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Zero Hour
Ernest just turned thirty. It's time for retirement, freedom from the tedious drudgery of his job as a data clerk. Time to explore parts of the city he's never seen before, and hopefully meet some people other than his Deacon or his health monitor. And at the end of the month? Time to die.
Will runs the counter at the historic coffee shop, and when he talks, he sounds just like an old-time data feed. He's nothing like anyone Ernest has ever met—which isn't saying much—but still, something about him simply doesn't parse.
Will runs the counter at the historic coffee shop, and when he talks, he sounds just like an old-time data feed. He's nothing like anyone Ernest has ever met—which isn't saying much—but still, something about him simply doesn't parse.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2011
15 people are currently reading
771 people want to read
About the author
Jordan Castillo Price
139 books2,134 followersAuthor and artist Jordan Castillo Price writes paranormal sci-fi thrillers colored by her time in the Midwest, from inner city Chicago, to various cities across southern Wisconsin. She’s settled in a 1910 Cape Cod near Lake Michigan with tons of character and a plethora of bizarre spiders. Any disembodied noises, she’s decided, will be blamed on the ice maker.
Jordan is best known as the author of the PsyCop series, an unfolding tale of paranormal mystery and suspense starring Victor Bayne, a gay medium who's plagued by ghostly visitations.
Jordan is best known as the author of the PsyCop series, an unfolding tale of paranormal mystery and suspense starring Victor Bayne, a gay medium who's plagued by ghostly visitations.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
December 6, 2018
I’m so impressed and enthralled with the world-building of this book. 💜 First of all, Jordan Castillo Price] is the queen of unconventional and unique story tropes. And when it comes to making something depraved and cruel into enticing and intriguing, there’s no other like her. I’m the kind of person who wants to live forever. Seriously, I do! 😁 But then a lot of people do too. However, the reason I wanna live eternally is because I always felt like one lifetime just isn’t enough to enjoy all these awesome literature in the world. So it was frightening and exciting at the same time to read a book about people who die when they turn 30. As soon as this book was re-released, I knew I gotta read this. 😌
Cue and enter, Ernest the gullible data clerk who only has a few days left until he willingly digs his own grave. So he decided to enjoy his life to the fullest before it burnt out completely. He went to a historic coffee shop that he has wanted to go for his whole life and there he met Will. Will, who is determined, brave, different and so very human who said the impossible to him .. that it’s possible to live past your thirtieth birthday. 😱 Now Ernest has only a handful days left to decide whether to listen his lifelong teachings or trust his instincts and follow Will. After all, you only live once. 😌
This world which JCP masterfully crafted was perfect on the surface but wicked, depraved, corrupted and soulless on the inside. However, humans are the most resilient creatures on this earth and people do find ways to survive no matter what. I have no idea how to explain the essence of this storyline because it was just very unique and special and this is a story you gotta experience yourself. Be warned though, although this has a beautiful ending, the journey Will and Ernest had to go through to achieve there certainly wasn’t pretty. No, it was a bone-chilling, eye-widening, breath-hitching apocalyptic adventure about survival, friendship, love and hope. If you are into sci-fi and dystopian novels, I’m sure this one won’t disappoint you. 😊 Another win from JCP! 👏
4.5 innocence is the best kind of coffee stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Disclaimer: A review copy of this book was provided by the author for an honest and unbiased review.
Cue and enter, Ernest the gullible data clerk who only has a few days left until he willingly digs his own grave. So he decided to enjoy his life to the fullest before it burnt out completely. He went to a historic coffee shop that he has wanted to go for his whole life and there he met Will. Will, who is determined, brave, different and so very human who said the impossible to him .. that it’s possible to live past your thirtieth birthday. 😱 Now Ernest has only a handful days left to decide whether to listen his lifelong teachings or trust his instincts and follow Will. After all, you only live once. 😌
This world which JCP masterfully crafted was perfect on the surface but wicked, depraved, corrupted and soulless on the inside. However, humans are the most resilient creatures on this earth and people do find ways to survive no matter what. I have no idea how to explain the essence of this storyline because it was just very unique and special and this is a story you gotta experience yourself. Be warned though, although this has a beautiful ending, the journey Will and Ernest had to go through to achieve there certainly wasn’t pretty. No, it was a bone-chilling, eye-widening, breath-hitching apocalyptic adventure about survival, friendship, love and hope. If you are into sci-fi and dystopian novels, I’m sure this one won’t disappoint you. 😊 Another win from JCP! 👏
4.5 innocence is the best kind of coffee stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Disclaimer: A review copy of this book was provided by the author for an honest and unbiased review.
May 21, 2013
4.5 Stars.
Can you imagine what life could be like 300 years in the future?
You can’t?
Well, Jordan Castillo Price can, and it’s truly something to behold.
JCP has delivered a fantastic Dystopian adventure driven by world-building and powered by great characterisation. She sets everything up so carefully and without complication. There is no information overload to befuddle the mind (thankfully) as you slowly discover this futuristic world bit by bit.
The story begins when Ernest has reached the end of his time; he’s thirty years old and living his last 30 days of retirement; after which, he will walk into "reclaim" where (he thinks) he will claim his ultimate reward and his spirit will move on – Pah! Yeah right … if you believe 30 years of brain-washing indoctrination hatched up by a bunch of crooked greedy gits – unfortunately … Ernest does.
“Hell of a fucking life, though. Grow you in a vat, use you up and throw you away.”
Ernest walks into an antiquated coffee shop and is met by Will, a real life person; not an AI ready to scan his profile in order to determine his preference. Ernest is innocent and naïve to social interaction (having lived in an artificial intelligence POD his whole life) and is immediately fascinated with Will and the things he finds in his shop – relying on his knowledge of “old-time feeds” (aka movies) to orient himself, and the reader.
Ernest’s PoV is just too adorable in a gullible childlike way trying to parse (understand) his surroundings and Will’s mannerisms, expressions, his speech and idioms - oh my … what fun you will have with Ernest trying to parse the idioms.
It’s all so exotic to Ernest and he is captivated. Crickey! I am captivated! This is the part where I clutched the kindle to my chest and twirled with joy over the emotions I felt. I love this.
I guarantee you will love Ernest, his naïve honesty and curiosity is just so flippin cute and refreshing. I adore his character and I love the incredible way JCP integrated it with us learning more about his world, while he learns about ours. It’s like being reborn and experiencing it all for the first time. This is what the author excels at: deep and meaningful characterisation that gets under your skin and makes you feel. Damn, she’s good at this.
Moving on to Will: I liked Will, who is wise to the ways of his world - he’s been around longer. He see’s something special in Ernest (I think) he recognises a potential and takes it upon himself to show Ernest of the true ways of the world - the old ways; feeding his curiosity and giving him a real “taste” for life.
But does Ernest believe and trust in Will to risk losing his soul forever? Or will he claim his reward when time runs out?
There are many special noteworthy moments in this book which offers the reader so much enjoyment. It is a perfect blend of action, romance, heartache, angst and adventure. I never expected it to be so good, but Jordan Castillo Price has wowed me once again and wins a place in my favourite author shelf.
