Surrection is a trippy blend of science fiction, philosophy, and espionage, following Malcolm Wallace—an eccentric, wealthy, and determined man obsessed with achieving what he calls “surrection,” the conscious separation of soul and body. Fueled by hallucinogens, sound frequencies, and a deep distrust of the establishment, Malcolm partners (begrudgingly) with two government operatives—Colin, the manipulative narcissist, and Macy, the no-nonsense pharmacologist. Together, they tiptoe along the edge of legality in pursuit of a breakthrough that could, quite literally, change how we understand reality itself.

Okay, first off: the writing is slick. It’s sharp and stylish, and it flows fast. I was hooked by Malcolm’s intense inner monologue and the weirdly poetic way Hemme makes a guy tapping a pencil sound like a cosmic ritual (“the beat of his lifeforce.”)​. Hemme does a great job keeping things grounded even as the story veers into the metaphysical. One of my favorite moments is when Malcolm first succeeds at surrection and finds himself free-floating above his own body, able to “see in all directions” while literally feeling space itself​. It was equal parts beautiful and haunting. And the way Colin later replicates the experiment but ends up haunting the White House like some astral tourist was both funny and chilling​.

Now, character-wise, this book hits a groove. Malcolm is weird but lovable. You root for him even when he’s off the rails. But Colin is the guy you love to hate—slippery, smug, and dangerous. His whole backstory—scamming universities, getting scooped up by the CIA, then crashing a Maserati just for the fun of it—was like something out of a Bond villain’s drunk diary​. And Macy is the calm center of the storm. Ultra-fit, wicked smart, and low-key terrifying. The tension between her, Colin, and Malcolm adds this constant hum of paranoia that just works. Hemme nails that distrustful dynamic, especially when Malcolm starts hiding his breakthrough from them, and we’re all just waiting for the moment it explodes.

This book’s a mind-bender. It’s got techy stuff, sure, but it’s not overwhelming. It’s got drug-fueled dream science and astral projection, but it stays surprisingly human. I’d recommend Surrection to sci-fi fans who dig Black Mirror, readers who like their fiction with a dose of existential dread, and anyone who’s ever stared into the night sky and wondered what else is out there. Just be prepared to question a few things about your own consciousness.

Pages: 123 | ASIN : B0DRT19BHZ