Category: Adult Fiction (18+), 324 pages
Genre: Sci-Fi
Publisher: Highsmith Creative Services
Release date: May 2022
Content Rating: PG-13 +M. The language is pretty tame, but there are a few swear words. The bigger issue is some of the topics addressed in it.
About the Book
Although
the reappearance of the Alpha Centauri I crew was miraculous, it was
not the celebratory homecoming they expected. Their return to a world
reeling from a pandemic that wiped out more than half the population
thrust them right into the center of controversy and conflict. Now,
three years later, though the tide has turned and the survival of the
human race seems to be secure, the survival of human relations is far
less certain. The cure should have been the injection of hope the world
needed to restore balance and end the chaos of the last four decades.
Instead, the complex implications for personal rights and freedom have
fractured the North American territory in such a way that the division
may never be repaired. As the crew dispersed to find their place in this
new landscape, Hunter Young found himself embedded in the Marshall
administration as an agent for the mysterious K Group. What had been a
relatively uneventful assignment suddenly becomes a whirlwind of
adventure as he is called to a rendezvous that requires a long and
circuitous journey.
My Review
Readers should read the series in order. While you could read the first book without needing to continue the series--you should read that first book first to help ease into this second book. Two Roads to Paradise introduces some new characters and follows different roads and political perspectives as the world continues with the changes and developments from book one.
Two Roads to Paradise continues the series' political storyline. While the premise of the novel and the series holds science fiction and dystopian elements as the characters move through their journeys in the post-pandemic aftermath, it is even far more political and social in theme than the first book. Red and Blue (Republican and Democrat) views and ideas serve as the focus--but the writing style did lend to the presentation of both viewpoints from different characters and encounter perspectives.
Would I Recommend Two Roads to Paradise? If you enjoy political novels developed via a fantasy world that mirrors current reality--this novel may suit you well. I found this novel a bit slower-paced than the first--and more political than I had realized it would be. Having said that, I did find the presentation of different political views interesting, and the dystopian novel fan in me enjoyed watching the characters rebuild lives and regroup amid the changes.
Category: Adult Fiction (18+), 240 pages
Genre: Sci-Fi
Publisher: Highsmith Creative Services
Release date: September 2020
Content Rating: PG-13 +M. The language is pretty tame, but there are a few swear words. The bigger issue is some of the topics addressed in it.
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About the Book
When the Alpha Centauri crew returns to earth after a failed mission to explore a distant planet, they quickly learn the world is not how they left it.
Under new global leadership, the planet has managed to
go decades without conflict, except for one major problem. Thanks to a pandemic caused by a mutation in a new strain of GMO corn, the world’s population plummeted to 2.6 billion, wiping out a disproportionate amount of men and leaving the globe run almost entirely by women. The mutation altered the human DNA, making it impossible to produce male babies and increasing Y-chromosome related diseases.
Because of their lack of exposure, the Alpha Centauri crew, especially the men on board, now find themselves in high demand. The Powers that Be think they are the solution, but with that solution comes the inevitable hunger for power and control. As greed, self-interest, and corruption rear their ugly heads, a planet that had found its way to peace is thrust into turmoil once again.
So, the question becomes: Are they really the answer to a seemingly unsolvable problem? The world may soon come to understand that sometimes getting what you wish for isn't the gift you think it will be.
The Way Out is at once a brilliant and relatable work of post-apocalyptic fiction. Think The Handmaid’s Tale mixed with Netflix’s The Wilds, and a touch of Interstellar, the movie. It’s a uniquely told story that will have you waiting as impatiently as the crew to understand the New World Order of the near future.
Check out the Series
Category: Adult Fiction (18+), 324 pages
Genre: Sci-Fi
Publisher: Highsmith Creative Services
Release date: May 2022
Content Rating: PG-13 +M. The language is pretty tame, but there are a few swear words. The bigger issue is some of the topics addressed in it.
About the Book
Although the reappearance of the Alpha Centauri I crew was miraculous, it was not the celebratory homecoming they expected. Their return to a world reeling from a pandemic that wiped out more than half the population thrust them right into the center of controversy and conflict. Now, three years later, though the tide has turned and the survival of the human race seems to be secure, the survival of human relations is far less certain. The cure should have been the injection of hope the world needed to restore balance and end the chaos of the last four decades. Instead, the complex implications for personal rights and freedom have
fractured the North American territory in such a way that the division may never be repaired. As the crew dispersed to find their place in this new landscape, Hunter Young found himself embedded in the Marshall administration as an agent for the mysterious K Group. What had been a relatively uneventful assignment suddenly becomes a whirlwind of adventure as he is called to a rendezvous that requires a long and circuitous journey.
Gordon Jensen holds an MBA from University of Rochester, New York, Simon School of Business and a bachelor's degree from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. After working in finance In New York for several years, Jensen went back to Minnesota to run the family business. He retired after selling the the business and is now fulfilling a number of life-long dreams, including writing a novel series.
connect with authors: website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads
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In my experience, the best dystopian/speculative fiction novels have had political themes as a prominent--if not main--element.
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