Upload (Book) Review

Mark McClelland brings a surprisingly gripping tale of a digital future.

In the year 2069, computers have progressed to a constant presence in our society, and scientists are moving on to the next logical step – uploading a mind into cyberspace. Raymond Quan is a driven computer developer who has his own reasons for wanting the project to be a success. As a junior developer on the Human Mind Upload Project, he is tasked with creating excruciatingly accurate environments for their terminally ill animal subjects to live in after a successful upload.

Naturally, uploading human minds to a digital utopia where aging, bodily functions, and disease are mere memories of a forgotten time is the ultimate goal of the team, but the general consensus is that years of animal testing is still needed. But Raymond, plagued both by remnants of his criminal past that are threatening to surface and a near insurmountable feeling that he simply does not fit into this world, plans to up the schedule on his own.

To be uploaded to his beloved digital world seems to be the answer to Raymond’s every prayer, and even though the process is decidedly permanent, he has made his peace with it, moving towards his goal with single minded purpose. But when a persistent female co-worker starts to draw Raymond out of his shell and headlong into love, he’ll have to make some very difficult choices as he is torn between finally finding a place he belongs, and escaping the demons of his past.

While the idea of human’s playing around in digital worlds is definitely not a new one, the concepts presented in Upload are really quite unique. The idea of permanent upload to a digital world where your every whim and desire can be at your fingertips sounds ideal, but there are downsides to every proposition, the largest of which seems to be that Raymond not surviving the process is a very real possibility. From start to finish, Upload is a fast paced ride that keeps you guessing at every turn.

Author Mark McClelland paints a convincing picture of a brilliant yet oh, so confused young man who must finally face up to his past, take hold of his present, and make the decision that will decide his future. The characters are well presented and generally easy to relate to, although at times Raymond seems to act completely out of his presented character. The story moves along at a steady pace that keeps you engrossed in Raymond’s journey till the last page.