Eight hundred
and thirty years into the future is where our story begins; a point in time
where humanity has reached peak perfection. War is a non-entity, poverty is
non-existent. There is no hunger, no disease, no crime, no pain, and a human’s
basic needs are always met with the help of Father, a supercomputer solely
responsible for the upkeep of the human race.
Cassique, a
Fixer and resident of this optimal Earth, is our protagonist. It is his duty as
a Fixer to travel back in time and help correct mistakes made in the past
before the inevitable collapse of the Time Hole, an event predicted by Father
to cause mass destruction. With his frequent journeys to set points in history,
Cassique can’t help but start to notice stark differences between his own
world, and that of the past. A contact-free life begins to feel sterile,
programming masquerades as progress, and all that appears ideal may instead be
taking from humans the one thing that is crucial to our existence...our
humanity.
As doubt
slowly creeps its way into Cassique’s mind, it brings along with it further
questioning and fear of the consequences for those who dare to challenge
Father.
Intrigue and
suspense sandwich this delicious post-apocalyptic, science fiction slow burner
in classic Darren Dash fashion. Father of the Future promises to sink
its hook into readers on the very first page, and will refuse to let go until
it’s finished shocking, thrilling, and chilling. Darren Dash has a particular
talent for jotting down stories that will often occupy a reader’s mind when
their eyes are no longer glued to the page, and Father of the Future is
no exception. In fact, I myself cannot name a novel of his that has occupied
more of my headspace than this.
In a future
where everything from reproduction to intimacy, entertainment to cleanliness is
controlled, will we still be able to recognize the concept of free will? Will
we still recognize ourselves as human? At what point will we realize that
apathy can be a side-effect of ease and convenience?
With
enthralling jumps into the past, a dystopian setting, a tortured hero, and a
race against time, Father of the Future practically begs to be adapted
to the big screen. And though Darren Dash’s latest nail-biter will hardly cost
you a weekend to absorb, I can personally guarantee that this story will stick
with you for a very long time...
...perhaps
even through the collapse of the Time Hole.
