Anyone by Charles Soule

Dec 02, 2019 Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc, science-fiction, suspense

Whose mind is using that body?

Final review, first posted on Fantasy Literature:

Gabriella White, a brilliant neurologist and scientist who’s searching for a cure to Alzheimer’s, is at the very end of the funding for her research project. In her frustration, she recklessly pushes the power for her lab equipment, a neural stimulation system, to the maximum … and accidentally finds herself in her husband Paul’s body in their nearby house, holding their beloved 11-month-old daughter, who they call ...more

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Aug 10, 2019 Tucker rated it liked it

Shelves: owned-physical, arc-physical, disappointing, science-fiction, thriller, family

Many thanks to Heather at Harper Perrenial for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review

Be anyone with Anyone!

This book started strong, with perfect pacing but, around the twenty-five percent mark, something just snapped. The plot clumsily tripped on its own feet-

-And fell flat to the ground, losing my interest in mere pages. I desperately clung to any interesting bits because I didn’t want to DNF this, especially because I DNF-ed Soule’s other book. But I hung on and I am (kind of) ...more

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Nov 29, 2019 Sylvain Neuvel rated it it was amazing

Who would you be if you could be anyone? I can tell you I’d really like to be Charles Soule and have written this book. ANYONE is an intense, superbly crafted, edge of your seat thrill ride. I loved the execution: two slowly converging storylines that collide in the most spectacular way, not to mention the most dedicated, hardcore character I’ve read in a long, long time. You really want to read this one.

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Nov 24, 2019 Toya rated it it was amazing

As soon as I found out that the main character was a female Ph.D. scientist, I needed a copy of Anyone like my life depended on it. And that synopsis? This girl was sold.

Dr. Gabrielle “Gabby” White is a Ph.D./M.D. cognitive neurologist who is desperately trying to find a cure for Alzheimer’s. Following the birth of her daughter Kat, Gabby decided to stay home and pursue her research by converting her barn into a state of the art lab, which is privately funded by Hendricks Capital while Paul As soon as I found out that the main character was a female Ph.D. scientist, I needed a copy of Anyone like my life depended on it. And that synopsis? This girl was sold.

Dr. Gabrielle “Gabby” White is a Ph.D./M.D. cognitive neurologist who is desperately trying to find a cure for Alzheimer’s. Following the birth of her daughter Kat, Gabby decided to stay home and pursue her research by converting her barn into a state of the art lab, which is privately funded by Hendricks Capital while Paul continues his tenure track position as a music composition professor. Gabby finally reaches her breaking point when the funds for her research is essentially depleted, and she has no groundbreaking results to show for. In a last ditch effort, she uses the last of the funds for one final experiment…one where she ends up transferring her consciousness to Paul and controlling his body. With this incredible breakthrough, Gabby must find a way to hone this technology as well as hide it from the greedy hands of Hendricks Capital.

Fast forward 25 years, and the flash technology that Gabby developed has become ubiquitous in society. People can pay to transfer their consciousness to anyone at anytime, and it is 100% legal. As with all “good” things, the black market finds a way to exploit this technology by giving rise to darkshare dens. These are places where people can rent bodies for all matters of insidious activity…for a price, of course.

"During that time, Annami would be unaware, and her rider could use her body for whatever he or she wanted, anything at all. Drugs, sex, crime…anything." – Anyone

The chapters alternate between Gabby and the development of the flash technology and 25 years in the future, which follows our other main character, Annami. I was completely enthralled with Gabby’s timeline for constructing this technology and the science behind it. I’ll be honest, I definitely had several science nerd moments. There were times that I could wholeheartedly relate to Gabby as a scientist who has been caught up in the grunt work of research and both the highs and lows that you experience. That being said, I also enjoyed Annami’s timeline and the consequences of the world that was forged following the implementation of the flash technology. We are always in search of cures to so many different ailments and diseases, but that future gives a glimpse of what could potentially happen when science crosses a line that society isn’t ready for.

