Review of 2084

[Kelyn]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "2084" by Kadon Landon Peterson.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Psychotic villains are not unusual to find in science fiction, but how about a psychotic protagonist? In 2084: Book One: 2069, by Kadon Landon Peterson, we have a quite likable, if psychotic, anti-hero. He doesn’t want to create a utopia. He wants to destroy it. Meet Dune, master philosopher and psychotic genius extraordinaire. Psychotic in what way, you ask? Well, he believes himself to be the devil and that humanity’s only way out of Hell (current reality) is through him. He’s also somewhat mentally disconnected from the real world at times. Fennec helps with that… sometimes… at least when she’s not experiencing the same thing. Fennec, as a child, was genetically modified to look like a fox. (She’s currently thirty-two.) She is Dune’s lover/companion, pet, and tether to what is real.

Dune doesn’t appreciate the current state of things, and he has every intention of changing it. He is a ‘Nat,’ you see. That is, he is a naturally born human in a world where natural birth has been made illegal, and infants are neutered at birth. (Or would that be upon production?) Diversity engenders discontent, which leads to dissidence, right? Dune doesn’t agree; he likes diversity in all its forms. However, it isn’t until 2069, when the WPA (World Peace Authority) passes a law requiring all remaining ‘Nats’ to present themselves to be neutered or be ‘extinguished’ upon discovery, that he is forced to take action. To what lengths would you go to save yourself from this forced reality? How about your future children? For Dune, whose own daughter is soon to be born, those lengths are quite extreme.

Although the book contains elements found in novels such as 1984, Gattaca, The Giver, and even Hunger Games, the author has taken them, tossed them into a mind-bending trip to an entirely possible scientific future dystopia, and added his own dark twists to everything you ever thought you knew about humanity and many things I’m sure you’ve never thought of before. The author’s recipe is relatively simple. Take your every belief system, mix them generously with realistic, well-researched scientific possibilities and psychological ideals, and toss them back inside your head, still spinning. You go in feeling perfectly normal… and come out forever changed. This book will resonate within your brain for years to come. Peterson’s writing is truly on par with masters such as George Orwell, Robert Heinlein, and Andy Weir.

Before I move on, I must include a couple of significant trigger warnings. The book delves heavily into possible future changes in morality. One of the scenes provokes disturbing images of nudity and ritual practices bordering on non-erotic pornography in ways that cannot be described here. Even so, the scene is not gratuitous; it is necessary to the dealings of Dune’s belief systems (yes, systems – plural) and the story itself. Pedophilia is touched on in that Fennec was transformed as a child expressly to serve the pleasure of those with a specific fetish. However, you must remember that in the present reality of the book, she is no longer a child but very much an adult… a disturbed one, but an adult. If you are sensitive to these subjects or not willing to broach them, even in the context of science fiction, steer clear.

As the book focuses on Dune and Fennec, not much character building happens elsewhere. However, in the course of the book, both of them change, mature, and… well, I think ‘warp’ would be an appropriate word. (Believe me, keeping up with that is enough for anyone.) That is not to say that other important characters are one-dimensional. They are given vivid descriptions, personalities, and at least a bit of background. They simply do not experience anywhere near the ‘growth’ that Dune and Fennec display. World-building is simple to describe. You’re there. Whether you’re huddling under a maintenance ladder while chaos runs rampant around you or delving through dark tunnels, you see through Dune’s eyes and live within his mind. The experience is rich, surreal, and sometimes disturbing.

I will state clearly and resoundingly that, because of the aforementioned content, this book is for adults only. Additionally, though it will almost certainly make you doubt my sanity, I admit that I enjoyed reading it. If you like mind-bending, thought-provoking, dark sci-fi featuring characters whose sanity is also in question, I believe you will enjoy it too. A few words were misused in the book, but this did not unduly disturb or interrupt my reading. Given this, in a rare occurrence for me, I happily award 2084: Book One: 2069 4 out of 4 stars for the story itself, the superb writing, and the depth of soul-searching it evokes.

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2084
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[Aisha Yakub]

Everyone definitely has a spec. While this may not be within the wheelhouse of a popular audience, it would be great for sci-fi lovers who are intrigued by a bit of darkness.

[Sarah Sonbol]

It looks like a mind-blowing book. However, because of the nudity scenes and disturbing descriptions I'll give it a pass. Thanks for the informative review.

[Kelyn]

Everyone definitely has a spec. While this may not be within the wheelhouse of a popular audience, it would be great for sci-fi lovers who are intrigued by a bit of darkness.

It's definitely different and takes the type of reader into dark and mind-bending psychological sci-fi. I personally loved it!! Thanks for dropping in and commenting!

[Kelyn]

It looks like a mind-blowing book. However, because of the nudity scenes and disturbing descriptions I'll give it a pass. Thanks for the informative review.

It's definitely not for everyone. Thus, the trigger warnings I included. Even so, thanks for dropping by and commenting. I appreciate it!

[marta baglioni]

A reverse topos! I would love to read this book. Thank you for the recommendation

[Kelyn]

A reverse topos! I would love to read this book. Thank you for the recommendation

Indeed! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Thanks for dropping in and commenting!

[Nwadinso Michael]

This book involves one thing, modification of human genes. Dune is a fascinating character that has his own perspective of the world where he exists. I would love to read the book so as to know if Dune was able to change the things that he did not like. Thanks for your review

[Kelyn]

This book involves one thing, modification of human genes. Dune is a fascinating character that has his own perspective of the world where he exists. I would love to read the book so as to know if Dune was able to change the things that he did not like. Thanks for your review

He definitely has a different perspective. I didn't mention gene modification. I'm wondering where you got that impression. Modification of the human body, certainly. At any rate, I hope you enjoy the ride as much as I did! Thanks for dropping in and commenting!

[NetMassimo]

I'm not sure I want to read such a dark story right now but this seems like a thought-provoking novel that brutally forces the reader to go into dark possibilities of humanity's future and the human mind. Thank you for your great review!

[Kelyn]

I'm not sure I want to read such a dark story right now but this seems like a thought-provoking novel that brutally forces the reader to go into dark possibilities of humanity's future and the human mind. Thank you for your great review!

'Brutally' is a good way to put it. The author pulls no punches. Thanks for stopping in and commenting. I appreciate it!

[Shaesta Parween]

The summary of the book is absolutely fascinating. A dark aesthetic is always appreciated. Reading it at night while it rains outside would be adventurous for the mind.

[NikkiFarquhar]

Thank you for the incredible review. I might eventually read this myself when I have the time. The novel sounds highly facinating.

[Salmi181]

Studying science fiction books is relatively difficult compared to other books, as their events are futuristic and fictional, and most of their characters are innovative. The idea of the book is obsolete and old, as the future usually carries the devastation of man and the earth as a whole, but what distinguishes the book 2084 from its predecessors is the genius of the writer, along with the darkness of his ideas, where the future as usual carries ruin and slavery, in addition to the nature of the new enemy of humanity. The Sandy Catban and Funk organization hates the natural born human being that it worked to eliminate and replace with a hybrid and distorted human being that it controls and harnesses to corruption and everything that would erase his identity and morals. In the midst of these events, the book focuses on the character of Don, the psychic who thinks he is the devil and that the world needs him, along with Finick, try to preserve human nature and begins with his approaching birth. The analysis is successful to a large extent surrounding the events, thoughts and feelings that reach the mind and heart of the reader.

[Munaluna]

This story sounds interesting but I am going to skip this because if presence of rituals. Thanks for the wonderful review.