Pacific Book Review of Bold Dark Worlds
Title: Bold Dark Worlds
Author: J. M. Erickson
Publisher: Emergency Comms Press
ISBN: 978-1942708711
Pages: 696
Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy / Dystopian
https://www.pacificbookreview.com/bold-dark-worlds/
Reviewer: Anthony Avina
Pacific Book Review
For all the progress the world has seen in the last century, some still see that progress undone. Recent events politically and socially have seen a major upheaval in racism and sexism, impacting all aspects of life in the United States and leading to fears from many that the country is slowly becoming, or leading into, an oligarchy rather than the democratic state has been since 1776.
Those fears are reflected in author J.M. Erickson’s Bold Dark Worlds. The story follows a future that sees the ruling class of blue-eyed, pale-faced, blonde-haired Patricians ruling over the serfs and slaves of Earth and Mars, erasing the history of a united planet Earth and enforcing strict laws and the use of slavery and human trafficking. Cassandra IX, a former Patrician who defied her family and her people’s laws to speak out against this injustice, is imprisoned and finds herself headed to Mars and, in the process, discovers a growing movement of change that she and her AI, Alethia, are swept into that could change the face of the galaxy forever.
A gritty, haunting dystopian sci-fi novel, the author does an incredible job layering the story with powerful characters and rich world-building. The narrative stood out to me because it focused more on the world’s social issues than on complicated sci-fi tropes. The balance the author struck brought these characters and their struggles to life on the page, and Cassandra IX was a powerful protagonist who carried the majority of this collection of stories. The humor in her relationship with her AI Alethia was a welcome reprieve from the darker aspects of the story, and the fast pacing of the individual chapters helped the story flow smoothly.
Readers who enjoy science fiction novels, especially those who enjoy dystopian sci-fi novels, will thoroughly enjoy this novel. Readers should be aware of darker storylines involving trafficking and slavery, but the author handles them with care and attention, allowing readers to feel immersed in this world and recognize the horrors this future reflects in our own world. The way the author brings Mars to life was incredible to read, and the emotional pull of these characters and their individual struggles adds to the collective struggles so many people in this dystopian world face.
Warning: This book contains mature themes and content and is recommended for mature readers. It includes descriptions and discussions related to slavery and the sex trafficking of young men and women, as well as graphic language, racial slurs. Reader discretion is advised.
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