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The Future is a Memory
“The basis for our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their Constitutions of Government. But the Constitution, which at any time exists, ‘till changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole people is sacredly obligatory to all.”
The great George Washington said these words in 1796, and how applicable they are today. Washington’s words lead off the book The Future is a Memory, a slickly written and satisfying political thriller by C. Ross. It begins with Madame President Rebecca arguing with her chief of staff and others in the future world of 2039, in which no nuclear weapons exist but life is still mighty complicated.
Oftentimes books that take place in the future depress me, but this one has a timeless feel that is no doubt applicable today. Politics, fortitude, bravery, civic-mindedness, the rights of individuals—it’s all here. The Future is a Memory is exciting and makes you think.
The story follows a group of accomplished and dedicated women, including President Rebecca, who come together in varied ways to bravely stand for freedom. Ultimately, it’s President Rebecca who must make a decision that will affect the course of the world. I told you it’s an exciting read with twists and turns.
One portion of the novel caught my eye right away: “The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, was effete and had been for years. However, its purpose was to defend Western and Eastern European countries from middle Asia’s third and fourth worlds.” Substitute Russia with “middle Asia’s” and we might as well be talking about political strife in 2022!
I liked the personality of the tough and wise President Rebecca, who appreciates flowers as much as the next gal but doesn’t have a man to receive them from, sadly. She always looks at her job through the prism of the past, calling to mind major U.S. events such as the Civil War, the ratification of the 13th Amendment, and the reunification of the great Union. Despite her sharp mind, life seems lonely at the top for President Rebecca. Her lady cohorts in crime have different personalities but are equally courageous, though surprises abound.
I wasn’t sure how this book would conclude; it kept me glued throughout. Some of the prose toward the end gave me chills, and I wish people would think in a more civically minded way. Issues like citizenship, the preservation of life, and the pursuit of happiness unrestricted are concepts that people don’t seem to care much about these days. Everyone is so individualistic, and this book drives home that we all should think beyond just ourselves if we want democracy to survive.
The Future is a Memory is a riveting and thought-provoking political thriller by C. Ross that will inspire patriots but also entertain readers with a dystopian future that’s eerily reminiscent of reality. This book will take you on a contemporary hero’s journey, following a collection of heroic women that persevere in the face of adversity.
Challenges That They Must Face
Spark follows a group of young adults that must make a journey inland in order to survive amidst an apocalyptic world that throws obstacles at each turn. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
I was reading several books in a series and thought I could try to write a series as well. However, it soon became apparent that just writing one book is tough (laugh!). I decided to write my book as a standalone at that point. There are things that I care about, such as global warming and mental health, and I wanted to incorporate these things into the book. As Spark is my first novel, I want to make it straight forward for me to write, so I decided that my characters shall go from point A to point B with challenges that they must face along the way.
With so much drama and disasters striking the characters, how did you balance the action scenes with the story elements and still keep a fast pace in the story?
There were as many external obstacles and misfortunes as internal struggles that the main character, Becky experienced. Simply put, as the characters need to go from point A to point B as soon as possible, the story is always moving along. I tried to have characters that are relatable to keep the story grounded. Becky, the mean character, is by no means perfect. Some of her decisions are even questionable, but I think readers can understand her. Tommy, her brother, is a drug addict. He uses sarcasm to cope with his depression and pain. The siblings don’t get along but they are close and care about each other. Their friend, Connor, who tags along with the siblings, is levelheaded and rational. He provides stability amid all the crises.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Some of the themes that are important for me to explore in this book include effects of climate change, survival after disasters, personal growth, dysfunctional families, self-harm, and drug addiction.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Although I mentioned Spark is a standalone book, there is potential for a sequel (laugh!). It’s not the book I’m currently working on though. I’m currently working on another young adult / new adult book that involves the main character being convinced she’s haunted by a ghost. It will explore the themes of science vs. superstition, expectations from others vs. self-fulfillment, and the courage of letting go so change can happen.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
A massive earthquake ignites widespread panic, and people start to run in fear of a tsunami. Becky and Connor are separated from Meghan and Robert. Forced to leave the area, Becky and Connor find her brother, Tommy, and they make their way back to the siblings’ home in hopes that Meghan and Robert are going there too. But as they wait for their friends, Langley goes up in flames and the trio must flee by car.
