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Recommend this book:
Miguel Traveler #1
The Man from Texas
Daniel McFatter
2018 Finalist
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Dystopia
Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite
Miguel Traveler #1: The Man From Texas by Daniel McFatter takes us on a broad, sweeping science fiction/dystopian/philosophical/contemporary literature journey through the past, the present and the future. Miguel Morgan wakes up in the womb of a machine that he instinctively understands is his new mother. Once violently released from her warm embrace, Miguel takes the reader on a journey through a West Texas of the future, known now as the Outfar. During his adventure he will encounter, befriend and try to assist some of the few remnants left of humanity. This is a future world of fear and horror – where the few good humans left are terrorised by evil, zombie-like creatures afflicted with the laughing sickness. As time progresses, we journey back with Miguel to current times as he recalls how he ended up in this place and he begins to question who or what he now is, plus his purpose in this harsh, new world.
I found Miguel Traveller #1: The Man From Texas to be an absolute breath of fresh air, especially as a debut novel from Daniel McFatter. The characters, especially the irrepressible and very identifiable Crunchy, were both endearing and believable. I loved that Miguel was himself a fatally flawed character and was constantly questioning why he was given the responsibilities and power he clearly had. There was a strong philosophical thread flowing through the story that I found compelling. Based principally on the teachings of Taoism and of Buddha, but stretching through to include those of the modern “new age” thought as expressed in The Secret and The Law of Attraction, this deep thinking by the main character gave the story a greater depth and impact than just a dystopian thriller would have done. McFatter, in my opinion, beautifully tied together the different threads of the story and in good dramatic fashion left the reader wanting more at the end. I am sure this is just the first of a series on Miguel and his journeys, so I am looking forward to seeing Daniel McFatter’s next iteration of this character.
Miguel Traveler #1: The Man From Texas by Daniel McFatter takes us on a broad, sweeping science fiction/dystopian/philosophical/contemporary literature journey through the past, the present and the future. Miguel Morgan wakes up in the womb of a machine that he instinctively understands is his new mother. Once violently released from her warm embrace, Miguel takes the reader on a journey through a West Texas of the future, known now as the Outfar. During his adventure he will encounter, befriend and try to assist some of the few remnants left of humanity. This is a future world of fear and horror – where the few good humans left are terrorised by evil, zombie-like creatures afflicted with the laughing sickness. As time progresses, we journey back with Miguel to current times as he recalls how he ended up in this place and he begins to question who or what he now is, plus his purpose in this harsh, new world.
I found Miguel Traveller #1: The Man From Texas to be an absolute breath of fresh air, especially as a debut novel from Daniel McFatter. The characters, especially the irrepressible and very identifiable Crunchy, were both endearing and believable. I loved that Miguel was himself a fatally flawed character and was constantly questioning why he was given the responsibilities and power he clearly had. There was a strong philosophical thread flowing through the story that I found compelling. Based principally on the teachings of Taoism and of Buddha, but stretching through to include those of the modern “new age” thought as expressed in The Secret and The Law of Attraction, this deep thinking by the main character gave the story a greater depth and impact than just a dystopian thriller would have done. McFatter, in my opinion, beautifully tied together the different threads of the story and in good dramatic fashion left the reader wanting more at the end. I am sure this is just the first of a series on Miguel and his journeys, so I am looking forward to seeing Daniel McFatter’s next iteration of this character.
Recommend this book:
It Takes Death to Reach a Star
Stu Jones, Gareth Worthington
2018 Honorable Mention
323 Pages
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Fiction - Dystopia
Reviewed by Justine Reyes for Readers' Favorite
In the year 2251, the world as we know it is gone, taken by ignorance and greed. It Takes Death to Reach a Star by Stu Jones and Gareth Worthington is a post-apocalyptic dystopian novel about Mila Solokoff, Demitri Stasevich, and respectively the malevolent Vedmak. Mila and Demitri lead separate lives in the same city, a city in the frozen wastelands of northern Siberia called Etyom. A city where people are separated by classism and conflict. Mila belongs to the Robusts, a lower class society that is starved of the privileges which the Graciles have all to themselves, Graciles like Demitri. However, Demitri isn’t like the rest of them; he’s got a dirty little secret which has nothing to do with his illegal drug use. Funnily enough, the pair are thrown together to make a decision that could alter the lives of all the people in Etyom.
