Overview

It's not the life you lead; it's the blood you bleed. By 2060, society has been divided into two classes by a groundbreaking discovery: An afterlife exists, but only for the genetic few. Ascendants are genetically destined to experience what comes after. Biomasses are condemned to oblivion. This new era of Ascension is controlled by The Jacobs Institute, a powerful research organization challenging the limits of consciousness and morality. Ascendants follows three characters caught up in The Institute's web of secrets-the visionary scientist who started it all, a grieving husband beholden to his belief, and a fierce young woman grappling with what society has become. What will it cost them to unravel the science that fuels The Institute's power? A gripping techno-thriller, Ascendants is both a warning against the weaponization of science and belief, and a vision for the survival of humanity.

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9781967510344

Table of Contents

Reviews

""Don Schechter's Ascendants is a provocative thought experiment on the future of consciousness and our quest to transcend biological mortality. It underscores the moral imperative to guide our technological ingenuity toward the common good, reminding us that the fate of humanity and the universe itself is in our hands."" -Ray Kurzweil, inventor, author, futurist ""Ascendants is a fascinating look at the intersection between science and philosophy and examines what can happen to those in a capitalistic environment. This modern cyberpunk adventure is a mirror to our current society and values in the way that the best science fiction intends."" -Erin Macdonald, PhD, science advisor for Star Trek ""Ascendants is a compelling techno-thriller unlike anything I've ever read. The story pulls you in-tackling life and death in unexpected ways that keep you turning the pages."" -Derek Tyler Attico, author of The Autobiography of Benjamin Sisko (Star Trek Autobiographies series). ""Ascendants feels like a high-concept Black Mirror episode stretched into a techno-thriller, maintaining a breakneck pace while forcing you to grapple with profound ethical questions. If you're a fan of cerebral science fiction, like the works of Philip K. Dick, or modern dystopian thrillers that blend fast action with deep moral complexity (think Altered Carbon), this book is a must-read."" -Manhattan Book Review ""Exciting . . . engaging . . . Marked by intrigue, the dystopian novel Ascendants follows an escaping family whose story exposes how some belief systems are used to justify harm."" -Foreword Clarion Reviews ""Ascendants cultivates its intrigue through futuristic opportunities and ethical conundrums. . . . whether [audiences] are interested in futuristic sci-fi, philosophical and ethical pursuits, or the edgy action of a powerful thriller, Ascendants satisfies all three pursuits. It can be highly recommended to readers interested in frighteningly believable scenarios that pit not only life, but the afterlife, against even those who command its accessibility and potential."" -Midwest Book Review

Author Information

Don Schechter is the founder and CEO of Charles River Media, as well as a filmmaker and professor of the practice at Tufts University, where he teaches courses ranging from filmmaking to the art and business of media campaigns. He is the cohost of No Win Scenario, a science fiction podcast featuring interviews with genre creators. Ascendants is his debut novel. Born in Queens, New York, he now lives in Newton, Massachusetts.

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