The only thing I wasn’t completely sold on was Will’s initial attraction to Ernest – was Ernest simply filler? Someone in the right place at the right time? When Will had failed at one undertaking he sees Ernest as a second chance perhaps? Nevertheless, his ultimately strong feeling for Ernest shines through.
I also felt the story dragged a little, but never enough to divert me. I wanted the story to be longer, I wanted more background on the side characters and I was curious to see the sexual side of their relationship develop more ie: I want full on sex! Even though what I got was special in its way: tender, loving and very satisfying.
A sequel would be lovely, or perhaps a novella? A short story?A haiku?I’m not ready to let go of this story and especially Ernest.
reviewed for Sid Love's blog.
Can you imagine what life could be like 300 years in the future?
You can’t?
Well, Jordan Castillo Price can, and it’s truly something to behold.
JCP has delivered a fantastic Dystopian adventure driven by world-building and powered by great characterisation. She sets everything up so carefully and without complication. There is no information overload to befuddle the mind (thankfully) as you slowly discover this futuristic world bit by bit.
The story begins when Ernest has reached the end of his time; he’s thirty years old and living his last 30 days of retirement; after which, he will walk into "reclaim" where (he thinks) he will claim his ultimate reward and his spirit will move on – Pah! Yeah right … if you believe 30 years of brain-washing indoctrination hatched up by a bunch of crooked greedy gits – unfortunately … Ernest does.
“Hell of a fucking life, though. Grow you in a vat, use you up and throw you away.”
Ernest walks into an antiquated coffee shop and is met by Will, a real life person; not an AI ready to scan his profile in order to determine his preference. Ernest is innocent and naïve to social interaction (having lived in an artificial intelligence POD his whole life) and is immediately fascinated with Will and the things he finds in his shop – relying on his knowledge of “old-time feeds” (aka movies) to orient himself, and the reader.
Ernest’s PoV is just too adorable in a gullible childlike way trying to parse (understand) his surroundings and Will’s mannerisms, expressions, his speech and idioms - oh my … what fun you will have with Ernest trying to parse the idioms.
It’s all so exotic to Ernest and he is captivated. Crickey! I am captivated! This is the part where I clutched the kindle to my chest and twirled with joy over the emotions I felt. I love this.
I guarantee you will love Ernest, his naïve honesty and curiosity is just so flippin cute and refreshing. I adore his character and I love the incredible way JCP integrated it with us learning more about his world, while he learns about ours. It’s like being reborn and experiencing it all for the first time. This is what the author excels at: deep and meaningful characterisation that gets under your skin and makes you feel. Damn, she’s good at this.
Moving on to Will: I liked Will, who is wise to the ways of his world - he’s been around longer. He see’s something special in Ernest (I think) he recognises a potential and takes it upon himself to show Ernest of the true ways of the world - the old ways; feeding his curiosity and giving him a real “taste” for life.
But does Ernest believe and trust in Will to risk losing his soul forever? Or will he claim his reward when time runs out?
There are many special noteworthy moments in this book which offers the reader so much enjoyment. It is a perfect blend of action, romance, heartache, angst and adventure. I never expected it to be so good, but Jordan Castillo Price has wowed me once again and wins a place in my favourite author shelf.
The only thing I wasn’t completely sold on was Will’s initial attraction to Ernest – was Ernest simply filler? Someone in the right place at the right time? When Will had failed at one undertaking he sees Ernest as a second chance perhaps? Nevertheless, his ultimately strong feeling for Ernest shines through.
I also felt the story dragged a little, but never enough to divert me. I wanted the story to be longer, I wanted more background on the side characters and I was curious to see the sexual side of their relationship develop more ie: I want full on sex! Even though what I got was special in its way: tender, loving and very satisfying.
A sequel would be lovely, or perhaps a novella? A short story?A haiku?I’m not ready to let go of this story and especially Ernest.
reviewed for Sid Love's blog.
December 7, 2018
4.6 Stars
Fuck. Me. Running.
I sweartagawd JCP does not get the acclaim she deserves for her books. This is like, Philip K Dick level good. Like, if this weren't an MM novel, it would have been made into a movie that rivals things like Maze Runner and Hunger Games (which is bullshit because it's past time for a gay hero in popular lit/movies).
Also, this might sound a little like Logan's Run, but that's only superficial.
Fuck. Me. Running.
I sweartagawd JCP does not get the acclaim she deserves for her books. This is like, Philip K Dick level good. Like, if this weren't an MM novel, it would have been made into a movie that rivals things like Maze Runner and Hunger Games (which is bullshit because it's past time for a gay hero in popular lit/movies).
Also, this might sound a little like Logan's Run, but that's only superficial.
March 18, 2019
* 3,75 stars*
The author says in the afterword that 'Zero' developed into a bizarre mashup of Logan's Run, The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland and Soylent Green.
That's certainly an interesting mix!
The scenario and the world building are really well done and there can be no doubt that the author is an accomplished writer.
But it is Ernest who steals the show here.
He is so naive and innocent,but in a good and relatable way. His thinking and actions show how the people in his society have been programmed to totally forget what it means to be a human. Seeing him learn how to drink and eat (Oh my, what a disgusting task!), how to bond with other humans rather than machines is truly heart-warming and at times really chuckle-worthy.
He has no idea what the organ between his legs is for until he meets Will. Needless to say that he is in for a steep learning curve. And boy, is he a fast learner!
At the same time he is curious and open for new things and pretty resilient, considering he has no experience of the 'real' world.
While I thoroughly enjoyed Ernest's journey to become human and more alive, the plot is sometimes too full of lengthy narrative, and tbh, some of the explanations and descriptions are pretty 'sci-fi' - think of Star Trek and you know what I mean.
This, being a sci-fi novel that was not exactly surprising, it still felt a teeny bit tedious at times. And I also could have done with another helping of romance.
Still enjoyed this a whole lot!
The author says in the afterword that 'Zero' developed into a bizarre mashup of Logan's Run, The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland and Soylent Green.
That's certainly an interesting mix!
The scenario and the world building are really well done and there can be no doubt that the author is an accomplished writer.
But it is Ernest who steals the show here.
He is so naive and innocent,but in a good and relatable way. His thinking and actions show how the people in his society have been programmed to totally forget what it means to be a human. Seeing him learn how to drink and eat (Oh my, what a disgusting task!), how to bond with other humans rather than machines is truly heart-warming and at times really chuckle-worthy.
He has no idea what the organ between his legs is for until he meets Will. Needless to say that he is in for a steep learning curve. And boy, is he a fast learner!
At the same time he is curious and open for new things and pretty resilient, considering he has no experience of the 'real' world.
While I thoroughly enjoyed Ernest's journey to become human and more alive, the plot is sometimes too full of lengthy narrative, and tbh, some of the explanations and descriptions are pretty 'sci-fi' - think of Star Trek and you know what I mean.
This, being a sci-fi novel that was not exactly surprising, it still felt a teeny bit tedious at times. And I also could have done with another helping of romance.