It can’t be a coincidence that Etyom takes place in Russia, because some of the best sci-fi novels come from famous Russian authors like the Strugatsky brothers who wrote Roadside Picnic and Dmitry Glukhovsky who created the Metro books. “The world has changed, but the people in it didn’t.” I cannot fathom how Stu Jones and Gareth Worthington created this masterpiece. I am awestruck at how well developed their characters are and how vivid and immersive is the world they have built. It’s so oddly surreal, yet all of it is brilliantly woven together in this fictional post-apocalyptic world. Fans of this genre would be well advised to pick up a copy of It Takes Death to Reach a Star.
In the year 2251, the world as we know it is gone, taken by ignorance and greed. It Takes Death to Reach a Star by Stu Jones and Gareth Worthington is a post-apocalyptic dystopian novel about Mila Solokoff, Demitri Stasevich, and respectively the malevolent Vedmak. Mila and Demitri lead separate lives in the same city, a city in the frozen wastelands of northern Siberia called Etyom. A city where people are separated by classism and conflict. Mila belongs to the Robusts, a lower class society that is starved of the privileges which the Graciles have all to themselves, Graciles like Demitri. However, Demitri isn’t like the rest of them; he’s got a dirty little secret which has nothing to do with his illegal drug use. Funnily enough, the pair are thrown together to make a decision that could alter the lives of all the people in Etyom.
It can’t be a coincidence that Etyom takes place in Russia, because some of the best sci-fi novels come from famous Russian authors like the Strugatsky brothers who wrote Roadside Picnic and Dmitry Glukhovsky who created the Metro books. “The world has changed, but the people in it didn’t.” I cannot fathom how Stu Jones and Gareth Worthington created this masterpiece. I am awestruck at how well developed their characters are and how vivid and immersive is the world they have built. It’s so oddly surreal, yet all of it is brilliantly woven together in this fictional post-apocalyptic world. Fans of this genre would be well advised to pick up a copy of It Takes Death to Reach a Star.
Recommend this book:
FINAL NOTICE
What would you do if you knew you had one week to live?
Van Fleisher
2018 Honorable Mention
352 Pages
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Fiction - Dystopia
Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite
Final Notice by Van Fleisher is an intelligently imagined and expertly crafted novel with an original concept. Vijay Patel, a doctor and mathematician, has just created a revolutionary invention, a health watch that predicts within 10 – 30 days when someone will die. This could be great news for many people, allowing them to fix whatever they need to fix and prepare for death peacefully. But the certainty in regards to when people would die creates anxiety in some, a deep sense of purpose in others, and the desire for revenge in a few. Readers are introduced to very compelling cast of characters, including an eighty-nine-year-old man in a retirement home, a senator, a climate scientist, an FBI agent, and many others.
Combining dark and biting humor, satire, and suspense, Van Fleisher creates a story with characters that are sophisticated and that reveal a lot about human nature. There is a memorable cast of characters, each facing the Final Notice, aware that they will die soon, and it is interesting to see how they plan to spend their last days. The reader will be surprised by the quirkiness in character development and in aspects of the plot. There is an unpredictability in the plot that makes it intriguing and exciting, with surprises that readers won’t see coming. I enjoyed the concept — strong and original — behind the plot. The conflict is mostly existential and psychological and the author uses it to drive the plot. Van Fleisher is a master entertainer who knows how to feed the reader’s curiosity. You can’t stop reading this book once you start it.
Final Notice by Van Fleisher is an intelligently imagined and expertly crafted novel with an original concept. Vijay Patel, a doctor and mathematician, has just created a revolutionary invention, a health watch that predicts within 10 – 30 days when someone will die. This could be great news for many people, allowing them to fix whatever they need to fix and prepare for death peacefully. But the certainty in regards to when people would die creates anxiety in some, a deep sense of purpose in others, and the desire for revenge in a few. Readers are introduced to very compelling cast of characters, including an eighty-nine-year-old man in a retirement home, a senator, a climate scientist, an FBI agent, and many others.
