Mindwalker is a novel with a marvelous concept that A. J. Steiger forms into a vivid rendering of the future.
In the future there is no war, no social unrest, no painful memories and no freedom.
At seventeen, Lain has already aced the Institute’s elite training programme for Mindwalkers, therapists who use direct neural links to erase traumatic memories. A prodigy and the daughter of a renowned scientist, whose death left her alone in the world, Lain is driven by the need to save others.
When troubled classmate Steven asks her to wipe a horrific childhood experience, Lain’s superiors warn her to stay away. Steven’s scars are too deep, they say, the risk too great. Yet as she defies their warnings and explores Steven’s memories, it becomes clear that something is very, very wrong. Is the Institute really an organisation of healing, or one of manipulation and state control?
Mindwalker starts off empowered, shaping this future world with expert story craftsmanship and gripping the reader early. However, sadly, the novel looses a lot of its power after the half way point and the story line grows vague in direction.
Steigers concept for Mindwalker remains strong, leaving hope for the next novel in the series to bring back the main concepts with great force and ambition.
Though characters, setting and story stages require some serious work, it is the idea and the passion that went into this novel that makes it a worthwhile read.
We Give Mindwalker One Star
Cover price £8.99
Available as an eBook