Still enjoyed this a whole lot!
July 2, 2015
I found this a really hard book to review.
It's JCP for goodness sake,and she has been consistently my favourite author this year.
So starting to read this full length JCP with 2 of my favourite buddy readers as well was like..Christmas come early - and maybe that was part of the problem, my expectations were SO high.
Don't get me wrong, ZH is a good book, the premise is great, and very JCP, dystopian, augmented humankind, frustration with the system, but for once I could have done with some more telling. I wanted just a little bit more information on what had happened before. I'm all for filling the imagined world with my own creation, but i actually needed more here.
I adored the characters, Ernest while physically fully grown was an emotional and sexual virgin, and the way that Will brought him to 'life' was terrifically well done.
There was also a lot of jargon used, which out of context frustrated me.
It's JCP for goodness sake,and she has been consistently my favourite author this year.
So starting to read this full length JCP with 2 of my favourite buddy readers as well was like..Christmas come early - and maybe that was part of the problem, my expectations were SO high.
Don't get me wrong, ZH is a good book, the premise is great, and very JCP, dystopian, augmented humankind, frustration with the system, but for once I could have done with some more telling. I wanted just a little bit more information on what had happened before. I'm all for filling the imagined world with my own creation, but i actually needed more here.
I adored the characters, Ernest while physically fully grown was an emotional and sexual virgin, and the way that Will brought him to 'life' was terrifically well done.
There was also a lot of jargon used, which out of context frustrated me.
December 11, 2024
4.5⭐
Incredibly gripping story in an imaginative dystopian setting. Really didn't let me go. Towards the end it wasn't quite as tightly-packed anymore, so not quite 5 star story, but damn can JCP write. I read some of her stories in 2018-19 and certainly liked them, but somehow have started to really appreciate her work now, and will eventually devour anything available.
Incredibly gripping story in an imaginative dystopian setting. Really didn't let me go. Towards the end it wasn't quite as tightly-packed anymore, so not quite 5 star story, but damn can JCP write. I read some of her stories in 2018-19 and certainly liked them, but somehow have started to really appreciate her work now, and will eventually devour anything available.
July 20, 2011
4.5 stars. Very good m/m cyberpunk/dystopian scifi with a dash of romance. I think, with the very best scifi, you can see how things got from here to there without much trouble... and that is definitely the case with this story. Ernest is 30 and his one-month long retirement has started, at the end of which he'll be demagnetized and reclaimed. His very first stop is an actual coffee house (nearly unimaginable in a world where nutrients are provided intravenously via permanent shunt), where he meets Will, who is very unlike anyone else...
June 3, 2012
4.5 stars.
This feels a bit different from other JCP's books. I usually feel that, even if she can devise the most different settings and plots, her stories are very character-driven. In this story the world building became more prominent.
Ernest is living the last 30 days of his life. In this world, once you reach thirty, you reach old age in thirty days and then you are given your just reward and your soul is set free. Ernest tries to pack different experiences before his time is due and he enters a coffee shop. Here he meets Will, a clerk who seems so much different from the people Ernest has met until now. It's as if Will can see that there's something different in Ernest and he plants in him a seed of doubt and maybe revolution.
Day after day Ernest discovers that what he's been taught was a lie, he learns to lie himself, he learns to drink, he learns what his body can do once it's detached from the machine where he's lived his whole life.
There are wonderful details: the shunts that are used to feed human beings, the religious bent the society has taken to justify its organization, the scientific development tinged with spiritual beliefs, the cloning, the purging, everything in the best dystopian tradition.
As in all JCP's books there is a lot of humor: the way Ernest learns to read expressions, his approach to porn, his naivety coupled with his fast learning skills, but also his natural curiosity that brings him into the most unexpected situations.
I think the ending was a bit abrupt. There were a lot of secondary characters added at the end of the story and I was sort of expecting something more. Once the world develops outside the narrow confines of the city, the story comes to a stop. There was room to tell a story at least twice longer and I hope the author will tackle this story once again and give the characters itchy feet.
This feels a bit different from other JCP's books. I usually feel that, even if she can devise the most different settings and plots, her stories are very character-driven. In this story the world building became more prominent.
Ernest is living the last 30 days of his life. In this world, once you reach thirty, you reach old age in thirty days and then you are given your just reward and your soul is set free. Ernest tries to pack different experiences before his time is due and he enters a coffee shop. Here he meets Will, a clerk who seems so much different from the people Ernest has met until now. It's as if Will can see that there's something different in Ernest and he plants in him a seed of doubt and maybe revolution.
Day after day Ernest discovers that what he's been taught was a lie, he learns to lie himself, he learns to drink, he learns what his body can do once it's detached from the machine where he's lived his whole life.
There are wonderful details: the shunts that are used to feed human beings, the religious bent the society has taken to justify its organization, the scientific development tinged with spiritual beliefs, the cloning, the purging, everything in the best dystopian tradition.
As in all JCP's books there is a lot of humor: the way Ernest learns to read expressions, his approach to porn, his naivety coupled with his fast learning skills, but also his natural curiosity that brings him into the most unexpected situations.
I think the ending was a bit abrupt. There were a lot of secondary characters added at the end of the story and I was sort of expecting something more. Once the world develops outside the narrow confines of the city, the story comes to a stop. There was room to tell a story at least twice longer and I hope the author will tackle this story once again and give the characters itchy feet.
April 16, 2012
Another excellent story from Ms. Castillo-Price. I was immersed in the universe from page one, that's the kind of writing you can expect from this author. Even if it's something you've never experienced, nobody has because it doesn't even exist, you'll be there with the MCs. I guarantee it.
Exceptional characters, enough psychological twists and turns to keep anyone on their toes. A study in the subtleties of our spoken language. I think I'll go back and re-read just to count the idioms and how they were applied.
The sex? How about a new definition to "first time", yet totally believable? I get goose bumps just thinking about it...
A word of advice: if you are a coffee drinker, make sure you have access to some when you start reading this book. You'll thank me for it!
Highly recommended, just like all of her titles. Enjoy!
Exceptional characters, enough psychological twists and turns to keep anyone on their toes. A study in the subtleties of our spoken language. I think I'll go back and re-read just to count the idioms and how they were applied.
The sex? How about a new definition to "first time", yet totally believable? I get goose bumps just thinking about it...
A word of advice: if you are a coffee drinker, make sure you have access to some when you start reading this book. You'll thank me for it!
Highly recommended, just like all of her titles. Enjoy!
December 8, 2014
Super fun. A little less of the grittiness that attracts me to Jordan's work, and a little more of the creepy sci fi worldbuilding. In the end, i felt this was more plot driven than character driven, but i definitely enjoyed the ride.
October 22, 2018
Such a sweet romance set in the middle of dystopia. How can this NOT be a great book.
Jordan, did a fantastic job with the characters and the world building. Thank you, Jordan, for several evenings of delightful reading!
Jordan, did a fantastic job with the characters and the world building. Thank you, Jordan, for several evenings of delightful reading!
