Tal M. Klein

“In 2147 governments still existed, but they were mostly for show, like the royal family in Great Britain had been for several centuries. This began in the twenty-first century, when the US Supreme Court ruled that corporations had the same rights as people.”

The year is 2147. Teleportation is the main mode of transportation. The aging process has been slowed down and there is no longer any diseases or illnesses. All rosy sunshine, right? Not quite...

Enter Joel Byram. An average guy who show more works, training artificial intelligence engines to act more human. He loves 1980s New Wave. His wife is an executive for International Transport. IT holds the monopoly on teleportation. When the couple decide to go to Costa Rico, for a second honeymoon, Joel is accidentally duplicated while transporting. This is where the story, kicks into high-gear and our smartass protaganist, along with his doppleganger, find themselves being pursued by several dark, dangerous organizations.
I am not going any further than this. No spoilers here. This is a fun debut. Smart, fast-paced Sci-Fi. Fans of Dark Matter and The Martian should also find this an entertaining, page-turning romp through a future world. show less

Books written in the first person can be good or tiresome to read. The main character, Joel Byram, telling the story in The Punch Escrow is a smart-ass that I quickly began to dislike. As the story developed, he began to realize what was important in life and this recognition led to a maturity that took him from self-centered smart-ass to heroic and caring husband.
The story is about three competing factions fighting over the use of a new transportation technology. Our main character is in show more the middle with these factions; all are trying to take advantage of him in order to suit their own agendas. From chase scenes, near certain death events, human duplication, to mad scientist threats and secret sects, Joel manages to navigate his way out of all of them as the story unfolds. A little far-fetched, but that is what fiction is supposed to be. We read fiction as an escape from reality. Who would want to read fiction that mirrors real life? How boring!

What happens next, The Punch Escrow is a story that keeps you wondering. It’s sci-fi and thriller wrapped up into a book. An easy read, the story does get a little bizarre when you think about the number of crises the main character had to deal with in a 24-hour period. Other than that, it was an enjoyment to read. show less

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC!

And a very special thanks to the author for writing Hard-SF in a really fun and engaging way. This is often much harder than it might seem at a casual glance.

Fortunately, the light tone and the clear explanations of the science prevailed and served only to propel the story forward. And what kind of story is it? It's a fast-paced thriller! And no, before you ask, this isn't a clone of [b:Dark Matter|27833670|Dark Matter|Blake show more Crouch|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1472119680s/27833670.jpg|43161998]. Far from it. We're dealing with a better version of Star Trek's transporter problem from a quantum entanglement viewpoint, and far from getting bogged down in an introductory reading of such a story, (which has been done a lot), we jump right ahead into the social and technological implications of a society that has come to accept it and the actuarial realities of checksumming your torrented self across great distances. How boring, right? But boring gets people moving, and moving, and moving... aaaand ... I really shouldn't spoil this, but all the cool stuff happens after the poop hits the fan from after this point.

Copy, paste, delete. We know the concept. No problem. Now skip the last step. Hello, me! :)

The author carries two PoV's wonderfully and keeps it light even when really bad things are happening. I loved it, from the marital problems to the chase, the ambulance, the AI, the conspiracy, the nutjobs AND the nutjobs, and of course, arguing with yourself. :) I like to think that I wouldn't have any such problems with myself, but let's be realistic here. A perfect teleportation clone is going to be competing with your resources right off the bat. There's a lot of real conflicts right there.

So, bravo! for keeping it real.

This was a very nice surprise. I asked for this one just on a whim and I am very pleased I did. I totally recommend this for all kinds of clone-fans who love thrillers. This one happens to be a lot better than most and I can say it feels rather more original than most. PLUS! It has the benefit of sticking close to real science to the best of our current understanding!

The same goes for all the multitudes of the great little idea-gems we visit in this future world. The carbon-sucking mosquitos are a delight. So are the self-driving cars that alert each other on emergency channels whenever some monkey is taking the wheel. :) Scary. :) show less

Debut author Tal M. Klein’s The Punch Escrow combines pop culture, philosophy, religion, and a whole lot of physics to recount the harrowing adventures of Joel Byram, an everyman living in the twenty-second century with his wife, Sylvia. When a routine teleport goes wrong, Joel finds himself in double trouble (quite literally) with his wife’s employer, International Transport, the powerful corporation that popularized teleportation. When Sylvia is kidnapped by a megalomaniacal co-worker, show more Joel must rely on his resourcefulness and witty turns of phrase to save her.

Joel is the ideal narrator, as he exudes charisma. His proclivity to self-deprecation amuses, and the engaging scientific anecdotes he delivers both inform and fuel deep thought. While Sylvia spends less time on the page, her connection to International Transport plays a critical role in the plot, and Joel’s love for her, despite their marital problems, means she’s never far from his mind. A few of the most intriguing characters come in the shape of non-sentient life forms. Joel’s cavalier interactions with artificial intelligence, common fixtures in his daily routine, grace the narrative with a humorous undertone, and bring to life many philosophical quandaries.

Chapters jump back and forth from explanatory, often amusing, asides to action-packed segments which move the plot forward. While occasionally disorienting, the unique structure still entertains, as well as allows Klein to showcase his impressive array of cultural, scientific and literary references. Religious text surfaces at opportune moments throughout the narrative, which makes for a stimulating segue into the novel’s major theme: technology and morality.

The novel encourages its readers to reflect deeply on the power of technology in society. How much do unwitting consumers need to know about the technology they use? Can technology be immoral? And most importantly, how far is too far? Joel and Sylvia must grapple with these questions, particularly as they discover the hidden truths behind teleportation.

Klein adeptly maneuvers hard science, a shadowy corporate future, and a highly questionable method of transportation in his compelling science fiction-thriller. The Punch Escrow may not always be an easy read, but it will certainly compel you to reflect on the role of technology in your life.

Disclaimer: I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. show less