Technology and invention now allow a human to shift their consciousness into an android frame. Genetic engineering has made mankind into a form much better that past generations enjoyed. The solutions to problems that once plagued the populace, like aging and death, can be bought for the right price. Unfortunately, greed and the thirst for domination was not eradicated from the Transhumanist population with all their intricate genetic enhancements. These post-Earth exiles care not for “Fleshie” populations, but rather, maintaining their opulent and unending lives. But humans are proving too stubborn to die out or to allow themselves to be eradicated without a fight. The divide between Transhumans and Pure Humans is growing, even as the ranks of the Royal Council are divided. A few intrepid humans dig in to fight against the government machine to defend their right to a life free from interference and control, some tactics subtle and others quite overt. Regardless of which group survives the interplanetary upheaval and prevails, there will be casualties.
Hard Kill is a tightly packed military sci-fi that examines the strained relationship between humans and those that have progressed to become something different. Eckel’s writing style is mechanically clinical, lending itself well to the military incursions and the cool view the Transhumanists take of one another and of their human counterparts. A large cast with a full complement of high-tech equipment at their disposal will keep readers on their toes. At its core, Hard Kill is a meticulously plotted and intelligently delivered political thriller cloaked in all the accouterments of a grand science fiction adventure. Although more personal backstory could soften this hardened wartime story, the basest motivations of greed and vengeance lay a solid foundation for this well-crafted adventure. Thoughtful and precise, Hard Kill will satisfy the appetites of even the most demanding science fiction readers.