June 20, 2022
It's JCP, so of course I'm going to like it. This is a creepy, dystopian, cyberpunk sci-fi with a secondary romance and I really enjoyed it. There are definite Soylent Green vibes here. I read this in a day. Gripping stuff.
August 10, 2012
This was a very interesting free online story. I thought the concept was great and her depiction of the characters was well-thought out. She gave Will a little more personality because he has been outside the system, while Ernest is a bit stiffer. In this society, at the age of 30 people are retired and they have 30 days remaining in their life cycle. They have shunts in their arms that are used to provide them with nutrients. They do not perform any regular biological functions like eating, peeing, etc. because the machines do it for them. Ernest is a retired data clerk with an IQ over 180. He decides to spend his first day of retirement in a coffee shop and meets Will. Will is much more worldly and teaches Ernest a lot about living outside of a pod. Eventually Ernest must decide if he wants to go along with the ordered retirement or find some way to live outside of society. For a free story, I thought it was great. I felt the ending was a bit abrupt but overall the storyline was thought-provoking.
This book reminded me a lot of the classic movie Logan's Run.
Jordan Castillo Price writes serial stories where she publishes a chapter a month. Her latest serial, Magic Mansion, is currently on her website (chapters 1-5) http://jordancastilloprice.com/magic/
This book reminded me a lot of the classic movie Logan's Run.
Jordan Castillo Price writes serial stories where she publishes a chapter a month. Her latest serial, Magic Mansion, is currently on her website (chapters 1-5) http://jordancastilloprice.com/magic/
March 1, 2012
3.5 stars
Well, for the most part, I do like it. I think the beginning, especially is excellent. I just adore Ernest's 'innocence' and enjoy reading his experience with the 'world' outside his POD for the first time. From drinking coffee, reading, trying to guess Will's facial expression --- all of them has been such pleasure. Oh, and how he discover porn and well, orgasm :). Cute.
On the other hand, the middle part is a bit dragging (I admit I skim a lot then). Also as they go near the end. I don't really care enough for the secondary characters that appear after. I guess everything is better when it's only Ernest with Will, or when he's trying to figure things out, rather than when he interacts with others.
The epilogue part is also a bit abrupt.
Well, for the most part, I do like it. I think the beginning, especially is excellent. I just adore Ernest's 'innocence' and enjoy reading his experience with the 'world' outside his POD for the first time. From drinking coffee, reading, trying to guess Will's facial expression --- all of them has been such pleasure. Oh, and how he discover porn and well, orgasm :). Cute.
On the other hand, the middle part is a bit dragging (I admit I skim a lot then). Also as they go near the end. I don't really care enough for the secondary characters that appear after. I guess everything is better when it's only Ernest with Will, or when he's trying to figure things out, rather than when he interacts with others.
The epilogue part is also a bit abrupt.
December 23, 2013
4.5 stars
Wow! What a world the author created down to tiny details. Amazing book with characters that stick with you. The author had me wanting to reach out to help one character, trying to help another fight. Such talent!
Wow! What a world the author created down to tiny details. Amazing book with characters that stick with you. The author had me wanting to reach out to help one character, trying to help another fight. Such talent!
October 25, 2015
2011 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)
January 15, 2012
This review was originally posted on my blog Joyfully Jay.
The story opens with Earnest beginning his first day of retirement. He has turned 30 years old, and over the next 30 days he will rapidly age until he is ready to die, at which point he will turn himself in to Reclaim to have his soul "demagnetized" from his body, his reward for his years of hard work. Now that he is down to his last 30 days, he is free from his job as a programmer and can spend his time out in the world a bit. Earnest is incredibly smart and has always been motivated to learn more about history and things around him, primarily from his feeds in his Personal Overland Device (POD) where he discovers a bit about how people used to live before they evolved into homo consummatus.
Earnest's first stop is the historic part of town where he enters an old style coffee shop. There he meets the shopkeeper, Will, who intrigues him since he talks and acts so differently than Earnest is accustomed (actually he isn't really accustomed to talking to almost anyone, given that interpersonal interaction in this world is incredibly limited). Will tempts him with his first coffee (taken by injection through his shunt - real drinkable coffee being way too expensive for his limited remaining credits) and lets him look at his books, which fascinate Earnest. He can't help but be drawn to return to the shop, but is shocked when Will pleads with him to no longer shunt into his POD for his nutrition and daily care. Will reveals that death at 30 and 30 is not a given, and that people's nutritional cocktails are automatically altered upon retirement to speed the aging process along.
At first Earnest can not even begin to process all of this. He has been raised since his time at the natal center to believe the Diaconate and the process of Reclaim. The idea that this is untrue is almost impossible for him to imagine, especially as he is so dependent upon his POD for all aspects of his life that he can't fathom separating himself and not shunting in. But eventually Earnest comes to believe Will and takes the risk to break from his planned life and see what more is out there. He becomes even more convinced once he sees first hand what is really going on at Reclaim and how what he has always believed is nothing like it seems.
Even knowing he must separate from his POD, it is not an easy challenge, even for someone incredibly intelligent like Earnest. His life has been unbelievably sheltered. His POD took care of all his physical needs - nutrition, waste removal, proper sleep, etc. His life was rigidly controlled and his exposure to basic skills was nonexistant. Earnest must learn to drink water, eat food by mouth (something that totally repulses him), climb stairs, urinate, etc. It is interesting to imagine how you would teach someone these things when they have never seen or experienced them before (learning to pee is especially challenging and takes him an hour the first time, hee).
The POD also controlled Earnest's hormones, filtering out almost all of his testosterone as he was not a worker who required strength or aggression. Not only is he a virgin, but he is totally unaware of any elements of sexual contact until Will shows him a porn feed (according to the Diaconate "tongues are for talking"). His first sexual interaction with Will is sort of shocking to him as he doesn't really understand what is happening to him or his body. He just knows he can't get enough of Will and that he enjoys it. As things develop between them and his testosterone starts to come back, their romance gets hotter, but the physical side of things is not the primary focus of the story.
The first part of the book was a tiny bit sluggish for me, but I think that is largely my issues with science fiction/alternate world type stories. I need to understand EVERYTHING right away and that is just not always possible (or good storytelling). In fact, I really appreciated that we learn about what is really going on in real time with Ernest, rather than a giant info dump. But I found myself really reading slowly trying to figure out what was happening and get myself oriented. Once the story moves more into the "escape" phase of things it really took off for me. The scenes in the Diaconate were crazy intense and I loved the road trip/camaraderie feel of the second half of the book.
I really loved the secondary characters in the story and they way they form such a close knit bond between them. My favorite is probably Audrey, the POD mod, and her love of old fashioned idioms ("hold your horses"). I also loved the contrast of Earnest and the other C754 model, Abraham, and how it showed that even though they are genetically identical clones, the two men's life experiences made them very different.
