IMMUNE: THE RHO AGENDA, Book 2 by Richard Phillips
Narrated by MacLeod Andrews
YA Sci-Fi Becomes Spy Thriller
Phillips takes the story in unexpected directions with this
second book. While the first installment hits on all the Young Adult clichés,
with the teens being smarter than everyone else, this book forces the
protagonists to face the consequences of their secretive actions. They lie and
people die. At about the halfway mark this becomes a spy thriller complete with
corrupt politicians, manhunts, Colombian drug lords, and dread assassins with
hearts of gold. I found the plot to be steady and exciting with a heavy does of
Science Fiction technology extrapolation.
If there is fault to be found it is in the character
motivation. It is typical of all novels that the heroes are in the center of
all the action and this is no different. I understand how the kids would be
excited and protective of their discovery that they consider to be their own
private playground. At some point I expect them to grow a conscience and
realize their selfishness and utter inadequacy to administer the other-worldly
technology they now wield. One character, Jennifer, does undergo a major personality
change, turning against the others, and I thought that this would be the
impetus for some soul-searching revelation. But no. The trio of friends reunite
with not so much as a hint of introspection. So this loose end just unravels,
forgotten and ignored, at the end.
My critique is not that the characters do not develop. By
the end of this book itc is clear that the three protagonists, Heather,
Jennifer and Mark, are clearly changing; and not for the better. My critique is
that the characters seem blind to their personality transformations and behave
in a manner inconsistent with the way they have been portrayed. Perhaps this
will all be resolved in the third volume. I think it far more likely that the
story will again be carried away in the hurricane force of the strong plot and
that the characters will be left flapping in the wind as an afterthought.
MacLeod Andrews is a good choice for this book. He seems to
get the personality of each character as needed and keeps up with the story
with an energetic delivery.
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