I absolutely tore through this book and read it in one sitting. The pacing of this story was spot on, and I honestly couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. This multifaceted story focuses on so many important topics such as race, identity, ethics, and morality; just to name a few. There were so many twists and turns throughout the story, and the way the two timelines come together was spectacular.

Overall, Anyone is a masterfully written and compelling sci-fi thriller that takes you on a wild ride. I honestly can’t recommend this one enough!

Thank you to Harper Perennial for providing an ARC for review. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars rounded up! ...more

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Oct 29, 2019 Dennis rated it liked it

Shelves: 2019-read, contemporary, supernatural, dystopian, science, sci-fi

3.5 stars

I was hesitant to pick up Charles Soule's upcoming release, Anyone because I really didn't enjoy The Oracle last year. However, I heard nothing but fabulous things about this book so I decided I'd venture into Soule's world of writing one more time. Anyone takes place between two alternate timelines, following the creation of "the flash"—technology that allows its user to transfer their consciousness into another person's body, while the host's unconsciousness basically turns off. ...more

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Oct 30, 2019 Karen’s Library rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley, sci-fi

Charles Soule outdid himself with his new techno thriller and I was completely hooked from the very first chapter.

I had a pretty major book hangover when I finished and couldn’t get the story out of my head for a few days.

Anyone switches back and forth between current day and 25 years in the future and focuses on tech that transfers consciousness into another human. The possibilities of what could happen using this kind of tech are endless and Soule hits on so many uses that made my head spin, ...more

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Sep 25, 2019 Loring Wirbel rated it really liked it

One emerging popular topic in sci-fi and speculative fiction is the notion of a detailed neural map of a person being used or abused to create new concepts of immortality, or to create distributed intelligence across a fluctuating group. This theme has been used in Cory Doctorow's Walkaway, in Neal Stephenson's Fall, and now in Anyone, the second text-based novel by graphic novelist Charles Soule. Soule's first effort at a traditional novel, The Oracle Year, had a fascinating story line, but One emerging popular topic in sci-fi and speculative fiction is the notion of a detailed neural map of a person being used or abused to create new concepts of immortality, or to create distributed intelligence across a fluctuating group. This theme has been used in Cory Doctorow's Walkaway, in Neal Stephenson's Fall, and now in Anyone, the second text-based novel by graphic novelist Charles Soule. Soule's first effort at a traditional novel, The Oracle Year, had a fascinating story line, but character development suffered in places. The new novel represents a step forward by developing interesting protagonists - and not typical heroes, by any stretch. The book is a bit unnerving from the opening pages because the characters often display that Game of Thrones quality of being both angels and scoundrels at once. They are scarcely stereotypical characters, though the flash-hacker Annami bears some resemblance to Blade Runner or Neuromancer characters.

Sure, there's an apparent source of good and light battling a global demonic force that has developed the newest type of social network - a brain-sharing technology that allows humans to transfer their consciousness to other people's bodies for a finite period of time. In theory, the technology's inventor, a scientist from rural Michigan named Gabrielle White, should be our Joan of Arc, though White's obsession with keeping her technology from the hands of corporate barons makes the reader slowly begin to wonder if the ethical choices would be any better if she were in charge. Soule is subtle in showing that heroes can have deeply-rooted problems, and we do not easily move to suspect either White or Annami of motivations that might be less than pure.

Soule brings us to the obvious conclusion that shared-consciousness platforms will have the same problems as any technology platform - since they were invented and perfected by humans, they still will be subjected to the whims of the ruling class that always end up taking control of everything. In fact, we begin to almost get annoyed with Gabrielle White for her naivete: no, the people will not rise up if they are only given the truth; instead they will choose to forget as long as the technology barons provide them with a soothing toy lulling them to sleep with an illusion of species solidarity.

Given Soule's appropriate level of gentle jadedness throughout the book, it is interesting that he chooses to end it with an epilogue of hope. Somehow, it appears that the worst tendencies of the technology managers are foiled, and we all learn to expand as a species by experiencing a oneness across all bodies and cultures and genotypes. Aw, c'mon, Charles, hope is for dopes! These are humans we're talking about! Everything will not be all right in the end, because we will snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and screw things up royally. It's in our DNA.

