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NanoMorphosis
2018 B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree, 2019 eLit Book Award, 2019 IAN Book of the Year Finalist
Two extraordinary dreams. Two ambitious men. Their rivalry will alter the course of humanity…
Daniel Walker remains haunted by his past. First contact with a merciless alien race left him orphaned, mentally scarred and reluctantly famous. But with the planet in its death throes, that unwanted fame may win him the chance to lead ACES and finally fulfill his parents' dream of finding a new Earth. However, that success will come at a very steep price.
Nanotechnologist Cadmon Dhyre bears the disfiguring scars of a deadly plague and spends every waking hour developing a cure for the millions of others similarly afflicted. Becoming leader of ACES would give him access to resources he desperately needs, but only one man's vision of the future can win out.
When faced with defeat, Cadmon's bitterness and desperation will turn him into humanity's biggest threat and forever change one woman caught in the middle.
NanoMorphosis is a suspenseful work of science fiction. If you like intricate world-building, near-future technology, and multi-layered characters, then you’ll love Marla L. Anderson’s compelling new novel. Author's this novel contains dark themes that some readers may find disturbing.
Buy NanoMorphosis to take a fascinating interstellar journey today!
Two extraordinary dreams. Two ambitious men. Their rivalry will alter the course of humanity…
Daniel Walker remains haunted by his past. First contact with a merciless alien race left him orphaned, mentally scarred and reluctantly famous. But with the planet in its death throes, that unwanted fame may win him the chance to lead ACES and finally fulfill his parents' dream of finding a new Earth. However, that success will come at a very steep price.
Nanotechnologist Cadmon Dhyre bears the disfiguring scars of a deadly plague and spends every waking hour developing a cure for the millions of others similarly afflicted. Becoming leader of ACES would give him access to resources he desperately needs, but only one man's vision of the future can win out.
When faced with defeat, Cadmon's bitterness and desperation will turn him into humanity's biggest threat and forever change one woman caught in the middle.
NanoMorphosis is a suspenseful work of science fiction. If you like intricate world-building, near-future technology, and multi-layered characters, then you’ll love Marla L. Anderson’s compelling new novel. Author's this novel contains dark themes that some readers may find disturbing.
Buy NanoMorphosis to take a fascinating interstellar journey today!
447 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 16, 2018
21 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 11, 2020
NanoMorphosis by Maria L Anderson offers us, readers, with a magnificent read. Individuals who love and enjoy the alien, extraordinary, Nanotechnology experience, this book remains a must. The storyline continues to use its diverse characters Walker, Daniel or Cadmond to draw us closer to the events. People who appreciate reading about missions, aliens and destruction of planets. This book will definitely keep us busy and interested. The writing style offers an extraordinary approach and prevents the reader from becoming bored. The book describes the unique events and characters clearly. One actually feels every moment happening. This allows readers to understand precisely what happens and to sit at the tip of their chairs because of anticipation. Readers who seek a bit of extraordinary science fiction or fantasy reading, buy this book and enjoy the characters fighting off the aliens.
May 31, 2020
What I Liked
The writing and the plot have a very vintage sci-fi feel to them — may be Heinlein or Simak. Since I enjoy reading the work of both those authors, I found this one to be an entertaining book too.
The worldbuilding is detailed and it describes the eternal fight between religion and technology well. Even the Bad Guy’s meteoric rise to power as the head of the most powerful religious organization is plausible — mostly.
What I Didn’t Like
Cookie cutter Bad Guy who rapes a woman after drugging her into paralysis and then infects her with nanobots. Finally, he kills her, and dumps her dismembered corpse down the garbage chute. Now, these are two separate things for me. Firstly, the Bad Guy is bad for classic villainy reasons — he has been rejected by the whole world. Very cliche and overdone.
Secondly, the rape scene is just a gateway to a whole lot of problematic writing. Even though most of it happens off-screen, readers get an eyeful of the violence involved. Why was it even needed in the book? Couldn’t the villain have proved how bad he was in some other way?
