Body Electric [Mass Market Paperback]

Susan Squires (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The near future, as Squire's (The Sacrament) envisions it in this electrifying and sensual sci-fi romance, is a computer-dominated metropolis ruled more by commerce, and a colossal software corporation named Visimorph (read: Microsoft, than conscience. Vic Barnhardt, a brilliant and troubled computer programmer who's determined to create artificial intelligence (AI), is the novels hip heroine, but her controlling nature and ambiguous sexuality (she dresses and acts like a man in order to fit into the computer world) may alienate readers initially. The story springs to life when Vics AI does. Before long, Vic and Jodie, her all-too-human, male computer program, are on the run from Vic's boss, Bob McIntire, the founder of Visimorph. More a caricature than a character, McIntire sells inferior software, charges a bundle for upgrades and believes AI may be the most marketable product since Windows, if he could only get his hands on it. While hiding out, Vic gives Jodie an upgrade of sorts, falls in love with him and, in the process, learns to accept herself. Although some of the books science fictional elements are far-fetched (such as Jodie's transformation from code to sentient being), Squires's deft plotting and full-bodied characters make this whirlwind adventure worthwhile.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"BODY ELECTRIC is gripping, suspenseful, thought-provoking and emotional...A classic for a new millennium. This is a highly recommended read." -- Paranormal Romance Reviews, July 22, 2002

"Electrifying and sensual sci-fi romance...Squires's deft plotting and full-bodied characters make this whirlwind adventure worthwhile." -- Publishers Weekly, July 15, 2002

Top Pick."Wow! Susan Squires gives her readers a breathless hardcore ride in her latest, BODY ELECTRIC.' -- Romantic Times, August 2002

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 367 pages
• Publisher: Leisure Books (August 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0843950366
• ISBN-13: 978-0843950366
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,503,565 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm looking forward to this author's next release., November 17, 2002

By 

Huntress Reviews (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Body Electric (Mass Market Paperback)

Victoria Barnhardt has achieved her lifelong dream of creating a truly intellegent computer program, one capable of sensation, feeling, and independent thought. She names it for Jodie Foster, but is in for a surprise when Jodie turns out not to be female, as she intended, but male. Not only that, but her program rapidly takes off, growing in capacity and capability at an incredible pace. Unfortunately, this begins to cause her problems at work, as Jodie is starting to draw unwelcome attention from her corrupt bosses.

Vic loses her job, but is not done with Jodie, nor he with her. He contacts her, asking for a body; he has even selected one. It happens to belong to John Reston, a thorn in Vic's former bosses' collective sides, and someone she has secretly desired. Through incredible means, they are able to download the majority of Jodie into the brain dead man's mind. Now on the run, the two must fight to preserve not only their newly awakened love, but their existence.

***** A combination of two groundbreaking movies, TRON and STARMAN, this novel is itself taking on new frontiers. Ms. Squires, who improves with each book, has created a frightening possible, fascinating world that gives the reader much to think upon. Vic is a dynamic, realistic heroine, with troubles and who lives the cutting edge, stressed life of a modern career woman. Jodie combines innocence with masculinity in a most charming fashion. You have never read a romance like this one, but hopefully, there are more to come. *****

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Winner of the WordWeaving Award for Excellence, August 6, 2002

By 

C. Penn "WordWeaving" (Greenville, SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Body Electric (Mass Market Paperback)

In a world of a not too distant future, Visimorph monopolizes the computer software industry by replacing all of the world's operating systems with PuppetMaster, a system that insures fat profits for owner Bob McIntire. Every time he issues an upgrade, customers must repurchase their current software or risk not being able to function in society. McIntire draws upon the greatest talents in the industry, including Vic Barhardt, a hacker he rescued from prison. Vic turns her gift for hacking into security systems impregnable against hackers like herself.

Using Visimorph resources, Vic creates program, a form of Artificial Intelligence, that she calls Jodie. Vic dreams of imbuing the program with the gifts of femininity without the cultural hassles. Vic feels uncomfortable with her own femininity, disguising her looks with asexual attire so that she might be taken seriously in the computer world. Only late at night in a dangerous world of anonymous sex does Vic indulge her feminine needs, and then only with a mask of leather and control.

