If you're into fast-paced sci-fi with a dose of humor, The Lives of Tao is a treat. The premise is a blast: ancient aliens secretly living among us and influencing human history, mixed with action-packed spy drama and a dash of nerdy wish fulfillment. Roen Tan's journey from out-of-shape IT guy to unlikely secret agent is both relatable and entertaining, with plenty of witty banter along the way. This book is perfect for readers who enjoy light-hearted science fiction, action adventures, and stories about personal growth with a fun twist. Fans of genre-blending tales (think Jason Bourne meets Men in Black) will especially get a kick out of it.

Who May Not Like This Book:

Not everyone buys into the magic of this book - some readers found the main character, Roen, a bit too whiny or the alien co-pilot trope a bit overdone. If you expect hard science, deep ethical explorations, or intricate world-building, you may find the story a little shallow. The character development can feel formulaic, and the pace slows down during the training montages. Some also weren't keen on the fast switch from comedy to more serious spy thriller territory, or got bored with repetitive scenes. If you’re looking for something more original or literary, you might not click with this one.

A fun, genre-mashing sci-fi romp that’s easy to read and hard to put down - great for fans of action, comedy, and underdog stories, but it won’t convert hardcore skeptics or those hungry for highbrow sci-fi.

About:

'The Lives of Tao' by Wesley Chu is a sci-fi novel that revolves around Roen, an out-of-shape, unlucky IT worker who becomes possessed by an ancient alien named Tao. The aliens, known as Quasing, have been on Earth for millions of years, inhabiting hosts to survive and manipulating human history to develop technology for their return home. Roen, an unlikely host, must team up with Tao to fight against the opposing faction of aliens, the Genjix, while navigating self-discovery and self-improvement through their symbiotic relationship.

The book combines elements of spy thriller, science fiction, and coming-of-age story as Roen transforms from a directionless nerd to a confident agent under Tao's guidance. The story delves into themes of self-confidence, courage, and the struggle between two alien factions using humans as pawns in their intergalactic conflict, all while maintaining a humorous and engaging narrative style.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, with Roen's transformation from an unmotivated individual to a competent agent being central to the story.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is a blend of humor and action, characterized by fast-paced dialogue and an engaging narrative style.

Plot/Storyline:

The story revolves around an unremarkable individual who gets caught up in a secret war between alien factions while learning to better himself through his new symbiotic relationship.

Setting:

The setting is modern-day Earth with historical influences woven into the narrative.

Pacing:

The pacing is generally exciting, though it has moments of slower development during character training.

I once wrote, “Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he.” The humans refer to that stronger being as Go...

Notes:

The Lives of Tao is a sci-fi novel where an alien race called Quasings inhabit human hosts to survive on Earth.

Roen Tan, the main character, starts as a lazy engineer in Chicago who is reluctantly thrust into an extraterrestrial war.

The Quasings have been on Earth since the age of dinosaurs and can only survive by entering living hosts.

The novel explores themes of personal growth, with Roen transforming from a 'slobby' individual into a capable fighter with Tao's guidance.

There are two factions of Quasings: the Prophus, who want peaceful coexistence with humans, and the Genjix, who believe in using warfare to hasten human advancement.

Tao has inhabited famous figures throughout history, influencing events such as wars and technology advancements.

The book features humor and action, but it also poses serious questions about human agency and history.

Critics note the book’s unique blend of genres, combining elements of espionage, comedy, and science fiction.

Tao serves as a mentor to Roen, helping him develop confidence and physical skills necessary to combat their alien rivals.

The story suggests that human history has been manipulated by alien forces, complicating views on human independence and progress.

Has Romance?

There are elements of romance present in the story, but they are not the primary focus.

From The Publisher:

Goodreads Choice 2013 Nominee - Science Fiction

When out-of-shape IT technician Roen woke up and started hearing voices in his head, he naturally assumed he was losing it.

He wasn't.

He now has a passenger in his brain - an ancient alien life-form called Tao, whose race crash-landed on Earth before the first fish crawled out of the oceans. Now split into two opposing factions - the peace-loving, but under-represented Prophus, and the savage, powerful Genjix - the aliens have been in a state of civil war for centuries. Both sides are searching for a way off-planet, and the Genjix will sacrifice the entire human race, if that's what it takes.

Meanwhile, Roen is having to train to be the ultimate secret agent. Like that's going to end up well...

"File Under" Science Fiction The Tug of War - I Was Genghis - Diary of a Slob - Spy vs Spy ]

April 2013

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464 pages

Ratings (6)

Incredible (1)
Loved It (3)
It Was OK (1)
Did Not Like (1)

Reader Stats (16):

Read It (7)
Currently Reading (1)
Want To Read (6)
Not Interested (2)

What can you read after
The Lives of Tao?

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About the Author:

Wesley Chu was born in Taiwan and emmigrated to Chicago, Illinois when he was just a pup. It was there he became a Kung Fu master and gymnast.

Wesley is an avid gamer and a contributing writer for the magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland. A former stunt man and a member of the Screen Actors Guild, he can also be seen in film and television playing roles such as "Banzai Chef" in Fred Claus and putting out Oscar worthy performances as a bank teller in Chicago Blackhawks commercials.

Wesley is a 2014 Alex Award winner for his book "The Lives of Tao."

Besides working as an Associate Vice President at a bank, he spends his time writing and hanging out with his wife Paula Kim and their Airedale Terrier, Eva.

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The Lives of Tao

Wesley Chu

Book 1 in the series:Tao

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