Infinite

“Infinite” is a science fiction novel by Jeremy Robinson. In it, William wakes up from years at faster than light travel to discover that one of his fellow crew members woke up early, went crazy from the cryosleep, and murdered almost everyone else on board. The only reason that William himself is not dead is because (without his knowledge or consent) he has been genetically modified to be made immortal. So now alone and streaking through space at the speed of light William must ponder his purpose, the nature of loneliness, and the very meaning of life and what constitutes it. Is there a “real” reality, or is reality merely whatever our perception of it is?

Compared to the majority of Robinson’s catalog, this novel is a large departure – both in style and content. “Infinite” is the 38th novel I’ve read from Robinson, so I feel pretty qualified in making an honest assessment of the book. Robinson typically is an action / adventure guy. His novels are usually filled with exciting chases and battles, mutated monsters, and edge of your seat action. There are exceptions of course, but for the majority, this is his typical formula. And he’s good at it. Robinson has delivered, time and time again, books that provide big enjoyment worthy of becoming summer blockbuster movies. If there was an area where his catalog was lacking it was probably in the deeper more thoughtful and introspective novels. He helps fill that void with “Infinite”. In this one Robinson shows a deftness in the way he handles both William’s own thoughts and feelings, as well as his relationship with Gal and Capria.

To be honest, I was unsure of my feelings on this one for much of the book. It’s starts slowly (particularly for a Robinson novel) and then seems to split off in several different directions as the story continues. Three quarters of the way through the book, I was feeling like Robinson had tried to include too many plot lines into one book because certain aspects of the story seemed forced. But then, I finished the book. And Robinson reminded me why he’s the author and I’m just a reader. The twist towards the end of the story was so good and it was there all the time and I didn’t pick up on it. He not only uses the twist to surprise, but to also tie in all of the other elements of the story that seemed a little out of place before. Suddenly everything in the book made perfect sense. It was very much like an “Ender’s Game” moment as you realize that all of the clues where right there and you were so caught up in the story that you missed them.

This is not just a great science fiction story, I could make the argument that it is one of Robinson’s best novels to date.

I liked the characters, my favorite being Gal in all her iterations. I really appreciated that Capria was a woman of color. I’d give the book a four for that. However, I didn’t relish the story. Too much violence and a few silly parts—the monsters and the hobbit-like cannibals. I did enjoy the humor, but the gamer-like adventures didn’t appeal to me.

I have read almost every book JR has written. This book, Infinite, drew me in and kept me there until I could finish it.

While reading it, especially about 30% into the novel, I thought about stopping. My faith in JR was not mistaken. I literally sat down and finished the novel.

I find it extremely rare that a book takes me on such a metaphysical trip. At the end, it feels like I have shared something with the author.

Thank you to Jeremy Robinson for sharing this experience with his readers. I strongly recommend this novel.

After reading some meh books recently, not to mention outright duds, it was refreshing to hit on infinite and find a protagonist one could actually sympathize with. William is more developed a character than, sadly, you'd normally find in genre prose, and that alone is worth the reading time. Nevertheless, the storyline, which is about layered realities, is strangely soulless and ultimately the reward at its end wasn't enough, at least for me. Maybe the the author failed to fully explore philosophical and psychological implications of the situation in which William found itself. Not sure. Still, a good scifi page turner.

Great story. Mind-bending, exciting, a page turner that makes you wonder and question. Great character building, no flaws in the logic.

Spoiler alert - Don't read any further or it will will ruin a great book.

Note to author. The only thing I'd change is to make it less predictable. I think the ending was a little too obvious. I guessed as soon as it was happening that Gal had done the Tom thing at the start of the great escape to trick Will. Maybe change the wording there...or at least make the obvious questions about "having fun yet" a bit less prominent.

I must assume these five star ratings are fans or sympathy.
The whole premise is winky from the start.
It's not very good science fiction. Immortality without even the vaguest explanation. Instant regeneration without even a nod to conservation of energy. Magic ship that doesn't need fuel, even though it's the first interstellar craft. A dying Solar system that has magic immortality and can build faster than light spacecraft! Layer upon layer of ”what is reality" computer crapola.Super hacker villian! Why is Earth dying if people can live forever without food or water? I'm willing to suspend disbelief with all the science fiction I read, but this was just silly. I can't recommend this to a science fiction fan.

