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Amortals

by Matt Forbeck (Goodreads Author)

3.71 of 5 stars 3.71 · rating details · 93 ratings · 21 reviews

After Secret Service agent Ronan Doonan is murdered, he's brought back to life as a clone to hunt his killer, but those who had wanted him dead are much closer to home. Original.

Published January 4th 2011 by Angry Robot (first published June 1st 2010)

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Jun 29, 2012 Abhinav rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: angry-robot, thriller, science-fiction, crime

Shadowhawk reviews another Matt Forbeck title, in which the author tackles the near future where those in power have a bent for cloning and resurrection.

“Incredibly gripping and a downright science-fiction thriller, Amortals is a non-stop roller-coaster ride.” ~The Founding Fields

Note: minor opening spoilers mentioned.

I really can’t say this enough: Matt Forbeck is bloody brilliant (to quote my review of his most recent novel for Angry Robot, Carpathia). Coming off Carpathia, Amortals is almost...more Shadowhawk reviews another Matt Forbeck title, in which the author tackles the near future where those in power have a bent for cloning and resurrection.

“Incredibly gripping and a downright science-fiction thriller, Amortals is a non-stop roller-coaster ride.” ~The Founding Fields

Note: minor opening spoilers mentioned.

I really can’t say this enough: Matt Forbeck is bloody brilliant (to quote my review of his most recent novel for Angry Robot, Carpathia). Coming off Carpathia, Amortals is almost a natural choice for a second introduction to his work. Where one is a near-past paranormal action novel that reimagines the sinking of the Titanic, the other is a near-future tale of fantastic conspiracies in a world dominated by cloning and genetic resurrection. Where one is a novel from the viewpoint of several protagonists, the other is from the first-person perspective of a Secret Service agent who just won’t die. I picked up Amortals at a whim because I wanted to read more Matt Forbeck and so going in I expected to be as wowed and amazed as I was with Carpathia. And if there is one thing that Matt Forbeck does, he never disappoints!

Amortals starts off with one of the most shocking beginnings I have ever read: we are treated to a front row seat as we watch the protagonist, Ronan Dooley, get brutally and almost clinically murdered while being tied to a chair and blindfolded. There is so much inherent casual violence in those scenes that it really affects you. That’s what pulled me into the novel straight away and why I knew that this was going to be an awesome novel. All cliches of violence and men aside, this is a highly evocative opening, one that is intended to shock and awe the reader, and make them keep turning the pages to see who killed Ronan Dooley and why. Of course, the man hired to handle this investigation is none other than Ronan Dooley himself.

For you see, our protagonist is the latest clone of an American Secret Service agent named Ronan Dooley, the first test subject and success of the Amortals Project who is nothing short of being a celebrity in his own right given that status.

Interested yet? I bet you are! I certainly was, and that’s why I just had to blast through this novel. Every moment not reading it was a moment being wasted. Very, very few books can have that kind of an effect.

I really liked Ronan Dooley. He is a tough-as-nails hero who understands his own limitations and while he is quite daring and brave, he isn’t stupid about the risks he takes. At least not much, but then he can’t really be blamed for the villains being such a damn smart bunch. No B-movie, Bondian villains in this novel! He is a truly fascinating character as someone jaded with the turn his life has taken and the negative consequences that the Amortals Project has had on his family life. His bitterness and cynicism breathes through the pages of the novel and Matt Forbeck has done a brilliant job of portraying that side of him. More such jaded heroic figures I’d read in a heartbeat. Not to mention that brutal beginning of the novel. That leaves a mark on the reader, and also foreshadows some really terrible events that happen in the novel. This is a political SF thriller through and through and this is a novel that is perfectly suited to its protagonist like a well-tailored three-piece double-breasted suit. *Hope I got that terminology right!*

Agent Dooley isn’t the only character to cheer for though. There is also Amanda Querer, his new partner, a spunky, straight-talking and irreverent character who can give Dooley a run for his money. She makes a perfect counterpart to him, in more ways than one as she is not an Amortal and is practically young compared to the ancient wizard that Dooley is. I really liked reading about her and discovering the secrets she keeps hidden. She is a perfectly written character that simply doesn’t get enough page-time to be truly wonderful, not that there is anything lacking in her characterisation mind you. Querer is pretty spot-on and characters like hers are a joy to read.

