NeuroGenesis - Now available in
paperback at Amazon.com, Borders, and more...

Before the ships' departure, someone changes the OS autopilot destination of the Procne irreversibly. The crew will be at SPEED 11 to 12 years, 110 oe years planet time, instead of two years. They are dead without physically dying.

The victims endure and resign themselves to their horrible fate, distracted only by working on the ships' OS. The OS finally reprograms the destination, not back to z2, but to a planet in the DeMaiollon system where the crew meet the Corvi. With the help of the Corvi, they are able to return to z2, stopping at Quivera to fullfil their mission and fight an almost fatal battle.

Reviews

If you liked Helen Collins first SF novel Mutagenesis, you'll love her new e book, NeuroGenesis. Collins deftly weaves multiple
threads of ideas into a compelling narrative: the race against time to secure a planet's economic underpinnings, the challenge of a new self-evolving spaceship operating system re- programmed – by whom? – and a quest to communicate with, and survive, an intelligent and ominous human-size avian species called Corvi. The fast pacing, well-limned characters, new "technologies" and strong, complex story line keep the reader fully engrossed.

Gisonne Michaelis, 36th century specialist in groups, organizes and joins the crew for the SPEEDship Procne. At short notice the crew must take on two additional tasks: test the evolution of a new ship's operating system and transport Diana Allain, leader of the Zalterius II (Z2) ruling family, on a mission to Quivera to retain control over a critical material needed for the power source for faster-than–light SPEED travel, and for the very survival of Zalterians. After launch the crew, to its horror, learns that the OS autopilot has been irreversibly reset, in effect sending them on a long trajectory towards lingering death.

In time the OS "evolves" in dangerously unexpected ways and finally re-progams the SPEEDship to land on a planet inhabited by an intelligent and ominous human-size avian species called Corvi. The crew struggles to survive, to learn why and how the Corvi sensed the OS and saved the ship, and to find a link between the race of Corvi and the race of humans. With Corvi help with the Procne's new OS, the team completes the mission to Quivera and returns to Z2 where Gisonne at last discovers who attempted murder by autopilot reset. Collins' description of human behavior in small groups is insightful; the rebalancing of roles under the stress of space travel and "culture shock" is well-imagined. Her descriptions of culture of Corvi mirror their avian physiology and behavior – you'll never look at a bird eyeing a worm in quite the same way. Collins has important things to say - Corvi culture, the evolving SPEEDship OS and human group dynamics redefine for us the nature of "intelligence."

- Dr. Nancy Tooney

In the interest of expanding my reading experience I decided to give science fiction another try. I must admit that I have not explored this genre much and more often ignored it.

At www.SpeculativeFictionReview.com, the opportunity to read the first chapters was a great way to "test drive" an author.

What a delight to find Helen Collins and NeuroGenesis! Collins has crafted an imaginative tale and created vivid and intriguing characters - and not weighed down with the often needless complexity and
confusion of places and people found in much science fiction. Above all, she is a skilled storyteller with a good story to tell and she tells it in a very entertaining way. I certainly want to read more.

- Sally Gessner - Customer