Walter weaves a layered and complex science-fiction debut, flashing back to Morgan's childhood and upbringing in the foster care system after his mother was fatally shot while trying to save children from a gunman. In a world still recovering from the Solimões Plague—a sickness that wiped out three billion people, nearly half the human population—Morgan spent his youth among over 5,000 orphans in Sec 17, honing his advanced intellect and computer skills as an unofficial assistant to the self-serving Sister Darwin. Walter’s alternating timelines flash between present and past, crafting an intricate puzzle of betrayal that Morgan must contend with as he works to solve the mystery of his death.
Doppelgänger’s world is richly imaginative—a thought-through future where robots perform most of the work, and there are literally no limits to what science and medicine can achieve together. Tensions build as Morgan works to solve his own murder, creating a palpable suspense that explodes when he learns those closest to him had a hand in his death. With plot twists and revelations rooted in its speculative themes, plus a complex protagonist, Walter’s narrative vividly explores the meaning of humanity and the potential fallout of what happens when technology becomes too advanced.
Takeaway: Action-packed SF mystery exploring a high-tech quest for immortality.
Comparable Titles: Lincoln Michel’s The Body Scout, Christian Yeasted's The Final Invention.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
Morgan Adams is a scientific prodigy. Orphaned at birth, he quickly finds his passion in the form of all things technology which takes him from poverty to become the co-founder of the world’s wealthiest company. Tomorrow Morgan is scheduled to unveil a secret project that will allow him to download a human mind into an identical cyborg body and alter the course of humankind. But when he awakens, Morgan is shocked to find himself looking down at his own tortured and broken body. Disoriented and disbelieving, Morgan’s brain has been downloaded into the beta version of his unfinished creation, Doppelganger. To make matters worse, the source code to his Doppelganger has been stolen, his consciousness is degrading, and he has 72 hours to solve his own murder, recover the source code, and unravel a conspiracy that has jeopardized the future of humanity.
The character development of this story is seamless. Each character – human and artificial – stands out. Morgan’s character is brilliance personified and an exploration of what it means to be human. Some stories like to tell the reader that “Morgan is smart,” but Doppelganger shows the reader the inner workings of Morgan’s brain. Morgan Adams battles robots bent on murdering him and others while he simultaneously decodes impossible puzzles. Even as a doppelganger, Morgan is tethered to his humanity – with every memory of his humble beginnings and every time he quotes Lewis Carroll’s “Jabberwocky.” Intelligence with a heartbeat personified. The most standout character is Io. She is a brilliant psychologist who specializes in the emotional state of Artificial Intelligence. Io is down to earth and a certified Baddie – Brains, Beauty, Brauns, and doesn’t mind speaking her mind. Io isn’t the kind of character who just accepts that she’s brought into her situation and will allow herself to be pushed around. She pushes back and challenges even the elite while remaining elite herself. Author Chip Walter never let a character fade into obscurity, not even the A.I. This creates a satisfying reading experience.
Author Chip Walter excelled in worldbuilding. Doppelganger is layered in such clarity that as the reader follows Morgan to the “GRID,” to the “ATOZ,” and even unto the dangerous highway, it’s impossible to not be immersed in the details. There is one scene that integrated animals and technology that is written so well that I knew then that this book would be one of my “go-to/comfort” reads. I won’t spoil the scene, but when you read it, let’s talk about it!
Highly recommend this story to readers who enjoy movies like “I, Robot,” “Eagle Eye,” “Terminator,” and “Total Recall.”
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – November 13, 2024 – Chip Walter is excited to announce that the highly anticipated audiobook version of Doppelgänger will be released on Devember 17, 2024.
Doppelgänger is a mind-bending techno-thriller from the award winning author of Immortality Inc. and Last Ape Standing. The novel, set in 2068, tells the story of a prodigy named Morgan Adams who has 72 hours to solve his own murder in a riveting futuristic thriller.
Fans of the book, as well as new listeners, will have the opportunity to experience the narrative in a whole new way, whether at home, on the go, or anywhere in between.
“I’m thrilled to bring this story to life in a new format,” said Walter. “Audiobooks have a unique way of immersing listeners in the world of the story, and I hope Doppelgänger resonates just as much in audio as it has in print. Scott Brick, whose credits include Dune and Jurassic Park - some of the most famous science fiction stories in history - is an immense talent who will really make this story shine.”
For more information or to pre-order the audiobook, visit Amazon in the link below.
I'm very excited to announce that Scott Brick will be narrating the audiobook version of Doppelgänger. Scott is the award winning narrator of nearly 900 titles, including Dune and Jurassic Park, arguably the two biggest science fiction books ever. Some of his other projects in the genre include Blade Runner, Fahrenheit 451, and The Invisible Man. Look for the Doppelgänger audiobook this holiday season.
