Balanced on the slippery slope of technological advancement, Rubicon Harvest paints a fascinating world of future science, politics, and human advancement. It's a story written in the gritty noir style of Blade Runner--a seductive tale with rich narrative and familiar dialogue. The characters are so real that they become indelible images on your mind from the opening chapter. With sexy science and sly speculation on world politics, Kesting abducts us from our comfortable seat of denial in the present and forces us to consider our inevitable evolution.

The plot races out of the opening pages as a mysterious multiple murder that introduces us to Jon Webb, an ex-soldier and veteran of the Arabian Wars (the future result of our continued presence in the Middle East) and Sal Gionetti, inspector detective in charge of the investigation. Gionetti reminds us of Philip K. Dick's character Deckard from "Do Androids Dream..." Soon the murder investigation unveils a corporate conspiracy with roots that lead all the way through the convoluted government of Kesting's future world. As the story races forward, we are treated to revelational and detailed flashbacks that fulfill the character development further giving us the best group of three-dimensional players to come along in a long while. Not since Dean Koontz--at his best--have we seen such richly layered human personalities.

United through a creative series of events, a small band of heroes sprint through the gritty future landscapes in pursuit of the truth behind a diabolical scheme to force the evolution of mankind through the application of stem cell science to alter human consciousness. The plot and the science surrounding it are so plausible that you will find yourself Googling things throughout the entire read. Rubicon Harvest seduces us with it's possibilities and forces us to rethink our bias's.

Kesting doesn't preach for or against the controversy of stem cell science, but rather merely supposes the inevitability of it. This is not a "What if..." story but instead, "How far..." Rubicon Harvest will do for stem cell technology what Andromeda Strain did for microbiology. You will put this book down only to do your own research. This will be a catalyst for discussion for years to come.

Kesting writes with an eloquence rarely seen in todays literary world of mass produced "must-read/best-sellers". While most people are impulse buying the next bubble-gum romance between angst ridden teens and their vampire boyfriends, I encourage any and everyone to give this new author an immediate read. Kesting's voice is rich in vernacular and vibrant in description. The entire book reads like a smooth script. This is a very good movie waiting to be made!! ( )