Genre: Science
Fiction/Political Thriller
Description:
“Nearly five decades from now, America is finding its legs again after
years of bitter conflict. Civ-2, as the Second Civil War came to be known,
turned many of the nation's cities into battlefields and took millions of
lives. Early in the 2060 campaign, Reformation League candidate Acton Granger
made an unprecedented concession – he would forego a running mate and offer the
vice presidency to his chief rival, whomever that may become. It was a gesture
of unity that rocketed Granger to victory. Still stinging from defeat, the
Conservative League’s Elijah Schroeder chose to swallow his pride and accept
Granger’s offer, alienating his own supporters and political allies in the
process.
Now two years into their fragile partnership, the 2064 campaign looms,
and Elijah learns his selection was more complicated than the call for healing
he and the country were led to believe. He must decide whether to continue
toiling as a false symbol of harmony, or turn against the man who is now his
boss and leader of the free world.
Meanwhile, other national figures emerge with their own designs on the
election, from the Freedom League’s rebellious darling Shelby Monroe to the
Progressive League's technology mogul Ben Allen, who could become the country’s
first gay president.
As each contender charts their strategies and the barnstorming begins,
a terrorist attack – orchestrated by a new, horrifying weapon – rocks the
nation and turns all of their campaigns upside-down.
That is, all of them but one.”
Author:
“Scott McDermott lives in Virginia Beach with his wife and two
furballs.”
Appraisal:
This is quite a story. I’m inclined to call it dystopian because it
has a lot of the elements of that genre, specifically a political slant that
looks at a current direction some are advocating or trying to take the country
and projects the slippery slope of going too far that way. In this case that
direction is using what’s often described as “big data” to predict how voters
will react to certain things and politicians positioning their campaigns based
on that. (Google “Robert Mercer” if you’re interested in learning more about
this.) However, dystopian usually implies the opposite of a utopia, a world you
wouldn’t want to live in. The US in 2064 when this story takes place is no
utopia, but it isn’t a dystopia either. But the questions and concerns it
raises if you read between the lines aren’t much different from what you’d
expect in the dystopian genre. Maybe it’s dystopian lite as well as being a
political thriller set in the not-so-distant future.
Those tuned in to the current political landscape will spot other
similarities in this future world the author has imagined. But there are also
some significant differences that are interesting food for thought, for example
there have been changes that have happened, moving from a two-party system to a
multi-party system with the parties called “leagues.” How politicians and
voters react due to the recent second Civil War and some changes in the
political divisions in the country (there are now something like 75 states) are
a few of the changes.
Overall, I found this story a satisfying and thought-provoking read in
the same way a well-done dystopian novel might be, but also with the same
intensity that would come from a good political thriller. If you like one or
the other, this should do. If you’re a fan of both genres, what are you waiting
for? My only complaint is the cliffhanger ending which has left me wondering
when book two will be out. I’m ready now.
FYI:
Some adult language.
This is the first of a series.
Format/Typo
Issues:
No significant issues
Rating:
***** Five Stars
Reviewed
by: BigAl
Approximate
word count: 95-100,000 words
2 comments:
Sounds fascinating!
Sampling!
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