And the problem isn’t just limited to the villain’s character. We find the whole text peppered with cruelty towards females or female-like aliens. The protagonist — if we can call him that — is a horndog. He cannot come across a woman without wanting to do her. What separates him from a not-so minor other bad guy who likes to fuck helpless aliens and is an all-around huge rapist?
Now, let us look at the female characters. When we meet the trio of main characters, they are all experts in their field. Two guys — the Bad one and our protagonist — and a female scientist. They’re vying for the same position. Needless to say, our horndog protag wins the honor.
The next time we see the female scientist — I know, cringy to keep adding female every time but it’s needed for clarification — she’s married to the hero and has turned into a nagging shrew. Also, her husband keeps her at an arm’s length and she lets him? And he behaves like a toddler, i.e., throws tantrums when dealing with diplomats who could shut down his life’s mission, and she deals with the fallout.
But that’s not all. In the process of turning part-alien, she’s physically raped by the minor bad guy, is mentally incapacitated so the Bad Guy can rape her, and has sex with the protag when he’s in a drugged sleep. He thinks it was a dream because, god forbid, we think he raped a simian female alien who’s relearning everything, including how to walk.
And if you think that the plot might have required all that mistreatment of its female characters, she spends the second half of the book utterly naked — of which there’s literally no need. Even when dressed to impress the judiciary council when they return to Earth, her outfit leaves little to imagination.
So, while I found the book interesting, I had issues with the message it left me with.
September 23, 2018
NanoMorphosis by Marla L. Anderson is a fascinating read. Anderson explores nanotechnology not in the mode of Michael Crichton’s Prey and Next where the nanobots become the villains, but from the perspective that “intelligent” nanobots can develop a dependent symbiotic relationship with their hosts, becoming part of and enhancing their hosts’ native capabilities. The “Bad Guy” host has his evil characteristics and capabilities enhanced spectacularly. The “Good Guy” too, but what if the bad guy is the one who first developed the intelligent nanobots?
Anderson includes interstellar travel, presenting a plausible scientific basis for travel through hyperspace, habitable alien worlds, militant aliens with their own mode of interstellar travel, greedy, self-seeking corporations, even a global government and a world-encompassing church. We also experience what it might feel like to blend both body and mind while making love.
Anderson builds a surprising twist into the fabric of her tale that I suspect you will not see coming. This is a good yarn, fit for any hard science fiction fan. I do have two gripes, however. Although the story would have been fine without these since they contribute background only, and could have been elsewise without negatively affecting the tale, Anderson apparently has bought into the full sweep of anthropogenic global warming and one-world government. I am a scientist who spent a year at the geographic south pole studying climate change. Anderson’s cataclysmic predictions for rising oceans and runaway global greenhouse are simply incorrect. Her view of a future United Nations World Government formulated like the British parliament is entirely unrealistic in my view. It is unthinkable that free peoples like Americans, British, Australians, Kiwis, some Europeans, and several of the relatively long-established democratic Asians will ever allow themselves to be governed by outside powers – so long as they have the means to resist. Just my opinion, but unified World Government seems very unlikely to me.
As I said, these are gripes I have with the story, but I was able to suspend my disbelief and enjoy the story completely. I give the story 5-stars, the global-warming/world-government silliness 3-stars. Then I put it all back together, think about the clever, well-executed story concept, and combine it to 4.5-stars, and then round it up to 5-stars.
Anderson includes interstellar travel, presenting a plausible scientific basis for travel through hyperspace, habitable alien worlds, militant aliens with their own mode of interstellar travel, greedy, self-seeking corporations, even a global government and a world-encompassing church. We also experience what it might feel like to blend both body and mind while making love.
Anderson builds a surprising twist into the fabric of her tale that I suspect you will not see coming. This is a good yarn, fit for any hard science fiction fan. I do have two gripes, however. Although the story would have been fine without these since they contribute background only, and could have been elsewise without negatively affecting the tale, Anderson apparently has bought into the full sweep of anthropogenic global warming and one-world government. I am a scientist who spent a year at the geographic south pole studying climate change. Anderson’s cataclysmic predictions for rising oceans and runaway global greenhouse are simply incorrect. Her view of a future United Nations World Government formulated like the British parliament is entirely unrealistic in my view. It is unthinkable that free peoples like Americans, British, Australians, Kiwis, some Europeans, and several of the relatively long-established democratic Asians will ever allow themselves to be governed by outside powers – so long as they have the means to resist. Just my opinion, but unified World Government seems very unlikely to me.