The book also suffers from a less-than-satisfying explanation of the technology behind "the flash," as neural patterns will not be replicated by mere moire patterns from lasers. The problem is, Soule would have a hard time explaining multi-layer convolutional neural networks, even to those well versed in cognitive neuroscience, because when you get to multiple hidden layers and "controlled hallucination," even the experts who build the damned neural networks can't explain how they work. Nevertheless, the book engages in some magical hand-waving of the "Well, it's very electric and dangerous" variety.

Despite these minor quibbles over neuroscience-for-dummies and a fairy-tale happy ending, I found this to be a great read, and a significant leap forward from his first novel (which was fascinating in its own right). I'll be reading Stephenson's significantly longer and more convoluted novel The Fall next, and I'll look forward to comparing the two works. ...more

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Dec 05, 2019 PostHuman rated it really liked it

Shelves: hard-sf, suspense, thriller, immortals

Anyone is a dazzling technothriller romp into a near future world where anyone can become....well, anyone else.

Driven, obsessive neuroscientist Gabrielle White has nearly exhausted her funding to research a potential Alzheimer's cure by manipulating neural signals with laser light patterns, when an accident sends her consciousness tumbling through the aether and directly into her husband's body.

If only she can figure out how to get back to her own body and somehow bring this technology to the Anyone is a dazzling technothriller romp into a near future world where anyone can become....well, anyone else.

Driven, obsessive neuroscientist Gabrielle White has nearly exhausted her funding to research a potential Alzheimer's cure by manipulating neural signals with laser light patterns, when an accident sends her consciousness tumbling through the aether and directly into her husband's body.

If only she can figure out how to get back to her own body and somehow bring this technology to the masses, all the while keeping her discovery secret from the shady Detroit underworld figure who financed her research.

The book intercuts between Gabby's struggles in the present and a dystopian 2040s New York where a young woman named Annami hustles up some cash renting out her body to anonymous strangers on the illegal "darkshare" market. In this world, nearly everyone spends part or most of their daily lives in someone else's body.

Why fly anywhere when you can instantly "flash" into a waiting host who is already there? Take a nap while you rent out your body to workers from developing nations who put in an 8-hour shift and split the wages with you. Passports, immigration controls, biometrics, and identity theft etc have become somewhat obsolete concepts. The only way to prove your own identity is by memorizing verbal passphrases, which are also used to transact and buy stuff.

This is the sort of novel that will have you reflecting on some of its intriguing concepts long after you finish reading. It calls to mind certain other extraordinary SF works like Kiln People.

Soule's brisk and suspenseful prose kept me riveted all the way to the end, apart from a slow chapter that detoured into a contrived romance between Annami and Soro. Ultimately the ending worked for me, but I was hoping for a more outrageous twist...

SPOILER BELOW....
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(view spoiler) ...more

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Jul 18, 2019 Faith rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc-page-158, 2019, 2019-july

This book was provided for review to our bookstore by the publisher. Xposted to Edelweiss.

In ANYONE, Charles Soule takes what was so fun about his novel THE ORACLE YEAR and perfects it. This has all the high paced adventure of a spy novel or an action film, and pairs it with the thoughtfulness that is found in really good science fiction. Soule puts his characters through unimaginable stressors to evaluate our views on race, identity, humanity, and the very existence of the self.

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Oct 18, 2019 Brian rated it it was amazing

The scientific and technical exploration of a Crichton novel with the pacing of a Patterson novel. Add to that Charles' own unique style of having his characters confront social, legal, and ethical issues while, at times, literally running for their lives without any loss in the story pacing.
"Today is the day you change the world." With that broad opening statement, Soule introduces the reader to a world where you can be anyone.....with Anyone.
Equal parts science fiction, legal thriller, ...more

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Oct 31, 2019 Unseen Library marked it as to-read

For my latest Waiting on Wednesday, I am going to take a look at Anyone by Charles Soule, an intriguing science fiction novel that is coming out in December 2019.

