What do you get when mixing one part thriller,
one part suspense, with a tad of Sci-Fi frosting? Well, in a word: Brilliance.
STORY:
It's 1980 and along with bad hair, negotiable
music, and super loud clothes, came children—approximately one percent of the
population—who have an edge over normal society. These children or "Brilliants" seem
to have a knack for understanding data, picking up patterns, and seeing the
world in numbers—much like Neo from the Matrix.
Among these Brilliants is man named Nick Cooper, a Federal Agent, who
has quite the ability to hunt down his fellow Abnormals. His latest target is the most wanted man in
America, but catching this Brilliant comes at a cost. Nick will have to turn his back on everything
he believes in and loves just to get close.
Heightened perceptions, bombings, strategic moves, and a bit of Sci-Fi
ensue.
THOUGHTS:
Marcus Sakey's (Author) Brilliance can sit on
Sci-Fi shelves, but its main genres are suspense and thriller. Yes, there are "special" people
running around, doing extraordinary things, but it isn't as crazy as you
think. The story stays grounded throughout
most of the book, offering a plot more along the lines of any crime drama out
there with twists and turns at every corner.
Nick Cooper (protagonist) is attempting to catch the number one
terrorist in America and this is his story of how far he'll go to get the job
done. Does that mean Sci-Fi enthusiasts
will hate it? Not at all. Just be prepared for a story that doesn't
contain flying spaceships, talking droids, or even hover-boards. This story takes place today with a slightly
different past then we have now. And
these "Brilliants" aren't powered like the Justice League
either. Superman isn't giving orders
while flying around the Earth, and Batman isn't saving Gotham by fighting large
crocodiles and silly clowns.
"Man, one little shot of Kryptonite juice and you'd think I laser-beamed Lois' parents. You know, we haven't flown together
in months. It's always, 'I have a headache, Clark' or 'I'm not in mood, Clark.'"
"I know, buddy. I know. Let's get you back to the cave to sober up. Whad'ya say?"
POWERS:
You might have seen the description of the
novel and read about a female Brilliant who can become invisible. First off, get Susan Storm out of your head,
because she doesn't have the power of invisibility—it's more along the lines of
cleverness. In fact all the traits of
every Brilliant are just increased brainpower—heightened intelligence if you
would. She's invisible because she can
map out ahead of time where people are going to look or where cameras will be
recording, and she'll happen to be somewhere else—hence
"invisible." Nick Cooper, on
the other hand, has the ability to see patterns in body movement, which gives
him an advantage when reading people or when in a fight (If you know exactly where a fist will be thrown, hopefully you're smart
enough to not put your face in its way).
So if you want to see people with X-ray vision, dudes donning capes, or
women with magical lassos, your best bet is to pick up a comic book. But…before you go stomping off like a six
year old that didn't get the new Barbie, there's much more to this story than
its description.
WHY THE ABILITIES & ALTERNATE PAST?
The story begins in the 1980's with these
"special" children being born and the nation becoming fascinated, yet
scared of these abilities all at the same time.
Imagine if there were people who could write the code to break into any
security or see the stock market as a simple game of numbers. Any government would see them as a threat,
but also as a great asset to have on their side. And this is where the political undertones of
the narrative come in. Marcus Sakey may
have written these Brilliants into the story because one: a little Sci-Fi is
always fun to include in a plot. And
two: they're an easy way to avoid using a race (or religion) from today as a
terrorist organization. If an author
happens to use people that actually exist, it will likely piss off a few—if not
many—readers in the process. But
changing our history and making the conflict Normals versus Abnormals, you have
an instant crowd pleaser, because everyone is fictional. Is the book still somewhat political? Sure.
There are underlining issues weaved throughout the text, making you
analyze our own current situation, but only if you're really looking for them.
MORE THOUGHTS:
Do yourself a favor and at least read part one
of Brilliance. If you hate it after
those first hundred pages, then go ahead and chuck it at the book seller. But you won't do that, because the story gets
turned up to eleven by that point. Part
two begins the first change in the typical plot and it won't be the last. When you first start reading the book, you'll
think you have an inkling of where the story is headed, but where it ends is
somewhere you'll never expect.
Brilliance also has a ton of heart. The narrative has a lot to say about family
values and the lengths you'll go to keep your children safe. But having a family you love comes at a
cost. It's the perfect opportunity for
someone to control your actions. And
this aspect of the tale brings immense depth to the main protagonist. Nick Cooper not only wants to do what's right
for his country, but he also wants to do what's right for his family and
friends. And when one contradicts the
other, what choice do you make?
CONCLUSION:
Brilliance could have been written without most
of the Sci-Fi elements, but having the story contain a futuristic vibe, helps
add uniqueness and charm to what would be an otherwise everyday thriller. With suspense, humor, great dialogue,
fantastic writing, and political undertones, this novel will make you turn the
pages until there are no more words to be read.
Here's hoping the second book has just as many surprises as the first.
4
out of 5 stars (minus a star for a
slightly slow / cliché Part One)
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