Combining dark and biting humor, satire, and suspense, Van Fleisher creates a story with characters that are sophisticated and that reveal a lot about human nature. There is a memorable cast of characters, each facing the Final Notice, aware that they will die soon, and it is interesting to see how they plan to spend their last days. The reader will be surprised by the quirkiness in character development and in aspects of the plot. There is an unpredictability in the plot that makes it intriguing and exciting, with surprises that readers won’t see coming. I enjoyed the concept — strong and original — behind the plot. The conflict is mostly existential and psychological and the author uses it to drive the plot. Van Fleisher is a master entertainer who knows how to feed the reader’s curiosity. You can’t stop reading this book once you start it.
Recommend this book:
CRISIS
Convulsive Part 1
Marcus Martin
2018 Bronze Medal
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Dystopia
Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite
When first the International Space Station’s crew dies and then all Earth's satellites are wiped out, the powers that be realize something disastrous is about to strike Earth. With communications and power gone, the thin veneer of a civilized society rapidly begins to crumble as the citizenry begins to do whatever it takes to survive. Add in a pandemic that is rapidly culling the population and you have the premise for Marcus Martin’s dystopian novel, Convulsive Part 1. Lucy and her partner, Dan, are better placed than most to survive. Dan’s father, who is high up in the government, had already warned him something was about to happen and Dan had wisely stockpiled food and supplies to ensure their survival. As the civil authorities in San Francisco struggle to cope with the overwhelming problems, Lucy and Dan must survive at all costs until Dan’s father can organize a way out for them and others.
Convulsive Part 1 is the first part of a serialized set of novels, so as a standalone book it fails to answer many questions, but sets up very well the continuation of the story for the next installment. Although I’m not personally a great fan of this style of serialization, author Marcus Martin does an excellent job of building the action to a crescendo and leaving the reader wanting more, which at the end of the day is the whole point of this type of story. I liked Martin’s writing style, which is simple, straightforward, and rapidly moved the action along. The characters could well have been more deeply explored, especially the two principals, Dan and Lucy, as well as their relationship, but at the heart of the story is the dystopian battle for survival and, on that level, the author did a very good job of carrying the reader along at a steady clip. This is a good beginning to a series and I see Convulsive Book 2 is already available, so readers who enjoy this first part will not have to wait to find out what happens next, which is always a bonus.
When first the International Space Station’s crew dies and then all Earth's satellites are wiped out, the powers that be realize something disastrous is about to strike Earth. With communications and power gone, the thin veneer of a civilized society rapidly begins to crumble as the citizenry begins to do whatever it takes to survive. Add in a pandemic that is rapidly culling the population and you have the premise for Marcus Martin’s dystopian novel, Convulsive Part 1. Lucy and her partner, Dan, are better placed than most to survive. Dan’s father, who is high up in the government, had already warned him something was about to happen and Dan had wisely stockpiled food and supplies to ensure their survival. As the civil authorities in San Francisco struggle to cope with the overwhelming problems, Lucy and Dan must survive at all costs until Dan’s father can organize a way out for them and others.
Convulsive Part 1 is the first part of a serialized set of novels, so as a standalone book it fails to answer many questions, but sets up very well the continuation of the story for the next installment. Although I’m not personally a great fan of this style of serialization, author Marcus Martin does an excellent job of building the action to a crescendo and leaving the reader wanting more, which at the end of the day is the whole point of this type of story. I liked Martin’s writing style, which is simple, straightforward, and rapidly moved the action along. The characters could well have been more deeply explored, especially the two principals, Dan and Lucy, as well as their relationship, but at the heart of the story is the dystopian battle for survival and, on that level, the author did a very good job of carrying the reader along at a steady clip. This is a good beginning to a series and I see Convulsive Book 2 is already available, so readers who enjoy this first part will not have to wait to find out what happens next, which is always a bonus.
