you on the edge of your seat and the book’s characters practically jump out of the story and into your living room. Did I mention that Richards holds a master’s degree in molecular biology? I’ll be honest; having reviewed books by other authors who also hold degrees in the scientific field, I was initially concerned that “Wired” might be dry, long-winded and tedious. Needless to say, I was ecstatic to find that “Wired” was anything but boring and I was extremely impressed to find an author who could incorporate a subject like molecular biology into a fictional tale and wind up with a book as well-written and interesting as “Wired.” As an aside, even though this particular book is not labeled as science fiction, I do believe that Isaac Asimov himself would be complimentary about Richards' subject and writing technique.

About the book... Kira Miller, one of the main characters in “Wired,” is a brilliant genetic engineer. And by brilliant I mean brilliant. She graduated from high-school at sixteen, received her BS in molecular biology at nineteen and then went on to obtain a Ph.D. in molecular neurobiology from Stanford at the tender age of twenty-three. Kira’s intentions in her field, and with her research, are initially for the betterment of mankind. She learns how to achieve short-term “savant-like” capabilities, and using herself as a test subject, she is able to temporarily increase her brain’s ability to think, reason, and create. However, this advancement is not without a price...

David Desh, the book’s other main character, has left the US Army’s Special Forces division after being forced to watch his team being brutally tortured and murdered while stationed in Iran. Not knowing what to do with himself after he retired; David joined an executive bodyguard service but gets recalled to duty for one final mission: find Kira Miller who has put together a bio-terror plot that threatens the entire planet.

I’m not going to give any more of the story away... If you want to know what happens then I suggest that you read the book – it’s definitely well worth it.

In closing I give “Wired” a five-star rating and place it in the “must read” category.(less)

1 like · like · see review

May 27, 2012 Sheila rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: current_issues, mystery, scifi-fantasy, suspense

A fascinating blend of thrilling action, intriguing mystery, and curious ethical dilemmas, Douglas E. Richards’ Wired pits a retired Special Forces operative against a brilliant beautiful scientist in a battle for the future of the world. There’s just enough scientific explanation to keep the reader interested, even if not always convinced; just enough ethics and faith to keep you furiously asking questions; plenty of action to keep those pages turning through the night; and more than enough twi...more

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May 29, 2012 Caleb Blake rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-reads

Cross-posted from Papyrus Independent Author Reviews (http://papyrus.calebblake.net/2012/05/29/wired-by-douglas-e-richards/)

Retired special forces officer David Desh has been requested by his erstwhile commanding officer to perform one last critical assignment. This time the fate of the civilised world hangs in the balance.

With such a grand opening Wired is hardly likely to be pedestrian and most of the time, the book delivers at freight train speed. I don't think anyone would have trouble getti...more Cross-posted from Papyrus Independent Author Reviews (http://papyrus.calebblake.net/2012/05/29/wired-by-douglas-e-richards/)

Retired special forces officer David Desh has been requested by his erstwhile commanding officer to perform one last critical assignment. This time the fate of the civilised world hangs in the balance.

With such a grand opening Wired is hardly likely to be pedestrian and most of the time, the book delivers at freight train speed. I don't think anyone would have trouble getting into this story. We're primarily in the head of David Desh and he's not a bad character to take the journey with even if he is a bit of a Gary Stu. With him we track a dangerous criminal set to unleash a terrible fate on humanity. Kira Miller is Desh's target and she is suitably brilliant - always one step ahead of Desh even with his special forces training. From here, you need to like action, twists, more twists, more action and a few fairly lengthy discussions on the nature of human evolution and development.

The characters are fairly interesting, but it's all a bit "knights in shining armour" versus "minions/masterminds of unadulterated evil". I prefer a few more shades of grey and definitely more dimensions. I can see how they help the plot run true to its own internal logic. However, it feels a little like taking the easy way out of a potential problem in the story. If this kind of thing is a pet peeve, then hopefully the plot will be enough and if you like twists, it will be.

The book starts with a conspiracy and twists and turns from there. Not all are unpredictable, but there were enough to keep me a bit unbalanced. The good thing is it all maintains a sense of logic even if sometimes the tenuous suspension of disbelief we often clothe ourselves with stretches a little. But it was all too much fun to be overly critical and I enjoyed the ride. It was unfortunate that there were several fairly long passages explaining "stuff", but the author was quite ambitious in both the premise and the end-game so explanations were required. If the sacrifice is made to read through it, it adds rather than subtracts. But if it's getting a bit much you can gloss over it a little and as long as you get the salient points, it shouldn't damage your enjoyment too much.

The writing itself is great. It flows well and is error free, which is something I always appreciate. The action scenes are dealt with suitably; they give a sense of exhilaration and movement and avoid the trap of over-explaining every detail (it's amazing how well the mind interpolates if you let it).