I hope I am doing this story justice because it was really so good. This book is subtitled "A Dystopian Adventure" and it really is an adventure story, almost as much as a romance. And Earnest was such a great character. So smart in so many ways, but also naive in many others. Watching him develop from this meek person who could barely care for himself into someone strong, brave, and confident was amazing. I also loved Will who was so caring and patient, but also tough and solid and someone you know you can count on. The world building was amazing and richly detailed and the way the story develops is so exciting and unexpected. It was a really interesting mix of science fiction and epic journey. I would high recommend Zero Hour.
The story opens with Earnest beginning his first day of retirement. He has turned 30 years old, and over the next 30 days he will rapidly age until he is ready to die, at which point he will turn himself in to Reclaim to have his soul "demagnetized" from his body, his reward for his years of hard work. Now that he is down to his last 30 days, he is free from his job as a programmer and can spend his time out in the world a bit. Earnest is incredibly smart and has always been motivated to learn more about history and things around him, primarily from his feeds in his Personal Overland Device (POD) where he discovers a bit about how people used to live before they evolved into homo consummatus.
Earnest's first stop is the historic part of town where he enters an old style coffee shop. There he meets the shopkeeper, Will, who intrigues him since he talks and acts so differently than Earnest is accustomed (actually he isn't really accustomed to talking to almost anyone, given that interpersonal interaction in this world is incredibly limited). Will tempts him with his first coffee (taken by injection through his shunt - real drinkable coffee being way too expensive for his limited remaining credits) and lets him look at his books, which fascinate Earnest. He can't help but be drawn to return to the shop, but is shocked when Will pleads with him to no longer shunt into his POD for his nutrition and daily care. Will reveals that death at 30 and 30 is not a given, and that people's nutritional cocktails are automatically altered upon retirement to speed the aging process along.
At first Earnest can not even begin to process all of this. He has been raised since his time at the natal center to believe the Diaconate and the process of Reclaim. The idea that this is untrue is almost impossible for him to imagine, especially as he is so dependent upon his POD for all aspects of his life that he can't fathom separating himself and not shunting in. But eventually Earnest comes to believe Will and takes the risk to break from his planned life and see what more is out there. He becomes even more convinced once he sees first hand what is really going on at Reclaim and how what he has always believed is nothing like it seems.
Even knowing he must separate from his POD, it is not an easy challenge, even for someone incredibly intelligent like Earnest. His life has been unbelievably sheltered. His POD took care of all his physical needs - nutrition, waste removal, proper sleep, etc. His life was rigidly controlled and his exposure to basic skills was nonexistant. Earnest must learn to drink water, eat food by mouth (something that totally repulses him), climb stairs, urinate, etc. It is interesting to imagine how you would teach someone these things when they have never seen or experienced them before (learning to pee is especially challenging and takes him an hour the first time, hee).
The POD also controlled Earnest's hormones, filtering out almost all of his testosterone as he was not a worker who required strength or aggression. Not only is he a virgin, but he is totally unaware of any elements of sexual contact until Will shows him a porn feed (according to the Diaconate "tongues are for talking"). His first sexual interaction with Will is sort of shocking to him as he doesn't really understand what is happening to him or his body. He just knows he can't get enough of Will and that he enjoys it. As things develop between them and his testosterone starts to come back, their romance gets hotter, but the physical side of things is not the primary focus of the story.
The first part of the book was a tiny bit sluggish for me, but I think that is largely my issues with science fiction/alternate world type stories. I need to understand EVERYTHING right away and that is just not always possible (or good storytelling). In fact, I really appreciated that we learn about what is really going on in real time with Ernest, rather than a giant info dump. But I found myself really reading slowly trying to figure out what was happening and get myself oriented. Once the story moves more into the "escape" phase of things it really took off for me. The scenes in the Diaconate were crazy intense and I loved the road trip/camaraderie feel of the second half of the book.
I really loved the secondary characters in the story and they way they form such a close knit bond between them. My favorite is probably Audrey, the POD mod, and her love of old fashioned idioms ("hold your horses"). I also loved the contrast of Earnest and the other C754 model, Abraham, and how it showed that even though they are genetically identical clones, the two men's life experiences made them very different.
I hope I am doing this story justice because it was really so good. This book is subtitled "A Dystopian Adventure" and it really is an adventure story, almost as much as a romance. And Earnest was such a great character. So smart in so many ways, but also naive in many others. Watching him develop from this meek person who could barely care for himself into someone strong, brave, and confident was amazing. I also loved Will who was so caring and patient, but also tough and solid and someone you know you can count on. The world building was amazing and richly detailed and the way the story develops is so exciting and unexpected. It was a really interesting mix of science fiction and epic journey. I would high recommend Zero Hour.
January 30, 2013
Check out this review and others like it at BadAssBookReviews
Jordan Castillo Price has to be one of my top 5 favorite authors. I am purposely holding myself back from reading all of her books at once to ensure that I always have a backlist to read. Zero Hour is a standalone book, it is set in a dystopia setting where human government has "evolved" to a point that it has convinced human beings to live literally in a bubble and to live short but productive lives. The main character, Ernest has come to the end of his short life and begin to feels regret for what he has not done but doesn't yet know or understand how he truly has failed to live. Erenest meets Will and gradually discovers more about life and as corny as it sounds, more about himself and of course falls in lust (and then in love).
The beginning of Zero Hour is strong as is most of the middle and the end is strong. I did find myself skimming parts of the middle, but it didn't detract from the story. In the end, I recommend this book -- like I recommend all of her books that I have read. The world is very unique, extremely creative and thought provoking. What Jordan Castillo Price does so well (and it seems like I am really drawn to authors who do this) is that she writes character driven stories where her characters are flawed (like all of us are, right?) but have the potential of growth. Zero Hour is similar to her other stories in that respct, the readers get to join Ernest in his hope for experience and his desire to live.
I enjoyed Zero Hour enough to wish it was the start of a series but was satisfied with the end to be okay that it is a standalone.
*I feel the need to warn readers who are sensitive, there are references to pornography and there are graphic m/m sex scenes.
Jordan Castillo Price has to be one of my top 5 favorite authors. I am purposely holding myself back from reading all of her books at once to ensure that I always have a backlist to read. Zero Hour is a standalone book, it is set in a dystopia setting where human government has "evolved" to a point that it has convinced human beings to live literally in a bubble and to live short but productive lives. The main character, Ernest has come to the end of his short life and begin to feels regret for what he has not done but doesn't yet know or understand how he truly has failed to live. Erenest meets Will and gradually discovers more about life and as corny as it sounds, more about himself and of course falls in lust (and then in love).
The beginning of Zero Hour is strong as is most of the middle and the end is strong. I did find myself skimming parts of the middle, but it didn't detract from the story. In the end, I recommend this book -- like I recommend all of her books that I have read. The world is very unique, extremely creative and thought provoking. What Jordan Castillo Price does so well (and it seems like I am really drawn to authors who do this) is that she writes character driven stories where her characters are flawed (like all of us are, right?) but have the potential of growth. Zero Hour is similar to her other stories in that respct, the readers get to join Ernest in his hope for experience and his desire to live.
I enjoyed Zero Hour enough to wish it was the start of a series but was satisfied with the end to be okay that it is a standalone.
