Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Egmont (2012), 384 pages
Description
Thousands of years in the future, the divide between humanity and technology has become nearly unrecognizable. Each thought, each action is logged, coded, backed up. Data is as easily exchanged through the fiber-optic-like cables that extend from fingertips as it might be through ordinary conversation. It's a brave new world: A world that the Straker Tapes say is a result of many human "upgrades." But no one is sure whether the Straker Tapes are a work of fiction or an eerie peek into an unimaginable past. Nearly sixteen-year-old Peter Vincent has been raised to believe that everything that the backward Strakerites cling to is insane--an utter waste of time and potential. Since his father is David Vincent, genius inventor of the artificial bees that saved the world's crops and prevented massive famine, how could Peter believe anything else? But when Peter meets Alpha, a Strakerite his own age, suddenly the theories about society-upgrades don't sound quite so crazy, especially when she shows him evidence that another upgrade is imminent. And worse, there may be a conspiracy by the leaders of the establishment to cover it up. A conspiracy spearheaded by Peter's own father. Gripping and full of unexpected twists, The Future We Left Behind takes the unsettling questions raised in Human.4 and flips them entirely. What if we knew that the very way we live was about to be changed in an instant, and we could stop it? And what if everything we are sure we know is entirely wrong?… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Leov
Like 0.4 Mike Lancaster opens a collection of files created by Peter Vincent. Peter lives in a world of luxury. Like his father, he is extraordinarily intelligent, but his father doesn't have much time for Peter. His Mum has apparently dissapeared. Peter falls for a girl called Alpha and she begins
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to introduce him to the Straker files; files from a source that is dismissed by many as fantasy, but opens up a world he had never considered existed. But, will it lead him to a dangerous situation and what will he be able to do when his whole world is threatened. This book follows on from Lancasters earlier novel, '0.4', when suddenly the world changed and people suddenly couldn't see those around them. Great for those in their teens who love science fiction or computer novels Show Less
LibraryThing member DarkFaerieTales
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Lancaster shows us that technology isn’t all that its cracked up to be.
Opening Sentence: The story of Peter Vincent might easily have never been heard.
Review:
Technology plays an integral part of our lives. In The Future We Left Behind, the follow
The Future We Left Behind takes place thousands of years after the events of Human.4. According to the Straker Tapes, humans have been upgraded many times. From 0.4 to 1.0, humans are different, but only a select few still believe that 0.4 actually happened and not in fact a work of fiction. Young Peter Vincent quickly realizes that life doesn’t reveal everything as it should. From living a mundane life, Peter yearns for something more, something beyond all of the science.
A group of believers, who have dubbed themselves the Strakerites, are the only ones who believe the Straker Tapes happened. Lancaster introduces us to new characters, who each bring a different level of fiction to the story. Uncovering truths, especially the mysteries of human upgrades, and revealing who is and isn’t involved brings a strong message throughout the book.
Peter lived a normal life, according to the standards set in his era. His father taught him a lot, school taught him about the importance of science, but deep down Peter believes there is something more. After the Strakerites contact Peter, he developed a new way of thinking. He becomes a different person analyzing what the world has deemed important and question what should really be important. Peter is a good protagonist, level headed and open-minded. He was someone that I instantly connected with, and his need for information and knowledge was an added bonus. Lancaster wrote him well, giving him different layers, each one for a different kind of reader.
Lancaster’s world has evolved, but there is still familiar pieces that act as the skeleton of this new futuristic world. Everything revolves around the tapes and the upgrades, but there’s something about the world that stands out. It’s intriguing in a dystopian way, having this “one-mind” mentality, taking in information without questioning it. In our day and age, Lancaster makes The Future We Left Behind very relevant, showcasing the flaws of technology as well as the imperfections.
Upgrades and those who do not upgrade would be another element of the world. Those who exist and those who choose not to, all coexisting in Lancaster’s story. The Future We Left Behind has a different tone throughout the book. Where Human.4 set the pacing, The Future We Left Behind completely surpassed it. It can act like a separate book altogether, having it’s own identity, but I’m glad it was a follow-up.
I enjoyed this, much more than I expected to. There are compelling issues that Lancaster forces a reader to think about, and there are points of view that a reader is simply surprised to see. It is a fantastic read, and I highly urge you to read this soon.
