⭐⭐⭐.5
Author (Platform): Darren Dash (Kindle)
Publisher (Release): Home of the Damned (2023)
Length: 221 pages
Genres: Adult; Sci-Fi; Time Travel; Dystopian
❗️Disclaimers❗️:
this novel was gifted by the author in exchange for a review (although I did buy a copy for easier reading)
intended to have read and reviewed by release but website and real-life problems came to visit
moderate nudity and scenes of a sexual nature
this review contains medium-level spoilers
recommendation: vibe check before reading
👍 Pros 👍
An incredible thoughtful read within a dystopian utopia
Adversity vs character? Peace vs development? Equality vs equity?
An overall rewarding experience
👎 Cons 👎
Slow-burning pace in a world you’re hungry to explore
Tries to be inclusive with some simplistic gender ideology
👀 Synopsis 👀
Cassique is a time travelling Fixer in AD 2853. It’s his job to nip back into the past and fix problems which threaten to wipe out the world of the twenty-ninth century. But the longer Cassique spends in those past times, the more he comes to wonder if the docile, VR-obsessed people of his present would actually benefit from a reset. It’s a dangerous thought, because that would mean taking a stand against Father, the world-running super-computer, and Father takes a very dim view of any form of rebellion.
When Cassique teams up with a couple of relatively famous figures from the past, they start trying to formulate a plan to make time travel work in their favour, and return the reins of control to humanity. But they have to be exceedingly careful, because Father might be listening…
🧩 Plots 🧩
Riveting
Engaging
Enjoyable
Uneven
Boring
🎭 Characters 🎭
Alive
Developed
Okay
Inconsistent
Soulless
🧪 Science Fiction 🧪
Erupts
Pops
Sizzles
Bubbles
Melts
🧠 Final Thoughts 🧠
What is it to be human?
The million-dollar question we all wrestle with at some point in our lives and can never truly find an answer to. Father of the Future takes it on within its dystopian utopia, regaling the reader with a thought-provoking exercise in philosophy and morality. There’s plenty of sci-fi to keep the story from growing stale, but its more cerebral focus does bring the pace to a languish speed. There are no epic battles, for example, with author Darren Dash building the meeting place for minds rather than futuristic combat. Characters, by design, don’t quite stand out but powerful culture clashes pit equality and equity against one another, excelling at forcing the reader to challenge their own positions within that space and face the consequences of even their most selfless of stances. It’s easy to say peace is the greatest goal of humanity, especially amid a crisis, but if that peace requires your soul, your will, and the very chains that make, what you consider, a whole human being, is it worth it?
Father of the Future provides an intensely layered experience even when its surface content can’t quite match its ambitions. Isolating choices and limiting characters works fantastically well in places for world-building but can leave more grounded development a little lacking. Dash’s attempt to be more inclusive with non-binary characters and language is admirable but, personally, distracting and frustrating. Gender ideology is a tricky topic that can never seem to find its middle ground and, sadly, Father of the Future suffers from using neopronouns that don’t exist outside of a chaotic and ephemeral subculture. Structurally, it brings the reader to a stop as they process whether or not a grammatical mistake has been made when they’re assaulted with repeated ze/hir within a sentence and paragraph. Even more concerning is the simplistic approach to being non-binary. Within the novel, it’s often portrayed as better than the more traditional understanding of being male or female, with the protagonist even questioning whether or not he should seek help in changing who he is (which, as a gay man, had the unfortunate effect of sounding like conversation therapy).
Stepping back from that rabbit hole, Darren Dash creates a flawed but strikingly thoughtful sci-fi adventure. Fans of time travel will love dissecting the intricacies of Dash’s interpretation and moral philosophers will adore the balanced arguments surrounding adversity and character. It won’t hit with everyone, but manage to sink your teeth into Father of the Future and you’ll find a wholly rewarding experience.
The Phoenix Project 