Tuesday, November 5, 2013

XVII (Seventeen)





THE AUTHOR WILL BE GIVING AWAY:  
$50 Amazon or BN gift card to One randomly chosen commenter. So, follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found at Goddess Fish Promotions.


Blurb

Most of the world's seventeen billion people are unconscious, perpetually serving their employers as part of massive brain trusts. The ecosystem has collapsed, and corporations control all of the world's resources and governments. A bedraggled alcoholic known as the Prophet predicts nineteen year-old waitress Eadie will lead a revolution, but how can she prevail when hunted by a giant corporation and the Federal Angels it directs?





Excerpt:

The man’s mouth hung open as he stared at her face. His long, ashen hair had shifted, revealing a smudge of grease or dirt that made an almost perfect circle on his forehead.

 “Sir? Are you all right?”

His eyes widened. “It is you,” he said. “At last. I have been looking forward to meeting you for such a long, long time.”

“Oh, yeah, sorry it took me so long to get to your table, sir. I just clocked in.”

He blinked slowly, pondering her response. “Ah,” he said. “You are a waitress, still.  Well, then, General, I would have a cup of Vibrantia, if it pleases you.” The man’s expression never altered and his lips remained mostly still as he spoke, making it seem as though his voice was coming from somewhere or someone else.

Eadie clenched her teeth, trying not to laugh, though his words made her feel as though she was being tickled with a feather along her spine. “I’m sorry, sir. This is a corporate restaurant owned by McGuillian Corporation, so we synthesize only McGuillian patents. We have
Synapsate but not Vibrantia. Would that be all right?”

“Of course, General. That would be lovely, if it pleases you.”

 “Okay, sir. And my name is Eadie, by the way.”

 “Thank you, General Eadie. And, if you like, you may address me as many have lately come to do. I am the Prophet.”



Review

Diehl has done an amazing job at creating a believable and powerful futuristic dystopia.  I can actually see the world's potential to head this way and the thought is terrifying.  The book however is unbelievably vivid and active.  The excerpt caught my attention, but it falls short of the power held in the pages of this book.  I'm fascinated by the characters and the depth reached.

The only down side I can see in this book is that with the frequent changes in location and POV, some readers may get lost.  However, if you are able to follow it, like me, then I'm sure you will completely LOVE this book.  Diehl has led an interesting life (from his bio) and has done a great job of pulling from his experiences and knowledge to bring this story to life.





Meet the Author
Mark D. Diehl writes novels about power dynamics and the way people and organizations influence each other. He believes that obedience and conformity are becoming humanity’s most important survival skills, and that we are thus evolving into a corporate species.
Diehl has: been homeless in Japan, practiced law with a major multinational firm in Chicago, studied in Singapore, fled South Korea as a fugitive, and been stranded in Hong Kong.

After spending most of his youth running around with hoods and thugs, he eventually earned his doctorate in law at the University of Iowa and did graduate work in creative writing at the University of Chicago. He currently lives and writes in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.


Author’s Website: http://www.markddiehl.com




10 comments:

  1. What an awesome review. I can hardly wait to read this story.

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  2. I loved having the opportunity to review this book. It is amazing and you won't regret getting it!

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  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  4. Thanks for your interest and kind words, ladies!

    I feel a little awkward commenting on a site that has reviewed the book, but I wanted to drop by and say that it's an honor to be here at "Rambling Voices" today. I'm glad you liked the book, Ann!

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    1. "Liked" is too mild Mark. It is a great book. I'm glad you stopped by.

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  5. Thanks for the chance to win!
    Sounds like a great read!!
    natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com

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  6. I liked your thoughtful and succinct review, thank you for sharing.

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