Notable Scene:
The problem is we shouldn’t have trusted the Link to remember things the way they happened. Details can be changed, and memories edited.
History itself can be rewritten. You only need to change a word here, and event there. Even things like emphasis and importance can be up- or down-graded to make history say what they want it to say. To make it read how they want it to read.
My memories are no different. I remember things because I put them on the LInk. That’s what we all do.
But I can no longer be sure that what’s stored there is the truth.
FTC Advisory: EgmontUSA provided me with a copy of The Future We Left Behind. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Lancaster shows us that technology isn’t all that its cracked up to be.
Opening Sentence: The story of Peter Vincent might easily have never been heard.
Review:
Technology plays an integral part of our lives. In The Future We Left Behind, the follow
Show More
up book to Mike A. Lancaster’s Human.4, Lancaster takes us on a futuristic look at the differences between humanity and technology. I was really excited when I received this book. I love it when the topic brings a certain perspective into play. It was fascinating to see Human.4’s story unfold, and I couldn’t wait to dive into The Future We Left Behind.The Future We Left Behind takes place thousands of years after the events of Human.4. According to the Straker Tapes, humans have been upgraded many times. From 0.4 to 1.0, humans are different, but only a select few still believe that 0.4 actually happened and not in fact a work of fiction. Young Peter Vincent quickly realizes that life doesn’t reveal everything as it should. From living a mundane life, Peter yearns for something more, something beyond all of the science.
A group of believers, who have dubbed themselves the Strakerites, are the only ones who believe the Straker Tapes happened. Lancaster introduces us to new characters, who each bring a different level of fiction to the story. Uncovering truths, especially the mysteries of human upgrades, and revealing who is and isn’t involved brings a strong message throughout the book.
Peter lived a normal life, according to the standards set in his era. His father taught him a lot, school taught him about the importance of science, but deep down Peter believes there is something more. After the Strakerites contact Peter, he developed a new way of thinking. He becomes a different person analyzing what the world has deemed important and question what should really be important. Peter is a good protagonist, level headed and open-minded. He was someone that I instantly connected with, and his need for information and knowledge was an added bonus. Lancaster wrote him well, giving him different layers, each one for a different kind of reader.
Lancaster’s world has evolved, but there is still familiar pieces that act as the skeleton of this new futuristic world. Everything revolves around the tapes and the upgrades, but there’s something about the world that stands out. It’s intriguing in a dystopian way, having this “one-mind” mentality, taking in information without questioning it. In our day and age, Lancaster makes The Future We Left Behind very relevant, showcasing the flaws of technology as well as the imperfections.
Upgrades and those who do not upgrade would be another element of the world. Those who exist and those who choose not to, all coexisting in Lancaster’s story. The Future We Left Behind has a different tone throughout the book. Where Human.4 set the pacing, The Future We Left Behind completely surpassed it. It can act like a separate book altogether, having it’s own identity, but I’m glad it was a follow-up.
I enjoyed this, much more than I expected to. There are compelling issues that Lancaster forces a reader to think about, and there are points of view that a reader is simply surprised to see. It is a fantastic read, and I highly urge you to read this soon.
Notable Scene:
The problem is we shouldn’t have trusted the Link to remember things the way they happened. Details can be changed, and memories edited.
History itself can be rewritten. You only need to change a word here, and event there. Even things like emphasis and importance can be up- or down-graded to make history say what they want it to say. To make it read how they want it to read.
My memories are no different. I remember things because I put them on the LInk. That’s what we all do.
But I can no longer be sure that what’s stored there is the truth.
FTC Advisory: EgmontUSA provided me with a copy of The Future We Left Behind. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
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LibraryThing member MickyFine
This novel is the sequel to Human.4 aka 0.4.
In a distant future, humanity is different from how we know it. Humans are constantly connected to the Link getting all of their information through it,storing all of their memories on it, and interacting with each other through it. Peter Vincent is
This sequel is perfectly enjoyable as a science fiction novel and it gives the reader to truly explore the future of humanity hinted at in the footnotes of Human.4. However, at the same time, it misses the truly mind-bending twist that the first novel had making this sequel just slightly inferior. Despite falling short of the splendour of its predecessor, the book is still a ripping good read as we follow Peter as he attempts to unravel the mystery that entirely shatters how he perceives his life.