This might have been the most interesting book I have ever read. Just incredible.
Infinite is a sci-fi story that takes you on a ride, figuratively as well as emotionally, to places you couldn't have imagined. But Jeremy Robinson did. And he put it all down for us to experience.
From the very first chapter, I wasn't sure what was going to happen next. One minute I thought I knew where it was going but the next, whew! Mind blown. As I type that I realize it may sound confusing but it's not at all! This story is fascinating, suspenseful and woven with thought-provoking twists throughout. Infinite will stay with you long after you have read it. If you are ready to read something other than the typical cookie-cutter fiction, this is your book. If you are ready for an adventure, this is your book. Really, if you are a reader, this is your book :)

This book started off strong, and then got fairly mediocre about half-way. I found it largely predictable, to where I knew exactly what was going on the whole time. I kept hoping for a twist on the twist, and hoping that I was wrong, but the twist on the twist never came....turned out to just be the old predictable single twist. A few too many hints were dropped to verify that, indeed, my suspicions were true. Something about Robinson's style of writing was a little off-putting as well...or, maybe I just had too high hopes based on the other reviews here. Nevertheless, it's a fun-enough read. Not really a waste of time, but certainly not a blockbuster. Maybe I just prefer ultra nerd-core sci-fi and was hoping that Jeremy Robinson was more like Kim Stanley Robinson. Alas, this book is to sci-fi as Stephen King is to Horror... it's easily accessible, and written for a large audience. There's nothing wrong with that, but, it wasn't what I was really looking for. If you live in a closet, this book might make you question the essence of reality...but, if you have any inkling of curiosity, you'll probably just be like "Oh yeah, this is like that thing we learned in Philosophy 101"

This book, all though very different from anything Jeremy has written to date, is by far one of his best. You go on a roller coaster ride that had I been sitting in a theater, I would have been on the edge of my seat. I love the way he carries the reader through worlds of wonder and threads the spiritual questions that we all have about reality, purpose, existence, and desire. I love how at the end of a chapter you think it is over, and yet you get to move forward in the story, which turns out is just what is happening to Will. The story continues, and maybe even continues into my reality. Thank you Jeremy for this gift.

A different story... from what you are used to get from author Jeremy Robinson. But a really good story about love, finding your self and beating the odds. Stuck on a starship alone.. with a maybe or maybe not insane AI....for what looks like to be an indefinite time... Reaching across the universe and the years. If your like the authors writing style and story modeyou will find that all here.. plus more it probably shows you a different side from the usual stories but still being some of the same. If this is what is to come when his series ends.. (which they are sadly all about to... if I have gotten it correct) we will still have some things to look forward to =)

A great novel, full of fast twists and turns, none of which feel out of place. I admit that I did see the big twist coming a mile away, but that didn't diminish my enjoyment of the novel.

So imagine you're on a ship with the last of the human race, heading towards a new planet, where humanity will attempt to start over again. Our main character is supposed to be in suspended animation, but he's actually been awake for the entire 10-year journey. And when his pod finally opens... he is murdered by another crew-member. Except... he doesn't die. And the would-be killer has permanently altered the ships trajectory and locked out the controls, before murdering most of the other humans on board. So what you have is an immortal main character, completely ignorant of WHY he is immortal, stuck on a ship with the murdered remnants of humanity and their killer, with no idea where the ship is going, and no ability to change course, or even determine where it's headed. He cannot commit suicide, because he keeps waking up. He can't space himself, because what if that doesn't kill him and he just floats in space, dying and waking, for eternity?

And that's the first few pages. It only gets more intense from there. Great read. I had no problem staying focuses all the way to the end.

And I'm pleasantly surprised. The first half of the book is the best, I was flipping through pages , entranced by this man's cruel twist of fate.
Gal is quite the character and I enjoyed having her very much.
The second half is also pretty good, but the first half was what carried the story and helped me progress through the rest of the novel. It was an entertaining ending, nicely wrapped up in my opinion.
A few twists were a nice touch, the main one, while I had guessed it earlier on, was still a nice touch and I feel was the strongest option to end with.
There is some science but nothing to turn you off of continuing, basic ideas and functions that are easily understandable and make for some fun ideas.
Well paced, great action scenes with well placed suspense and nicely detailed surroundings.
All in all, a great and original read that you won't regret blasting through. I'm excited to continue with Robinson's other novels!
Engage!