Soule is an interesting writer who is probably best known for his contributions to the world of comics. Soule has authored a huge number of comic book series for a number of different companies over the years, including for Image Comics, where he has recently wrapped up his Curse Words series, and DC Comics. However, his most For my latest Waiting on Wednesday, I am going to take a look at Anyone by Charles Soule, an intriguing science fiction novel that is coming out in December 2019.

Soule is an interesting writer who is probably best known for his contributions to the world of comics. Soule has authored a huge number of comic book series for a number of different companies over the years, including for Image Comics, where he has recently wrapped up his Curse Words series, and DC Comics. However, his most significant body of comic book work has been for Marvel comics, where he has worked on series such as She-Hulk, Daredevil, various Star Wars titles and several recent major arcs in the X-Men franchise, where he killed off both Wolverine and Cyclops within two years of each other. I have quite enjoyed several of his series in the past, and have reviewed a couple of them on my blog (make sure to check out my reviews for Star Wars: Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith Volumes 1 and 2, and my short review for Hunt for Wolverine in the Canberra Weekly).

Last year, however, Soule branched off away from the comic world by writing his first novel, The Oracle Year. The Oracle Year had a rather cool premise about a normal man who wakes up one morning with 108 accurate predictions of the future. While I didn’t get a chance to read this book last year, I really liked the sound of this cool and unique plot, and it was easily one of my top ten books I wish I had read in 2018. I still plan to read it at some point, but as it was a standalone novel, it does mean I can check out Anyone first.

Anyone is another great-sounding book from Soule, mainly because it also has a unique and enjoyable plot synopsis.

I was very impressed with the above plot synopsis, especially as Anyone has a captivating and intriguing core concept. Soule has clearly got an inventive mind, and I am looking forward to seeing how he explores the body swapping aspect of the story in this book. I really like the idea of viewing the full course of the technology, from its inception to its inevitable use for crime and other unsavory actions, and I am looking forward to seeing the various impacts such a technology could have on the world. As a result, I have a strong feeling that this could be a story that I will quite enjoy, and it is definitely on my list of books to check out in the next few months.

For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/ ...more

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Nov 25, 2019 Kate (kate_reads_) rated it really liked it

I’ve been seeing this book around a lot and was a little wary of the hype - until a friend told me it was one of her favorite reads this year. I picked it up and figured I would just start it and then get on to my long to-do list. BAD IDEA. Once I picked this up, I couldn’t put it down. I let my to-do list fall - I was fully absorbed in this world and couldn’t come out until I turned the final page.

From the description on the back of the book: “Inside a barn in Ann Arbor, Michigan, a scientist ...more

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Nov 28, 2019 Laura (crofteereader) rated it really liked it

Armed with fantastic forward momentum, Anyone takes readers on a wild, action-packed journey through a technological, sociological, and very personal "what if" scenario. Gabrielle White, verifiable neuroscience genius, has one goal: change the world. But things are never quite that simple. Personally, I was so into the fact that our protagonist was a smart, capable black female scientist - that is definitely a huge point in Soule's favor.

Unfortunately, after the halfway point, the plot lost ...more

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Nov 24, 2019 Ian rated it really liked it

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this title as a giveaway win via Instagram.

This was a hell of a technological thriller that will be absolutely devoured by fans of people like Blake Crouch and Ernest Cline. The dual storylines here are well balanced and developed in a way that keeps you tearing through pages until the very end. I had a lot of fun and recommend it as a fun year end book or a solid choice to hold on to until you're looking for beach reads. A number of people in the discussion ...more

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Nov 26, 2019 Katee rated it liked it

Shelves: 2019, fantasy

Thank you to Harper Perennial for a copy of this book.

What if you could drop into the body of anyone you wanted? Wanted to become Bill Gates for a few hours? How about a movie star or a rock star? With the technology developed by Anyone this fantasy has become a reality.