Recommend this book:
What Survives of Us
Colorado Chapters Book One
Kathy Miner
2018 Silver Medal
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Dystopia
Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
What Survives of Us by Kathy Miner is a supernatural dystopian thriller that begins where most of the rest of the human population ends, with the surviving 1% following a worldwide epidemic of plague. “It was untreatable. There was no vaccine. It was 99-100% fatal.” Miner's introductions include the characters followed in the plot, who are each given their own point of view within the story: Naomi, Jack, Grace, Quinn, and Piper. As the survivors descend into chaos, two interesting twists emerge. The first is that those who have outlived the virus cannot outrun the violent and destructive demise of humanity. Brutality and complete degradation run rampant, with rape, murder, and torturous revenge fueling those who are left. The second is that those same people have all been imparted with unique powers. How they choose to use it – and abuse it – is up to them.
What Survives of Us is the first in Kathy Miner's Colorado Chapters series and, as a note of warning, it does end with a cliffhanger. Thankfully, this isn't nearly as painful as what happens within the pages of this exquisitely written novel, since book two, Where the Light Enters, has already been released. Miner has taken an overly saturated genre and reinvigorated it with a skilled balancing act of realism and the supernatural. The darkness and whole abandonment of morality are laid bare with not even the most likable characters spared...which is where the realism seeps in. All of the usual tropes are cast off as Miner builds a world that, superhuman abilities aside, is likely to be a more accurate representation of moral descent than any I have read before. There's no question that this series will appeal to lovers of Stephen King's The Stand, giving rise to a formidable new author who is deserving of the comparison in every regard.
What Survives of Us by Kathy Miner is a supernatural dystopian thriller that begins where most of the rest of the human population ends, with the surviving 1% following a worldwide epidemic of plague. “It was untreatable. There was no vaccine. It was 99-100% fatal.” Miner's introductions include the characters followed in the plot, who are each given their own point of view within the story: Naomi, Jack, Grace, Quinn, and Piper. As the survivors descend into chaos, two interesting twists emerge. The first is that those who have outlived the virus cannot outrun the violent and destructive demise of humanity. Brutality and complete degradation run rampant, with rape, murder, and torturous revenge fueling those who are left. The second is that those same people have all been imparted with unique powers. How they choose to use it – and abuse it – is up to them.
What Survives of Us is the first in Kathy Miner's Colorado Chapters series and, as a note of warning, it does end with a cliffhanger. Thankfully, this isn't nearly as painful as what happens within the pages of this exquisitely written novel, since book two, Where the Light Enters, has already been released. Miner has taken an overly saturated genre and reinvigorated it with a skilled balancing act of realism and the supernatural. The darkness and whole abandonment of morality are laid bare with not even the most likable characters spared...which is where the realism seeps in. All of the usual tropes are cast off as Miner builds a world that, superhuman abilities aside, is likely to be a more accurate representation of moral descent than any I have read before. There's no question that this series will appeal to lovers of Stephen King's The Stand, giving rise to a formidable new author who is deserving of the comparison in every regard.
Recommend this book:
The Wanderer and the New West
Adam Bender
2018 Gold Medal
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Dystopia
Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite
The Wanderer and the New West by Adam Bender is a dystopian view of an America that many may well see as a path the country is already headed down. Federal rule has virtually ceased and all power lies with the states - no longer is it the United States of America. Even the individual states have virtually given up trying to rule and law is implemented at the behest of corporations, one of the greatest of these being the Breck Ammunition Company. Into this lawless environment strides the impressive Wanderer. Nobody knows who he is or where he came from, but his mission, it seems, is to protect the innocent and to fight injustice. With his trusty sidekick, Kid Hunter, the Wanderer joins forces with wannabe journalist, Rosa Veras, as they attempt to "clean up" the New West.
I came to this book expecting to be reading a Western, but was more than pleasantly surprised to discover this is so much more. Set some time in the future, in a world not too dissimilar to where we currently find ourselves, the values and importance of the free press and of morality shone through this story. The characters themselves, especially Kid Hunter and the Wanderer, are necessarily caricatures of the Old West's most famous gunslingers and fighters of injustice. I found myself incredibly caught up in Rosa and her group's fight to expose the evil and corruption inherent within the corporation, and to bring some justice to the State of Arizona. The story was reminiscent of the old Westerns I'd read as a child, without becoming overly soppy. The humour was genuine and some of the banter between the Kid and the Wanderer was truly inspired. I couldn't put this book down and read it quickly and easily. The Wanderer and the New West by Adam Bender is an excellent story - I highly recommend it.