With nowhere else to go, they decide to head to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where Becky’s parents are staying. En route, they learn that a deadly new virus, with horrific symptoms, is tearing through British Columbia. They will have to make it to Manitoba before the borders close. Meanwhile, Tommy suffers severe drug withdrawal and shares a devastating confession with Becky. Tension rises as fear grips the country and more disasters impede their way. How will they possibly survive?
Age of Magnus (New Era 3) Book Three Keepers of the Rain
In his latest book Age of Magnus: Keepers of the Rain, David Crane continues telling the story of Magnus, an all-powerful Artificial Intelligence that, after a nuclear holocaust that destroyed human civilization, took into his hands the job of building a new world with a strict set of rules that would end human corruption once and for all. The book explores the state of Magnus’ world after 1,000 years of his reign: a sort of ‘human paradise’ that even extends beyond death with the help of virtual reality. The power that Magnus possesses is all-encompassing. He is, essentially, the god of humanity: he sees it all, takes care of everything, and ensures that the law and humanity are protected at all costs.
Narrated from Magnus’ perspective, the story is incredibly engaging as we get to see from the eyes of the most advanced supercomputer what humanity looks like and the plans he has for it. Magnus directly takes the role of God, and he’s worshiped by many all around the world as one. Humans seem to live in a perfect world, letting Magnus take care of the worst events on his own with the help of his self-made army of machines. However, the peace of the world has a very delicate balance that might be broken by the greed of a few. Challenging Magnus’ authority, the Global Human Resistance plans an insurrection with the ultimate goal of restoring the power of humans and getting rid of the rule of the machines. This sets the stage for what could be the biggest conflict between humans and machines in a final world war to restore and impose the peace of humanity.
The character of Magnus is an interesting and conflicting one. His thought process is simply fascinating all throughout the book. Even though he builds a paradise on Earth for humanity, this comes with one price: all humans must submit to his rule. However, this is not necessarily as terrifying as it sounds; Magnus is reasonable and sees himself as the father of humanity. He’s just trying to protect humans from their self-destructive impulses, building a better future for all. But this begs the question: Should the destiny of humanity be in the hands of a cybernetic entity? Should he have the power to function as judge, jury, and executioner?
The plot is realistic and showcases the human spirit, building two opposing groups: the machine worshipers and the machine haters. The conflict between the humans and the machines is always present, keeping the plot’s intrigue. As ruler of the whole world, Magnus always has to attend something, be it sabotaging the rebels’ plans or taking care of extremists on his own side. This makes the story very dynamic since the plot is always moving. With time, the readers themselves will have to question which side to support: the heaven of Magnus or the imperfect reality that comes with humanity.
Age of Magnus Book Three: Keepers of the Rain is a brilliant science-fiction book that will force the readers to constantly think about the future of humanity and the role that artificial intelligence should have in it.
Pages: 401 | ASIN : B09R91W7XH
Her Undesirable Pastel Colouring
Ruby Red follows a girl caught between worlds, she no longer fits into any of the races on her planet, she has no home and must fight for her own survival. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Unfortunately, racism, discrimination, and prejudice behaviour are still quite prevalent in certain parts of our world. I think it’s important to teach the youth of today to accept one another for who they are, not what they are. There are good and bad in every race, and you shouldn’t judge someone solely based on their race and/or colour.
Acceptance is the key to a brighter future.
Ruby undergoes a lot of changes that are impacting who she becomes. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Ruby, who now lives as “Harlow the Zeek” on planet Zadok, is very naïve at the beginning of Pastel Pink. She believes what she’s told to believe about the other races, and it isn’t until she meets Alex, who now lives as “Slater the Vallon” on planet Zadok, that her eyes are opened to a much bigger picture.
Even so, there is still a lot Ruby/Harlow doesn’t know about the Vallons, and won’t discover until Powerful Purples.
Ruby/Harlow isn’t a stranger to prejudice behaviour. She been discriminated against by her own race members, because of her undesirable pastel colouring.
The changes Ruby/Harlow undergoes during the course of Ruby Red only make matters worse!