Anyone is a sci-fi book asking for an adaptation (don't worry one is in the works) with alternating timelines. One is making of the flash technology that allows individuals to transfer their consciousness into another body. The ...more

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Dec 01, 2019 Christina Marie Reads rated it really liked it

You can be anyone with Anyone... This is one of those books that sinks it's teeth into you and refuses to let go long after you've finished it. What a horrifying, edge of your seat, page turner of a thrill ride!

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Sep 28, 2019 Alyson Kent rated it liked it

3.5 stars rounded down because I felt that the middle of the book dragged a bit compared to the beginning and the end. What a roller coaster, though!

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Sep 25, 2019 Emily rated it it was amazing

I received an ARC of this book in a goodreads giveaway. I loved the Oracle Year so I was very excited! WOW! This might be the craziest book I’ve ever read. The craziest. I could not stop reading this. Super fast paced, action packed and a mind bending story line. I loved it. And half of it took place in Detroit?? How awesome! Charles Soule must have lived here at some point. There was a lot of details about the city! Made it even more fun to read!

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Aug 10, 2019 Librariann rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2019, arc, science-fiction

Unbelievably exciting and hard to put down, yet with a huge plot hole.

I've never read any of Soule's other titles, but when I read the description of this one I knew it was right up my alley. Loved the back and forth in the timeline and the world building. However, when it came to [HUGE BOOK RUINING SPOILER] (view spoiler) ...more

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Aug 11, 2019 Kevin rated it liked it

I loved THE ORACLE YEAR and was super excited about ANYONE. Unfortunately the ending was super unsatisfying.

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Dec 07, 2019 Bookreporter.com Mystery & Thriller rated it it was amazing

I used to read science fiction books by the bagful from the 1960s through the 1980s, at which point I stopped for reasons not pertinent here. I still will pick up one occasionally --- usually with the name “Blake Crouch” on the spine --- but for the most part, I breeze past the genre except for the annual “Best of” short story collections. Accordingly, I have been wanting something like ANYONE for a while now. This is Charles Soule’s second novel (after THE ORACLE YEAR), and while one never I used to read science fiction books by the bagful from the 1960s through the 1980s, at which point I stopped for reasons not pertinent here. I still will pick up one occasionally --- usually with the name “Blake Crouch” on the spine --- but for the most part, I breeze past the genre except for the annual “Best of” short story collections. Accordingly, I have been wanting something like ANYONE for a while now. This is Charles Soule’s second novel (after THE ORACLE YEAR), and while one never knows, I predict that it is destined to be described with a host of superlatives by anyone who reads it.

The narrative alternates between the present and a future that is roughly a quarter-century from now. In the present, a struggling scientist named Gabrielle White is attempting to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease when she accidentally discovers a method that transfers one’s consciousness into the body of another. Almost immediately she begins to realize the possibilities, good and otherwise, that might result if and when this discovery and technology are unleashed upon the world.

Unfortunately, Gray Hendricks --- the head of Hendricks Capital, which has been funding Gabrielle’s research (and has the ownership rights sewn up, six ways to Tuesday, to any discoveries she makes) --- is as coldly ruthless as he can be. Gabrielle tries to keep her discovery secret, but to no avail. Gray is just as quick to see its potential, so much so that he wants her research to continue under his ownership. He is prepared to do anything it takes to make sure that happens and demonstrates he will do just that.

Meanwhile, the timeline of the book’s future track proceeds apace. It is obvious that Gabrielle’s discovery --- known as “flash” and controlled by a company named NeOnet Global, but generally referred to as “Anyone” --- has changed everything. Flash enables a “traveler” to transfer his or her consciousness to the body of a “vessel” anywhere in the world and, in some cases, beyond. It is all paid for, registered and legal, with each session taking place for a specified and limited period. There are all sorts of questions attached to this, such as what happens to the consciousness of the vessel while their body is being inhabited, but everyone is pretty much caught up in the experience of Anyone’s marketing tagline: “Be anyone with Anyone.”

