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When Philip Machen announces to the world that the Powerpod machine he has been selling for years can now be used as a powerful Maker, he throws society into chaos as anything non-living can be replicated in the machine. Within days, paper money loses its value in the wake of endless copying, and the reality of supply and demand is suddenly shaken to its core. Machen is simultaneously called a financial terrorist and a financial savior. The FBI is hunting for him and his associates while communities struggle to adjust to the havoc in their stores, banks, and neighborhoods. The story focuses with laser-like precision on a cast of characters thrown into a crucible of unimaginable change that dials up the heat of resistance, anarchy, and hope. The Maker conjures a swarm of contradictions and moral conundrums that stretch governments and the way of life for ordinary citizens.
This philosophical thriller grabs hold from the moment the capabilities of the Makers are revealed and does not let up until the action-packed conclusion. The competing ideologies of the Makers, the converts, and the politicians lead to intriguing ethical discussions and gripping scenes of mayhem. Whipsmart and inventive, the book raises probing questions about the ethics of invention and innovation, the need for oversight, and the hope of eradicating poverty. For the character of Machen, the creator of the Maker, a "moral awakening" is the pinnacle of achievement through science as the Maker creates an equal playing field to acquire material possessions, including food. Machen envisions a "sharing sensibility" in communities that will develop as people no longer have to compete to survive, but his hope for "mutual, sustainable benevolence" may be shortsighted. Governments, corporations, and corrupt officials worldwide who thrive on power and systems of control seek a different outcome once the Makers are unleashed.
Author Miracle draws on some of the most compelling issues of our time, grounds his premise in sound behavioral economic theory, and lays bare the inequalities that come with capitalism. As the story unfolds, possibilities are explored from many angles through rich character exploration and dialogue and clever plotting rooted in an ingenious, speculative premise. The story races to a crescendo of action as the government, vigilantes, and supporters converge on the creator of the Makers, manifesting the upheaval that his invention has created. Readers are left to wonder how a Maker might change their own lives and to question the unintended consequences that might be incurred. It is fascinating to consider the philosophical underpinnings of economics moving beyond data points, percentages, and bottom lines to see the hope of a better future for all through equal access and opportunity. As technology continues to advance, society will continue to look to science fiction writers like Miracle, who envision the future first and do not create the fantastical and impossible but rather plausible and unforgettable visions of the future. Miracle's story raises questions, offers multiple views, and searches for meaning and a better way forward through invention and discovery.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review