*I feel the need to warn readers who are sensitive, there are references to pornography and there are graphic m/m sex scenes.
November 28, 2011
3.5 stars I'm a sucker for amazing cover art, and I'm a sucker for JCP! This is sort of a modern, gay Logan's Run. Ernest is content in his life and has one month left until he turns 30 years old, and therefore, 1 month of retirement before Reclaim (aka: they kill your ass!). I love a good dystopian story, and this definitely fits that category. Eugine is naive and innocent without coming across and ignorant or annoying, and Will is his perfect polar opposite. It's so cute when he tries to figure out Will's facial expressions (Was that a smirk, or a grin? I'll have to ask Loiuse for the data feeds on facial expressions).
It gets a bit slow in the middle, but it still feels like everything that happens is worth saying and doing. There is the addition of some great ancillary characters and things certainly do not go smoothly for our duo. I wasn't sure where the story would go to be honest, would they take down the Diaconate, flee across the country, become captured?! I was pleasanlty surprised with the realism and simplicity with which the story resolved.
Overall, it was little things that made this story great. Audrey's love of idiom's and innocent glee when anybody is "blooding", Will's random pop-culture references (calling the white-clad security ops "storm troopers"), and watching Ernest discover himself and the kind of person he is.
It gets a bit slow in the middle, but it still feels like everything that happens is worth saying and doing. There is the addition of some great ancillary characters and things certainly do not go smoothly for our duo. I wasn't sure where the story would go to be honest, would they take down the Diaconate, flee across the country, become captured?! I was pleasanlty surprised with the realism and simplicity with which the story resolved.
Overall, it was little things that made this story great. Audrey's love of idiom's and innocent glee when anybody is "blooding", Will's random pop-culture references (calling the white-clad security ops "storm troopers"), and watching Ernest discover himself and the kind of person he is.
July 18, 2011
Macabre and sweet, appalling and charming. And yes, I meant to use all of those words in the same description. This is a terrific dystopian story with a riveting plot, involving world and truly engaging characters. I don't think JCP knows how to disappoint. An excellent read that I will read and read again.
July 2, 2015
De lo que menos me ha gustado de JCP hasta la fecha. Libro innecesariamente dificil de entender y confuso, sobre todo al inicio. Y no, no soy yo y mi condición de hispanoparlante. Usualmente valoro cuando un autor/a no te trata como un idiota y abusa de la sobre explicación de su texto, dejando en cambio al lector deducir parte del argumento. Pero Zero Hour se pasa al otro extremo y te deja con una permanente sensación de que hay una parte de la historia que la da por supuesta, y que resulta muy compleja de descular.
Usualmente JCP usa mucho slang, recurre a un vocabulario complejo y que me exige ir y venir varias veces al diccionario y/o a la ayuda de angloparlantes. Y eso me gusta porque siempre es estimulante un libro que te demanda, pero aquí se pasó de la raya y quizás por intentar meter muchos ingredientes y detalles de su complejo universo, termina por volver todo muy confuso.
Hubiera sido interesante alguna referencia, algún marco o estructura de la cual sostenerse para suponer o imaginar todo lo demás, sobre todo al principio. Y si bien al avanzar la lectura ciertas cosas se van descubriendo, es a fuerza de mucha suposición. Y agota.
Lo que sí aprecio es el intento de construir una historia donde la rebelión al sistema y a lo que creemos y tomamos como verdad es eje primordial. Y en un mundo como el que nos toca vivir, eso es siempre digno de destacar. A fin de cuentas es un libro que disfrute y valoré por lo arriesgado, pero al que le hubiera hecho falta una mayor edición.
Sin embargo, siento que esta vez su autora no pudo construir sus usuales complejos universos y el resultado fue un gran lío de datos poco claros y pobremente explicados.
El BR estuvo un poco desfasado y al final terminé discutiéndolo con sólo una de mis compañeras, pero igual un placer.
Ah, y el arte de etapa es mediocre. Me encanta la idea de dejar de meter torsos sin cabeza en los libros del género, pero si vas a a jugártela con un dibujo, buscá al menos a un buen artista.
Usualmente JCP usa mucho slang, recurre a un vocabulario complejo y que me exige ir y venir varias veces al diccionario y/o a la ayuda de angloparlantes. Y eso me gusta porque siempre es estimulante un libro que te demanda, pero aquí se pasó de la raya y quizás por intentar meter muchos ingredientes y detalles de su complejo universo, termina por volver todo muy confuso.
Hubiera sido interesante alguna referencia, algún marco o estructura de la cual sostenerse para suponer o imaginar todo lo demás, sobre todo al principio. Y si bien al avanzar la lectura ciertas cosas se van descubriendo, es a fuerza de mucha suposición. Y agota.
Lo que sí aprecio es el intento de construir una historia donde la rebelión al sistema y a lo que creemos y tomamos como verdad es eje primordial. Y en un mundo como el que nos toca vivir, eso es siempre digno de destacar. A fin de cuentas es un libro que disfrute y valoré por lo arriesgado, pero al que le hubiera hecho falta una mayor edición.
Sin embargo, siento que esta vez su autora no pudo construir sus usuales complejos universos y el resultado fue un gran lío de datos poco claros y pobremente explicados.
El BR estuvo un poco desfasado y al final terminé discutiéndolo con sólo una de mis compañeras, pero igual un placer.
Ah, y el arte de etapa es mediocre. Me encanta la idea de dejar de meter torsos sin cabeza en los libros del género, pero si vas a a jugártela con un dibujo, buscá al menos a un buen artista.
September 22, 2012
This was quite an interesting read. A very original concept.
I wish the book had been longer so I could find out more on Abraham, Benjamin and Audrey with her best friend Charlie as well to learn more of how they would forge a new life for themselves when they knew so little. Still, it was a very nice read, as always by this author.
I wish the book had been longer so I could find out more on Abraham, Benjamin and Audrey with her best friend Charlie as well to learn more of how they would forge a new life for themselves when they knew so little. Still, it was a very nice read, as always by this author.
April 29, 2012
Interesting, dystopian, Sci-fi novel. Blurb with the book tells the plot synopsis well enough.
I liked this book. Liked the main characters.
I just felt this book could be . . . longer? More fleshed out? Denser? I just felt much more could have been written in the timeframe that the book took place in.
In other words, I'm never one to say "this was too long". (That's what she said! . . . sorry ;-) )
Ok. Im a book-size queen! I confess!
I liked this book. Liked the main characters.
I just felt this book could be . . . longer? More fleshed out? Denser? I just felt much more could have been written in the timeframe that the book took place in.
In other words, I'm never one to say "this was too long". (That's what she said! . . . sorry ;-) )
Ok. Im a book-size queen! I confess!
March 25, 2016
This was a good read, well written and great story. It's sci-fi/dystopian edge worked well and although it was not always a bed of roses it's not a gut wrenching story that leaves you on edge the whole time in a mess of nerves as most post apocalyptic novels do. It was more of a romance with an edge.
August 30, 2022
Good lords that was creepy and slightly horrifying, I love it.
And how I wish the epilogue had more details about their new life.