Naturally, there is an illegal market for flash, which is called “darkshare” and allows off-market vessels to rent out their bodies for anything from murder to kinky sex to anonymous travelers with no questions asked. In the middle of this new world, a woman named Annami is pursuing a desperate and possibly crazy plan of revenge against the whole system. We slowly learn (and maybe eventually guess) who Annami is, why she is doing what she is doing, and how far she is willing to go.

ANYONE is as wild a ride as you are likely to read this year. It rings all the right bells and chills in all the right places. What particularly struck me --- your results may differ, but I doubt it --- is how much I really wanted to see flash come to fruition in my lifetime and experience it (though, as presented here, I would be a “dull,” or too old to legally do so). That desire lasted right up to the last couple of pages, where I irrevocably changed my mind. See what you think.

Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub ...more

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Dec 08, 2019 Peter rated it it was ok

Meh. This was fine. It felt a lot like the other spate of contemporary sci-fi books like Speed of Sound where a world-changing technology is created and some greedy, powerful men want to steal it for themselves. I can usually get over the flimsy science for these technologies as well, but I really struggled with this one. I think it mostly bothered me because it ended up being used as a deus ex machina to force a specific ending which felt wholly undeserved.

It wasn't all bad though. The Meh. This was fine. It felt a lot like the other spate of contemporary sci-fi books like Speed of Sound where a world-changing technology is created and some greedy, powerful men want to steal it for themselves. I can usually get over the flimsy science for these technologies as well, but I really struggled with this one. I think it mostly bothered me because it ended up being used as a deus ex machina to force a specific ending which felt wholly undeserved.

It wasn't all bad though. The characters were reasonably well done as far as characterization went. The protagonists were a tad generic but likeable, mostly thanks to the comically evil antagonists who were easy to dislike. There were a few secondary characters that had some personality and development which was nice. It's what you expect from this genre and so while nothing spectacular, the characters served the story well.

Unfortunately, the story was a bit of a chore. It started off reasonably well with a nice mystery and setup. The future timeline was a bit underwhelming at first, but it gradually picked up and ended up being where most of the action sequences took place. The juggling of the two timelines was actually handled admirably, although both had pacing issues in the middle half. Then, as things ramped up towards the end, I kind of lost interest. I think it was mostly to do with the deus ex machina nature of the events and the silliness of some of the concepts that were meant to be 'twists'. It might actually work for most people, but I suspect my issue was that I simply couldn't suspend my disbelief to the levels the author wanted from me.

However, my biggest gripe was with the world. The world-building itself was fine, if not a bit heavy-handed, but the creativity in terms of how this technology would change the world was so disappointing. Every easy and obvious consequence was implemented and nothing felt surprising or clever. It also supposedly solved half the world's biggest issues like climate change with some particularly stupid reasoning. There was no nuance or creativity in either the story or the world and that's what ultimately disappointed me the most.

So for a book that did the bare minimum for my expectations of the genre, I think 2 stars are fair. I'd actually recommend it for people who don't mind where the 'science' part of sci-fi amounts to little more than hand waving and jargon. The story has a bunch of twists and turns with a generous sprinkling of action as well. It all got tied up into a nice bow at the end to make sure everyone understood what was happening. It's exactly the kind of mass-market story that's easy to read and competently written. So if you're looking for a few hours of mindless sci-fi-ish entertainment, this might be for you. ...more

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Nov 28, 2019 Kacie rated it it was ok

Shelves: netgalley-review-copy

The sci fi thriller Anyone was getting a bit of early buzz on Instagram, and it sounded interesting, so I was glad to be approved by Harper Perennial for a digital review copy via Netgalley.

The premise of a technology enabling a person to flash their consciousness into another body, a "vessel," was intriguing and frightening for the implications.

Each chapter alternated timelines. We had a present time when the technology was being invented, and a timeline around 25 years in the future where the The sci fi thriller Anyone was getting a bit of early buzz on Instagram, and it sounded interesting, so I was glad to be approved by Harper Perennial for a digital review copy via Netgalley.