You an find the full review over at The Founding Fields:

http://thefoundingfields.com/2012/06/...(less)

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Jan 16, 2011 Jeremy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Re-posting my review as it appears on my column "Reading Realms" at The Outhouse Website:
http://www.theouthousers.com/index.ph...

"Amortals", for the most part, comes across as a typical detective story told in the first person- it just happens to be set a couple hundred years in the future.

First of all I have to say that Matt Forbeck does a great job with his (or our) future world. Things seem pretty much as you might think they would be: hovercars, better surveillance tools, advanced computer s...more Re-posting my review as it appears on my column "Reading Realms" at The Outhouse Website:
http://www.theouthousers.com/index.ph...

"Amortals", for the most part, comes across as a typical detective story told in the first person- it just happens to be set a couple hundred years in the future.

First of all I have to say that Matt Forbeck does a great job with his (or our) future world. Things seem pretty much as you might think they would be: hovercars, better surveillance tools, advanced computer systems and implants, etc. The only real technological leap forward is the 'Amortals Project'. This technology allows one to be reborn in a fashion into a clone body, their latest 'memory backup' transferred into a clone after they die. This creates an interesting twist in society between the haves and have-nots (as most things do) but here we are talking about life and death. The rich and famous having access to what is essentially immortal (and somewhat youthful) life. Health insurance has been pushed aside and the average life span for normal mortals has dropped. Not to mention many in society find the process unnatural and sinful.

The story starts off with the rebirth of what is the oldest man on earth in a sense: agent Ronan Doonan. He is a highly decorated Secret Service agent that is nearing 200 years of age (through several rebirths). Most Amortals are wealthy, but Ronan being an early guinea pig and presidential savior was granted amortallity as a reward. His most recent death was a gruesome and highly publicized murder which the plot is based around his attempt to solve.

I rather enjoyed Forbeck's take on the near future. I thought the tech he used, the society (not just rich/poor, but also things like the Indian Mafia and other little touches), as well as the lingo he used all came together well and just made sense to me. The plot was pretty good as well, taking a few twists and turns including a final one that took the plot in a great direction for what the story had been saying all along. The character of Doonan, although somewhat generic, was a good voice for the story and became a bit deeper along the way.

Bottom Line:

If you are fan of sci-fi, cyberpunk or just good 1st person detective stories I think you would enjoy this book. (less)

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Feb 26, 2011 Helen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Still reading.
I found this book due to the first chapter being on Tor.com. Once I read that then I had to get the bookshop to order it. So far chapters 2 to 8 have lived up to the promise of chapter 1. I like that the amortality project is taken as something we already know about and there's not lots of details into the nitty gritty of how it's done, that just lets us get on with the story.

Finished!
Ho ho, we got the nitty gritty at the end, that was the whole point of the book! I got to the poi...more

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Jul 22, 2011 Kristin (MyBookishWays Reviews) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: scifi, for-review

You may also read my review here:http://www.mybookishways.com/201...

It’s 2168 and Secret Service Agent Ronan Dooley watches himself die for the 8th time. It’s not pretty. Strapped to a chair, blindfolded, beaten and helpless, Ronan watches as an unknown killer shoots him in the head multiple times. The killer makes it very clear that they do not want Ronan to return, but it’s too late for that. He’s already been reborn and the Secret Service wants him to find his own killer. At almost 200 years...more You may also read my review here:http://www.mybookishways.com/201...