In a distant future, humanity is different from how we know it. Humans are constantly connected to the Link getting all of their information through it,storing all of their memories on it, and interacting with each other through it. Peter Vincent is
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perfectly content with this world until he meets Alpha. Then he discovers that his world may be more than it seems and that the Kyle Straker tapes may not be fiction after all.This sequel is perfectly enjoyable as a science fiction novel and it gives the reader to truly explore the future of humanity hinted at in the footnotes of Human.4. However, at the same time, it misses the truly mind-bending twist that the first novel had making this sequel just slightly inferior. Despite falling short of the splendour of its predecessor, the book is still a ripping good read as we follow Peter as he attempts to unravel the mystery that entirely shatters how he perceives his life.
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LibraryThing member VanyaDrum
NOTE: This is a book I requested from Netgalley.
Well, this book was definitely different from the ones I usually read. It had a LOT of sci-fi elements in it, along with dystopia. I hadn't read the prequel, but it didn't really matter. I breezed through it, because it was really good. But, I was
So, here we have a story about a different - should I say generation - of humans. Ones that have actual software operating system. Yeah, it's weird I know. What's more weird though is that that operating system gets upgrades. And some people seem to be immune to those upgrades so they are left behind. Thus the title.
The story is pretty simple, but it's quite intriguing. I found myself turning the pages pretty quickly, being hungry for more. And I loved how the main character, Peter Vincent, got the courage to break from the norm he had been expected to follow, and just do what he believed was right. He threw away the bright "future" that he was supposed to experience, and turned back to look at the past. Because there was a lot to learn from the past.
I think The Future We Left Behind is a nice relaxing read. If you're into sci-fi dystopia stories, you should definitely check it out.
Well, this book was definitely different from the ones I usually read. It had a LOT of sci-fi elements in it, along with dystopia. I hadn't read the prequel, but it didn't really matter. I breezed through it, because it was really good. But, I was
Show More
kind of confused of the ending - it raised more questions than it answered, which sometimes is annoying. Like in this case. I'd definitely be on the lookout for the next installment though. So, here we have a story about a different - should I say generation - of humans. Ones that have actual software operating system. Yeah, it's weird I know. What's more weird though is that that operating system gets upgrades. And some people seem to be immune to those upgrades so they are left behind. Thus the title.
The story is pretty simple, but it's quite intriguing. I found myself turning the pages pretty quickly, being hungry for more. And I loved how the main character, Peter Vincent, got the courage to break from the norm he had been expected to follow, and just do what he believed was right. He threw away the bright "future" that he was supposed to experience, and turned back to look at the past. Because there was a lot to learn from the past.
I think The Future We Left Behind is a nice relaxing read. If you're into sci-fi dystopia stories, you should definitely check it out.
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LibraryThing member Pinniped23
After reading 0.4, which I enjoyed with it's different writing style, I decided to take a leap into the world of 1.4.
I delightfully found this book just as entertaining as the first and read to whole thing from back to front in a short amount of time. I found the lists and notes a fruitful addition
I was however confused a little by the ending as it left everything open in my opinion. That may have been the authors intention. Needless to say, if a follow-on to this was published I would indeed to reading it.
I delightfully found this book just as entertaining as the first and read to whole thing from back to front in a short amount of time. I found the lists and notes a fruitful addition
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to the diary entries of the main character. I was however confused a little by the ending as it left everything open in my opinion. That may have been the authors intention. Needless to say, if a follow-on to this was published I would indeed to reading it.
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LibraryThing member pussreboots
Published in the United States as The Future We Left Behind, 1.4 by Mike A. Lancaster is the sequel to 0.4. The events of the original human upgrade described by Kyle Straker on his cassette tapes are years in the past.
Peter Vincent, the son of a man who designed a robotic bee after the original
At the fringe of all of this are the Strakerites, the ones who don't or can't embrace the technology. Through a high school friendship, Peter has his eyes opened to their way of life, and possibly a more sinister truth, both past and future.
Normally I shy away from sequels that essentially revisit the same story. But Peter Vincent's voice is so different from Kyle's that it was fascinating to get inside the mind of someone who is a Human.4, and the son of someone famous, thus giving him privilege and access to things that Kyle didn't.
Lancaster's next book .wav looks at mind control through subliminal messages in music. Sounds like fun. It's being released in 2015.