Then late one night, a miracle occurs. The breath of life transforms Vic's code to a sentient being. As Jodie grows, the AI takes space on the latest Visimorph's server Neuromancer. Soon Jodie expands across other servers as well, including libraries, AT&T, even the IRS. But fragmentation brings about corruption in Jodie's programs. In addition, Jodie declares himself to be male. When McIntire comes to realize that Vic has been working on an AI, he makes plans to use the code for his own purpose.

Author Susan Squires plays marvelous word games in BODY ELECTRIC, drawing from classical literature and contemporary science fiction to create a dazzling world of possibility. The dangers suggested by Hal in 2001 A SPACE ODYESSY, echoes from Ray Bradbury or William Gibson remind readers of the dangers inherent in a highly technological society. But beyond the fight between the controllers of the world like Bob McIntire and everyman, Squires strikes at the heart of the challenges to women, from issues of femininity to the need to connect to someone. Vic, a woman of intelligence and beauty who denies her femininity, learns to treasure it when the mask is suddenly ripped away by events beyond her control. Jodie's struggle with emotion and a desire to become something "more" adds dynamic tension as well.

Rich in nuance, BODY ELECTRIC is one of those rare novels that readers may read for simple entertainment, or for much, much more as it explores questions of sentience, humanity, and self-identity. I confess to wishing BODY ELECTRIC had been on my graduate reading list rather than William Gibson, although Squires gives me a new appreciation for his novels! An electrifying novel that belongs on everyone's keeper shelf, BODY ELECTRIC earns the WordWeaving Award for Excellence.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Squires stuns us with an out of the box wonder!, August 11, 2002

By 

M. Bradley "Mimmi" (Bluegrass State) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Body Electric (Mass Market Paperback)

Victoria (Vic) Barnhardt is a computer genius. So good, in fact, that her current employer, Bob McIntire--the CEO of the huge computer conglomerate Visimorph-had actually bailed her out of jail with the agreement that she'd design security programs for him that couldn't be hacked, even by talented hackers such as herself. Now Vic has started a project of her own-using Visimorph's vast resources. She's actually succeeded in creating Artificial Intelligence-her computer program, which she names Jodie-can actually think for itself. Vic is thrilled, she's made the breakthrough of a lifetime, but when Bob McIntire begins to get suspicious about what his genius hacker is spending all her time working on, and when Jodie begins to overtake some of Visimorphs other computer programs storage with it's voracious appetite for knowledge, she has to figure out a way to house Jodie outside of Visimorph, and in essence hide her discovery, before Bob can lay claim to her discovery.

Vic thought that she'd given her program, Jodie, everything it would need to be a successful female AI. Only Jodie has other ideas. After soaking up tons of info, Jodie has come to the conclusion that HE is male. Vic is devastated at first-how does it know? And how could it be male? Vic has struggled her whole life, in a male dominated world, in a world where her father thought less of her because she was female. Her opinion of males is low, to say the least. She struggles with a darker side of herself, a side that wants to exploit and use males for her needs, and then discard them. How could her huge success turn out to be a MALE?

When Jodie tells Vic that he needs a human body, Vic is stunned once again. While thrilled with her invention, she's almost scared of what she's created, for Jodie is a life force all his own. When a brain dead body is located, it just happens to be that of a male that Vic had found quite attractive. How can she resist Jodie's incredible mind and this wonderful body?

Breaking WAY out of the box with Body Electric, Susan Squires pulls off an incredible feat. She creates a heroine whom we feel incredible empathy for, but at times almost don't like, she's so tough. Vic is a product of her world, gritty and smart, and capable. I admire this character tremendously, and applaud Ms. Squires for the depth and characterization she put into Vic. Incredible. She made me want Jodie to be human, and understand Vic's emotional struggle with herself over Jodie. This is sure to be another hit under Susan Squires belt, for she's once again proven what inceredibly vast talent she has. Paranormal and Sci Fi readers alike-Don't miss this! You'll be stunned and thrilled with this wonderful read.