It’s 2168 and Secret Service Agent Ronan Dooley watches himself die for the 8th time. It’s not pretty. Strapped to a chair, blindfolded, beaten and helpless, Ronan watches as an unknown killer shoots him in the head multiple times. The killer makes it very clear that they do not want Ronan to return, but it’s too late for that. He’s already been reborn and the Secret Service wants him to find his own killer. At almost 200 years old, Ronan has seen a lot, and died a lot, but never like this, and he wants to get to the bottom of it as well. After being reluctantly partnered with a woman that he himself requested (but doesn’t remember doing so), he sets out to find the killer, before another attempt at his life is made. It also doesn’t help that he has a radical group after him called the One Resurrectionists (who do not believe in the Amortal Project), and there’s a possibility that one of his grandsons is involved.
The thought of being “reborn” so many times makes me want to blink. A lot. The sheer amount of descendants Dooley has amassed in a little under 200 years is daunting (he’s on great grandson #6), and I can’t imagine what it would be like to know that if you’re killed, you’ll have another chance at life the next day. Dooly has a good guy streak a mile long, and none of the swagger that you would think would come from someone that is considered so important to the government that he’s the longest living man, with automatic rebirth following his death. People can purchase insurance that assures them they will be reborn, but the cost is exorbitant, and with this option available, medical advances have virtually stopped, leaving the poor with no recourse if they get sick, but the rich never have to worry, knowing they’ll be reborn as many times as they’d like. Amortals reads like a really good action flick (I mean that in a good way). I had no problem picturing how the action unfolded because the author’s descriptives are that good. The twists and turns are nearly constant and the author really gets across the terrifying implications that cloning can have for humanity. I never quite knew who to trust, except for our hero, who narrates the story, and I enjoyed seeing how things unfolded and the surprising direction some characters took. If you enjoy sci-fi action and plenty of cool gadgets, along with a hero to root for, you’ll love Amortals!(less)

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Jan 05, 2011 Ove rated it 5 of 5 stars

You have a clone with your backup memories. That is if you are rich enough or if you become a national hero by taking a bullet for the President. Rohnan Dooley is the later and the first to become Amortal . Now he returns to try to find out who murdered him but there is much more to the story.

Amortals is my first contact with Matt Forbeck’s writing and I am impressed but not surprised by the tight and action packed story after reading his bio. Matt also weaves thought provoking questions about i...more You have a clone with your backup memories. That is if you are rich enough or if you become a national hero by taking a bullet for the President. Rohnan Dooley is the later and the first to become Amortal . Now he returns to try to find out who murdered him but there is much more to the story.

Amortals is my first contact with Matt Forbeck’s writing and I am impressed but not surprised by the tight and action packed story after reading his bio. Matt also weaves thought provoking questions about individuality and identity into the story. I am definitely going to add him to my to-read authors.

The main character Dooley has been long on the job. 200 years in the Secret Service is a long time and he is starting to have second thoughts about it. But if he retires he loses his Amortality. The investigation soon ties in to his previous lives and to his estranged descendants in a way that further highlights the issues with being immortal.

Dooley is a man of action but he is also a national hero and the figure head for the Amortal Project so his murder draws public interest. Patron, his boss wants the matter resolved as soon as possible. Amanda his partner obviously knew his former self which highlights the problem with skipping backup for three months since he have no memories of her or the investigation leading up to his own murder. Amanda is also mortal which leads Dooley to consider the worth of his own life compared to someone with only the one.

It is a fast paced and action packed story that touches on murder cults, old enemies, love, assassination attempts, cover-ups, hidden agendas and a bigger picture. Agent Dooley channels Bruce Willis in RED, Die Hard and Dirty Harry while he tries to finds out what really going on.

The characters are well done and remind me of stories that gave me the same kind of feeling for the characters like Flash by L. E. Modesitt Jr or The Puppet Master by Robert A. Heinlein.

There is no mistake behind that Amortal’s spelling is so close to Amoral in my mind. This book isn’t about the murder mystery. It is about the bigger picture. But it is still good action. It was a book hard to put down. I read it more or less in one go.

Amortals is a high concept techno thriller that has been a delight to read and I would like to highly recommend it both to thrill seeking and cerebral readers of science fiction.(less)

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Jan 08, 2011 Tony rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: sci-fi, cyperpunk, crime

Recommended to Tony by: Matt Forbeck

I was already a Forbeck fan from his Bloodbowl series, but if anything this book better. The narrative reminds me of a Philip K. Dick book, and although this isn't quite Electric sheep it is worthy to be mentioned in the same breath.

The near future technology is believable and yet surprising,and the characters engaging. This fast paced action thriller has gone straight on to my read again shelf.

An interesting extra in this book comes in the form of a short article detailing the history of Mr Fo...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Shara rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The premise: ganked from BN.com: THE VERY BEST PERSON TO CATCH YOUR KILLER…IS YOU.

