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Seventeen #1
Seventeen
Corporations control all of the world’s diminishing resources and all of its governments, dividing the world into two types of people: those who unquestioningly obey, and those who die.
Most of the world’s seventeen billion humans are unconscious, perpetually serving their employers as part of massive brain trusts. The ecosystem has collapsed, naturally growing plants have been declared illegal, and everything from food to housing to medicines must be synthesized from secretions of genetically modified bacteria. Only corporate ambulatory workers can afford patented synthetic food, and non-corporates fight for survival in the city’s sprawling, grotesquely violent ghetto known only as the Zone.
Nineteen year-old waitress Eadie challenges the hierarchy when she assists a bedraggled alcoholic known as the Prophet, drawing massive social-control machinery into play against her. The Prophet predicts she’s the general who will lead a revolution, and a few desperate souls start listening. How can she and her followers possibly prevail when she’s being hunted by a giant corporation and the Federal Angels it directs?
Most of the world’s seventeen billion humans are unconscious, perpetually serving their employers as part of massive brain trusts. The ecosystem has collapsed, naturally growing plants have been declared illegal, and everything from food to housing to medicines must be synthesized from secretions of genetically modified bacteria. Only corporate ambulatory workers can afford patented synthetic food, and non-corporates fight for survival in the city’s sprawling, grotesquely violent ghetto known only as the Zone.
Nineteen year-old waitress Eadie challenges the hierarchy when she assists a bedraggled alcoholic known as the Prophet, drawing massive social-control machinery into play against her. The Prophet predicts she’s the general who will lead a revolution, and a few desperate souls start listening. How can she and her followers possibly prevail when she’s being hunted by a giant corporation and the Federal Angels it directs?
384 pages, Paperback
First published October 29, 2013
23 people are currently reading
380 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
August 31, 2016
word count: about 110 000
rating: not for the faint-hearted
*ARC provided by NetGalley
"Lord, I pray to you in my capacity as Chairman of the Board of Williams Gypsum Corporation and de facto head of this household. Thank you for selecting me to lead this successful company and family. We praise your wisdom and judgement in selecting all the leaders of our society. Thank you for allowing our company to provide us with this home, this food, this way of life. Amen."
This is not a 'feel-good, all ends well and evil gets defeated' kind of book. That's the first thing to keep in mind.
Here we have a dystopian novel that in NOT a YA romance. Which fills me with an imponderable joy. It's the future. And the world? Well, it went to shit. But in a really bizarre way. Corporations run the world in which resources are extremely scarce. There's a rigid hierarchy in society. Career is a religion, corporation is God, and obedience to authority, imperative.
"All of a worker's needs - housing, food, education, security, medical care, everything - were met in return for the pledge of only one duty: total dedication to the company."
Not the nicest of circumstances. It looks like corporate feudalism.
Characters? There are many. At first we get only little snippets of a story from multiple view points (and I mean multiple), which made me sceptical, but then they nicely come together and form a smooth story. Smooth, but not easy to read. There's no main character. More than that, there's pretty much no black and white. No one to love completely. Every single person is flawed. And there's a looming corporate evil, but given human love of power and authority I don't find that excessive.
Story? Blew my mind. I did not see that coming. And that. And that. That too. Wow Pretty much a bumpy ride full of surprises. Nobody's safe, no outcome certain. Seriously, in a way it's like G.R.R. Martin. If you don't like your characters dying, this book is not for you. *evil laughter*
It doesn't have a happy end, but it's only the first book in a series, so I didn't expect a full resolution. But I didn't expect such a mess either. And a mess it was. In a good, but slightly masochistic, way.
I did have some minor problems with a story that made me consider dropping the rating, but that would be unfair. The whole thing was way too good. Still, they can't go unmentioned. WARNING!!! Next paragraph may contain minor spoilers (mainly from the very beginning of the book, but still, you deserve a fair warning).
There's a certain inconsistency that made me frown a lot. Diehl mixes magic/spirituality with technology/realism. Those two don't mesh. Especially if there's only one element that stands out like a sore thumb. Travelling souls? No, not minds. Souls. Travelling from the past. Actually, just one soul. Yeah, that did not fit in at all. If the author stuck with the idea of drug induced split personality that would be more consistent.
In the end, this book exceeded my expectations and brutally surprised me every step of the way.
rating: not for the faint-hearted
*ARC provided by NetGalley
"Lord, I pray to you in my capacity as Chairman of the Board of Williams Gypsum Corporation and de facto head of this household. Thank you for selecting me to lead this successful company and family. We praise your wisdom and judgement in selecting all the leaders of our society. Thank you for allowing our company to provide us with this home, this food, this way of life. Amen."
This is not a 'feel-good, all ends well and evil gets defeated' kind of book. That's the first thing to keep in mind.