Reread, about 5 years later I still long for more.
And how I wish the epilogue had more details about their new life.
Reread, about 5 years later I still long for more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2019
A very interesting book. Jordan built a world in the future where we are mindless clones born and trained to do services for the Diaconate. The clones are driven daily to work until the age of 30, at which point your food supply is changed so it ages you prematurely. You have that month to go out into the city and do what you want and see. Then you take yourself to Reclaim to be demagnetized and earn your reward. What the people don't know is they could live longer.
The character Ernest is the sweet totally innocent, simple man. The part of Ernest had to be hard to write from a point of view of knowing nothing outside his POD. Will is a man Ernest is attracted to and shows and teaches him what it could be if he didn't go to Reclaim.
It is a great book, right up there with other books I have read that have a similar character coming into our world with fresh new eyes.
The character Ernest is the sweet totally innocent, simple man. The part of Ernest had to be hard to write from a point of view of knowing nothing outside his POD. Will is a man Ernest is attracted to and shows and teaches him what it could be if he didn't go to Reclaim.
It is a great book, right up there with other books I have read that have a similar character coming into our world with fresh new eyes.
June 13, 2014
Ernest lives in a time and place where being human means being something more like drone than man, which is one of the things that makes this Jordan Castillo Price dystopian adventure hit a little too close to possibility. After all, who doesn’t have a love affair with the technology that makes our lives simpler and comes close to doing all of our thinking for us?
Zero Hour is set in a time when a clone’s best friend is his artificial life form—or so he thinks. It’s a place where coming into being means being created in a lab, and being born means leaving one’s POD at the age of thirty, then having exactly thirty days to enjoy this new life, something Ernest tries to do very much in earnest before death claims him and his soul is demagnetized. Ernest lives in an age when a man learns by watching old-time video feeds what it used to mean to be us before evolution made him homo consummatus, a breed of man that doesn’t need to swallow food or drink to survive, a breed which has been brainwashed into believing that once they reach their third decade, the count backward from thirty days brings them each one step closer to their natural demise.
Indoctrination presents itself as the truth that keeps people in line, keeps them from questioning but which is merely propaganda used to control the population in a future where those who’ve discovered the fiction in the facts are considered heretics and are marked for death. Ernest has bought into that fiction in every way; he’s had no reason not to. Ernest is so utterly naïve in his trust of the Deaconists, those who make the rules and manipulate society, that it’s both terrifying and frustrating to experience his resignation toward his own death, even when Will, the man Ernest meets in a coffee shop and who peaks his curiosity, begins planting the first seeds of doubt in Ernest’s mind. He truly is an innocent and is altogether childlike when he leaves his POD, Lou15e, for the first time. Louise is the only companion he’s ever had in all of his thirty years, so when technology eventually betrays him, watching Ernest struggle through that betrayal made him all the more endearing, especially as he learns to trust in himself.
Will is Ernest’s awakening in every way, from teaching him how to drink and eat, to teaching him about the simple pleasures of touching and kissing and sex, to helping Ernest find the hope that his feelings for Will are worth fighting and living for. Zero Hour isn’t a genre romance, in the strictest sense, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a love story here. There is, and I found myself falling in love with both Ernest and Will as they fought against all the seemingly insurmountable odds against them being together.
Jordan Castillo Price, in her own uniquely enticing way, has created a dark world where humanity has been bred out of humans and technology has become the replacement for human interaction, until people are little more than cogs in a greater machination where aging has no value to society. Zero Hour has a great sci-fi plot, rich and layered world building, supporting characters who were all important to the overall success of the storyline, and plenty of danger and suspense thrown in to keep the action flowing from one chapter to the next. This book is a bit different than others I’ve read from JCP, but I loved and recommend it just the same.
Reviewed by Lisa at The Novel Approach
Zero Hour is set in a time when a clone’s best friend is his artificial life form—or so he thinks. It’s a place where coming into being means being created in a lab, and being born means leaving one’s POD at the age of thirty, then having exactly thirty days to enjoy this new life, something Ernest tries to do very much in earnest before death claims him and his soul is demagnetized. Ernest lives in an age when a man learns by watching old-time video feeds what it used to mean to be us before evolution made him homo consummatus, a breed of man that doesn’t need to swallow food or drink to survive, a breed which has been brainwashed into believing that once they reach their third decade, the count backward from thirty days brings them each one step closer to their natural demise.
Indoctrination presents itself as the truth that keeps people in line, keeps them from questioning but which is merely propaganda used to control the population in a future where those who’ve discovered the fiction in the facts are considered heretics and are marked for death. Ernest has bought into that fiction in every way; he’s had no reason not to. Ernest is so utterly naïve in his trust of the Deaconists, those who make the rules and manipulate society, that it’s both terrifying and frustrating to experience his resignation toward his own death, even when Will, the man Ernest meets in a coffee shop and who peaks his curiosity, begins planting the first seeds of doubt in Ernest’s mind. He truly is an innocent and is altogether childlike when he leaves his POD, Lou15e, for the first time. Louise is the only companion he’s ever had in all of his thirty years, so when technology eventually betrays him, watching Ernest struggle through that betrayal made him all the more endearing, especially as he learns to trust in himself.
Will is Ernest’s awakening in every way, from teaching him how to drink and eat, to teaching him about the simple pleasures of touching and kissing and sex, to helping Ernest find the hope that his feelings for Will are worth fighting and living for. Zero Hour isn’t a genre romance, in the strictest sense, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a love story here. There is, and I found myself falling in love with both Ernest and Will as they fought against all the seemingly insurmountable odds against them being together.
Jordan Castillo Price, in her own uniquely enticing way, has created a dark world where humanity has been bred out of humans and technology has become the replacement for human interaction, until people are little more than cogs in a greater machination where aging has no value to society. Zero Hour has a great sci-fi plot, rich and layered world building, supporting characters who were all important to the overall success of the storyline, and plenty of danger and suspense thrown in to keep the action flowing from one chapter to the next. This book is a bit different than others I’ve read from JCP, but I loved and recommend it just the same.
Reviewed by Lisa at The Novel Approach
January 10, 2012
I was surprised (though not unpleasantly) that this book turned out to be more straight up sci-fi and less romance -- I think because of the cover more than the excellent reputation of the author. It's a very cool blend of some of my favorite sci-fi tropes (Logan's Run meets Welcome to the Monkey House meets ... a bunch of other cool stuff) to form a new and interesting flavor of its own. While the plot is propelled by the relationship between Will and Ernest, it's not really the focus so much as the engine, which I dig.
Price explores a lot of cool sci-fi issues -- in particular what it means to be human -- with great skill and cleverness. Her action sequences are well-paced, too. At times I admit that the story lags just a touch, getting bogged down in details that don't seem to add a lot or reiterations. But when I'd think that, I'd remember that this was originally a web serial and it made a lot more sense. To tell a story this complex in that format is even more impressive.