Matt Forbeck arrives as the new king of high-concept - with a blockbuster action movie in a book. In the near future, scientists solve the problem of mortality by learning how to backup and restore a persons memories into a vat-bred clone. When Secret Service agent Ronan "Methusaleh" Dooley is brutally murdered, he's brought back from the dead one more time to hunt his killer, but this time those who wanted him dea...more The premise: ganked from BN.com: THE VERY BEST PERSON TO CATCH YOUR KILLER…IS YOU.

Matt Forbeck arrives as the new king of high-concept - with a blockbuster action movie in a book. In the near future, scientists solve the problem of mortality by learning how to backup and restore a persons memories into a vat-bred clone. When Secret Service agent Ronan "Methusaleh" Dooley is brutally murdered, he's brought back from the dead one more time to hunt his killer, but this time those who wanted him dead are much closer to home.

FILE UNDER: Science Fiction [Future Thriller / Cheat Death / Rogue Agents / Who Killed Who?]

My Rating: It's a Gamble

Depending on how familiar you are with the general premise, this book may be the most original thing ever or the most generic thing ever. For my buck, I found the book to be appropriately entertaining with some surprising meat on its bones, ideas and concepts where explored that I wouldn't have expected from a book that's just begging to be adapted into an action movie. The action of the book sometimes was over-the-top, and the ending is a little abrupt in terms of loose strings (and by that I mean it really does end well, until you start asking what happens next, and then the brain is boggled), but as a whole, it's entertaining. Some things I predicted, other predictions I missed completely, which leaves me glad I read the book, though I suspect it's one I'll also completely forget about reading. That's not a slam on it either: there's lots of entertainment that people consume and enjoy and then completely forget about when the next shiny thing comes along. This is one of those for me. However, if the premise engages you, definitely give the book a shot. It's worth reading (and there's lots of fun extras in the back), even if you do end up forgetting about it later. :)

Spoilers, yay or nay?: Nay. I'll talk about plot points in vague terms, so if you want to read the full review, just click the link below, which takes you directly to the full review, which is in my blog. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome.

REVIEW: Matt Forbeck's AMORTALS

Happy Reading!(less)

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Mar 21, 2012 Ben Babcock rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: via-scalzi, 2012-read, ebook, mystery, posthuman, science-fiction, thriller, utopia-dystopia

Whole brain emulation and mind uploading are science-fiction concepts that I love, because they raise really complicated questions related to philosophy of mind, a particular field in philosophy that I find very fascinating. Moreover, it’s scary how close we might be to achieving these in real life. Some critics have made very compelling cases for why this isn’t possible—but no one has been able to prove it, one way or another. Where scientists cannot yet go, science-fiction authors can speculat...more

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Dec 16, 2010 Bill rated it 4 of 5 stars

What would you do if you found out you had been killed? Further, what if the new you had to track down the old you’s killer?

This is the odd dilemma facing Ronan Dooley, Secret Service Agent and Amortal. The Amortals Project is a program that keeps people alive long past their normal lifespan, and is a sort of insurance policy against anything lethal happening to the rich and powerful. Ronan has been granted Amortal status because of his usefulness in protecting other Amortals – including the Pre...more What would you do if you found out you had been killed? Further, what if the new you had to track down the old you’s killer?

This is the odd dilemma facing Ronan Dooley, Secret Service Agent and Amortal. The Amortals Project is a program that keeps people alive long past their normal lifespan, and is a sort of insurance policy against anything lethal happening to the rich and powerful. Ronan has been granted Amortal status because of his usefulness in protecting other Amortals – including the President of the United States. So when Dooley ends up murdered, his first assignment – once his new body is up and running – is to track down the ones responsible; they may pose a threat to other Amortals, and besides, killing Dooley in such a high profile manner – broadcasting his death scene – gives the Project a black eye and unwanted bad publicity.

Amortals is the latest novel from veteran author Matt Forbeck, and his first novel with new publisher Angry Robot. In the interest of full disclosure, I am a friend of Mr. Forbeck, and was sent a free electronic copy of Amortals to facilitate my review.

