The Human Blend

by Alan Dean Foster

Series: The Tipping Point Trilogy (1)

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Fiction. Science Fiction. Suspense. HTML: BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Alan Dean Foster's Body, Inc. In this first novel of a thrilling new series set in our near future, New York Times bestselling author Alan Dean Foster reveals a place where criminals are punished through genetic engineering and body manipulation--and poses profound questions about what it means to be human. Given his name because radical surgery has reduced him to preternatural thinness, Whispr is a thug. In a dark alley in Savannah, Whispr and his partner in crime, Jiminy Cricket, murder what they take to be a random tourist in order to steal his artificial hand. But the victim is also carrying an unusual silver thread, which Whispr and Jiminy grab as well. Chance later deposits a wounded Whispr at the clinic of Dr. Ingrid Seastrom. Powerful forces have been searching for Whispr since he acquired the mysterious thread, and Jiminy has vanished. All Whispr wants to do is sell the thread, and when he offers to split the profits with Ingrid, she makes an astonishing discovery. So begins the formidable partnership between the Harvard-educated physician and the street-smart thief--as long as they can elude the enhanced assassins that are tracking them. .… (more)

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I found this one while browsing through ebooks. I haven't read anything by Alan Dean Foster previously, though I suppose I will be now since this is the first of a trilogy and it ends terribly abruptly.

In this urban science fiction setting, the lines between human and machine are blurred by technology that uses surgical manipulation to improve and splice skills and abilities into humans in a process called Melding. These Melds range from cosmetic make-overs to physical enhancements meant to increase speed, sight, environmental interactions, and so on. Those who elect to not partake of these surgeries are called Naturals, though most humans with the financial means take advantage of Melding.

The storyline is a fairly straightforward urban action thriller with spurts of violence, science technology infodumps, and tenuous flirting between the main characters, but it's a fun if not terribly thought-provoking adventure. (

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resoundingjoy | Jan 1, 2021 |

I was disappointed that AD Foster wrote this first of a trilogy with blatant intention of leaving you hanging. It could not possibly considered a stand alone book. It seems now that so many books are written in the same way just to keep you hanging on waiting for the next book. Well, it is not worth waiting for the next book. As a matter of fact, I will try to go out of my way to avoid anything in a series unless each book is a stand alone. (

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Foghorn-Leghorn | Jun 5, 2016 |

Wow. I thought Foster would be a much better writer than this The story idea is good but the writing is hackish. Hundred of manuscripts better than this one are rejected everyday. (

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ndpmcIntosh | Mar 21, 2016 |

Substance: Fast-moving techno-thriller about artificially-changed human bodies and how that affects the culture. Plus a mystery about a mysterious impossible substance.

Style: Foster has a highly-developed artificial narrative that injects some arch humor into fairly standard action adventure. Having tried several of his books now, I like the substance but not the style.

Probably won't finish the series.

Other review here:
http://www.bookspotcentral.com/2012/07/19/body-inc-tipping-point-2-by-alan-dean-... (

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librisissimo | Oct 6, 2015 |

It stinks we never learn what's on this thread thing. I guess you're supposed to want to read the rest of the impending series, but I just don't care that much. (

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ptdilloway | Nov 21, 2013 |

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The Human Blend

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For Allen Grodsky and Bill Skrzyniarz, who prove that Shakespeare was wrong

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"Let's riffle the dead man." Jiminy scowled at the newly won corpse and hopped to it.

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Fiction. Science Fiction. Suspense. HTML:

BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Alan Dean Foster's Body, Inc.

In this first novel of a thrilling new series set in our near future, New York Times bestselling author Alan Dean Foster reveals a place where criminals are punished through genetic engineering and body manipulation--and poses profound questions about what it means to be human.

Given his name because radical surgery has reduced him to preternatural thinness, Whispr is a thug. In a dark alley in Savannah, Whispr and his partner in crime, Jiminy Cricket, murder what they take to be a random tourist in order to steal his artificial hand. But the victim is also carrying an unusual silver thread, which Whispr and Jiminy grab as well.

Chance later deposits a wounded Whispr at the clinic of Dr. Ingrid Seastrom. Powerful forces have been searching for Whispr since he acquired the mysterious thread, and Jiminy has vanished. All Whispr wants to do is sell the thread, and when he offers to split the profits with Ingrid, she makes an astonishing discovery. So begins the formidable partnership between the Harvard-educated physician and the street-smart thief--as long as they can elude the enhanced assassins that are tracking them.

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