The premise of a technology enabling a person to flash their consciousness into another body, a "vessel," was intriguing and frightening for the implications.

Each chapter alternated timelines. We had a present time when the technology was being invented, and a timeline around 25 years in the future where the flash tech is in widespread use.

I think it started off strong, but the middle dragged, and the ending was really disappointing. The hardcover is listed as having 432 pages, and it felt too long. The story would have benefited by another edit to really tighten it up (and since I read a review copy, it's possible?). Some plot points and details were never resolved, and that's frustrating.

I cared about Gabby and Paul, but I felt like I knew them only on the surface. The science was superficial as well -- some lingo was tossed about, but I never felt confident I understood how the tech actually worked. It was interesting how people perceived the world a bit differently in someone else's body, for instance smells and other sensory stimuli. I like how the book explored that a little.

With a thriller, I think you've got to really stick the landing as the story builds and concludes. The final chapter and epilogue were not what I thought the book was building toward, and I felt really let down. Taking off a star for that, so I'm left with 2 stars on Goodreads, which means "it was OK." In the Netgalley rating system, it gets 3 for a "maybe" recommendation.

I think the readers who will most enjoy Anyone will be those who like a sci-fi thriller that's weighted more toward thrilling than science-y; and someone who would enjoy thinking about all of the ethical questions involved with moving someone's consciousness to another body. The reader will also need a strong dose of suspending disbelief. ...more

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Dec 02, 2019 Lori L (She Treads Softly) rated it really liked it

Anyone by Charles Soule is a highly recommended, fast-paced, technological/speculative fiction thriller.

In Michigan research scientist Gabrielle (Gabby) White inadvertently discovers a way for people to transfer their consciousness into another person's body. She wants to control how the technology is used, but that very likely will be taken out of her control. Twenty-five-years into the future this technology called "flash" has transformed society. The company advertises the flash as a way to Anyone by Charles Soule is a highly recommended, fast-paced, technological/speculative fiction thriller.

In Michigan research scientist Gabrielle (Gabby) White inadvertently discovers a way for people to transfer their consciousness into another person's body. She wants to control how the technology is used, but that very likely will be taken out of her control. Twenty-five-years into the future this technology called "flash" has transformed society. The company advertises the flash as a way to "Be Anyone with Anyone" in the ultimate out-of-body experience. However, there is also an underground black market to the technology called "darkshare," where people rent out their bodies for paying customers to use for a variety of deviant purposes. In the future, Annami is renting out her body through a darkshare establishment in order to save enough money for a plan of her own.

Chapters in the action-packed, fast-paced plot alternate between Gabby's discovery and Annami's driven quest to earn money for her own purpose. Both story lines are compelling and both of the characters are well developed. You know something is going to go terribly wrong for Gabby, and Annami is keeping her ultimate scheme to herself. Naturally, you have to set disbelief aside as far as transferring one person's consciousness into another person's body, but once you do that both time periods keep ratcheting up the tension. Ultimately both narratives will connect in an unexpected but satisfying conclusion.

Soule does an excellent job presenting this frightening and fascinating cautionary vision of the future. It could be his work in comic books has translated well into keeping the action of the dual narratives intense and quickly moving, while wrapping both narratives in an irresistible plot. Ultimately, he takes the idea of new technology and forces us to look at the unintended consequences: the abuse of that technology, the morality of using it, and the question of identity and culpability when another body is used.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of HarperCollins.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2019/1... ...more

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Dec 07, 2019 Hope rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorite-books

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This sci-fi story, just published on 12/3 (get it immediately) should be voted BEST sci-fi/thriller of the year! I am even putting it above Recursion by Blake Crouch and I also loved that book! If you loved Recursion or Dark Matter, I think you should read this book immediately!!! One of my all-time favorite stories and here's why:

I love the idea of being able to be "anyone" - and this book is set in a future where that can happen via transference of your "consciousness" into another body ...more

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Nov 22, 2019 Mark rated it it was amazing

Long a fan of his comics, I loved Charles Soule's debut novel The Oracle Year. I like this follow up almost as much. He employs a dual timeline approach: one set in the past, the other in the novel's present. I'm usually leery of this as a storytelling technique. But I quickly came to see why he chose it: it allows him to tell the story of the scientific discovery that drives the story, while also showing the future effects on society.

