L.I.F.E. in the 23rd Century

L.I.F.E. in the 23rd Century: A Dystopian Tale of Consumerism, Corporate Coffee, and Crowbars by Jason R. Richter is a frightening look at the world two hundred years from today, a story that could serve as a warning to this generation about what could happen if the right steps are not taken in the fight against terrorism. The political and social climate is tensed, with fear and distrust escalating, a time when anything unusual is attributed to terrorism and when anyone walking down the street could be the next suicide bomber. Things do not get better when the media keeps on spreading rumors and reading innuendos into everything that happens.

Then Pat McGewan-X04 happens!

When Pat gets involved in a fatal car accident, he becomes the talk of the day. After the accident, the cubicle production technician and patriot, Pat McGewan-X04, must choose which side to serve. Two equally dangerous men are poised to play with Pat’s life, and he could be headed for yet the worst surprise of his life. Will he join the band of terrorists headed by Herb, the last of the American librarians, or will he be seduced by the vicious Jack Flanery?

What arrested my attention the most while reading this compelling story was the setting, which, though it is two hundred years away, is very symbolic of the fear that plagues many societies today. The war on terror seems to be one of the priorities of many world governments, which makes it a real issue. Readers will be able to relate to the story from this angle.

The plot is well paced and the key characters well developed. The first-person narrative voice is powerful, and it has a powerful effect on the reader, who can look at the events in the narrative from the perspective of the protagonist. The writing is evocative, and at times it reads like poetry. There is a stream of consciousness that powerfully translates the general malaise and the tension that are characteristic of the setting. This is a book that will appeal to the fans of crime fiction and sci-fi, but the cryptic language will call for more attention than normal when reading this one.