A Virtual Soul

by Kevin Teixeira

In a near future society, genetically engineered slaves known as tubies are an expendable workforce. Em-printers implant the empty minds of tubies with rudimentary personalities and cognitive abilities, yet they are missing the one thing that would make them human. Josh Nunes, a corporately owned em-printer, is one of the best--but he feels his own personality slipping away, his own identity changing.

So he runs. A wanted criminal hunted by his owners, Josh soon discovers his contract has been sold to a shadowy corporation willing to do anything to manipulate his skills. But another power player offers Josh his freedom if only he completes one small task--deliver a pleasure doll to Japan.

Tangled in a web of intrigue, in which nothing--and no one--can be trusted, Josh discovers that the doll is not what she seems, and secret forces have been launched to alter the very existence of the tubies, to elevate them to the same level as their creators . . . to give them a soul. And Josh is taking the fall for this unwanted and violent evolution.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

Mass Market Paperback

First published September 7, 1999

Reviews

[Scott Rhee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kevin Teixeira's first (and as far as I know, only) novel, "A Virtual Soul" is a doozy of a sci-fi thriller. Set in a near future where genetically-designed humans called tubies (test tube? get it?) are the new workforce (read: slaves), and the world biotech superpowers compete to create better and more efficient tubies. Neither clones nor actual humans, tubies have only rudimentary intelligence and brain capacity, unless they are em-printed. Em-printers are like the new software designers. A good em-printer connects his or her mind with a tubie's to download specialized information, data, and memories so that the tubie can "pass" as somewhat human. Josh Nunes is one of the most prominent emprinters in the U.S., but he's burned out. He's also beginning to question the ethics behind the whole tubie technology. The company he works for doesn't want to see one of their very best ruined by a conscience. When a failed attempt to liquidate Nunes sets him off on a run for his life, he finds himself embroiled in an international plot that involves a kidnapped biogeneticist named Kim, a genetically-designed plague, and an unstoppable killing machine of a tubie named JoJo. A quick, fun, exciting, and thought-provoking sci-fi read.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Virtual Soul (del Rey Discovery)
by Kevin Teixeira


I read this back when it was published in 1999, and picking it up again it didn’t really ring a bell so I had to re-read it. At almost 500 pages, that was daunting.

The story explores themes from older works such as Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep and it’s movie adaptation Blade Runner as well as C. J. Cherryh’s epic Cyteen. There are genetically engineered slaves (tubies) who are created then implanted with personalities and skills (Em-printing).

Unfortunately, while this was a good effort, it was no masterpiece or classic. The premise and basic story could be interesting but it goes on too long, introduces too many characters and elements, and suffers from a lack of sympathetic point of view and focus.

Style: Third person past tense.

Characters:

Josh Nunes - run away washed up Em-printer.
Charles Compton
Yagashi Matsugae
Jo-Jo - ex-military tubie, mob enforcer
Sai-Wai
Kikuko
Gloria
Angelica - a pleasure doll
Kim Newman

Story


The story opens with Josh running from some unknown forces who have set a trap for him. He doesn’t know who is after him, but he has been illegally Em-printing dreams for people for entertainment for five years. There is more than a little sexual language when speaking about his services with his clients.

When he is finally caught he is offered a job in exchange for a new identity. He just needs to escort a pleasure doll (Angelica) to Japan and work on t-breeds (aka specially breed/ created tubies).

The story switches POVs from the mysterious operators, to Jo-Jo to Josh from chapter to chapter.

When Josh gets to Japan he starts working on a new breed of tubies that his employer hope with make all the previous ones obsolete. <\spoiler>

[Username · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. But it suffers from what I may call sensory overdrive... the author tries hard (too hard?) to engage all the senses in the reading experience, forcing one to re-read the sentences so one can put together the images smells and kinetic sensations with the sounds and tastes together...
The characters are interesting, but their inner struggles are repetitive. They are clear enough, we don't need to have them laid out again two chapters later.
It would seem that Kevin hasn't written anything else. A pity. With a harsher editor he will produce better stuff!
I exchanged a couple of e-mails with the author back in 99 or 2000, he was very friendly. That's part of the reason I wanted to like this book, and I kind of did, but it was too hard to read..