Review of 30th Century: Escape (General Audience Edition)

[Sarvesh J Yadav]

[Following is a volunteer review of "30th Century: Escape (General Audience Edition)" by Mark Kingston Levin PhD.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Mark Kingston Levin's 30th Century: Escape is not a cold-hearted place, and ejection through a wormhole isn't the end.

The fundamentals—genetically enhanced superhumans, a fight to steer the way, the legacy of sci-fi science fiction—are what make it so nostalgic. However, the deep structure of cultural issues, such as social inequality, the disadvantages of technological progress, and the journey of identity, is still astonishingly similar to today’s complex present.
 
Jennifer Hero is a unique version of a heroine. Yes, she may be strong-willed and ambitious, but she's also flawed. It is like we are looking at the world through her eyes and seeing the jarring disconnect that exists between our present-day technology and her future expectations. She ends up mirroring our current doubts about the more and more obvious ambiguities in the mechanisms of the world.
 
Levin is fearless about this unpleasant fact. Are the Syndos who have genetic enhancements indeed more dangerous? Or are they only human beings who belong to the next generation of humankind, continuing the fight against discrimination in an antediluvian society? The intricacy of Jennifer's inner struggles makes the story more believable, going beyond the simplistic opposition of good and evil.
 
What truly sets 30th Century: Escape apart is the way it looks at retrofuturism. The 30th-century technology may be mind-boggling, but as we see things through the eyes of Jennifer, most of the 21st-century conventions will appear backward and inefficient. The effect is to let us see our time through their eyes, in which not only our knowledge is outdated, but even some of our progress seems anachronistic and futile in comparison.
 
I will rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. The editing was exceptional, and I loved this book and will recommend it. If you enjoy the nostalgic charm of classic sci-fi but crave stories that resonate with present-day concerns, 30th Century: Escape is a cool solution for this. It is indeed not what one might call a thrilling novel; nevertheless, it is exceptionally thought-provoking, bringing together past and present times in a remarkable way. I'm not sure if there is anything to criticize, but mostly there is nothing here.

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30th Century: Escape (General Audience Edition)
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