Join

January 25, 2016
In Toutonghi’s debut novel, “joins” are entities comprising pooled consciousnesses shared by any number of individuals, or “drives.” The social and interpersonal ramifications of this imaginative form of personhood are duly explored in the first part of this novel, but the going is not easy. The attempts to explain an essentially mysterious process can be tedious, and drives with names such as Chance 6 and Leap 2 are hard to keep track of. Also frustrating is the author’s penchant for eliding the obvious—such as when two drives of a single join are having sex, and Toutonghi ignores the fact that, basically, the join is having sex with itself. The latter half of the book, which focuses on disastrous climate changes on Earth and the chasm that exists between joins and “solos” (those whose consciousness isn’t connected), is much more compelling, presenting two radically differing visions of humanity’s future. Unfortunately, the most intriguing and thought-provoking issues are raised only at the conclusion, and even then, they’re given too-short shrift.

February 15, 2016
A heady sci-fi thriller about a world-altering technology--and its hidden costs. Chance just got bad news. One of his five bodies, or "drives," has cancer. But when he's introduced to a "join" named Rope who knows a little something about losing a drive, all of Chance is soon in mortal danger. Meanwhile, there's something weird going on with Chance's best friend, Leap, whose bodies are experiencing strange twitches that she isn't aware of. In a world where couples or small groups can join to create a single personality that experiences life through two, or five, or more sets of eyes, those who can afford the fees can essentially live forever. Physical death becomes a temporary trauma. But Chance and Leap are about to learn that there are hidden agendas, and hidden dangers, behind this utopian facade. There's a lot going on here, including a fascinating technology with far-reaching implications, and a lot of big philosophical questions about the nature of identity. The sociopathic Rope makes a great villain, but the plot too often veers away from the danger he presents. And because our heroes, Chance and Leap, are something more than human, they're often something less than relatable. Debut novelist Toutonghi has attempted something very ambitious and almost succeeds in pulling it off--he's one to watch. A promising debut that aims high and doesn't quite get there, this one will appeal most to hard-core sci-fi fans who crave new ideas.

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April 1, 2016

You are never alone, and you will never die. The concept of Join technology is that multiple people connect to one another to create a single consciousness, one person's mind spread among multiple bodies or "drives." Joining creates a consciousness that is formed from all of the people attached, complete with their memories, habits, and skills. Chance and Leap are friends and separate joins in fulfilling and intellectually stimulating careers. One of Chance's drives is a Join doctor who reaches out to a malfunctioning and dangerous Join, causing an irreversible and devastating domino effect on both Chance's and Leap's lives. As a result, the two must flee to an underground network in an attempt to stop the ultimate destruction of themselves and those closest to them. VERDICT First novelist Toutonghi builds a complicated and technology-heavy realm with ethical components relevant in today's society. However, most of the story line is concerned with character and setting development with less focus on the more engaging philosophical dilemmas with which Chance and Leap (and all of humanity) have to grapple. Enthusiasts of futuristic technology and sf writers such as Philip K. Dick will find this ambitious work thought provoking.--Jennifer Funk, McKendree Univ. Lib., Lebanon, IL

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2016
Would you willingly share your individuality if it led to immortality? Toutonghi's thought-provoking debut explores the concept of living through multiple bodies and what it means to be human. Environmental catastrophes have decimated much of earth, and megastorms continue unabated, yet humankind has never been closer to reaching the next level of evolution and overcoming death. Join technology offers the means for several individuals to merge into a group mind, in essence attaining immortality as the mind continues on, even when the body dies. Though inhabiting distinct bodies, Join drives experience and draws upon the knowledge, skills, and physical capabilities of each participant. Three Joins Chance, a group of five; Leap, a group of four; and Rope, a group of indeterminate number with a murderous agendabecome entwined in a suspenseful struggle over problems resulting from Joining. The dizzying complexity of their interactions are philosophical as well as dangerous and may determine the future of civilization and earth itself. Fans of literary speculative fiction will enjoy pondering the challenging issues and ideas posed by this assortment of perspectives.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)