Fascinating and inventive concept for a story that will span the universe. Bob, our protagonist, comes upon a windfall of money. He is a sensible engineer, so one of his first stops is at a place where they will freeze his body after he dies and then bring him back to life when a cure is found for whatever kills him in the future.

On the way home, he is hit and killed by a bus.

So that’s how Bob’s day is going. He wakes up centuries later, but is not in a new body or even in his own body. His mind is part of a super-computer and guess what: the world outside isn’t doing too good. The scientists who brought Bob “back” need him to control a space craft that will turn the tide of the planetary conflicts. They’ve brought others “back” but apparently, they didn’t cope well with their new reality and went crazy. Bob is holding steady, though. He enjoys being able to think so quickly and having access to so much information.

As tensions rise in the outside world, Bob makes a decision that will change the course of his future, and the future of all humanity.

Riveting, funny, and full of science and a plethora of Star Trek references as well as a sincere look at humanity, this first novel in what is now (as of 2024) a 5 book series is definitely worth reading. I devoured it in 2017 and cannot believe I never wrote a review! I listened and the narrator, Ray Porter, is outstanding. You know him from his BRILLIANT narration of Project Hail Mary.

Very highly recommended as a single book, and as a series. 5/5 stars because I’ve read it twice and it holds up. If you don’t enjoy scientific explanations of things and people figuring things out, you’ll still enjoy the book, but not quite as much (4/5 for you, probably).