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The Samsara Effect
Deep in the basement of the University of Chicago Biological Sciences Building, Dr. William Kanter is on the brink of developing a technology that will replace the MRI. Yet the images captured aren't of his brain, they're his memories. And they only take up only a small portion at the end of the scan. What Kanter discovers throughout the rest of the scan could rock the very foundation of humanity. Across campus, child psychologist Dr. Trenna Anderson is reviewing a disturbing home video of a young Wisconsin farm boy who suffers from night terrors. After witnessing the boy become a Nazi prison guard, L.A. crack whore and Inuit native, Anderson suspects the eight-year-old may have multiple personality disorder. But when conventional psychotherapy fails, Anderson reluctantly meets with a maverick inventor named Kanter who's rumored to have created a revolutionary machine that might be the boy's only hope. Kanter thinks his invention will help mankind, but there are forces at work that want to destroy a machine that threatens to expose the world's most precious beliefs. Soon Kanter and Anderson find themselves embroiled in a deadly and dangerous world of government espionage, corporate greed and religious fundamentalism. Is Kanter's invention capable of changing the world? And if so, at what cost?
- GenresScience Fiction
354 pages, Paperback
First published March 12, 2012
67 people want to read
About the author
Paul Black
7 books15 followersPaul Black always wanted to make movies, but a career in advertising sidetracked him. Born and raised outside of Chicago, he is the international award-winning author of The Tels, Soulware, Nexus Point and The Presence. Today he lives and works in Dallas, where he manages his graphic design firm, feeds his passion for tennis and dreams of six figure movie deals. His new book, The Samsara Effect, is now out in stores and online. He is currently working on a new book of fiction tentatively called Cool Brain.
Update: The Samsara Effect won the 2012 London and 2013 New York City Book Festivals for general fiction!
Update: The Samsara Effect won the 2013 Great Southwest Book Festival for general fiction!
Update: The Samsara Effect won the gold medal for Science Fiction in the 2013 Independent Publishers Book Awards!
Update" The Samsara Effect took second place for ForeWord Magazine 2013 Book of the Year for Science Fiction!
Update: The Samsara Effect won the 2012 London and 2013 New York City Book Festivals for general fiction!
Update: The Samsara Effect won the 2013 Great Southwest Book Festival for general fiction!
Update: The Samsara Effect won the gold medal for Science Fiction in the 2013 Independent Publishers Book Awards!
Update" The Samsara Effect took second place for ForeWord Magazine 2013 Book of the Year for Science Fiction!
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 7, 2015
Brilliant scientist William Kanter is searching for an improved method of imaging the brain, and he succeeds beyond his wildest imagination. What he ends up creating is a machine that translates memories into visual images - not just from this lifetime, but from previous incarnations as well.
Note to potential readers: this book falls under the category of "Christian Fiction", although there is no indication of this in the description. In fact, this is not obvious until close to the end of the book. It should be noted that I am not a fan of Christian Fiction, and would not have chosen to read this book had the description been accurate. It should also be noted, however, that most of my criticism has nothing to do with the religious theme of the book.
The story is intriguing, the characters are well drawn, and the pace is intense. Paul Black knows how to spin a good yarn.
However, the idea that the machine was actually displaying past-life memories was accepted far too easily by the main characters, most of whom were not previously believers in reincarnation. There was a moment of "oh, that can't be" followed quickly by, "yes, it is" and no further questioning.
In order to suspend disbelief, a certain level of plausibility helps. Unfortunately, the explanation that the machine works because memories are either imprinted on the brain or coded into DNA doesn't work in the case of past lives (different brain, different DNA). The Vatican's ultimate interest in the machine is also implausible.
In the end, the crisis is not resolved by the protagonist at all, but by an outside force. This makes for a very unsatisfying ending.
Note to potential readers: this book falls under the category of "Christian Fiction", although there is no indication of this in the description. In fact, this is not obvious until close to the end of the book. It should be noted that I am not a fan of Christian Fiction, and would not have chosen to read this book had the description been accurate. It should also be noted, however, that most of my criticism has nothing to do with the religious theme of the book.
The story is intriguing, the characters are well drawn, and the pace is intense. Paul Black knows how to spin a good yarn.
However, the idea that the machine was actually displaying past-life memories was accepted far too easily by the main characters, most of whom were not previously believers in reincarnation. There was a moment of "oh, that can't be" followed quickly by, "yes, it is" and no further questioning.
In order to suspend disbelief, a certain level of plausibility helps. Unfortunately, the explanation that the machine works because memories are either imprinted on the brain or coded into DNA doesn't work in the case of past lives (different brain, different DNA). The Vatican's ultimate interest in the machine is also implausible.
In the end, the crisis is not resolved by the protagonist at all, but by an outside force. This makes for a very unsatisfying ending.
October 29, 2013
Read this for my face-to-face book club. Not a huge lover of science fiction, but I enjoyed this story. Paul Black attended our book club meeting and he is an absolute delight to talk with and listen to.
March 30, 2013
great fun!
March 6, 2013
Just not my genre. Can't make myself learn to like sci-fi or para normal fiction. But the author certainly has more than a basic working knowledge of medical science and physics. Well researched.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews