Review of Prelude to a Distant Future

Josephe-Anne · Post by **Josephe-Anne** » 21 Apr 2023, 08:19

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Prelude to a Distant Future" by Sandra J Scott.]

4 out of 5 stars

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With as much espionage action as a James Bond movie, Prelude to a Distant Future by Sandra J. Scott is a historical fiction thriller that packs a punch! The story follows the lives of five remarkable women who are all in their fifties. Four of them are sent back in time to Nazi Germany to prevent the future collapse of the United States. The fifth woman, Junifer, is their boss, and she is also in her fifties. Gabrielle, Charly, Corrine, and Rebecca are all experts in their field. They also happen to be single. So, the U.S. government believes they would be ideal candidates to infiltrate Hitler’s regime. The women will face untold dangers and be subjected to the unwanted advances of the sexist men of that era. Quelling their fears, these ladies will risk it all in the fight for freedom.

The cover design features the young faces of the five women blended into a background that looks like aged parchment. At the bottom of the image, there is also a clock with the Star of David symbol etched onto it. The title is printed in a white cursive font. With sixty chapters in total, each chapter is named after the character whose experiences are described within it. The themes of this novel include history, science fiction, romance, and friendship. The story contains many instances of violence, nudity, sexual harassment, and upsetting accounts of rape. There are also descriptions of consensual sexual activity, and borderline profanity is used in the text. So, this book is strictly for adults.

There are so many characters involved in the complex plot. They all have distinctive traits and habits. With a degree in chemical engineering, shy Corrine is always fidgeting with her Star of David necklace. Aggressive Charly was demoted to security duties because of her bad behavior, but her knife-wielding skills are legendary. Rebecca is an ace when it comes to designing and handling guns. Due to her childhood trauma, she also has a habit of compulsively squirting hand sanitizer into her palms. Gabrielle is an explosives specialist. She is usually a practical person, but she is prone to anxiety attacks during stressful situations. Clever and commanding, Junifer can hold her own in a fight. She emerged as my favorite character with her empathy and firm resolve. All of the women experienced love and loss, so their plights are relatable.

I appreciated the realistic portrayal of the insecurities that middle-aged women face as they try to maintain their physical beauty. The author also drew attention to the fact that many older women become jealous and feel like they have to compete with attractive younger women. Despite the many serious topics, there were a few light-hearted and humorous moments that I enjoyed. I liked a comical scene where one character arrives in 1940s Germany and asks for the bathroom using modern slangs like “the little girl’s room,” “the john,” and “crap.” I also commend Ms. Scott for including historical information about the White Rose resistance group and its founders, Alexander Schmorell, Hans Scholl, and Sophie Scholl.

However, there are a few issues with this novel. First, the main characters are all supposed to be over fifty years old, but the cover depicts much younger women. Even though they are described as looking young for their age, it seemed rather unrealistic for them to look like they are in their twenties. Second, the romance between two of the characters seemed far-fetched because they had sexual intercourse the same day they met each other, and then they supposedly fell in love. I also didn’t like how most of the men in this book are described as lecherous chauvinists. As a woman who has had to deal with her fair share of lascivious men, I know how difficult it is. I am aware that women had less rights back then, but the details of licentious behavior were excessive. Furthermore, I found more than ten errors in the text.

From start to finish, the story was engaging, and I enjoyed the multiple subplots that intertwined to create several unexpected twists. The bittersweet ending gave me much food for thought. Yet, due to the amount of errors I found, I have decided to give Prelude to a Distant Future by Sandra J. Scott a rating of four out of five stars. Despite the other issues I mentioned, I didn’t give it a lower rating because the story held my interest and the characters were endearing. I recommend this book to adults who are interested in science fiction, spy novels, and Holocaust history.

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Prelude to a Distant Future
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Amy Luman · Post by **Amy Luman** » 22 Apr 2023, 12:36

I agree with all of the statements about the men of the time period. It was assumed that women liked the “attention.” I’m glad that there were women that were willing to risk their lives for the cause of saving the US.