About the Book:
One way in. No way out.
In the super-city of Neo Terminus, millions of tech-addicted fans surround a walled-off inner-city wasteland to watch nano-boosted gladiators called Enforcers fight to the death in the Conglomerate-controlled event known as The Zone. Enforcers are promised wealth and celebrity-if they survive.
Officer Chance Griffin fights to clean up the mean streets of Neo Terminus, and scrape together enough money for his infant son's vital surgery. Driven by his family's need, Chance becomes an Enforcer for The Conglomerate.
As Chance rises to the top of the Enforcer ranks, The Glom's mysterious Founders coerce him into competing in the greatest Zone trial ever conceived. Chance knows he's the favorite to win. He believes his family is safe. He believes his son will get the medical care he urgently needs.
Chance is wrong.
Too late, he uncovers a plot by The Glom to rig the trial and enslave the citizens of Neo Terminus, ensuring obedience-forever.
Blinded by fame and fortune, and used as a pawn by the corporate machine, Chance resists. But he is about to discover that every deal with the devil has its price...
Review:
In the near future, only several cities remain as outposts in the United States. Neo-Terminus is one of the surviving cities. The multitudes of poor sustain themselves on gel nutrition and have water and electricity rationed while the rich live in luxury with all their needs taken care of. Everyone is plugged to their visors, providing constant technology and entertainment. Chance Griffin is an officer in Neo Terminus trying his best to keep the city safe and provide for his family; however, Kess, leader of Neo Terminus, has other plans for Chance. Kess wants Chance to be an Enforcer in The Zone, a paid gladiator sent to rescue people from The Zone in televised matches. Chance isn't an Enforcer for long before he discovers a sinister plot set up by the Founders taking place in The Zone in order to keep all of the citizens of Neo Terminus enslaved.
The Zone is a cyberpunk dystopian thriller. The first half of the book immerses the reader in the world of Neo Terminus including the grime and crime, the technology and the lack of resources as well as the people who now inhabit the area. Chance's character is also built up in the first half of the book along with his partner on the force, Benny, and his wife and child. Through Chance's work, we see his deep sense of justice and pain for how the world has evolved. At home, Chance struggles with not being able to provide for his disabled son and wife. I was amazed at the parallels in media control and technology overload in Neo Terminus and what we already see today. Once Chance is an Enforcer, the pacing and excitement of the story picks up quite a bit as he is thrown directly into the action and doesn't know who to trust among the new group of Enforcers or in The Zone. The deception of The Founders was masterfully done and effectively mirrors the dangers of control and media in our society.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
One way in. No way out.
In the super-city of Neo Terminus, millions of tech-addicted fans surround a walled-off inner-city wasteland to watch nano-boosted gladiators called Enforcers fight to the death in the Conglomerate-controlled event known as The Zone. Enforcers are promised wealth and celebrity-if they survive.
Officer Chance Griffin fights to clean up the mean streets of Neo Terminus, and scrape together enough money for his infant son's vital surgery. Driven by his family's need, Chance becomes an Enforcer for The Conglomerate.
As Chance rises to the top of the Enforcer ranks, The Glom's mysterious Founders coerce him into competing in the greatest Zone trial ever conceived. Chance knows he's the favorite to win. He believes his family is safe. He believes his son will get the medical care he urgently needs.
Chance is wrong.
Too late, he uncovers a plot by The Glom to rig the trial and enslave the citizens of Neo Terminus, ensuring obedience-forever.
Blinded by fame and fortune, and used as a pawn by the corporate machine, Chance resists. But he is about to discover that every deal with the devil has its price...
Review:
In the near future, only several cities remain as outposts in the United States. Neo-Terminus is one of the surviving cities. The multitudes of poor sustain themselves on gel nutrition and have water and electricity rationed while the rich live in luxury with all their needs taken care of. Everyone is plugged to their visors, providing constant technology and entertainment. Chance Griffin is an officer in Neo Terminus trying his best to keep the city safe and provide for his family; however, Kess, leader of Neo Terminus, has other plans for Chance. Kess wants Chance to be an Enforcer in The Zone, a paid gladiator sent to rescue people from The Zone in televised matches. Chance isn't an Enforcer for long before he discovers a sinister plot set up by the Founders taking place in The Zone in order to keep all of the citizens of Neo Terminus enslaved.
The Zone is a cyberpunk dystopian thriller. The first half of the book immerses the reader in the world of Neo Terminus including the grime and crime, the technology and the lack of resources as well as the people who now inhabit the area. Chance's character is also built up in the first half of the book along with his partner on the force, Benny, and his wife and child. Through Chance's work, we see his deep sense of justice and pain for how the world has evolved. At home, Chance struggles with not being able to provide for his disabled son and wife. I was amazed at the parallels in media control and technology overload in Neo Terminus and what we already see today. Once Chance is an Enforcer, the pacing and excitement of the story picks up quite a bit as he is thrown directly into the action and doesn't know who to trust among the new group of Enforcers or in The Zone. The deception of The Founders was masterfully done and effectively mirrors the dangers of control and media in our society.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
RSS Feed