As I said, these are gripes I have with the story, but I was able to suspend my disbelief and enjoy the story completely. I give the story 5-stars, the global-warming/world-government silliness 3-stars. Then I put it all back together, think about the clever, well-executed story concept, and combine it to 4.5-stars, and then round it up to 5-stars.
April 16, 2020
Everyone comes across certain ideas for the first time. Man being the real monster. The seeming magic of nanotechnology taken to its ultimate end. What would be the end of artificial intelligence and what happens when first contact happens with seemingly unintelligent creatures, or indeed aggressive intelligent ones. ANd what would the political fallout be in this situation.
NanoMorphosis tries to tackle a lot of this as if nothing had be written in the genre before. So we start with the anniversary of the aftermath of an alien attack. In the twenty years hence Earth has a global government, an earth first church but no real sense that it has tried to grapple with the issue. There is some space travel, but no real sense as to how this affects humanity beyond a little work. And in the mix we have our hero (the survivor of said alien attack) and our villain, a genius scientist with a nanovirus which has wrecked his skin. Literally, its Doctor Doom. Though a horny Doctor Doom, who manifests his evil early on (lest we feel any sympathy for him before he tries to take over the world) by raping someone. Never mind, back to our here who appears to be both the head of the space agency and its leading astronaut, who is also very horny and - well.
NanoMorphosis reads like something from the sixties, with a few political updates but next to no social ones. The psychology of our lead white males is either success in their chosen field, or sex. The lead character is constantly berating himself for being attracted to (and latterly having sex with) an alien, which he latterly discovers is actually a nanomorphological mutation of his dead ex-girlfriends corpse. He'll tap that, IThe last act of this book might as well be the witches shapeshifting battle in Sleeping Beauty - nothing is left but immense ill defined powers and good vs evil. And yet...
I like bad genre movies. I can enjoy rolling my eyes at ticking of hackneyed plots. And reading this, despite all the things I knew weren't very good about it, was similarly enjoyable. I would not defend it, the experience of reading it was most similar to reading The Da Vinci Code, incredulously strapping myself in to another ridiculous and yet hackneyed plot cliche until the end. If you'd told me it had been written by Heinlein in 1960, I'd have believed you.
(Read as a NetGalley ARC)
NanoMorphosis tries to tackle a lot of this as if nothing had be written in the genre before. So we start with the anniversary of the aftermath of an alien attack. In the twenty years hence Earth has a global government, an earth first church but no real sense that it has tried to grapple with the issue. There is some space travel, but no real sense as to how this affects humanity beyond a little work. And in the mix we have our hero (the survivor of said alien attack) and our villain, a genius scientist with a nanovirus which has wrecked his skin. Literally, its Doctor Doom. Though a horny Doctor Doom, who manifests his evil early on (lest we feel any sympathy for him before he tries to take over the world) by raping someone. Never mind, back to our here who appears to be both the head of the space agency and its leading astronaut, who is also very horny and - well.
NanoMorphosis reads like something from the sixties, with a few political updates but next to no social ones. The psychology of our lead white males is either success in their chosen field, or sex. The lead character is constantly berating himself for being attracted to (and latterly having sex with) an alien, which he latterly discovers is actually a nanomorphological mutation of his dead ex-girlfriends corpse. He'll tap that, IThe last act of this book might as well be the witches shapeshifting battle in Sleeping Beauty - nothing is left but immense ill defined powers and good vs evil. And yet...
I like bad genre movies. I can enjoy rolling my eyes at ticking of hackneyed plots. And reading this, despite all the things I knew weren't very good about it, was similarly enjoyable. I would not defend it, the experience of reading it was most similar to reading The Da Vinci Code, incredulously strapping myself in to another ridiculous and yet hackneyed plot cliche until the end. If you'd told me it had been written by Heinlein in 1960, I'd have believed you.
