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Tube Dwellers
![Tube Dwellers (Tube Dwellers Series Book 1) by [Blair Wylie]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41jXnuxKNLL.jpg)
Tube Dwellers by Blair Wylie is a wholesome sci-fi adventure following the lives of Smitty and Tara of a planet known as Tube World. They become entangled in a mission to establish a ‘minimum viable population’ on New Earth, because the earth as we know it was ravaged by humans. A daunting mission is undertaken to transport a spaceship known as Second Chance to New Earth and create a new settlement there. Smitty and Tara are drawn to this opportunity, as it allows them to settle and have the big family they want in a world far away from their authoritarian planet.
One of the main merits of this book was the nature of its main characters: Smitty and Tara were such grounded and fun characters. Their ambitions weren’t necessarily wild- they just wanted to continue living their happy, fulfilling, and pretty low-key married lives. That’s what made their journey more special: unlikely averages in an extraordinary situation. And they definitely did behave like average people in that situation- complete with blunders and humor in the face of distress.
The premise of the story was similar to one of my favorite dystopian novels: A Brave New World. Here, authorities known as the Council suppressed all questions about the system and encouraged people to go about the jobs that were selected for them; even a baby could not be borne without obtaining prior permission. The dissenting Tube Dwellers were known to “disappear” But that’s where the similarities end and an intergalactic, character-driven space adventure begins.
Although the science behind it was a little mind-boggling and I wasn’t entirely sold on all of it, it was still immensely entertaining. Can’t have science fiction without the fiction. The author, however, is clearly knowledgeable and invented and explained complex concepts involving gravity, structural engineering, and geology with elegance and simplicity.
It was amusing to read about Earth from the perspective of non-Earth inhabitants. The description of seasons and tides and flora and fauna made me do a double take at my surroundings. This was a decidedly uplifting story without being too preach-y. It made me smile and want to go about my day with a little more enthusiasm and gratitude- and I’d recommend it to anyone who also wants to feel the same way.
Pages: 258 | ASIN: B07H9BQ6P7
Master Defiance
![Master Defiance by [Blair Wylie]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51V50DMPlmL.jpg)
The premise of Master Defiance is what gripped me from the start: the striking dystopian idea of humanity that has regressed back to the way it was before technology, and are now called hominids. It starts with an alien species attempting to invade this post-apocalyptic Earth in order to set up a colony. The lives of Earth inhabitants are also threaded together with the impending attack. An inevitable but thrilling fight follows between the two species as they battle it out, with the hominids depending heavily on their wits and the limited resources of their environment.
The details of the spaceship Commander and its inhabitants (known as Masters) were extremely intriguing. It was also disarming and fun to hear Earth described from the perspective from an alien species. Even though I may be aware of the general science facts about it, it’s still a little jarring to think about how an alien species may choose their attack based on the region of maximum density of vegetation because it implies most human density.
The activities of these hominids are shown: from hunting and gathering, to bartering and creating shelters. It was a great idea to contrast traditionally sci-fi elements with historical and more adventurous ones. The contrast between the sci-fi nature of the aliens and the regressed state of humanity was refreshing and made me think about how humanity would defend itself, were it not equipped with the tools and technology that we have today. Not only from aliens, but also pandemics, pests, famines, and other dangers. Although it was fascinating to read about these hominids, I felt like the book could make do with less talk about the various characters; I felt like I didn’t really care for Bill and Ned as the author might have wanted me to.
I thought the ending was immensely satisfying, if a bit didactic. It’s perfect as a slow-burner, as I could feel myself getting increasingly invested in the lives of these characters and thinking about the plot itself. It’s a deeply entertaining read and I would recommend it to any fans of dystopian science fiction.
Pages: 322 | ASIN: B07BG9PXGX
How Bad Things Can Get
Wolf Slayer is a thrilling blend of dystopian science-fiction, adventure, and political intrigue. What served as the inspiration behind the idea for this book?
The current political turmoil in the US is disturbing. Democracy is threatened globally by fascist oligarchs and autocrats. I believe most people are good, and would do something about it if they had the chance. My tale gives such a person that opportunity. I also wanted to show how bad things can get if we do not change our ways, and how humanity can tough it out and survive, like it has done throughout our history. The book is also the lead-in to a series of books where more threats will emerge, and where more everyday hero’s are given the chance to shine, like Matt Adams.
Matt Adams is an intriguing and well developed character. What were some driving ideals behind his character development?
