Published: Dec. 24, 2009
Words: 112,581 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781452309903

Short description

A cyber detective succeeds in his latest drugs bust and meets the girl of his dreams on body-swap vacation but then loses everything when kidnapped for disposable labour in a deadly desert mine. His girl has suffered the same fate and they risk all to get away. Just when they think they've made it, they find the miners' bodies are possessed by alien hosts and they have to fight again for freedom.

Extended description

Data detective Ben thinks he’s succeeded in his latest drugs bust. Now he needs to find some different answers: how did humans use cloning to populate other planets across the Milky Way; how can we communicate almost instantaneously between one star system and the next?

After much research and watching old movies, he also discovers that FTL drives never quite worked, suspended animation was too much like being dead, hyperspace was never found, and matter transporters still make a mess.

Ben takes a holiday, exchanging mind and body with Lori, the partner of his dreams and is guaranteed that it’s a return ticket. Instead he finds himself being used as slave labour on a hostile desert planet where life is cheap and he’s expendable. To make matters worse, he’s lost all memory of how he got there and of who he really is.

The only person who can change him from victim to victor is Ben himself. Unfortunately, he does not know this, until an accident gives him his mind back. Foll.. (Read more) Data detective Ben thinks he’s succeeded in his latest drugs bust. Now he needs to find some different answers: how did humans use cloning to populate other planets across the Milky Way; how can we communicate almost instantaneously between one star system and the next?

After much research and watching old movies, he also discovers that FTL drives never quite worked, suspended animation was too much like being dead, hyperspace was never found, and matter transporters still make a mess.

Ben takes a holiday, exchanging mind and body with Lori, the partner of his dreams and is guaranteed that it’s a return ticket. Instead he finds himself being used as slave labour on a hostile desert planet where life is cheap and he’s expendable. To make matters worse, he’s lost all memory of how he got there and of who he really is.

The only person who can change him from victim to victor is Ben himself. Unfortunately, he does not know this, until an accident gives him his mind back. Follow the exploits of Ben and Lori as they fight to keep their knowledge secret. Can they succeed in their battle to escape without alerting their dangerous fellow crew members? And even if they do get away, can they reach home without finding even more trouble? Doubtful!
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Adult-content rating: This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers 17 and under, and which may be offensive to some readers of all ages. For more information, see the Support FAQ.

Tags

science fiction, cloning, detective, alien, cyberpunk, first contact, sf, colonies, colony, clone

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Reviews

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Review by: Thor Farrow on April 02, 2012 :
An interesting concept, intelligently told and fun to read.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: William Zellmann on Sep. 23, 2011 :
An interesting read, well presented. Imaginative concepts are woven very smoothly into the narrative.
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Helen Smith on Feb. 12, 2011 :
This is a book of ideas. It's an intelligent, well-written sci-fi thriller told by a likeable first person narrator. The story - involving body-swapping holidays, mining for fuel ore, far-flung colonies, kidnapping - is engagingly told and, like the best sci-fi, it shows us a future that shines a light on our present; the characters struggle with questions of identity and memory while seeking to escape from the terrible drudgery of the daily toil. And, of course, there is always the hope of finding redemption through love. The world it is set in is confidently and convincingly portrayed; the technical details made me feel as if the author must have travelled to the future and worked in a job very much like the narrator's to be able to tell us so much about it. I found this book through a recommendation on the kindle forums and I'm glad I did. I enjoyed it and I look forward to reading more of this author's work.
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Rose Collum on Sep. 04, 2010 :
At a time when some publishers seem to think that SciFi does not sell books, this one will probably prove them wrong.

Many of these books only reflect the worst of us; blind anger, fear, suspicion and ultimately violence. But Passengers to Sentience is an intelligent read, and a different take on what can happen when mankind comes in contact with a newly discovered species.

I also like that Peter Salisbury weaves into the story some very nice technological advances. I work in a tech support department at a software company, and would definately like to have some of the tools written into the plot. God, please grant me one thing... the fingertip mouse.

I give this work five stars out of five for originality, and for fulfilling my dream of space colonization...at least in a literary way.
(reviewed the day of purchase)

Review by: Christine Andersen on March 18, 2010 :
After catching up on some classics, I tried Passengers to Sentience for a change. It was hard to put it down. The technology is woven into the narrative without intruding on the story, amazing as it is, so you can concentrate on what is going on and how it will all end.
Intriguing to think that we who grew up before the age of mobile phones and the Internet, and knew people who were alive when the Wright brothers flew, will be one of few generations that can still more or less identify with 19th century novels and yet accept this tale as possible.
For better or worse, human nature does not change much in spite of a little selection and a trip across the galaxy. The clever details provide plenty of food for thought afterwards, and it will be well worth a second read. Or a sequel? I am looking forward to the next adventure with Ben and Lori.
(reviewed long after purchase)

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