Tag Archives: Future

Zero Percenters, by Scott Grusky

Posted on by

Set in the future year of 2024, the premise for the “zero percent” population is excellent, but the story and the characters were not there. For the greater part of the novel the main characters were climbing a mountain and meditating…with little to no purpose. During this time there were excessive descriptions and no plot progression.

The “zero percent” population refers to those who have digitized themselves and no longer require the basic needs that humans do such as food, water, etc. Each zero percenter is escorted by their concierge, who takes on the digital life form of their cell phone. Sounds interesting right….? I thought it would be.

There was no character development, though the basic premise for the novel provides an excellent opportunity since it is told from the POV of a concierge whose “human” is trying to decide whether to become a zero percenter or remain a true human. There could have been a lot of twists and developments.
It was all over the place, and I wasn’t sure what the purpose of the novel was for the majority of the story. Later in the novel it abandons focus on the science fiction element and mainly focuses on finding consciousness within oneself, but it was not done in interesting way.

Honestly, I don’t recommend this novel. Overall, it ended up being pretty boring.

I won this in a Goodreads Giveaway. Right now it is available free for Kindle Unlimited members.

Below is the synopsis for this book provided by the publisher. To get more information about this book click here.

Visit author Scott Grusky’s Facebook page.

|Purchase on Amazon | Goodreads Review |

Followers, by Megan Angelo

Posted on by

Followers is a timely debut novel about the power of social media, the internet, and technology. It demonstrates the effect it has on our relationships and the damage that can be caused because of its influence. Have our friendships and family dynamics changed because of the prominence of social media? How has the internet changed us? What is the purpose of social media, and who is accountable for what is promoted on our pages/feeds: society or individuals? In Followers, a dystopian atmosphere is painted to show different outcomes that could occur if balance is not reached.

Chapters alternate between Marlow and Orla:

Is privacy only an illusion? In Marlow’s world, in 2051, her life almost seems to be choreographed in order to keep her followers online. But, can likes replace loneliness? Marlow’s world consists of pleasing a tyrannical pharmaceutical company, Hysteryl, who helped create her brand. Marlow starts to question the difference between friends and online followers. How can her life feel so empty when she has millions who watch her every move? When asked to take the next big step in her life in order to pacify the public, Marlow realizes that she amounts to more than publicists, branding, and marketing. How will she escape when the program can track her, bots can automatically identify anyone in passing, and everyone recognizes her from the media?

“You may not know them like you know your mom and dad,” she breathed, “but your followers are your friends- your very special friends. The happier and brighter you act, the more special friends you’ll get- and the more special friends you get, the happier and brighter your life will be.”

Orla, a struggling writer in 2015, lives in an age promoting endless distractions. Until she creates a name for herself, she feels that she must rely on trends and the rich and famous to maintain a prolific workflow in New York as a budding blogger. Meanwhile, her new roommate looks for fame and wants to market herself on social media as a career. Constantly buried in their devices, how different are they really? What is the value of their work, and how does it influence their relationship and those around them?

“Did she ever think that maybe they’d all be better off off-line? Without any internet, period?”

I really enjoyed this novel and recommend it to readers who enjoy dystopian fiction. My only complaints about this novel is that there were several subplots that caused the intensity of story line to subside. Also, in the end, there was a big moment where I had to suspend belief regarding a city in the future called Atlantis, especially concerning the economics involved. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own.

Visit Megan Angelo’s website to learn more.

Read Publishers Weekly review on Megan Angelo’s Followers.

Read Entertainment Exclusive’s article that calls Followers one of the most anticipated books of next year.

|Purchase on Amazon| Goodreads Review|

Universal Love, by Alexander Weinstein

Posted on by

Does technology benefit deep meaningful relationships, or does it strip us of that intimacy? How do we find a positive balance? In these short stories, the reader examines layers of technological advancement possibilities and the effect on family, relationships, and life’s purpose. Will technology replace parenting? Or, has that process already began? In the future, will we need an active physical military to go abroad for tours or will gamers connected to drones suffice? Should we be able to choose our emotions and our memories? Will making connections with friends depend on access to apps and immersive reality?

Universal Love is comprised of eleven short stories. Out of the eleven short stories, I found three that were very strong and completely original. The technology that had conquered the near future was believable and, in some cases, very close to situations that occur today. The themes were easy to relate to, but the characters felt out of reach. In most of the stories, it was hard to connect and invest in the characters. Two of stories that I did not enjoy at all, and one I enjoyed but did not like the ending. The rest I enjoyed. 

Short stories: “The Year of Nostalgia” 1-15% (holographic replacements), “Beijing” 15-23% (patching memories), “Comfort Porn” 23-36% (friendships vs. virtual friends), “We Only Wanted Their Happiness” 36-39% (technology replaces family time), “Purple Heart” 39-50% (virtual tech for war), “True Love Testimonials” 50%-55%- (sex app), “Childhood” 55-65% (robot children), “Sanctuary” 65-71% (future border crisis), “Infinite Realities” 71-83% (multiverse), “Mountain Song” 83-90% (thought control), “Islanders” 90-100% (flooded world)

*There are explicit sexual situations and sexual language used in a couple of these stories. *
Thanks to NetGalley, Henry Holt & Company, and Alexander Weinstein for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own.

|Purchase on Amazon|Goodreads Review|