I was thinking of the hero Winston Smith in Orwell’s 1984. Matt is caught up in an oppressive political system. He comes to recognize it as evil, and he feels shame for the people he has killed while fighting for his country. His country mistreats him as a veteran, but in the midst of a terrible economic depression, gives him a dangerous job spying on a rebel organization. The organization opens his eyes further, and gives him the chance to really make a difference. Matt grows further as he escapes and flees to his native wilderness of Quebec. He meets the woman of his dreams, and the political system changed by his actions lets them live in peace. So, unlike Winston Smith, Matt fights Big Brother (a.k.a. Uncle Ernie), and Matt wins.
The story takes place in a dystopian future. What were some themes you wanted to focus on when creating this future world?
Climate change and over-population will destroy our world if unchecked. The 1% wealthy run our world, and always seem to win. They will always fight wars over turf, accelerating the end of civilization. But ultimately, the skilled hunter-gathers in remote regions will be the survivors. And with a bit of forethought and investment, we can arm the survivors with a cache of knowledge to re-build a better world.
This is the first book in the Master Defiance series. What can readers expect in book two?
Book Two will be titled ‘Martian Hermitage’. Earth continues to decline, and natural calamities wipe out the last vestiges of civilization. The people in Moon Base are stranded, but they have been secretly preparing for an exodus… to Mars. Mars is a dry, sterile, hostile place, but it has more life-giving resources than the Moon for tough, ingenious people. But Mars is not as it seems. It has been visited before, by a noble race fleeing an evil alien race. And so, the ‘Masters’ are introduced to the series, and more hero’s will be needed…
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When Matt Adams, a much-decorated army veteran, is offered the job of infiltrating and spying on a revolutionary party, he jumps at the offer. Scarred and blinded in one eye, his employment options would be poor, even if the economy wasn’t in meltdown.
Meanwhile, the President of the US, Ernie Wolf, is cementing his position of absolute power with the assistance of the thuggish bullies known as the Loyal Order of Patriots. President Wolf is flourishing, despite his cruel, vindictive nature. He disbands Congress and bans all media outlets, declaring himself president for life and effectively creating a totalitarian state. Wolf then turns his attention to warmongering, and to the destruction of the Second Chance spaceship, currently in orbit around the moon.
When Matt discovers the President’s intentions, he has a stark choice. He can do nothing and watch as the President destroys all hope for current and future humanity, or he can become a Wolf Slayer and help to save the Second Chance and avert war..
Wolf Slayer
The year is 2483. The economy is the worst it has ever been and the country is run by a Hitler-like President, Ernie Wolf. Retired Staff Sergeant Mathieu ‘Matt’ Adams is a retired sniper at the age of only 34. Matt jumps at the chance to take an undercover position in Akron, Ohio, of all places, as he is like most Americans at this time, just scraping by and will take any work he can get. His mission is to infiltrate a supposed rebel group called the Workers Social Club. President Wolf has made himself president for life and rids the government of Congress. He only allows one political party to exist, the Veteran’s Party, so all other groups must be squashed in whatever way necessary.
But after Matt is found out to be an undercover agent by the members of the Workers Social Club (an homage to rebellious groups of people during any tumultuous era in history), they offer him another position to consider, slaying the Wolf himself to try and save not only the country but a space ship currently under construction orbiting the moon that will take a group of humans to another planet to hopefully save the human race, something Wolf wants to destroy.
I absolutely loved this dytopian political thriller. Science fiction is my genre of choice because it is able to portray stark ideas in wild settings. Wolf Slayer is able to capture the magic of science fiction with though-provoking themes and authentic characters in a far off time. Even though this book is set almost 500 years in the future, there are a lot of similarities to today’s world and country. If you enjoy Jason Bourne and Shooter mixed in with a bit of science fiction, then you will love this book too.
Matt Adams is a character you can relate to and find yourself rooting for. What I loved most was the slow evolution of his character throughout the story as what he ‘knows’ is turned on its head. While President Ernie Wolf is your classic villain who is easy to dislike and even hate. There is never any confusion as to who you want to win and lose.
Wylie has definitely made a political statement with his book as there are so many similarities between this story and our current political situation. But he has managed to do it in a ‘Christmas Carol’-like warning. We must learn the hidden lessons from his story or be doomed to live in the world Matt Adams must save. Wolf Slayer is a sci-fi thriller for a modern audience.
Pages: 332 | ASIN: B07XPBFHRV
