Lift

Reviews / Votes

"An outstanding achievement... Ray Anderson's extraordinary grasp of mathematics, music, and human behavior are all on display here... His world-building is impressive, and yet the all-too-human players in this tale don't become lost in it. The natural reactions among many of the characters as the stakes go up coalesce into conflict or cooperation, and the doomsday clock keeps ticking toward what may be its final chime." -Vincent H. O'Neil, author of Glory Main, book one of The Sim War series

"So much science fiction rests on the caveat at the core of Mary Shelley's progenitor novel Frankenstein: 'Watch what you wish for.' For over two hundred years this cautionary theme has infused the genre with the warning not to tamper with nature, human or otherwise.

Lift is a mind-bending and brilliantly engaging twist on that theme, suggesting that human nature be altered to set it free from the so-called 'Curse of Cane'-murder and war.

Set in the year 2489, the world is at the threshold of World War IV and inching toward extinction. Because it is believed that violence is 'embedded in our psyche,' mathematicians decide that the only way to eliminate the self-sabotaging evil is to devise an optimal language that eliminates miscommunications and misunderstandings among people of diverse cultures.

An ingenious concept, Lift clearly and meticulously demonstrates how mathematics, linguistics, and music theory coalesce to save the species. Thus, humans can join the galactic community of other species which have long conquered their violent nature.

Brilliantly researched and well-crafted, the novel's title refers to a scientific breakthrough that allows for a finite number of historical individuals to be resurrected or 'lifted' into the present. Euclid, Bach, Marie Currie, Jonas Salk and other great thinkers help fabricate a language that obviates 'the virus of evil.'

The title Lift also refers to the literal upward movement to the stars as well as an apotheosis of the human race based on humanity evolving out of its own bestial nature. This is a must-read piece of speculative fiction that accomplishes what the best of the genre does well-educate, entertain, and inspire [a] new way of thinking." -Gary Braver, bestselling and award-winning author of Rumor of Evil

"A fascinating and highly original story, crackling with energy, played out against a nonstop kaleidoscope of ideas.... Lift is a must read for all fans of smart science-based thrillers, and for those justly anxious over the prospects for our human race." -Scott Britz-Cunningham, author of Interface


"The fields of math, linguistics, and music come together to save humanity in this intricately plotted and heavily academic sci-fi experiment from Anderson.... There are fascinating ideas at play here and the optimism in the face of impending apocalypse is inspiring. Hard sci-fi fans seeking hope for the future will be pleased." -Publishers Weekly

"[Lift] takes a refreshing angle on human advancement. Math and communication are the unanticipated heroes, and the novel does well at making them attractive, even incorporating real concepts like Benford's law.... The work takes a nuanced angle on an optimal solution for an ideal future. An informative, highly creative take on problem-solving." -Kirkus Reviews