(Read as a NetGalley ARC)
May 9, 2018
Tired of simplistic plots and cliché romance characters in a setting overlaid with only a thin veneer of science fiction? Nanomorphosis is an ambitious, smart and wonderfully written complex sci fi novel with unusual and interesting characters! Anderson takes us to a future earth as well as a new world, while exploring the nature of greed and ambition vs. love and good will. I was drawn in from the start. The bad guy's actions made me cringe but his back story encouraged me to feel some compassion even for him, while the good guy wasn't cookie-cutter good from the start so that I could appreciate watching him benefit from some personal soul searching along the way. Best of all, there are plenty of twists along the way, keeping the plot delightfully unpredictable!
May 11, 2020
NanoMorphosis by Maria L Anderson offers us, readers, with a magnificent read. Individuals who love and enjoy the alien, extraordinary, Nanotechnology experience, this book remains a must. The storyline continues to use its diverse characters Walker, Daniel or Cadmond to draw us closer to the events. People who appreciate reading about missions, aliens and destruction of planets, this book will definitely keep us busy and interested. The writing style offers an extraordinary approach and prevents the reader from becoming bored. The book describes the unique events and characters clearly. One actually feels every moment happening. This allows readers to understand precisely what happens and to sit at the tip of their chairs because of anticipation. Readers who seek a bit of extraordinary science fiction or fantasy reading, buy this book and enjoy the characters fighting off the aliens.
January 2, 2019
We are proud to announce that NANOMORPHOSIS by Marla L. Anderson is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells readers that this book is well worth their time and money!
July 4, 2018
Entertaining and well plotted adventure
This is a space exploration/first contact sci-fi story with a nanotechnology flavour. The world created is convincing and plausible, which helps ground the story. Characters are well developed, believable and comfortable in their positions. The story brought back memories for me of the 'Replicators' and their evolution in the TV series 'Stargate SG-1', which I thought was brilliant. The story unfolded with a good pace and there were plenty of twists and turns to keep me turning the pages. Recommended.
This is a space exploration/first contact sci-fi story with a nanotechnology flavour. The world created is convincing and plausible, which helps ground the story. Characters are well developed, believable and comfortable in their positions. The story brought back memories for me of the 'Replicators' and their evolution in the TV series 'Stargate SG-1', which I thought was brilliant. The story unfolded with a good pace and there were plenty of twists and turns to keep me turning the pages. Recommended.
December 16, 2018
Well, that was a pleasant surprise. I am going to write this one up as a hidden gem. It's intelligent, satisfying, and well-written. It's not what I would describe as fast-paced. More like a slow burn, with lots of intricate details that all bind together in the end. It reminded me a little of The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russel. Interstellar space travel, alien politics, and there were a couple moments where it toed the line on being too disturbing, but never crossed it. It should probably have a trigger warning on the book, though.
My question is, will there be a sequel? It doesn't need one, no cliffhanger ending, but it's open-ended enough that it's not outside the realm of possible. I wouldn't turn one down... just sayin'.
There are a handful of typos that run throughout, but never anything that took away my enjoyment from the story overall. Most certainly money well spent.
My question is, will there be a sequel? It doesn't need one, no cliffhanger ending, but it's open-ended enough that it's not outside the realm of possible. I wouldn't turn one down... just sayin'.
There are a handful of typos that run throughout, but never anything that took away my enjoyment from the story overall. Most certainly money well spent.
December 9, 2018
Exciting science fiction with riffs on politics and government, free will and fear, religion and faith, NANOMORPHOSIS will keep science fiction aficionados turning pages with awed wonder and intrigue. This compelling novel introduces a new breed of aliens, very scary; but what is the most scary aspect is, as the Protagonist intelligently points out, that government and religion in combination have convinced humanity that to venture into outer space is to result in extinction of the species, that space has no place for us, and basically, that aliens are waiting around every planetary corner to destroy us. Although very up to date, I am still reminded of the classic age of Science Fiction, particularly the 1950's.