It seemed like an interesting premise: a man wakes from suspended animation on a runaway colony ship to find himself mysteriously immortal and the only survivor of a brutally murdered crew. The story starts to go south quickly, however. The ship is described as travelling faster than light, but this is immediately contradicted (the ship has travelled 1400 light years in 10 years of shipboard time while 1400 years have passed back on Earth. Fast, but a quick computation makes that 99.997% lightspeed. Relativity, who knew?). Also, his newly immortal body is able to stay active, for years at a time, without input of food or drink. There are occasional moments of evocative description, but they do not save the story.

Not recommended.

I've followed Jeremy Robinson since didymus contingency came out. Through the chess novels and the bishop books and everything in between. Kaijus,
x-omb and antarktos. Though I liked them all this one I loved. The pain and solitude he must feel would be immeasurable. You feel what will feels and that makes you closer to the character. Jeremy Robinson has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Please keep writing books like this and please continue the refuge series.

When I started reading science fiction as a teenager, it was the work of the masters - Asimov, Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, etc. And that is what INFINITE reminds me of. I would describe INFINITE as a thinking-man's science fiction. It's not just laser beams and green alien women. It's a story of an immortal man and his journey to an unknown destination and what happens along the way. INFINITE reminds me of the golden years of science fiction, which in my opinion were the best. Before any Moon landings or photos from Mars, all the authors had were their imaginations. And that is what Mr. Robinson has shown here, a great imagination transformed into a great book. I would recommend it to any serious science fiction fan. You won't be disappointed.

Infinite is the best Science Fiction book of 2017 IMHO-5+ Stars.
Infinite is a story about trying to answer the unknowable. It attempts to answer the age old questions of “What is reality” and “What is the point to Life” ? Big questions, but Jeremy Robinson does the impossible in Infinite by blending known science with interesting possibilities of tomorrow in an amazing tale of “What ifs”. I was captivated from page one and never wanted the story to end as Mr. Robinson pulled out all the stops in critical thinking and futurist possibilities. In many ways “Reality” is like an onion and a set of Russian nesting dolls: When you peel away the layers of the “now” reality the possibilities are endless as science and philosophic thought continues to explore the meaning of it all. Mr. Robinson does attempt to answer several age old conundrums like “What is the meaning of it all?”, and “does the Universe end”(?), and if it does or does not then What? Mmmmmmmmm, unknowable or not Mr. Robinson’s answers are as good as any I have heard and pondered. All in all a fascinating read that is well written and as believable as any theoretical What If.
Some violence, foul language and even a little space sex but all germane to the story and helps with the realism.
This entire story is about character development of the central and really only sentient(?) human(?) Will Chanokh. Why the question marks on sentient and human? Well, for those enigmatic surprises you must read to find out. Too much of the story will ruin the dramatic conclusion(s). All I can say is go with Mr. Robinson’s surprises and you are in for an amazing cerebral ride!!
5+ stars.
Note: As a critical thinker I found this story to be extraordinary in all that word entails. It was a blended technological/psychological deep space masterpiece along the lines of a Rod Serling tale and/or Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey”. Yes, there are those “What Moments”, but remember 20 years ago we didn’t know how to spell iPhone much less own one! So read, enjoy, wonder, but most of all THINK—and realize future possibilities are endless, as are the mysteries of space and time! I wish there were more novels like Infinite? Thank You Jeremy Robinson!

Having read and been mentally challenged/entertained by science fiction/reality my whole life from such creative and far thinking minds as Asimov, Dick, Norton, Binder, Roddenberry and the master Heinlein. I found myself completely invigorated and captivated by this book and it's amazing ability to take me down the rabbit hole and through a wormhole of so many imaginative, fantastical and yet very reality based ideas. An absolute must read for any science fiction aficionado. Not since Heinleins "The Number of the Beast" have I so wanted a book not to end!

I had no expectations going into this book. I liked the idea of what is after when space ends. This story was so....different. Hard to explain. There were so many places that the story could have ended, only to be 40%, 50%, and so on, complete.

