Alterations

Alterations is a quick, fun read. Like most sci-fi novels, it is idea driven, but also has interesting characters.

As technology continues to advance, people are becoming more bionic, with joint replacements, new eye lenses after cataract surgery, or cosmetic implants. Suen's novel takes this idea a step further. Dr. Kite, a rogue physician, is experimenting with microchip implants. The chips alter their hosts, solving common body issues or more serious health issues. Of course, it wouldn't be much of a novel if nothing went wrong. Some of the chips are defective, causing terrible results.

The pace of Suen's writing is quick, but she doesn't ignore the details of her characters. I love her choices for the problems brought to Dr. Kite. Instead of life threatening diseases, all his subjects face problems most readers can relate to.

My favorite character is Ellen. She has a weight problem, which seems worse from her perspective than it should. I liked the way Suen treated the thoughts of people around Ellen, moving from her point of view to theirs in a way that made me wonder if the thoughts were real or Ellen's imagination.

Alterations is a light read, perfect for places with distractions, such as the beach or an airport.

Jane Suen's 'Alterations' is a warning, a cautionary tale of what might be lurking in humanity's future. Do you have a medical issue that doesn't respond to standard treatments? Dr. Kite has a quick fix for you. Want to lose a few pounds? Dr. Kite has just the thing. And what happens when you age and feel irrelevant? Dr. Kite can offer the fountain of youth.

'Alterations' tells the stories of three women, linked by Dr. Kite. Gigi has a disease, and after months of unsuccessful treatments, hears about mysterious, secretive, and successful Dr. Kite. Ellen has yo-yo dieted for years, and finally, in desperation, days before her cousin's wedding, makes an appointment with Dr. Kite. And Lilly, bitter after her divorce, gladly accepts Dr. Kite's offer of eternal youth.

But Dr. Kite is not infallible. Mistakes are made. Gigi, Ellen, and Lilly experience outcomes quite different from those they imagined when they were searching for a quick fix. Should they have left well enough alone? Or did the fix allow them to become who they were meant to be?

Even though 'Alterations' is a quick read, the author did a wonderful job with her characters. She raises moral questions, leaps into sci-fi, and portrays a chilling, dystopian future. I loved this book and am looking forward to the other books in this series.