Publisher: Logikal Solutions, May 30, 2013
ISBN-13: 978-1-939732-00-2
Category: Dystopian, Science Fiction
Tour Dates: January, 2014
Available in: Print, ebook & Audio, 272 pages
What if the Mayans got the start of the end correct because they had survived it once before? What if our written history was just as accurate as the old tale about three blind men describing an elephant? What if classic science fiction writing and television shows each got a piece of it correct, would you know which ones? If your eyes can only see a tiny portion of a collage do you know it is a collage?
Many might jump to the knee-jerk assumption that this book is a sequel to “Infinite Exposure” but they would be wrong. This book does occur after that book and will make reference to the outcome of the prior book, but it is definitely not a sequel.
“John Smith” ties together Atlantis, cell phones, the Mayans, God, the Egyptians, “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”, and the outcome of the terrorist attack yet to come all in the form of an interview between the last known survivor of the war and a reporter for the largest newspaper of its day, serving 5000 people twice monthly.
During the course of this interview the reporter and reader will learn what did and did not survive, both this time and the previous times. Throughout the course of this interview both blatant and subtle nods are made to such works as “1984”, “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”, “Peter Pan”, “Battlestar Galactica” (the new one), “Star Trek TNG”, and “Babylon 5” because one must both acknowledge greatness and build on what the fans already know.
To steal a line from the Rolling Stones, “but what was-in you is the nature of this game.” When one finishes reading this book they should fall into exactly two categories: The morally offended and those who sit around for days questioning their beliefs and the true meaning of life.
The book should be incredibly easy for an organization like the SyFy channel to turn into a film or made for TV movie, interspersing clips from old movies and shows, with or without sound, where their topics are being discussed and where they are being directly referenced.
My Thoughts:
As most of my readers know, I tend to gravitate more towards literary fiction, historical, and classics. I think it is the theme of humanity that is most important to me. Because of that, I do like to read the occasional dystopian novel, one that I think will deliver on that theme.
John Smith delivered “humanity” in spades. The format of the book is simple, an interview between reporter Susan Krowley, of the town Fieldspring and John Smith, the last know survivor of the Microsoft Wars. Susan asked questions but John did not give the answers she wanted to hear. She thought it would be a simple in/out interview but it was far from that.
She had no concept of what technology was. John would talk about computers and other technology and she thought he must be made. However, to understand the Microsoft wars, she would have to know all about it and more. She didn’t even know what a university was.
John Smith: Last Known Survivor of the Microsoft Wars was refreshing. It examines what we know to exist today and smash it all to pieces. It examines humanity and all of our faults as well as what would happen if all technology and education became a thing of the past.
Some may think that the interview format would get stale fast however, I found it to worked well. I applaud Roland Hughes for his creativity and for questioning humanity and all of the what if’s. I highly recommend this book.
5/5
I received the ebook version for my honest review.
Guest Post and Giveaway:
Please see the guest post and giveaway, here. It’s your chance to win a copy of John Smith: Last Known Survivor of the Microsoft Wars.
About Roland Hughes:
Roland Hughes is the president ofLogikal Solutions, a business applications consulting firm specializing in VMS platforms. Hughes serves as a lead consultant with over two decades of experience using computers and operating systems originally created by Digital Equipment Corporation (now owned by Hewlett-Packard).
Roland Hughes is the recipient of the 2008 Best Books Award Winner in the category Business: Computers/Technology/Internet for his book, ” The Minimum You Need to Know About Service Oriented Architecture” and a 2009 Finalist Eric Hoffer Awards.
Website: http://www.johnsmith-book.com
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