The Wanderer and the New West by Adam Bender is a dystopian view of an America that many may well see as a path the country is already headed down. Federal rule has virtually ceased and all power lies with the states - no longer is it the United States of America. Even the individual states have virtually given up trying to rule and law is implemented at the behest of corporations, one of the greatest of these being the Breck Ammunition Company. Into this lawless environment strides the impressive Wanderer. Nobody knows who he is or where he came from, but his mission, it seems, is to protect the innocent and to fight injustice. With his trusty sidekick, Kid Hunter, the Wanderer joins forces with wannabe journalist, Rosa Veras, as they attempt to "clean up" the New West.
I came to this book expecting to be reading a Western, but was more than pleasantly surprised to discover this is so much more. Set some time in the future, in a world not too dissimilar to where we currently find ourselves, the values and importance of the free press and of morality shone through this story. The characters themselves, especially Kid Hunter and the Wanderer, are necessarily caricatures of the Old West's most famous gunslingers and fighters of injustice. I found myself incredibly caught up in Rosa and her group's fight to expose the evil and corruption inherent within the corporation, and to bring some justice to the State of Arizona. The story was reminiscent of the old Westerns I'd read as a child, without becoming overly soppy. The humour was genuine and some of the banter between the Kid and the Wanderer was truly inspired. I couldn't put this book down and read it quickly and easily. The Wanderer and the New West by Adam Bender is an excellent story - I highly recommend it.
Recommend this book:
Pale Bricks
K. L. Stein
2017 Finalist
382 Pages
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Fiction - Dystopia
Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite
In Pale Bricks by K.L. Stein, readers are introduced to compelling characters and a powerful dystopian setting. Simone lost her mother when she was very young and she has been through a lot, being one of the lowest members of her camp. The number sewn onto her sleeve reminds her constantly of this. But Simone is not content to be where she is. Deep inside, she believes that life could be different, even better, that she can have more than the meager rations given to her by the Colonel. She needs freedom, and that is what pushes her to step beyond the boundaries of the only place she’s called home. What awaits her beyond the Ivory Tower she’s just discovered outside the walls of her camp? It’s up to her to find out or perish trying.
There is a lot for dystopian fans in K.L. Stein’s Pale Bricks. I loved the setting and the theme of freedom that is so well woven into the story. The fact that a few people rise up to take control of the majority has always been one of the problems humanity has had to face. Simone is a well-sculpted character and the conflict that drives the wonderful plot is constructed around her. Readers will feel immediately connected to her as she struggles to break free while working hard to keep herself safe and sane. The writing is gorgeous, seasoned with many vivid and compelling descriptions. I also enjoyed the psychological depth of the story and how the author explored the tensions within the protagonist’s thoughts. Pale Bricks has a fast-paced, unpredictable plot that will keep readers turning the pages until the end.
In Pale Bricks by K.L. Stein, readers are introduced to compelling characters and a powerful dystopian setting. Simone lost her mother when she was very young and she has been through a lot, being one of the lowest members of her camp. The number sewn onto her sleeve reminds her constantly of this. But Simone is not content to be where she is. Deep inside, she believes that life could be different, even better, that she can have more than the meager rations given to her by the Colonel. She needs freedom, and that is what pushes her to step beyond the boundaries of the only place she’s called home. What awaits her beyond the Ivory Tower she’s just discovered outside the walls of her camp? It’s up to her to find out or perish trying.
There is a lot for dystopian fans in K.L. Stein’s Pale Bricks. I loved the setting and the theme of freedom that is so well woven into the story. The fact that a few people rise up to take control of the majority has always been one of the problems humanity has had to face. Simone is a well-sculpted character and the conflict that drives the wonderful plot is constructed around her. Readers will feel immediately connected to her as she struggles to break free while working hard to keep herself safe and sane. The writing is gorgeous, seasoned with many vivid and compelling descriptions. I also enjoyed the psychological depth of the story and how the author explored the tensions within the protagonist’s thoughts. Pale Bricks has a fast-paced, unpredictable plot that will keep readers turning the pages until the end.