I think my favorite aspect of this was Ernest's tight PoV and how wonderfully it was handled. Very rarely did it ever become disorienting, in spite of his remoteness from the reader's mindset. The reliance on "old time feeds" -- read "movies" -- for some of his communication with us and with others can sometimes be a little much, but at the same time it's so friggin cute, as are all of Ernest's weird ass quirks, that you can't help loving it anyhow. And his character development, oh man. Brilliant stuff. Love, love, love it, and the incredible way she integrated it with us learning more about his world with him.
The only thing I wasn't totally sold on, oddly enough, was Will and Ernest as a couple. I could see what they saw in each other, and I could see they were good for each other, but I didn't really feel the love. The attraction was a brilliant way to introduce Ernest to his world, and hilarious for the reader, but I don't know. Will kind of came off as a desperate rebounder. Cute, though. Adorably so.
Didn't really hurt my love, since long before I'd decided that, I decided that this was more of an up close and personal character driven sci-fi novel than anything else, and therefore ultimately satisfying. I'd rec this for any sci-fi fan, whether or not they're into romance, as a result. (And of course romance lovers will love it too!)
Price explores a lot of cool sci-fi issues -- in particular what it means to be human -- with great skill and cleverness. Her action sequences are well-paced, too. At times I admit that the story lags just a touch, getting bogged down in details that don't seem to add a lot or reiterations. But when I'd think that, I'd remember that this was originally a web serial and it made a lot more sense. To tell a story this complex in that format is even more impressive.
I think my favorite aspect of this was Ernest's tight PoV and how wonderfully it was handled. Very rarely did it ever become disorienting, in spite of his remoteness from the reader's mindset. The reliance on "old time feeds" -- read "movies" -- for some of his communication with us and with others can sometimes be a little much, but at the same time it's so friggin cute, as are all of Ernest's weird ass quirks, that you can't help loving it anyhow. And his character development, oh man. Brilliant stuff. Love, love, love it, and the incredible way she integrated it with us learning more about his world with him.
The only thing I wasn't totally sold on, oddly enough, was Will and Ernest as a couple. I could see what they saw in each other, and I could see they were good for each other, but I didn't really feel the love. The attraction was a brilliant way to introduce Ernest to his world, and hilarious for the reader, but I don't know. Will kind of came off as a desperate rebounder. Cute, though. Adorably so.
Didn't really hurt my love, since long before I'd decided that, I decided that this was more of an up close and personal character driven sci-fi novel than anything else, and therefore ultimately satisfying. I'd rec this for any sci-fi fan, whether or not they're into romance, as a result. (And of course romance lovers will love it too!)
June 13, 2015
rating: 4/5
Ernest turned 30, which means retirement. He has 30 days to live work-free before his body is reclaimed (uh, meaning killed). However, things aren't as they seem and his retirement doesn't quite go as planned after meeting Will.
I was pleasantly surprised, this dystopian world was better developed than expected and played a greater role than just a setting for the romance. Actually, the romance was pretty understated and the graphic sex scenes only took up about 2/3% of the book. The plot, not the romance, was the main focus. Ernest's exploration of the world outside his pod was very well written, his odd view of the world as he learned about the things he'd been denied all his life was refreshing. The reasons behind his thinking processes were also very well thought out, even when he was naive about something, it didn't mean he was a naive person, he just had a lot of learning to do regarding social interactions and the deep, dark secrets of his society.
And Will is just adorable, filled with random pop-culture references that made me laugh.
However, I wish we could have learned even more about this world. We get a glimpse to the past but not enough to form a coherent theory of how everything became as it is and how it all functions on a bigger scale (which is why I am hoping there is more). We know almost nothing of the world outside the city and the surrounding forest. There is just so much left unexplored as to leave me unsatisfied (which, again, is why I am hoping there will be more), the ending was abrupt, anticlimactic and fell flat. Did I mention I want more?
The writing could use a little tightening up, some of the descriptions just fell flat (mind, there were other descriptions especially during Ernest's, uh, escape that were quite wonderful). However, overall it was a pleasant and exciting read.
This is dystopian fiction first, a romance second. And I enjoyed the romance just as much as the world development. At the same time, it has also left me yearning for more (anyone notice a theme here?). This has so much potential to be so much more, I hope the author decides to write a sequel.
Ernest turned 30, which means retirement. He has 30 days to live work-free before his body is reclaimed (uh, meaning killed). However, things aren't as they seem and his retirement doesn't quite go as planned after meeting Will.
I was pleasantly surprised, this dystopian world was better developed than expected and played a greater role than just a setting for the romance. Actually, the romance was pretty understated and the graphic sex scenes only took up about 2/3% of the book. The plot, not the romance, was the main focus. Ernest's exploration of the world outside his pod was very well written, his odd view of the world as he learned about the things he'd been denied all his life was refreshing. The reasons behind his thinking processes were also very well thought out, even when he was naive about something, it didn't mean he was a naive person, he just had a lot of learning to do regarding social interactions and the deep, dark secrets of his society.
And Will is just adorable, filled with random pop-culture references that made me laugh.
However, I wish we could have learned even more about this world. We get a glimpse to the past but not enough to form a coherent theory of how everything became as it is and how it all functions on a bigger scale (which is why I am hoping there is more). We know almost nothing of the world outside the city and the surrounding forest. There is just so much left unexplored as to leave me unsatisfied (which, again, is why I am hoping there will be more), the ending was abrupt, anticlimactic and fell flat. Did I mention I want more?
The writing could use a little tightening up, some of the descriptions just fell flat (mind, there were other descriptions especially during Ernest's, uh, escape that were quite wonderful). However, overall it was a pleasant and exciting read.
This is dystopian fiction first, a romance second. And I enjoyed the romance just as much as the world development. At the same time, it has also left me yearning for more (anyone notice a theme here?). This has so much potential to be so much more, I hope the author decides to write a sequel.
October 8, 2011
If Jordan Castillo Price reads this. Is there any chance of a sequel?
Please tell yes, crossing fingers :)
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Review of the draft version (the one free online)
It's amazing how detailed the created world is. How unique and interesting. I like how simple, everyday actions were made into discoveries. How hard it is to learn that we do everyday. The world itself isn't described separately much but you see a lot of it from the characters, how they act, react etc.
The characters are deep and well revealed. Their actions and reactions seem realistic. Ernest's baby steps into life and the wonders along the way are written very realistically.
I found it very funny the first thing Ernest ate wasn't a protein bar ;)
After finishing I want more of this world. The ending felt so early. It felt like just a beginning.
If there was a sequel I would buy it instantly.
Please tell yes, crossing fingers :)
*************************************************
Review of the draft version (the one free online)
It's amazing how detailed the created world is. How unique and interesting. I like how simple, everyday actions were made into discoveries. How hard it is to learn that we do everyday. The world itself isn't described separately much but you see a lot of it from the characters, how they act, react etc.
The characters are deep and well revealed. Their actions and reactions seem realistic. Ernest's baby steps into life and the wonders along the way are written very realistically.
I found it very funny the first thing Ernest ate wasn't a protein bar ;)
After finishing I want more of this world. The ending felt so early. It felt like just a beginning.
If there was a sequel I would buy it instantly.
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