November 24, 2018
NanoMorphosis is an engrossing and engaging sci-fi tale. It introduces us to Daniel, the sole survivor of a brutal attack by a dangerous alien species, who is chosen to head up a deep space mission to find a new homeworld for humanity. Earth is beset by a depletion of natural resources and a nanovirus plaguing the planet. Daniel must deal with opposition from foes like the United Church of Earth who believe that leaving Earth for a new home elsewhere in the galaxy is an affront to God. He also must worry about the agenda of Cadmon, a carrier of a disfiguring 'toad' virus who is searching for a cure to his condition, that threatens to destroy Daniel and his mission.
An incredible depth of detail that goes into building the world of NanoMorphosis. It starts with an compelling premise and creates exactly the right amount of suspense to keep you turning the pages. Cadmon is equally tragic and horrifying as an antagonist. You also feel empathy for Daniel in his single-minded pursuit to finish the work his parents started and confront his own demons from his tragic past along the way.
This is a unique and imaginative sci-fi tale driven by realistic characters. Marla L. Anderson has the ability to make extraordinary situations feel believable and is skilled in painting a chilling future that explores the best and worst of humanity, like all good science fiction can do. A definite must-read for sci-fi fans.
An incredible depth of detail that goes into building the world of NanoMorphosis. It starts with an compelling premise and creates exactly the right amount of suspense to keep you turning the pages. Cadmon is equally tragic and horrifying as an antagonist. You also feel empathy for Daniel in his single-minded pursuit to finish the work his parents started and confront his own demons from his tragic past along the way.
This is a unique and imaginative sci-fi tale driven by realistic characters. Marla L. Anderson has the ability to make extraordinary situations feel believable and is skilled in painting a chilling future that explores the best and worst of humanity, like all good science fiction can do. A definite must-read for sci-fi fans.
November 25, 2018
This is the second science fiction book that I have picked up recently that was easy to get into from the beginning. Anderson's world building was not confusing and relatable to known or identifiable places.
The characters are mostly well-drawn though in the epilogue. However, the change from the staid or reserved Captain Kowalski (in terms of interpersonal non-professional relationships) to a free-loving Kowalski, resembling a nicer but not necessarily respectful Sanchez, seems forced, thrown in at the end of the novel to show a change in the character, one that isn't required by the narrative.
The science and technology behind nanobots is reasonably explained in a way that is not confusing or over the heads of readers. It moves the plot along without delay if the reader does not skim or move to fast when the science and technology portions are introduced.
Readers of Catholic (or of any religion) may be put off by the Supreme Father character but given the church's history of popes (in the earlier times and recently given the sex abuse scandal cover up) who had grandiose personalities and designs that could be described as anything but encouragement of spiritual development of the church and its flock Anderson's Supreme Father, His Holiness Morden Chayd is not far fetched.
NanoMorphosis also appears to have ended as leaving open the possibility of a sequel, and if so, one I want to read.
The characters are mostly well-drawn though in the epilogue. However, the change from the staid or reserved Captain Kowalski (in terms of interpersonal non-professional relationships) to a free-loving Kowalski, resembling a nicer but not necessarily respectful Sanchez, seems forced, thrown in at the end of the novel to show a change in the character, one that isn't required by the narrative.
The science and technology behind nanobots is reasonably explained in a way that is not confusing or over the heads of readers. It moves the plot along without delay if the reader does not skim or move to fast when the science and technology portions are introduced.
Readers of Catholic (or of any religion) may be put off by the Supreme Father character but given the church's history of popes (in the earlier times and recently given the sex abuse scandal cover up) who had grandiose personalities and designs that could be described as anything but encouragement of spiritual development of the church and its flock Anderson's Supreme Father, His Holiness Morden Chayd is not far fetched.
NanoMorphosis also appears to have ended as leaving open the possibility of a sequel, and if so, one I want to read.
June 23, 2018
Enticing and Unique Read
Okay I love sci-fi novels and this one was definitely a sci-fi hit. Sci-fi is a hard genre to break into as it’s easy to go off the rails while writing something made up and not even in the realm of possibility. I thought this novel was completely plausible though and not ridiculously overdone so that I couldn’t get through it. I’ve read some bad sci-fi novels in my time and this was not one of them.