Recommend this book:
The Severaine
The Forgotten Legacies Series Book 2
K.J. Simmill
2017 Honorable Mention
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Dystopia
Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite
There are books you pick up, read, savor, and put aside; you forget them and move on to the next. But there are some you read, put down, and they continue to haunt you for a very long time. K.J. Simmill’s The Severaine is the kind that you will read and find it very painful to put down, and the author should better be ready with the next story in the series. This is the second book in The Forgotten Legacies Series, a gripping story featuring a powerful force in its wake and on a path to destroying every life in its way. Can anything stop the Severaine? It’s a mysterious and malicious force whose sole purpose is to absorb every ounce of energy from every living thing, and if it is not stopped, it could be the end of the world. It is in this climate that K.J. Simmill creates heroes and villains, resurrects the forgotten gods and summons powerful creatures.
The Severaine is beautifully written, fast-paced, with very compelling characters. You’ll find intrigue and betrayal, and a powerful and plot-driven conflict. There is a lot of action to hasten the pulse of the reader’s heart, a lot of beautifully crafted scenes that leave the reader looking forward, anticipating more surprises. I enjoyed the hints of Norse and Greek mythology. This book combines different genres — thriller, dystopian, and fantasy — to weave a spell that will have readers entranced as they leaf rapidly through the pages. This is one of the stories I would love to watch on screen, a very entertaining read.
There are books you pick up, read, savor, and put aside; you forget them and move on to the next. But there are some you read, put down, and they continue to haunt you for a very long time. K.J. Simmill’s The Severaine is the kind that you will read and find it very painful to put down, and the author should better be ready with the next story in the series. This is the second book in The Forgotten Legacies Series, a gripping story featuring a powerful force in its wake and on a path to destroying every life in its way. Can anything stop the Severaine? It’s a mysterious and malicious force whose sole purpose is to absorb every ounce of energy from every living thing, and if it is not stopped, it could be the end of the world. It is in this climate that K.J. Simmill creates heroes and villains, resurrects the forgotten gods and summons powerful creatures.
The Severaine is beautifully written, fast-paced, with very compelling characters. You’ll find intrigue and betrayal, and a powerful and plot-driven conflict. There is a lot of action to hasten the pulse of the reader’s heart, a lot of beautifully crafted scenes that leave the reader looking forward, anticipating more surprises. I enjoyed the hints of Norse and Greek mythology. This book combines different genres — thriller, dystopian, and fantasy — to weave a spell that will have readers entranced as they leaf rapidly through the pages. This is one of the stories I would love to watch on screen, a very entertaining read.
Recommend this book:
The Light of Reason
The Seekers Book 3
David Litwack
2017 Bronze Medal
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Dystopia
Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite
David Litwack’s The Light of Reason is Book Three in The Seekers series, another brilliant and compelling entry to a series that is already growing long legs. In an alternate world, two seekers return from across the sea, having acquired exceptional knowledge and wisdom, with the hope of bringing more light to their world. But when Orah and Nathaniel reach home, they are stunned to learn that things have changed drastically. A deadly usurper sits on the throne of the Vicar and his plans are to wreak havoc, and he’ll use all the knowledge at the disposal of the Vicar to strengthen his dark reign. Faced with such a deadly adversary, the dreamers must make a very difficult choice, and the survival of their knowledge and enlightenment depends on their choice. Will they return to the dark world or face certain extinction?
The Light of Reason reads so much like a dream; it’s the kind of story that rekindles a region of our soul where we feel the strange stirrings, the beckonings of a higher world. The story is well-imagined and masterfully told, with a cast of very compelling and convincing characters. Nothing feels so strange yet so familiar, so impossible yet so convincing as the conflict that permeates the whole story. This is the first book I have read in the series and David Litwack comes across as a master in the genre, doing a perfect job so that the reader doesn’t need to read previous books in the series to connect to the story. The writing is flawless, featuring beautiful and vivid descriptions, intelligent and plot-driven dialogues, and characters that readers will easily relate to. Now, I will have to go back and read the other books in the series. David Litwack is nothing less than a master entertainer and is perhaps himself a gifted dreamer.