Peter Vincent, the son of a man who designed a robotic bee after the original
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bees died. He lives in a world where everything can be personalized through the threads living inside everyone. People can record and live blog with just a thought. They can change how the world looks to them.At the fringe of all of this are the Strakerites, the ones who don't or can't embrace the technology. Through a high school friendship, Peter has his eyes opened to their way of life, and possibly a more sinister truth, both past and future.
Normally I shy away from sequels that essentially revisit the same story. But Peter Vincent's voice is so different from Kyle's that it was fascinating to get inside the mind of someone who is a Human.4, and the son of someone famous, thus giving him privilege and access to things that Kyle didn't.
Lancaster's next book .wav looks at mind control through subliminal messages in music. Sounds like fun. It's being released in 2015.
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LibraryThing member Rempala
Very interesting storyline.
LibraryThing member LarissaBookGirl
The Straker Tapes were recorded nearly a thousand years ago and although the record has survived, although there are those who believe in these events with increasing numbers, the sad truth is that this is nothing more then a hoax, a dream with no scientific proof to back up these claims. This is
The Link has existed for as long as anyone can remember. It connects us all to each other with little more then a thought, it stores our memories, records our thoughts, contains our history, it defines who we are and the world we live in. But the Link is not limitless, not infallible, and not unable to be hacked. Memories can be altered, thoughts can be stolen and history can be rewritten. When who we are can change in an instant, all we can do is tell our story and hope we are remembered.
1.4 is an upgrade from the Straker Tapes to the Vincent Files. Although set in the future where the people are different, the story is essentially the same. The frightening truth behind our very existence, behind the evolution of humans and the next stage to come is as thought provoking and compelling to learn as it was the first time around. An exceptional science fiction story every bit as extraordinary as 0.4.
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what Peter Vincent believes because it is what his father has taught him to believe. But what if everything he believed was a lie?The Link has existed for as long as anyone can remember. It connects us all to each other with little more then a thought, it stores our memories, records our thoughts, contains our history, it defines who we are and the world we live in. But the Link is not limitless, not infallible, and not unable to be hacked. Memories can be altered, thoughts can be stolen and history can be rewritten. When who we are can change in an instant, all we can do is tell our story and hope we are remembered.
1.4 is an upgrade from the Straker Tapes to the Vincent Files. Although set in the future where the people are different, the story is essentially the same. The frightening truth behind our very existence, behind the evolution of humans and the next stage to come is as thought provoking and compelling to learn as it was the first time around. An exceptional science fiction story every bit as extraordinary as 0.4.
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LibraryThing member jwitt33
I didn't read the first book in this series, 4.0, but was able to follow the story just fine. I think the author did a good job working the back story in without taking away from this book.
I don't know how to describe this book without giving away too much, so I'll be brief. This story takes place
I loved the format of this book, in the form of a link diary that explained everything that happened from the point of view of Peter, the son of a brilliant scientist, who doesn't exactly want to follow in his father's footsteps, as he learns things about his father and his beliefs that turn his world upside down. He and his friend, Alpha, investigate, and what they find out is way beyond what they thought they would find. I loved Peter and Alpha and their friendship and budding romance. I thought the pacing was excellent and the world building was spot on.
5/5 stars - highly recommend!
*** I would like to thank NetGalley, Egmont USA, and Mike A Lancaster for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I don't know how to describe this book without giving away too much, so I'll be brief. This story takes place
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thousands of years in the future and technology is hugely advanced, as would be expected, But did it advance too quickly, perhaps with help, or did the human race just evolve to this point organically? I loved the format of this book, in the form of a link diary that explained everything that happened from the point of view of Peter, the son of a brilliant scientist, who doesn't exactly want to follow in his father's footsteps, as he learns things about his father and his beliefs that turn his world upside down. He and his friend, Alpha, investigate, and what they find out is way beyond what they thought they would find. I loved Peter and Alpha and their friendship and budding romance. I thought the pacing was excellent and the world building was spot on.
5/5 stars - highly recommend!
*** I would like to thank NetGalley, Egmont USA, and Mike A Lancaster for the opportunity to read and review this book.
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Language
Original language
English
Physical description
384 p.; 5.16 inches
ISBN
1405258187 / 9781405258180
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DDC/MDS
| 823.92 |