Monkey Trap — Lee Denning

Lara and John are given the incredible powers of the next stage of human evolution by two alien visitors. One wants to help the human race fulfill its potential, to transition into the Nova sapiens state. The other wants to use those powers to return the race to a more primitive state of mindlessness and darkness, to assert its power. But which is which? The human protagonists' identities are concealed from each other, and they are set on a collision course to death and destruction.

Thus begins an intricate psychodrama and a furious battling chase in which John and Lara have to penetrate induced alien falsehoods, rely on their inner strengths, and relinquish power in favor of love. If they are to survive. If the human race is to survive.

This story takes place today, in familiar places. It launches from the current cutting edges of knowledge about human development and consciousness. Slight twists from this state suspend disbelief, and embedded mysticism creates a powerful undercurrent.

Monkey Trap is Book I of the Nova sapiens trilogy, speculative metaphysical fiction that takes off from the present-day science of evolution and consciousness and leaps into the dangers of an alternative future for humanity. Book II continues that theme. Book III is scheduled for publication in July 2012. Winner USA Book Awards in ebook category, Finalist USA Book Awards in SF/F category, Dream Realm Award Finalist.

In this first book of the trilogy, the human race is at a turning point. An evolutionary feedback loop in the human genome is about to be triggered. It will better integrate the three evolutionary segments of the brain. The result will be extraordinary physical and mental powers and accessibility to greater consciousness, developing within human beings over a relatively short span of generations. But is the human race ready?

In a monkey trap, the bait is nuts of which monkeys are particularly fond. If they can't let go of the nuts, they get trapped and become monkey soup. Equivalent bait for human beings is power. This is an old parable, found in the myths and fables of other cultures and times. Monkey Trap wraps this into the present day, in a rich and complex tale.