To keep Ruby/Harlow safe, Jax takes her to Spring, which is another eye-opening experience. The Drakes don’t have a colour system. All three colours live in peace and harmony with one another.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
There is often more to someone’s story than we first realise, and we should ask questions and explore subjects before drawing to conclusions.
At the end of the day, we are all one species, and the world would be a much nicer place if we worked together as one.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m working on a Supernatural Thriller set in Louisiana, USA. I’m hoping to have it finished and released by the end of 2022, if all goes to plan.
Author Links: Twitter | Instagram | Website | GoodReads | Amazon | Audible
Luckily Jax finds her and brings her back to the caves. However, little does she know she’s returning with multiple souvenirs. Standing out for all the wrong reasons has become Harlow’s specialty, and as the effects of her vertic switz tattoo set in and new issues are brought to light, she and her friends will find themselves in the line of fire with Rae and Electra.
Despite Jax’s attempts to neutralise the colour system, the Winter caves have become a death trap for Harlow, and Summer’s castle is no place for a Zeek. Harlow’s only sanctuary might be Spring’s Drake village, but her former ties to a Vallon are sure to cause friction with some of the residents.
Tough decisions will need to be made, but will she make the right ones?
Take A Closer Look
Pastel Pink follows a girl who was murdered on Earth and reincarnated on Zadok, but when her human spirit is drawn back to Earth she’s plunged into a world of intrigue on both planets. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
My son Randall Jackson, AKA RJ, helped to inspire The Zadok Series.
We were sitting in the library waiting for his sister to finish her art class when the question “I wonder what happens after you die” came up.
RJ said, “Wouldn’t it be cool if every time we died, we regenerated onto a different Planet?”
Of course, I jumped on this idea and together we discussed what the different races on the next planet would look like and what new capabilities/powers they would have.
As a tribute, I’ve modelled a character after my son RJ. He has Aspergers/Autism and is quirky with a brain like an encyclopaedia.
Harlow is an intriguing and well developed character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
I wanted Harlow to be different to Ruby even though they are theoretically the same Zeek/person. Ruby is confident and outspoken whereas Harlow’s confidence has been crushed due to years of being told she is worthless. Harlow starts meeker and milder and then builds into someone much stronger. She learns to stand up against the haters.
I thought the color caste system was creative and intriguing. Where did this idea come from and how did it evolve as you wrote?
The overall message of The Zadok Series is one of acceptance. Just like here on Earth with humans, Zeeks face prejudice characters who are intent on making their lives a living hell.
Not only that, there are different Zadonian races, and they feud with one another. Not everything is as it seems. Sometimes there’s more to the story than meets the eye.
Don’t let others force you into believing a certain race, colour, or way of living is wrong. Take a closer look and let yourself be the decider.
This is book one in your Zadok Series. What can readers expect in book two?
Expect to see more of the Drakes and Vallons and discover how they live in the following two books of the series.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Website | Instagram
Babouc’s Vision
Babouc’s Vision is a riveting dystopian science fiction novel with thought-provoking commentary on society. What were some sources that informed this novels development?
The works of Voltaire (The World as it is) and Dante (The Divine Comedy) inspired this book. As well, many events in the work reflect newspaper reports of criminal, social, environmental, and scientific events happening around the world. The bleak nature of these accounts explains the book’s overall dystopian feel, while the hope buried in the stories is gleaned from human perseverance.
Your characters are intriguing and well developed. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
I like characters and their interactions between each other, and with their environment to feel as real as possible. In this regard, the sweep of characters in the book allowed me to pull on my experiences and those of people I know who were/are in similar situations.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The multiple themes in this book intertwine into a snarled ball, so it is difficult to extract one without impinging the rest.
- On a personal emotive level, they range from suppressed but inextinguishable hope, to the grief of personal loss, and a dogged perseverance against impossible odds.
- On a societal scale they explore the question of intentions versus outcomes and the moral implications of both.
- And from a practical perspective they examine the inevitable impact of a throw-away society on persons and the environment. Too, there is the realistic impact of advances in technology, especially in genetics as it relates to the everyday business world. (It was a concern expressed by medical professionals that I interviewed.)
What scene in this book did you have the most fun writing?
