Book Review - UpLoad - Mark McClelland | Miki's Hope

Book Review - UpLoad - Mark McClelland

Friday, November 8, 2013


If you are a gamer and understand virtual reality and love Sci Fi then you will really love this book. It was one of the winners of the Forward Reviews 2012 Book of the year awards. I have to admit I was a bit lost through most of the book not being a gamer and knowing little to nothing about virtual reality much less computers. I did become interested about 3/4 of the way through. It actually delves into the uploading of human minds into a virtual reality body. The Pros and cons of this are subtlety intertwined in the story. The ending will give you the chills!


About the Book (from Amazon)

His criminal past catching up with him, a troubled young man seeks escape into digital utopia by uploading his consciousness into a computer -- just as first love casts his life in a new light. In this thrilling near-future science-fiction novel, Mark McClelland explores the immense potential of computer-based consciousness and the philosophical perils of simulated society.

This book can be purchased at Amazon and most other retailers.



About the Author (Upload-the Novel)


Mark McClelland studied Computer Science and Creative Writing at the University of Michigan’s Residential College, where he won a Hopwood Award for poetry. After graduating in 1994, he promptly sold his soul to his software career, and is now thinking he might need that back. He writes in search of truths that defy simple, direct expression, and publishes to share his discoveries with others.

Mark lives in Chicago with his wife, Nancy, and two cats, in the warm and personable Logan Square neighborhood. Outside of coding and writing, he enjoys traveling, reading, studying foreign languages, drawing, sailing, gaming, building robots to entertain the cats, and inventing cocktails as Chief Mixologist at Jo Snow Syrups. He is currently working on a children’s story featuring a fox named Cyril Frolix. He also writes poetry for his wife, sole member of the Poem-of-the-Month Club.

You can find out more by going to:

Facebook
Twitter
The Upload page
Goodreads




I received a paperback book in order to do this review. All opinions expressed are my own honest opinions. For more information please check my Disclosure Statement. Our giveaways are in no way sponsored or promoted by Facebook.

26 comments :

The Frugal Greenish Mama said...

My husband loves Sci-Fi so this sounds like a book that he would enjoy reading. He loves to relax and unwind with a good book at night.

Masshole Mommy said...

I love sci-fi, but my husband really LOVES it, so I betcha he would love this book. I might have to get it for him now.

Eat To Live said...

My Daughter is really into Sci-Fi, me not so much any longer. I used to read a lot of science fiction, not sure why I don't any longer. This book sounds good though and who knows what will be able to happen with us and computers of the future.

Unknown said...

This looks like a great gift for my husband! Thank you for helping me with my Christmas gift list!

Casey said...

I was never a sci-fi fan until I read a few titles within the genre to better understand some of my students who were infatuated with it. While I never thought I would say this, this type of book is growing on me. I can appreciate that the author actually has really knowledge about technology and writing, so he would be the most likely candidate to churn out an excellent sci-fi book. Thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

This sounds like the perfect book for me! I love sci-fi and vitural reality type books!

The AnnMarie John said...

I'm not into these types of books unfortunately but my daughter is. She may like this.

Unknown said...

My boys would probably love this book. They are huge sci-fi reading fans and would totally get into it with their gaming "addiction". I probably would be just like you, lost until they started talking terms that made sense to me :P

Amberlee said...

I love Sci-fi books! I will have to check this out! It sounds like a good book!

Healy Harpster said...

You just give me an idea of what to buy this Christmas for my husband. He loved Sci-Fi for sure, he would like this book.

Unknown said...

I love a good scifi book! Especially throw some twists like the criminal background and Im hooked

Bobbi | Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen said...

My daughter is a gamer and loves all of the sci fi stuff. I can bet she would love a book like this.

Ashley Gill said...

I don't know that I would be interested in this book, but the book he is working on sounds like something my daughter would enjoy! She loves foxes and books.. Mix the 2, she'd love it even more!

Dawn said...

Not for me but my youngest two sons would enjoy it. They love Sci Fi and VR games

Anonymous said...

That would be crazy if they could give us virtual bodies, eek. I am not a gamer either, I might check this out still.

Sarah Bailey said...

Now I do like the sound of this it's not something I would straight away say I would go for but you have me very interested x

Unknown said...

Your Book Review of Upload by Mark McClelland sounds very intriguing. I love Sci Fi and enjoy thinking about how our world is evolving around us. I'm not usually one to read fiction but this is a great review. Nice post!

Pam said...

I am not a gamer and not a fan of sci-fi, but my son is for sure. I will have to tell him about this one.

Unknown said...

Not a fan of gaming, but the ending sounds very cool. Might have to check it out some day.

Unknown said...

I do not know if i would be able to get in to this book though it does sound very interesting :-)

Unknown said...

My husband would like this book I am more or a romantic book reader! But I will show my husband this and see what he says :D

Courtney Pies said...

I'm not a huge lover of sci-fi books, but my husband may enjoy this! I'll have to pass the name of the book along to him. Thanks for sharing!

DerrickMeister said...

I was intrigued by the sci-fi genre when I was younger and may have to get back into it after seeing some of the author's other works.

Katherine Bartlett said...

My husband used to read sci-fi all the time so I'll pass this to him!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a very interesting read, I'm not much for sci-fi, but I feel like I should check this out.

Mark McClelland said...

Thanks for the review. It's exciting to see so much interest in my book!

For those saying sci-fi isn't your thing, I've heard from many readers who don't typically read sci-fi that "Upload" felt different. The love story and exploration of the main character's troubled psychology make this a pretty "human" sci-fi novel. If you hit some thorny technological sections that don't really interest you, you have my permission to skim them! :)

Pam and Dawn, depending on how young your children are, I might steer you away from this book. I think of this as being a 14-and-up book, because of language and some sexual content.

 
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