The Rule of Thoughts

by James Dashner

Series: Book #2 The Mortality Doctrine 
ISBN: 9780385741415
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: August 26th 2014
Number of Pages: 304
Source: Local Library
Goodreads Summary:  Michael completed the Path. What he found at the end turned everything he’d ever known about his life—and the world—completely upside down.

He barely survived. But it was the only way VirtNet Security knew to find the cyber-terrorist Kaine—and to make the Sleep safe for gamers once again. And, the truth Michael discovered about Kaine is more complex than they anticipated, and more terrifying than even the worst of their fears.

Kaine is a tangent, a computer program that has become sentient. And Michael’s completing the Path was the first stage in turning Kaine’s master plan, the Mortality Doctrine, into a reality.

The Mortality Doctrine will populate Earth entirely with human bodies harboring tangent minds. Any gamer who sinks into the VirtNet risks coming out with a tangent intelligence in control of their body. 

And the takeover has already begun.

My Rating:  

So, seeing as this is book number 2, you kind of have to read the first book, The Eye of Minds, to get what is going on. (See my review for that book here) I know if you are like me, you hating reading a book that ends up being a part of a series. I couldn't resist with this because I loved Dashner's Maze Runner series. For those of you who haven't read the first book - book #3 won't be out until October 2015 (so, a year from now). Maybe that will help you decide if you want to start the series now or wait for all three to be out :)

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Book #1 ended on a major cliffhanger - We discover that Michael isn't a human, He's basically just a computer program that has now been "given" a human body. 

"Everything he knew was a result of artificial intelligence. Manufactured data and memories. Programmed technology. A created life." - The Rule of Thoughts, 2

Michael struggles with this throughout the whole book - who/what is he? It is the time old question of creating artificial intelligence - does creating something in man's image that thinks, talks, and acts like human still just a computer? To me, Michael doesn't seem computer-ish to me. He has feelings and struggles just as a human does. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

"You're the same goofy Michael I've always known. Who's to say we're not all computer programs, layers upon layers upon layers? Or in a dream?" - The Rule of Thoughts, 88

Michael has to seek out his two best friends - Sarah and Bryson in the REAL world to try and figure out how to beat Kaine (the crazy power-hungry computer program that has started to take over the world).

Michael's body (previous belonging to Jackson Porter) is a source of conflict. One that results from this is Jackson's girlfriend, Gabby. Seems like Kaine chose Jackson's body for a reason.....

The VNS is not being any help and time is running out...

A little slow-going but it does pick up towards the end. Again, we are left with an intriguing twist, though not as cliff-hanging as the first book. (Dashner sure does love putting twists in his books!) 

Overall, decent middle book and I will read the last book to continue the journey with Michael and his friends.