Review by Sptlightstar -- Superhighway by Alex Fayman

[Sptlightstar]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Superhighway" by Alex Fayman.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Superhighway by Alex Fayman is a thrill ride right from the start, taking you on a journey that leaves you breathless at the end. The author expertly creates an alternate reality where the financial crash of 2008 is triggered by a young man with the extraordinary ability to travel through the Internet.

Alexander Fine grows up in a Los Angeles orphanage after several failed adoption attempts. Aiming to not have his heart broken again, Alex throws himself into his studies and isolates himself, so no one wants to adopt him. He is preparing to attend Stanford University when the orphanage installs a new computer lab. One night, after everyone has gone to bed, Alex is looking at pictures of Hawaii when he touches the computer's network cable and vanishes from the orphanage. He finds himself zooming along a huge tunnel, no more than a bundle of electronic particles, before finding himself standing in the very resort he’d just been looking at on his computer screen. Alex realizes he can travel through the Internet, and his life is changed forever.

Superhighway begs the question, “If you had the power to change the world, would you?” Alex Fine certainly does an admirable job at first, but his philanthropic plans to steal from the criminally rich and give to the needy are quickly destroyed by hubris and naiveté. After robbing a Dutch crime lord using his newfound gift, Alex finds himself going down a dark path, bringing the reader on a peril-filled journey.

Fayman’s writing hooked me from the start. Despite a few typos, this was a well-constructed piece of science fiction. Written in the first person, the reader connects with Alex instantly. Even with his special gift, good looks, and above average intelligence, his insecurities, good heart, and desire to be loved make him relatable to readers. Each chapter brings out a new nugget of Alex’s personality and his fascinating history, creating a very well-rounded protagonist. The supporting characters, on the other hand, do not bring a lot to the table, other than to further the plot of Alex’s story. The women that come into Alex’s life seem like replicas of one another. Each is beautiful, smart, and caring, and their romantic presence falls flat. I would have enjoyed deeper connections with the supporting characters, but in a way, the reader experiences the people in Alex’s life the way he does—on the surface, not getting too close for fear of his secret being discovered.

I give this book 4 out of 4 stars for ingenuity and pure entertainment. I could easily see this becoming a movie or TV series. The cliffhanger ending had me immediately downloading the next installment. For adult science fiction readers, if you enjoy books that use real science to support their oddities, then this book might disappoint you a little. The reasoning for Alex’s ability to travel through the internet is hardly believable, and it’s somewhat comedic to read the author try to justify how it’s scientifically possible. The reader can tell the author has a background in finance because the descriptions of electronic banking systems and accounting are detailed and very realistic.

I recommend Superhighway if you’re looking for a fast, fun read. I enjoyed this story immensely, going along with whatever the author threw at Alex without questioning it too much. Filled with humor, action, violence, and romance, Superhighway will have you reading at the speed of light to see how it all wraps up.

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Superhighway
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Like Sptlightstar's review? Post a comment saying so!

[ReyvrexQuestor Reyes]

I admire the reviewer's knowledge of science to be able to comment on the feasibility of the proposed technology by which the feat of Alex could be achieved. If my viewing of other related super individuals who got teleported are to be the basis, teleporting would be like breaking down the physical substance molecule by molecule, or atom by atom, as the case may be, and then sent somewhere else to be reconstituted thereat. In the case of Alex, he was sent into cyberspace via the internet, but he must need a receiving terminal that will take him in, assuming that he has become a WIFI signal of sorts. So then, he could not just pop up anywhere without a receiving computer.

[JR Mercier]

Great review! You pointed out some great things, especially Alex's way of connecting to the people in his life. I do admit, I laughed at the idea of electroporation but a part of me wishes it could be. There is so much you could do with it. Really enjoyed your review.

[Dael Reader]

I recently read and reviewed this one and had a lot more trouble with it that you did. I didn't see Alex as well-rounded. I saw him as an self-absorbed arrogant jerk. It's hard to get into a book when you don'd care about the hero. But the premise was interesting.