The Seven Experiments

Overall Rating = 3.63

Storyline & Concept = 4
Writing & Delivery = 3.5
Cover Marketability = 4
Editorial = 3

Financially struggling college professor Gary Miller is presented with an amazing opportunity: the ability to have anything he wants. Through what at first seems like an outlandish offer from an old friend, Gary finds riches, bountiful sex, and every imaginable luxury can be his for the taking. By practicing the principals behind the Seven Experiments he can even become godlike. There’s just one catch: all this newfound abundance comes with a heavy price.

Sublime Line: “The philosophy of the self-help movement which insists that anything is possible if one wants it badly enough mingles with the legend of Faust and his deal with Mephistopheles in this thought-provoking paranormal thriller.”

Wow! A paranormal thriller with a kick! Bob and Gary are talking about Bob's house, the sheer number of books Bob owns and his car. Although Bob is retired, he seems to have much more than a retired professor can afford (and, to Gary, a gorgeous wife).

Bob has a secret he calls the Seven Experiments. This, in order to allow for Gary to fulfill his every dream by way of thought processes. What Gary has found out is that through Experiment 6 is that it really works! He doesn't realize at the time the things he may have lost along the way, however.

There are many thoughts and guesses the reader has about Experiment 7 - it is difficult to figure out what this final experiment will be. I leave it up to the individual reader to enjoy this book and see how their own conclusions click with this suspense-filled thriller.

RECOMMEND!


Many Thanks to Black Rose Writing and NetGalley for a great read!

The Seven Experiments are a scary look at the combination of self-help, science and 'what-if?'. Struggling professor and minister Dr. Gary Miller is frustrated with his mediocre life - especially when he compares himself to his friend, Dr. Robert Harris, who has just retired, with everything he could want. Then Bob introduces Gary to the Seven Experiments - positive thinking gone wild, especially in Gary's case. The experiments work. They work incredibly well. Now Gary can get everything he desires - but what choices will he make? The novel is an exciting exploration of power, morality, and choice and how those choices change us as our power/influence grows. A rapid moving read and fascinating to the end.

What if… you could have it all? Wealth. Health. Youth. Power. A fancy house. A garage full of fast cars. The objects of your desire, immediately available. And what if it could start with something as simple as want? Wanting, and then getting. That’s the lure of this thoroughly entertaining morality tale – one which explores just how far an average person will go when the serpent uncoils and offers a bite of exceedingly enticing forbidden fruit.

Although the premise of The Seven Experiments is pretty straightforward, and it’s delivered in the accessible format of a flat-out page-turner, this is a novel of quiet accomplishment. You might imagine that we’re treading shallow waters with the power of positive thinking, making success manifest through visualisation, but author Stephen Kanicki trawls some satisfyingly murky depths.

Initially it’s easy to celebrate alongside hard-up college professor Gary Miller when the first of the seven experiments seem to be working out for him. He seems to be an archetypal underdog, finally having his day. But Gary soon reveals his sinister side and the people around him start to suffer as his fortunes improve. Fans of Mindhunter on Netflix will be fascinated by how Gary’s character evolves; how his inner sociopath rises to take over the reins.

I absolutely galloped through the pages, transfixed by the awful things unfolding and unable to predict what might happen next. And I adored the cameo appearance by the Prince of Lies himself…

You may find The Seven Experiments listed in the sci-fi or fantasy section, but it’s more like a suspense-thriller which veers into speculative / supernatural territory. The superficial story simply serves as a springboard for a challenging conversation about moral philosophy and the human capacity for greedy self-deception. It’s all very relevant at a time when we’re questioning the ethics of our consumer society.

Just how much is enough? And if you could have it all, but someone else had to carry the consequences, would you hesitate?

A genuinely chilling psychological thriller. Can’t wait to read what Kanicki dreams up next.

9/10

Have you ever wondered if those self help books work? Or how about those self help gurus? The novel is about a college professor who salary is at the bottom of the salary levels. He hasn’t got a raise in ages. The college administration has been saying there is no money for raises. Gary is also a minister but gets fired when it is discovered that was the one who borrowed (took) money to pay his taxes. His marriage is becoming rocky due to lack of money. When his friend, a fellow professor Bob retired, Gary was jealous. Gary felt that Bob had everything. Gary had a large house, a gorgeous wife, etc. When Bob invites Gary, he tells him that he can have all this too. All he has to do is these seven experiments with Bob’s guidance. Gary doesn’t believe Bob ‘s explanations until they work for him! Gary becomes more selfish as he accomplishes each experiment. Will Gary be able to understand what his mentor is telling him?

The novel is a page turner. I couldn’t stop reading it as I wanted to know what the experiments were and if Gary could do them successfully. It is a book that made me think what if anyone could do these. What would the world be like? I haven’t decided myself.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, it's something a bit different from the usual in the sci-fi genre. The book is well written and is a good read from beginning to end and made me look at life a little bit differently.. If you like a pschological thriller with a morality twist this is definitely for you

this was such an interesting concept of a novel and I really enjoyed reading this. I loved the mystery elements and how there were some horror elements as well, I really enjoyed reading this.