Excellent book. Great writing and execution. I frankly didn't see several of the twists coming. The author is very talented. I have to admit that the "Chess team" works are getting pretty thin. I didn't finish the last one. Why write more Delta team meets increasingly ludicrous monsters when you can write like this? Robinson could be the next Hamilton or Reynolds.

This novel has germs of interesting ideas but it feels like four different short stories stitched together and forcibly welded into a novel. I'd list them all out but doing so would ruin the book for anyone who's thinking about reading it. If that were the worst of the book's offenses I'd give it a three-star rating, but its worst offense is its dialogue...which is at the YA fiction level. It's kiddie dialogue. Other major offense: it's a male fantasy book in many ways. Female characters are flat as a pancake and are walking tropes. They live to make the male protagonist happy and have few if any needs of their own. The author tacks on a personal statement at the end of the book in which he explains that he wrote it while being treated for a tumor. I give him props for having the perseverance to finish something as creatively draining as a novel while undergoing treatment for a life-threatening disease, but it doesn't change my review.

Well after being drug through the first half of the book, I was thoroughly confused and i"m a pretty smart guy. The non ending deaths, lives, births, multiple girlfriends, and who knows what dimension or realm this book really takes place in???? I read a book a week in SF and stack them up... to bad Hamilton's newest book isn't out for a few more months... in the mean time I try to find something to bide the time with.... don't make this mis-mash one of your choices...... -10 is the score.... to bad it ran about $16 with no chance or refund....

Jeremy Robinson has become one of my favorite writers. I first read his Chess Team books and started searching for the rest of his books. I have been seriously entertained and have spent hours and lost sleep reading his books. It's just too difficult to stop without finding out what happens next. So I keep reading and realize it's 4 o'clock in the morning.

INFINITE is a departure from his usual style of books. It has much more of a Science Fiction feel to it where his other books were more action thrillers with more then a touch of the supernatural about them. Jeremy Robinson stretches himself as a writer in INFINITE and succeeds very well.

The story starts on a ship in deep space where the main character wakes up with a screwdriver in his chest. He dies and returns to life and the story takes off with our hero trying to find out just what is happening and why things are going as they are.

The first few pages were a little slow but the story soon picks up and the reader finds themselves taken up with the story and what happens next. I recommend this book to everyone who likes Science Fiction and thrillers with a touch of out of this World story telling. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. I also recommend the reader purchase his other books and get set for many hours of reading entertainment.

Warning Spoilers-------It was all a "dream". No resolution. More like fantasy than sci-fi. Author should stick to gore-porn. Basically: Man creates sex-bot, sex-bot loves man, eventually man admits love for sex-bot. Everything else is a VR dream. Code writing in VR wet suit in truth would be an ergonomic nightmare. Moving floor but no chair so main character stood for over 5 years. Sure. Dramatic choice between human woman and sex-bot in reality not a real choice as human woman is in reality dead. Immortality and super healing violate "something for nothing" rule at every turn. Bleeding, sweating and urinating are not the only way we lose body hydration. Breath on a mirror will explain. Human body a chemical engine that requires fuel. Just terrible. Suspended Disbelief and trusted author to end of book only to be VRy disappointed. Feeling cheated. Recycling book for paper as not fit to be donated to library or such. Save your money. Just my opinion of course. cheers

Good science fiction book. A lot of telling at the beginning with little to no dialogue, which always bothers me. Was a bit confusing sometimes trying to understand what was real and what was not. Definitely falls into science fiction realm and not fanatasy.

I've read a few different books by Jeremy Robinson now but I must say that this novel is in a different league entirely than his other pieces of work. He manages to blend sci-fi, suspense, existential horror and romance into one incredible work of art that I've listened to multiple times now. The audiobook is the superior version of this book in my opinion, because while Jeremy creates the world and it's characters, R.C. Bray is the one that truly it all to life. He narrates with a surprising softness and earnestness that I honestly wasn't sure he could manage since the only books I'd listened to him narrate were military/zombie titles solely focused on action and less on the quieter and more meaningful moments that this book is full of. I'd give a more in depth description of this book but I don't want to spoil anything for any would be readers/listeners! Either way no matter how you consume this book, you won't regret it.