The main character Daniel is a sympathetic person who you feel for as he works through his demons and overcomes all his obstacles. All the characters have great depth and appear well thought out. Finally, I really liked how the book centered around believable concepts. It definitely gave the book a unique feel compared to other sci-fi novels. This book will definitely be a hit and hopefully we see more from this author.
Okay I love sci-fi novels and this one was definitely a sci-fi hit. Sci-fi is a hard genre to break into as it’s easy to go off the rails while writing something made up and not even in the realm of possibility. I thought this novel was completely plausible though and not ridiculously overdone so that I couldn’t get through it. I’ve read some bad sci-fi novels in my time and this was not one of them.
The main character Daniel is a sympathetic person who you feel for as he works through his demons and overcomes all his obstacles. All the characters have great depth and appear well thought out. Finally, I really liked how the book centered around believable concepts. It definitely gave the book a unique feel compared to other sci-fi novels. This book will definitely be a hit and hopefully we see more from this author.
October 21, 2018
Entering into the world Marla Anderson developed was a journey into the realms of many topics I love and enjoy—but can’t touch as I still live in the 21 Century. Ms. Anderson’s work merged Interstellar travel with Nanotechnology and spun both with intriguing concepts of human behaviors, such as the allure of power and dominion with the need of belonging in the universe. These concepts are vast and expanding, opening the mind of the reader; while at the same time, this eloquently woven story reminds us to seek purpose as we live in the cosmos, despite the forces that try to break us down. I highly recommend taking the journey in NanoMorphsis!
April 26, 2019
This was a excellent Sci-fi story
I liked the way the author uses nanotechnology as both a blessing and a curse
Interesting worlds and creatures kept it entertaining
Adam does a great job narrating highly recommended
Also if you liked this check out Marla’s short story the cost of living a life for a life
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review
I liked the way the author uses nanotechnology as both a blessing and a curse
Interesting worlds and creatures kept it entertaining
Adam does a great job narrating highly recommended
Also if you liked this check out Marla’s short story the cost of living a life for a life
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review
February 14, 2023
Marla Anderson brings us tense sci fi and worldbuilding at its finest with NanoMorphosis! Two men are pitted against each other as they compete to lead humanity and gain the resources they need to help human kind. Daniel Walker was scarred by an encounter with a heartless alien species, but now seeks to lead ACES in order to help humanity find salvation on a new planet. Cadmon Dhyre was also scarred, but from a deadly disease that he seeks leadership in ACES in order to cure. But when Cadmon is snubbed, the two become bitter rivals locked in a dangerous battle that could bring doom to human kind. This book is complicated in the best way, and I love how deep Anderson makes the characters and the world! This is a world that feels very real, and the character dynamic is absolutely fantastic in both the heroes and the villains. If you love hard sci fi that’s also a swift read, especially one with well-rounded and engrossing characters, definitely come tinker with some technology in NanoMorphosis!
March 1, 2020
Marla Anderson's vision is almost staggering in scope, so much so that I had to slow down and re-read portions to keep up with her nano-tech concepts and vocabulary. This made me work more than I wanted to and is the reason for 4 stars instead of 5. But her writing style is articulate and well-edited and does propel the story forward. She concocts an absolutely vile bad guy and a flawed protagonist who spends a bit too much time whining, even considering his traumatic past. Still, this story kept me reading for almost three days straight through.
June 26, 2020
I am NOT a sci-fi lover. Creative worlds and creatures to kept it entertaining. Individuals who love and enjoy the alien, extraordinary, Nanotechnology experience.
January 23, 2019
Can't review my own book, but I hope anyone reading this will check it out for themselves and hopefully do a review of their own.
I had a ton of fun researching the science behind this novel, creating the characters and devising the plot. It's for sale on Amazon now and so far the responses have been positive.
I had a ton of fun researching the science behind this novel, creating the characters and devising the plot. It's for sale on Amazon now and so far the responses have been positive.
June 9, 2020
To view my review please click this link -https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/vie...
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