The SHIVA Syndrome

KIRKUS REVIEW RECOMMENDATION 2016 A professor and parapsychology researcher discovers a key to mankind's evolution or destruction in this debut thriller. Beau Walker is a man without a field. Teaching at a backwater university after being dismissed from a government project because of his ethical concerns and bureaucratic maneuvers on the part of a one-time friend, Walker is an academic pariah until two soldiers appear one day. His former friend needs Walker's expertise, and the professor--who is haunted by both his empathic abilities and the memory of the one time they failed him--has little choice but to cooperate. In the Russian city of Podol'sk, a project partially based on Walker's work has gone horribly awry, killing thousands and leaving traces of mysteries that threaten humanity's scientific understanding. Discovering what occurred, and how to prevent it from happening again, falls on Walker and his new friends, who are initially perplexed (in a meeting Walker confesses, "There's something I can't grasp, like trying to grab a slippery ball in a swimming pool. Always just out of reach"). But as secrets and revelations accumulate, the team's combined knowledge and abilities maybe inadequate to stop what's coming. Throughout the investigation, Walker, a complex intellectual, struggles with the duality of his heritage--African-American mother, Mohawk father--as well as the divide between the rigorous scientific experiments in neurophysiology and psycho pharmacology, and the intuitive, imaginative aspects of his psychological and cultural studies. Joshua writes with a sure hand, managing to squeeze in many discussions and esoteric concepts, ranging from mythic structures to neuropsychology to remote viewing, while keeping the dialogue realistic and sharp...The characters react in believable ways, even when the plot developments, which borrow from quantumphysics, anthropology, and psychology, inspire incredulity. In addition, Joshua has crafted an appealing protagonist in Walker. Short-tempered, kind, thoughtful yet impulsive, he is a flawed but ultimately heroic character, and serves as a narrative linchpin throughout this absorbing story. Deft dialogue, crisp plotting, and a likable central figure make this multidisciplinary scientific adventure an exuberant and involving read.5 stars Lots of action, intriguing concepts, and examinations of belief systems and the greatest opportunity in human history to reshape the world...It's very highly recommended, indeed; especially for thriller and sci-fi readers who have become deluged with too much predictability and who seek cutting-edge action, believable protagonists, and action that is solidly intense throughout--The Midwest Book Review