Despite my concerns on characterisation, I had a lot of fun reading Wired and if action thrillers are your cup of tea, I can't see any reason not to make the investment. It's worthwhile to note that there's also a sequel available. Amped was published a couple of months ago so if you like this novel, there's no need to wait for the next fix. I already have it on my wish list.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Nov 08, 2011 EZRead eBookstore rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: amelia-reviews

There is such a thing as too much information. Sometimes a lot of knowledge can make a reader feel smarter at the end of reading an information-packed book. On the other hand, too much information can just feel overwhelming and bog down the entire plot of the story. The latter was my own personal impression of this book. My brain felt so weighed down with technical and biological lectures that my brain felt too tired to run with the sporadic speed of the intermittent action.

I’m sure some people...more

1 like · like · see review

Sep 12, 2011 Debra Martin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Have you ever wondered what you would do if you had a chance to enhance your intelligence significantly? What if you could double your lifespan? Would you? These are the questions that brilliant scientist, Kira Miller, is working on in her genetic research, but when a trail of bodies start to pile up around her, she becomes enemy #1 in the eyes of the government. David Desh, a former special-forces soldier, is called in for one more mission. Problem is, this mission is totally off the books. Dav...more

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Jul 28, 2011 Doug Bower rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was blown away by the quality of the writing, the sophistication of the storyline, the depth of the characters, and the break-neck pace of the book. It is once of the best books I have read this summer. With WIRED, I believe that Mr. Richards will give the masters of this genre (mystery/thriller) a run for their money. The book has a little bit for everyone - cutting edge science/science fiction, a bit of philosophy about good vs evil, action galore, and even a little romance. To say the least...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 29, 2011 Mike Davis rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, sci-fi, philosophy, mystery

This book contains a mixture of adventure, mystery, science fiction and some philosophical discussions of advanced human intelligence between the main characters. Because the book doesn't fit squarely into any one specific genre, it might be criticized by those who need things to be more closely defined. On the other hand, it is a real page turner and leaves the reader with several twists and turns of both plot and philosophy which promotes further consideration in the reader. I found it an exce...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 26, 2011 Francine rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: thriller

First of all, Mr. Richards, you had better be writing a sequel to this book! This is the ultimate thrill ride, mile per minutes, can't put down, awesome book. I don't like giving perfect stars because there is always a little something people don't like about things but this book had me from beginning to end. Reading the synopsis you would think it is a futuristic thriller but midway through the book you realize that this could be our future, scarily enough. The character development is done so...more

1 like · like · see review

Feb 25, 2012 Rick Chesler rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'd rate this book 3.5 stars if I could. In some places it was extremely intriguing, but in others was plain and pedestrian. Intriguing was the subject matter dealing with what it would mean were humans to exponentially increase their brain power, what fields they would turn to and what the results might be. Pedestrian were some the cartoonish bad guy scenes and shallow dialog.

Overall though, it's an entertaining thriller with quite a few thought provoking moments, with more than a few twists an...more

1 like · like · see review

Feb 26, 2013 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I actually really enjoyed this. I downloaded it onto my kindle for free I think and if not for free it was pretty cheap anyway. When you get something for free you kind of automatically think it's going to be kind of bad but this wasn't. Yes the writing is a little cliche at times and yes the characters are sometimes a little too gung-ho and All-American for my tastes but I still really enjoyed the story.

The whole premise of being able to expand your brain intelligence capability really interes...more

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Jan 28, 2013 Deacon rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I think the author is probably a very good scientist, but judging from this book at least, not a great writer. The book does have an interesting premise, and it poses some really, really good philosophical questions.
Unfortunately, what it lacks is a (real) plot, instead relying on ludicrous amounts of exposition delivered by protagonists we're told we should care about because they're, like, totally amazing, really, and by successive antagonists who are apparently evil geniuses of the Bond vari...more

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May 08, 2012 Trak rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, adventure, fantasy-sci-fi, thriller

I picked this up on the kindle, the book has a stack of positive reviews and I thought why not give it a go. Besides I think the cost was less than a $1.
So what to make of this? There is a lot to like about this book, government conspiracy theories, genetic engineering and a bit of thrills and adventure put into the mix. You have Kira Miller, brilliant genetic scientist and David Desh special operatives superstar who are drawn together to save the world. You have some interesting twist and turn...more

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Dec 03, 2012 Kevin Pedraja rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

To call Wired a science fiction thriller is an insult to science. And fiction. And books. And, ultimately, your intelligence.

What makes it so awful? First, take a kernel of a potentially interesting idea (the unlocking of human potential through chemical enhancement), then wrap it in a plot that leaps between predictable and preposterous. Next, mix in cliched characters that that have the depth of a sheet of paper. Finally, coat the whole thing in dialog that is not only stilted but entirely un...more

3 likes · like · see review

Dec 09, 2012 David rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

Very fun thriller with a nice take on what enhanced cognition would be like.