Here we have a dystopian novel that in NOT a YA romance. Which fills me with an imponderable joy. It's the future. And the world? Well, it went to shit. But in a really bizarre way. Corporations run the world in which resources are extremely scarce. There's a rigid hierarchy in society. Career is a religion, corporation is God, and obedience to authority, imperative.
"All of a worker's needs - housing, food, education, security, medical care, everything - were met in return for the pledge of only one duty: total dedication to the company."
Not the nicest of circumstances. It looks like corporate feudalism.
Characters? There are many. At first we get only little snippets of a story from multiple view points (and I mean multiple), which made me sceptical, but then they nicely come together and form a smooth story. Smooth, but not easy to read. There's no main character. More than that, there's pretty much no black and white. No one to love completely. Every single person is flawed. And there's a looming corporate evil, but given human love of power and authority I don't find that excessive.
Story? Blew my mind. I did not see that coming. And that. And that. That too. Wow Pretty much a bumpy ride full of surprises. Nobody's safe, no outcome certain. Seriously, in a way it's like G.R.R. Martin. If you don't like your characters dying, this book is not for you. *evil laughter*
It doesn't have a happy end, but it's only the first book in a series, so I didn't expect a full resolution. But I didn't expect such a mess either. And a mess it was. In a good, but slightly masochistic, way.
I did have some minor problems with a story that made me consider dropping the rating, but that would be unfair. The whole thing was way too good. Still, they can't go unmentioned. WARNING!!! Next paragraph may contain minor spoilers (mainly from the very beginning of the book, but still, you deserve a fair warning).
There's a certain inconsistency that made me frown a lot. Diehl mixes magic/spirituality with technology/realism. Those two don't mesh. Especially if there's only one element that stands out like a sore thumb. Travelling souls? No, not minds. Souls. Travelling from the past. Actually, just one soul. Yeah, that did not fit in at all. If the author stuck with the idea of drug induced split personality that would be more consistent.
In the end, this book exceeded my expectations and brutally surprised me every step of the way.
September 5, 2019
This is very thought-provoking and packed full of action and violence. A little too much for what the story is. This writer has good writing style but not great. It was ok but I didn't love it like I hoped I would.
April 26, 2014
Just imagine almost the entire world’s population of 17 billion is asleep, being used like battery powered brains.
There are no sustainable food crops and the big wigs control everything. All you have to do is give yourself, all of yourself, over to the oppressors and all of your needs will be provided.
With food shortages and power hungry officials running the show, you can bet there will be a rebellion. And a young waitress, Eadie, is prophesied to lead it. She’ll be going up against a huge corporation with lethal Federal Angels they use to keep people in line. She’s only nineteen and has no clue what’s coming for her. Especially after she has to kill in self-defense and now she’s a wanted fugitive.
This was a wild read. I can’t even think about how to tell you about it. I’m going to try though.
The story is related to you from multiple points of view. I never felt one character was more central than another, which was good as many died.
The dystopian world the author built is in the future, and it could almost be real. Don’t we all fear big brother and their spies? Imagine giving over your brain, your thoughts, to your employer. Who knows what the implants are putting into your head, and what they are taking out of it.
But if you choose to live in the Zone as an ordinary citizen, you can barely get by. Caught between a rock and a hard place for sure.
Once I became familiar with the characters the pace picked up and I became immersed in the story. It’s not pretty. In fact, it’s brutal and hard to swallow at times. I still can’t get my head around a corporation as God and worshipping them as such. That’s just insane.
I’m not sure these really apply, but the movies Soylent Green and The Matrix came to mind as I read this book.
There are a few things I’d love to mention but I don’t do spoilers. What I can tell you is lots of people die in the frenzied ending. No happily ever after here, but an excellent finale, until the next book.
I received this book for my honest review.
There are no sustainable food crops and the big wigs control everything. All you have to do is give yourself, all of yourself, over to the oppressors and all of your needs will be provided.
With food shortages and power hungry officials running the show, you can bet there will be a rebellion. And a young waitress, Eadie, is prophesied to lead it. She’ll be going up against a huge corporation with lethal Federal Angels they use to keep people in line. She’s only nineteen and has no clue what’s coming for her. Especially after she has to kill in self-defense and now she’s a wanted fugitive.
This was a wild read. I can’t even think about how to tell you about it. I’m going to try though.
The story is related to you from multiple points of view. I never felt one character was more central than another, which was good as many died.
The dystopian world the author built is in the future, and it could almost be real. Don’t we all fear big brother and their spies? Imagine giving over your brain, your thoughts, to your employer. Who knows what the implants are putting into your head, and what they are taking out of it.
But if you choose to live in the Zone as an ordinary citizen, you can barely get by. Caught between a rock and a hard place for sure.
