Ameritopia 2075

by Corey L Simmins

America in 2075 has achieved a state of Utopia. Following the political coup-d’état of 2025 by the “Militant Moderates”, led by the irascible and Machiavellian Johannes Schmitt, America resolved all of its early 21st Century social and economic gay marriage, health care, abortion, immigration, welfare, education, and debt. With the elimination of liberal and conservative zealots and through the careful measurement of student data in the high schools, the educational system works with federal government forces to ensure that the perfectly administered economy offers a Brave New World-esque supply of workers, intellects, technicians, immigrants and other cogs in the American economic engine. Follow the coming of age of two young outstanding teachers, Murray Mallory Moore and Jacob Wilde, who upon their recent nomination to the Academy of Principals, find that during their training, they will enter a secret society which works in conjunction with Homeland Security to ensure the smooth operation of America’s Utopian society by extending that usage of educational data to hunt down the pariah students of America in the most Orwellian manner. As Moore and Wilde are exposed to the dark underbelly of America’s perceived idyllic state—student assassinations—set up by Senator Schmitt’s Great Compromise of 2025, a moral crevasse explodes between Moore and Wilde as they come to grips with this Swiftian world where logos takes precedence over pathos. Follow Murray Mallory Moore and Jacob Wilde’s strange rite-of-passage as the Department of Homeland Security conducts bizarre team-building skills and enigmatic psyche tests regarding prospective teachers’ respective dogmas. Discover the benevolently heinous events—terrorist attacks, political murder, citizenship revocation, institutionalized deportations, and student assassination—which are utilized to maintain this terrible beauty that has become Ameritopia. Travel from America’s Mid-West town of Cincinnati to the Grand Canyon back to Washington D.C. and then, for the final test, the island of Guam, a penal colony, where America sends its societal degenerates for the remainder of their lives. Steeped with literary and historical references, inundated with SAT/ACT preparatory vocabulary, and sprinkled with copious literary allusions, this politically castigating novel which targets the Millennial Generation and has been stylistically composed to utilize the crafts of Orwell, Huxley, Swift, Joyce, Hardy, and Heinlein in hopes of being taught in America’s high schools, begs the young adults of the United States to wrestle with the political conundrums of their generation and asks how far down a road of dystopian practices should America go in order to achieve Utopia.

284 pages, Paperback

First published January 18, 2013

Reviews

[Corey Simmins]

As the author of this book, I would encourage all curious readers to see the book's Facebook page "Ameritopia 2075" which provides a plethora of information concerning the characters, setting, allusions, and references. All inquiries will be answered.

[Leslie Weeger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not good at reviews, but I loved this book. Once I started, it was hard to put down.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not give this book 5 stars just because my English teacher wrote it. This book is incredible.

Kind-of-spoilers from here on out.

Being a lover of dystopian books, I have read many of them. A common theme throughout them is the main character, usually a girl, trying to rebel against a, oft times, socialistic society. This book has neither of those. A male teacher who actual conforms to the beliefs of the society in which he lives. It is so great to see a dystopian book written from the view of the "other side." Too many dystopian books constantly have the main character trying to start a rebellion, and of course succeeding. So when I realized that Murray was not one of those characters, I could not put this book down.

The only true downside I see is that the beginning is hard to get into, but that is mostly setting up the scene for the rest of the story. 1984 is also like this, so my recommendation is that if you enjoyed 1984, you will most definitely enjoy this on as well.

[Alexis(Andra) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bold effort to use SAT vocabulary, literary allusions and characters, history and politics, and the meaning of a utopian society all in one book. The story is built around a friendship of two teachers. The two are being considered for a promotion but must endure tests of their belief systems. All this takes place in a future America where societies ills have been solved by a piece of legislation called the Great Compromise. There is a utopia of sorts where teachers are the gatekeepers to a perfect society---- but is it? Surprises abound. Thoughtful piece of writing.