By signing up for the Amortals Project, the rich and powerful have new bodies grown for them, awaiting the time when old age or a lethal incident calls for a new body. Members of the project are required to download their memories every few months to minimize the loss of important data. All this is very expensive, so only the wealthy or the well-connected can afford such luxury.

What I found most interesting about this book is the clear divide between the haves and have-nots; just like in real life, if you have the money, you’re taken care of. Forbeck doesn’t gloss things over; he shows us just what the problems are with this program, and how the system can be abused. Besides that, he spins a good yarn. We care about Dooley from the moment we meet him; he’s human, with the same kinds of foibles and weaknesses we all have. Plus, Dooley cares, and that kind of person is easy to identify with.

The rest of this review can be found at Flames Rising.com (less)

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May 23, 2011 Clare K. R. rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: thriller fans

Recommended to Clare K. R. by: Scalzi's Big Idea feature

Shelves: 2011, dystopia, sci-fi, library, 2011-pubbed

Two and a half stars. One of the big mysteries took over two hundred pages--maybe closer to two hundred and fifty--between me figuring out and the main character figuring it out/having it revealed to him. Some parts were really exciting, but most of the villains weren't believable to me. I actually think this would have worked better as a movie--I kept thinking that a good actor could sell me the lines, even if the writer couldn't. The ending was very abrupt, with no perceptible denouement.

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Mar 04, 2010 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this novel. It's gripping, exciting, imaginative... It's set in an America of the near-ish future, when death has been defeated, but only for the rich. The hero, Ronan Dooley, has been murdered, but being amortal he is back to find his own killer. Of course, amortality comes at a price, as Dooley soon finds out.

Ronan Dooley's like a cross between Jason Bourne and James Kirk. He's reckless and arrogant, but definitely one of the good guys. As he deals with distant relatives and...more

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Jan 12, 2012 Roger N. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Popcorn book about immortal Secret Service agents. Lots of fun, really. Not much to say about it, though.

(I think I’m missing a book I read here — can’t remember what it could’ve been. I know I got unexpectedly bogged down in the new Thomas Covenant and decided to set it aside until I can do a complete re-read of the new series.)

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Jan 26, 2011 Hunter Johnson added it · review of another edition

Takes off running, makes a few detours, and packs a lot of thoughtful socio-economic science fiction in around the action-movie-style murder mystery. Clones, conspiracies, and the meaning (or value) of life.

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Sep 13, 2012 Mark Palmer rated it 4 of 5 stars

The second book by Forbeck I've read. Decent SF, and the plot kept me guessing. Reminded me of The 6th Day with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

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Oct 29, 2011 Chris rated it 5 of 5 stars

Check out my review of this over at my blog.

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May 09, 2012 Kathy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Fresh, creative, exciting, and fun

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Jan 22, 2012 Pete Aldin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Very clever little book, written in a read-me-fast style. Forbeck did a great job of projecting a not-too-distant future where one technological advance has slowed all the others. Looking forward to a movie being made of this book.

A fast read, an interesting read, an enjoyable read. Well worth the read.

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Feb 01, 2011 Chad rated it 4 of 5 stars

What an interesting and entertaining little sci fi tale.

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Dec 04, 2010 Palladin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Nice development of the Main Character and good story line. I would read a sequel,

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Jan 04, 2012 Mike rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebooks

I was really looking forward to reading this, as I find the basic concept intriguing. I've already read Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan and loved it - not saying this is a rip-off, just similar basic concepts.
While I loved this book for the ideas, (I thought about the stuff in this book alot while not reading it), I found the story telling & character building side of it a bit thin.

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Nov 23, 2011 Michael O'Donnell rated it 2 of 5 stars

Action aplenty but in the end just another american story of megalomania thwarted.
The ending was brief and unfulfilling.

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Jun 13, 2013 Dan marked it as to-read

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May 27, 2013 Gavin added it

May 24, 2013 Mary Kort rated it 2 of 5 stars

May 07, 2013 Benjamin Matthews rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: nook

May 05, 2013 Erin rated it 3 of 5 stars

May 03, 2013 Lisa marked it as bought-to-read · review of another edition

Apr 24, 2013 Nic Brough marked it as to-read

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About Matt Forbeck

I'm an author and game designer and happily married father of five, including a set of quadruplets. For more on my work, see Forbeck.com.

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