Once I became familiar with the characters the pace picked up and I became immersed in the story. It’s not pretty. In fact, it’s brutal and hard to swallow at times. I still can’t get my head around a corporation as God and worshipping them as such. That’s just insane.
I’m not sure these really apply, but the movies Soylent Green and The Matrix came to mind as I read this book.
There are a few things I’d love to mention but I don’t do spoilers. What I can tell you is lots of people die in the frenzied ending. No happily ever after here, but an excellent finale, until the next book.
I received this book for my honest review.
July 19, 2018
The Book of Eadie is one of those books that causes you to think about the world and where we are headed. With technology advancing, and politics going crazy, the idea of big brother watching you, and literally giving your life to your employer doesn’t seem too far fetched.
That’s what makes this book a bit scary. It’s not the easiest book I’ve read. We jump around from different characters, and all though the book is called The Book of Eadie, there are so many characters that play important roles, that it seems there isn’t one main character to focus on.
The distopian world created by Diehl is not a pretty world. In fact, some of it is hard to stomach, but it is also a compelling read. I felt drawn in from the beginning. There were times when it felt like the story dragged a bit, but the finale part of the book was insane.
I don’t want to go into a ton of detail because this one is hard to explain without spoiling and it’s best to go in blind. Just know if you decide to give this a go, you’re in for an intense ride.
*I recieved this book as part of a blog tour. All opinions are my own.*
Blog Tour: https://jessicarachow.wordpress.com/2...
That’s what makes this book a bit scary. It’s not the easiest book I’ve read. We jump around from different characters, and all though the book is called The Book of Eadie, there are so many characters that play important roles, that it seems there isn’t one main character to focus on.
The distopian world created by Diehl is not a pretty world. In fact, some of it is hard to stomach, but it is also a compelling read. I felt drawn in from the beginning. There were times when it felt like the story dragged a bit, but the finale part of the book was insane.
I don’t want to go into a ton of detail because this one is hard to explain without spoiling and it’s best to go in blind. Just know if you decide to give this a go, you’re in for an intense ride.
*I recieved this book as part of a blog tour. All opinions are my own.*
Blog Tour: https://jessicarachow.wordpress.com/2...
December 2, 2018
Review: Dystopian where corporations are at the forefront. It is an interesting read :) Downloaded from Netgalley free in exchange for an honest review. Cheers!
October 2, 2013
Seventeen: Book One
a new novel by Mark D. Diehl
Earth is a dying planet, its resources depleted by the over 17 billion people who now live there. The only way to survive in this arid desert world of dwindling food and water is to join the last elements of civilized society that are left: The dozen or some mega corporations that have extensive political control, private armies to protect their domain, and the ability to feed and house the teeming millions of members who make up their
Companies worldwide.
Its not a bad life to belong to the Corporation- You have all the food, and creature comforts you will ever need- all you have to do is give up your individual thoughts and freedoms, slavishly obey your superiors, and be prepared to offer everything to the corporation- even your mind and body. And there is no freedom even in death; as the Corporation can keep your biological functions going indefinitely- using your still functioning brain for storage of company data. But there are worse things.
Like losing your status in the Corporation and becoming one of the Departed- the ones who can not work for the corporations and who live in the ruined slums outside of every major city in the world. ‘Zones’ they are called- where the worst atrocities humans can do to one another happen daily. Rape, murder, robbery are the ways of life in the Zone. Only the strongest survive there. And one’s life expectancy is measured in hours.
Into this toxic dystopic and bleak future stumbles an unusual cast of characters: the Prophet- a madman with a mysterious past who can foresee the future, Dok -a black street doctor whose medical skills set him apart from the thugs around him; Kel- a likable and deadly streetwise thug who kills as casually as he breathes; and most unusual of all- Brian who was once a canny dealer of street drugs – and who is now possessed by the ghost of a long dead Japanese Samurai.
This motley gang of dysfunctional characters and others of equally unusual talents; are joined by fate to protect a young working class waitress named Eadie; a beautiful charismatic girl who commits a terrible murder in self defense and is now the most wanted fugitive in the world. But there is something magnetically attractive about Eadie- the Prophet calls her ‘the General’ and predicts it is she who will lead the whole world to liberation from the greatest tyranny it has ever known. The Prophet seems to be right. The Zone slowly unites behind her, and she finds herself leading a shadow ghetto army thousands strong; against all the armed assassins of the Corporations that can be summoned as well the military might of the merciless Agent Angels of the Federal Government.
The book is a gripping read; be prepared to clear a weekend to read it. You won’t want to put it down. Mr. Diehl’s vivid description of this horrible and extremely likely future corporate world, makes perfect sense, and draws you into it to despite yourself. It is an extremely bleak and depressing future that makes Orwell’s 1984 look like Disneyland. Can Eadie and her friends prevail and save this lost world? You really hope they do - that Eadie and her bizarre friends can somehow win against all the soulless enemy forces allied against them. Their struggle against a ruthless enemy and an uncaring corporate society creates such intense action, that you will be driven onward to read to the last chilling page. Be warned: you will become addicted to this first book in a planned series about future Corporate Earth. The action is just beginning.