David Litwack’s The Light of Reason is Book Three in The Seekers series, another brilliant and compelling entry to a series that is already growing long legs. In an alternate world, two seekers return from across the sea, having acquired exceptional knowledge and wisdom, with the hope of bringing more light to their world. But when Orah and Nathaniel reach home, they are stunned to learn that things have changed drastically. A deadly usurper sits on the throne of the Vicar and his plans are to wreak havoc, and he’ll use all the knowledge at the disposal of the Vicar to strengthen his dark reign. Faced with such a deadly adversary, the dreamers must make a very difficult choice, and the survival of their knowledge and enlightenment depends on their choice. Will they return to the dark world or face certain extinction?
The Light of Reason reads so much like a dream; it’s the kind of story that rekindles a region of our soul where we feel the strange stirrings, the beckonings of a higher world. The story is well-imagined and masterfully told, with a cast of very compelling and convincing characters. Nothing feels so strange yet so familiar, so impossible yet so convincing as the conflict that permeates the whole story. This is the first book I have read in the series and David Litwack comes across as a master in the genre, doing a perfect job so that the reader doesn’t need to read previous books in the series to connect to the story. The writing is flawless, featuring beautiful and vivid descriptions, intelligent and plot-driven dialogues, and characters that readers will easily relate to. Now, I will have to go back and read the other books in the series. David Litwack is nothing less than a master entertainer and is perhaps himself a gifted dreamer.
Recommend this book:
When Nothing Is All You've Got
Kirsty Dallas
2017 Silver Medal
288 Pages
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Fiction - Dystopia
Reviewed by Ray Simmons for Readers' Favorite
I often wonder if we can keep civilization going along the bumpy road we are currently on. The threat and possibility that war, or something equally as devastating, will throw us into a primitive setback seems stronger than ever before. We have avoided this fate for my entire life and I think everyone breathed a sigh of relief when we thought we had made it through the Cold War relatively unscathed. I suspect our relief might have been premature. The struggle not to blow ourselves up may end up being a constant one. I like science fiction that shows some of the possibilities when we finally do. Some of my friends say I’m a pessimist. I think I’m a realist. That’s why I found When Nothing is All You've Got easy to believe. It is also why I liked it. I think Kirsty Dallas is a lot like me. She is a realist, living among optimists who label her a pessimist. She is also an excellent writer.
I like When Nothing is All You've Got because it is a real, gritty world with real characters. I like that. Too many science fiction writers don’t seem to really know what it’s like to live at the bottom of a vicious food chain. Kristy Dallas does. The writing is great. You need that to pull a novel like this off. The characters and the personal interactions are perfectly displayed and I could relate to every deal, every attempt to stab someone in the back, and every failure of trust. The plot is good and the action moves along at a crisp pace. For me, the setting is the strongest feature in When All You've Got is Nothing, but Nada herself is an appealing element too. But this world created her and, though she is gritty, she is extremely beautiful.
I often wonder if we can keep civilization going along the bumpy road we are currently on. The threat and possibility that war, or something equally as devastating, will throw us into a primitive setback seems stronger than ever before. We have avoided this fate for my entire life and I think everyone breathed a sigh of relief when we thought we had made it through the Cold War relatively unscathed. I suspect our relief might have been premature. The struggle not to blow ourselves up may end up being a constant one. I like science fiction that shows some of the possibilities when we finally do. Some of my friends say I’m a pessimist. I think I’m a realist. That’s why I found When Nothing is All You've Got easy to believe. It is also why I liked it. I think Kirsty Dallas is a lot like me. She is a realist, living among optimists who label her a pessimist. She is also an excellent writer.
I like When Nothing is All You've Got because it is a real, gritty world with real characters. I like that. Too many science fiction writers don’t seem to really know what it’s like to live at the bottom of a vicious food chain. Kristy Dallas does. The writing is great. You need that to pull a novel like this off. The characters and the personal interactions are perfectly displayed and I could relate to every deal, every attempt to stab someone in the back, and every failure of trust. The plot is good and the action moves along at a crisp pace. For me, the setting is the strongest feature in When All You've Got is Nothing, but Nada herself is an appealing element too. But this world created her and, though she is gritty, she is extremely beautiful.
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