Triggers (novel)

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Triggers is a science fiction novel by Canadian writer Robert J. Sawyer, first published by Viking in 2012. It was originally serialized in Analog.

Plot in brief
- In the near future, war veteran Kadeem Adams prepares for an experimental memory-editing treatment for PTSD at Luther Terry Hospital in Washington, D.C.
- President Seth Jerrison is rushed to the same hospital after an assassination attempt. A new type of bomb causes an electromagnetic pulse that destroys the White House just as the treatment begins.
- The attack exposes a leak inside the Secret Service, and as Jerrison regains consciousness, he can remember Adams’ life as well as his own.
- Adams quickly discovers he can remember the life of someone else nearby, and more people begin sharing memories. This suggests someone in the hospital has access to the President’s highly secret memories, including plans for a covert anti-terrorist operation codenamed Counter Punch.
- The story blends thriller elements with a focus on people whose minds are linked through a phenomenon that feels like quantum entanglement. Not everyone involved is trustworthy, and after one person dies, the connection among the survivors grows stronger.

Themes and reception
- A central idea is how intertwined memories affect identity, trust, and power.
- Critics were divided about the ending, with some finding it utopian and others chilling or cybertopian.

Adaptation
- In 2014, Sawyer was commissioned to adapt Triggers into a film.

Details
- Pages: 342
- Language: English
- Genre: Science fiction
- Original serialization: Analog

Overall, Triggers uses memory sharing and political intrigue to explore how secrets shape individuals and nations.