While attempting to create a cure for Alzheimer's Gabrielle ...more

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Dec 04, 2019 Realms & Robots rated it it was amazing

Anyone is the kind of book that instantly forces you into its fascinating world, holding on tight until you experience the shock it’s there to present. I went into the book without reading anything about it and that made it exciting, adventurous, and down right enthralling.

We’ve all seen the central concept before: transferring your consciousness into another body so you can experience the world through someone else’s eyes. Anyone takes this oft used story and makes it new by giving us multiple ...more

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Nov 26, 2019 Kelli Ann rated it liked it

If you could be anyone, who would you choose?

In a barn in Michigan, a scientist accidentally switches bodies with her husband during experiments meant to find a cure for Alzheimer's. 20 years later, people are using "flash" technology to transfer to other bodies for whatever they want (legal and illegal). "Be anyone with Anyone" is the slogan for the company offering these insane out of body experiences. Just like everything in the world, there's a dark side to the "flash" technology. People can If you could be anyone, who would you choose?

In a barn in Michigan, a scientist accidentally switches bodies with her husband during experiments meant to find a cure for Alzheimer's. 20 years later, people are using "flash" technology to transfer to other bodies for whatever they want (legal and illegal). "Be anyone with Anyone" is the slogan for the company offering these insane out of body experiences. Just like everything in the world, there's a dark side to the "flash" technology. People can rent out their bodies, or rent other bodies on the black market and do whatever they want, with no consequences. Ultimately the story follows one woman and her quest to put an end to Anyone, and everything they do. This novel will test your limits and make you rethink all you thought you knew about technology and morality.

I applied for this ARC, not thinking I would get it because I was sure a ton of other people applied. When it showed up at my doorstep, I was elated. The story goes back and forth between Gabby, the creator of the "flash" and Annami, the woman trying to destroy it. The beginning definitely grabbed my attention. Here this woman is, in the middle of nowhere on her last bit of funding for her Alzheimer's research when she accidentally switches bodies with her husband? Alright-you got me. The problem is-you didn't really keep me.

The middle of the book bored me. I get it-Gabby is poor. This is her last chance and she's not letting this technology fall into the wrong hands (SPOILER ALERT: It does). I get that Annami is poor, and she's willing to do whatever she can to make money to bid on this auction for a celebrity body (Yeah, it's as murky as it sounds). I know science fiction is not my thing, so I went into this book not expecting to love it forever. For me, the ending didn't justify the hundreds of pages I had to get through to get to it. This book felt like it dragged on, and that bummed me out a little.

Overall, the story is interesting, even if I'm not a total fan of how it wrapped. If you have some time to kill and/or you want a science fiction read, you should absolutely go out and grab this book. I didn't LOVE it, but I certainly didn't hate it.

🌟🌟🌟/5 Stars

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Nov 10, 2019 Rachel Cato rated it really liked it

First I’d like to thank the publishers for the ARC that allowed me to read this one early. I loved The Oracle Year so was excited when I won this one.

First off: Be anyone with anyone. How fucking creepy does that sound?!? Seriously, would you be willing to look down and be a hairy dude or a blonde with boobs? So weird. Gabby created technology that allowed just that, transferring your consciousness to another body (vessel). She was working on an Alzheimer’s research and this was totally ...more

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Dec 05, 2019 Michele(mluker) Luker rated it it was amazing

INTENSE...THRILLER... that will keep you at the edge of your seat! This story is a nail biter for sure!

This story has two storylines going on at the same time...easy to follow, completely brilliant in execution. The first is about how the Flash was first created, the struggles that Dr. Gabby White goes through trying to keep the process her own. The second is how Annami has a plan to take down those who control the Flash, and make the world a better place.

What is the flash? Would you be ANYONE ...more

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