(Reviewed by JD Jung)
“These are the weapons of our future, gentlemen. Guns, airplanes are over. Steel and iron useless. Bioweapons, facial transplantation, these are the weapons of our time.”
This is what is referred to as The Binary Sequence, which integrates these new warfare techniques. The facial transplantation portion, researched and performed by the Transplant Working Group (TWG) , reports directly to and is funded by the Secretary of Defense. This technology will be of use to governments employing spies and counter spies.
There are still problems with these technologies, though. The vaccine for the bio weapons is not perfected yet. So why is the President adamant on immediately testing these weapons?
As far as the face transplants go, the recipient can’t be in temperatures over 80 degrees Fahrenheit or the face will peel off and the damage will be irreversible. Also the face isn’t seamless. However, Dr. Tom Grabowski was working on a drug to eliminate scars. Unfortunately, he mysteriously died of a heart attack. Could someone be seeking the patent on this?
Another member of TWG, Dr. Matthew MacAulay, was hijacked at gunpoint into performing a face transplant on an unknown patient. When the procedure was over, a clean up group came in. Were they special ops or someone in the government?
MacAulay doesn’t just want to get to the bottom of this, but also wants to find the truth about his friend Tom’s death.
More deaths occur, even to the point that MacAulay is suspect. Why are these people being murdered and why is someone trying to frame him?
All of these questions keep us, the readers, on edge. The Face Transplant takes us on a wild ride through espionage, personal conflicts and the world of technology. There is so much going on with many possible scenarios (and heated temperatures) that keep us totally engaged. However, the book’s major strength also contributes to one of its weaknesses. With all that’s going on with and to so many people, your head will spin. Some of the expeditions as well as characters could have been left out. It was just too much. Also some grammatical inconsistencies leave the reader confused as to who is speaking in each paragraph.
That said, I would still recommend The Face Transplant for those who enjoy suspense and espionage with varied possible plots and villains. If you’re not sure if you enjoy science-fiction, this is a good place to start as you will just be dipping your toes into this genre.