“Which is that this delicate balance between the competing poles of sociopathy and altruism can be shifted in one direction or another very readily. Granted, some people are born with a strong genetic predisposition one way or the other, but most of us are balanced on a razor’s edge. An average man who is the recipient of acts of caring and kindness will often perform charitable acts in return. This same man, given a sl...more

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Mar 12, 2013 Daisy Langford rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: spy-thriller, worst-book-ever

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Nov 26, 2012 Jen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the second book in as many months that I am going to push, hard. I just absolutely could not put this book down. It was fantastic from the first page to the last, and I'm not typically a fan of technothrillers. Wired deserves every one of its five stars, because "it was amazing"!

I don't remember how I came across this book, but it must have at one point been free for the Kindle which is why I picked it up. And I'm glad that I did. I read this book so completely absorbed in it, that I onl...more This is the second book in as many months that I am going to push, hard. I just absolutely could not put this book down. It was fantastic from the first page to the last, and I'm not typically a fan of technothrillers. Wired deserves every one of its five stars, because "it was amazing"!

I don't remember how I came across this book, but it must have at one point been free for the Kindle which is why I picked it up. And I'm glad that I did. I read this book so completely absorbed in it, that I only had a chance to make a single notation, on the day I started:

(5%)
I'm 5% done with Wired: Fort Bragg was mentioned in the very first official non-prologue chapter. :: squee :: — Nov 11, 2012 08:26pm

I'll start by saying that the fact that it is, at least partially, set in North Carolina (my home state) worked as a hook. I recognized all of those settings, as well as the long drive up I-95 to get to Washington, DC. Familiar settings go a long way to getting in to a story.

I'm then going to address the fact that much like terrorist attacks, there are several mischievous devils who claim responsibility for the evil acts portrayed in this book and do so at various times. One, or perhaps none, of them is the true villain and that is why the book continues, past the villain's revelation. Muahahaha.

I was not a terribly big fan of the deus ex machina plot resolution, but at the same time it did fit entirely in the world that had been established for the rest of the plot, so I let it go. I typically prefer people to be able to use their native abilities to get out of the situation at hand, and the fact that I was able to overlook that preference for this novel says a lot.

I'm also struck by the fact that everyone involved seems to have suffered significant blood loss, soft tissue damage, broken bones, concussions, and general battery, but despite it all, they still seem quite capable of extraordinary feats of athleticism as if it was nothing special. I suppose that comes with this genre's territory. Please feel free to inform me in the comments if this isn't so.

Since Limitless is already a movie that has been made, I'd love to see this book made into a movie, as well. It certainly has a lot of the same elements, plus the action that a summer blockbuster needs. It could rake in serious box office cash. Douglas E. Richards, have you sold the film rights?

And the ending? Let's just say that I'm not a religious person but also not a militant atheist, so I really liked Kira Miller's final epiphany.(less)

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Nov 21, 2012 Joanna (J.F.Penn) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a brilliant, intelligent technothriller that combines a fast-paced plot with philosophy and a touch of quantum physics. As an addict of neuroscience and thrillers, this satisfied me on every reader level and I immediately bought the sequel. David Desh left the special forces after a horrific experience in Iraq but he takes on a mission to find Kira Miller, a suspected terrorist who has discovered a way to enhance intelligence. But when Kira kidnaps David and reveals she is the persecuted...more

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Apr 04, 2013 Lauren Good rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: suspense

Unfortunately, I've already returned the book (borrowed via Amazon Prime), so I can't give detailed quotes here, but from the first page, I was cringing from the immature/amateurish writing. Cliches abound. I have nothing against cliches, but there should be something substantial between doses. The only thing this story had going for it was the plot. I kept reading because I wanted to see the antagonist unmasked. Sadly, the payoff didn't seem worth it. It should have been a hugely tragic moment...more

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Dec 17, 2012 Julie Cote rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: No one

I never write book reviews, but this book merits one. One word describes it: Painful. The writing is cliche and amateurish: it reads like a Freshman college writing class project. While the premise is interesting and the main characters promising, the execution is terrible. I could barely make it to the end (and only did because I am OCD about finishing what I start). How this made on the New York Times best selling novel list is beyond me. Not once was I able to sink into the story and relax in...more

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About Douglas E. Richards

Douglas E. Richards was born on May 7th, 1962. He grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio with his parents and his sister, Pam. He went to Finneytown High School, and then graduated with a degree in microbiology from Ohio State University, a master's degree in molecular biology from the University of Wisconsin, and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Chicago.

Douglas now lives...more

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