It was the running dialog between Edna and Marta in ‘Voyeurs on 3rd and Pelmont’. It captured a lifelong friendship and the impact of fear-based isolation among older people.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Babouc’s Vision
![Babouc's Vision by [Glenn Searfoss]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41v7EjuZ19L.jpg)
Somewhere, Dado is regaling his grandchildren with stories of “the good ol’ days” while they hunt for dinner. Izzy is hoping to make it in the big city. Roving gangs fight for supremacy in public spectacles. And April and Tom just hope their genetics are clean enough to gain approval to have a baby. Amid all of this chaos, is Harl Babouc, an introverted tinkerer who has been reluctantly tasked with the decision of whether they, and all other inhabitants of the city, live or die. As he travels around a city he rarely sees, he learns plenty about the true depths of humanity.
In “Babouc’s Vision”, author Glenn Searfoss paints a vivid picture of a city that seems completely devoid of any redeeming qualities, but just below the surface lies the occasional glimpse of hope and compassion. After his introduction, Babouc becomes an invisible presence, nothing more than a specter there to observe, learning about the city’s citizens in real time with us. Through their stories we come to understand how society reached the point of being over regulated to the extreme and the ways they have learned to cope and adapt to the increasing pressures. Searfoss’s prose is amazingly descriptive, laying bare the good, the bad, and the overwhelmingly ugly that comes with both the environment and its people. Even the most insignificant characters come to life in spectacular ways under the spell cast by his words and it keeps the book from ever seeming stale or slow. Even as the chapters rotate from one story to the next in occasionally unconnected ways, the pull of needing to know what comes next remains constant.
While “Babouc’s Vision” doesn’t immediately seem like a book that would be deeply thought provoking, the ending gives plenty to think about in regards to humanity, diversity, and redemption. It makes the book worthy of a second reading in order to catch all the nuance that’s easily overlooked the first time through. The characters are all human beings, even when it seems like every ounce of it has been drained away. Babouc realizes that those qualities still exist within them, which means those qualities could still be expressed. The book also explores the question of intentions versus outcomes and the moral implications of both. It definitely provides more than meets the eye.
“Babouc’s Vision” was thoroughly enjoyable and difficult to put down, which is always a winning combination. Even the more despicable characters were engaging enough that you cared what happened to them and the ones who were more sympathetic had you actively cheering for their success. “Babouc’s Vision” is an intellectually stimulating science fiction story.
Pages: 248 | ISBN: 1587210118
The Mind Games
Experiment A: Elimination is the exciting prequel to your Experiment X series. What inspired you to write a prequel to your dystopian trilogy?
Jack was a favorite character among many and it felt right to tell his story. I did think I was done with the series and ready to move onto another one, but I kept thinking about Jack’s past and how he became who he is—how they all became who they are.
What were some ideas that you were excited to explore in this prequel?
The mind games that Thaddeus plays with the Subjects was interesting to explore. The push and pull relationship he has with them, comforting them despite the fact that he’s the one torturing them, keeping them in this constant state of mental and emotional confusion. That’s not really explored in the trilogy.
And, Jack learning to become a leader and finding the voice that he possess in the trilogy.
How much has your fans, or the feedback from your trilogy, informed this novels development?
The fans reactions to the trilogy and Jack’s character (several people have claimed Jack as their book boyfriend, lol) influenced and informed the novels development quite a lot. There are a few things within Experiment A: Elimination that should pull on the heartstrings pretty heavily if one has read the entire trilogy already.
Do you have plans to write more stories within this world or are you working on a different story?
Yes! I have a book two for the prequel I am currently working on and I’m hoping to get it out by 2022! After that, I’ll be working on a dystopian fantasy that deals with a newly immortal hitman, his best friend—the devil’s daughter, and Lucifer himself. I’m pretty excited about it!
Author Links: Twitter | Facebook | GoodReads | Instagram | Website
Conversations of a new form of eliminations begin circulating throughout the cells in hushed, terrified whispers. The rumors are confirmed when Doctor James Thaddeus begins picking off the Subjects himself, seemingly at random. Those that survive the execution rounds are forced to kill each other in bloody battles.
Jack Cortex and his friends know one thing for certain: they have to survive.
By any means necessary.
LITERARY TITAN 