“Upgrade” by Blake Crouch
In the unspecified future, Logan Ramsey works for the Gene Protection Agency, a federal group that fights viral infections and can edit and rewrite human DNA. When he is caught in an infectious trap, he discovers that he has received a genetic enhancement. He now has extreme strength and agility, nearly complete recollection of events from his past, and can think, read, and reason with incredible speed.
While it may sound wonderful, this genetic engineering is deeply unsettling for Ramsey. Part of the reason is that his mother was the one who made the scientific discoveries that led to this dubious advance in human development. Ramsey feels guilty about his personal ties to this illegal genetic tinkering. He wonders what his work means for the future of humanity.
Using his new skills, Ramsey begins to work through the tangled webs of intrigue and deception to uncover what the larger plot is and how he might be able to thwart it.
Most of this speculative fiction is set in the West, moving from Colorado to New Mexico and eventually Montana. Crouch lives in Durango and brings his knowledge of the region into the story. In 2017, he was chosen as author of One Book One Broomfield for his book “Dark Matter”.
Kerry Pettis is a retired elementary school teacher and children’s librarian who has lived in Broomfield since 1975. Reading is her favorite occupation.