I can’t wait for the sequel!
a new novel by Mark D. Diehl
Earth is a dying planet, its resources depleted by the over 17 billion people who now live there. The only way to survive in this arid desert world of dwindling food and water is to join the last elements of civilized society that are left: The dozen or some mega corporations that have extensive political control, private armies to protect their domain, and the ability to feed and house the teeming millions of members who make up their
Companies worldwide.
Its not a bad life to belong to the Corporation- You have all the food, and creature comforts you will ever need- all you have to do is give up your individual thoughts and freedoms, slavishly obey your superiors, and be prepared to offer everything to the corporation- even your mind and body. And there is no freedom even in death; as the Corporation can keep your biological functions going indefinitely- using your still functioning brain for storage of company data. But there are worse things.
Like losing your status in the Corporation and becoming one of the Departed- the ones who can not work for the corporations and who live in the ruined slums outside of every major city in the world. ‘Zones’ they are called- where the worst atrocities humans can do to one another happen daily. Rape, murder, robbery are the ways of life in the Zone. Only the strongest survive there. And one’s life expectancy is measured in hours.
Into this toxic dystopic and bleak future stumbles an unusual cast of characters: the Prophet- a madman with a mysterious past who can foresee the future, Dok -a black street doctor whose medical skills set him apart from the thugs around him; Kel- a likable and deadly streetwise thug who kills as casually as he breathes; and most unusual of all- Brian who was once a canny dealer of street drugs – and who is now possessed by the ghost of a long dead Japanese Samurai.
This motley gang of dysfunctional characters and others of equally unusual talents; are joined by fate to protect a young working class waitress named Eadie; a beautiful charismatic girl who commits a terrible murder in self defense and is now the most wanted fugitive in the world. But there is something magnetically attractive about Eadie- the Prophet calls her ‘the General’ and predicts it is she who will lead the whole world to liberation from the greatest tyranny it has ever known. The Prophet seems to be right. The Zone slowly unites behind her, and she finds herself leading a shadow ghetto army thousands strong; against all the armed assassins of the Corporations that can be summoned as well the military might of the merciless Agent Angels of the Federal Government.
The book is a gripping read; be prepared to clear a weekend to read it. You won’t want to put it down. Mr. Diehl’s vivid description of this horrible and extremely likely future corporate world, makes perfect sense, and draws you into it to despite yourself. It is an extremely bleak and depressing future that makes Orwell’s 1984 look like Disneyland. Can Eadie and her friends prevail and save this lost world? You really hope they do - that Eadie and her bizarre friends can somehow win against all the soulless enemy forces allied against them. Their struggle against a ruthless enemy and an uncaring corporate society creates such intense action, that you will be driven onward to read to the last chilling page. Be warned: you will become addicted to this first book in a planned series about future Corporate Earth. The action is just beginning.
I can’t wait for the sequel!
October 15, 2013
Seventeen: Book One (Vol 1) by Mark D. Diehl
I received a copy for review from Netgalley
A dystopian book with a twist. Nobody in this story wins.
No utopia for some and dystopia for others.
Some may think they are better off but they are not. Being a free thinking person in this world is dangerous, deadly even.
So comes together a group of rag tag survivors with a prophet, a Samurai inhabiting somebody else's body and a General who is or used to be a waitress.
I loved the fact that this group knows that change is needed but is not sure what type of change they would like to affect.
For now... not living the way they do seems like a win-win. Those on the other side of the coin, those not living in the zone is possibly even worse off, and Doc, a black man where color has erased, he might know the direction of change but not even he knows what Cal etc needs to do to get to their goal.
Where survival is the same thing as war this is a world that has come alive for me and I loved to turn each and every page.
Not a huge fan of a cliff hanger ending I loved this ending. The war had just begun
WaAr
I received a copy for review from Netgalley
A dystopian book with a twist. Nobody in this story wins.
No utopia for some and dystopia for others.
Some may think they are better off but they are not. Being a free thinking person in this world is dangerous, deadly even.
So comes together a group of rag tag survivors with a prophet, a Samurai inhabiting somebody else's body and a General who is or used to be a waitress.
I loved the fact that this group knows that change is needed but is not sure what type of change they would like to affect.
For now... not living the way they do seems like a win-win. Those on the other side of the coin, those not living in the zone is possibly even worse off, and Doc, a black man where color has erased, he might know the direction of change but not even he knows what Cal etc needs to do to get to their goal.
Where survival is the same thing as war this is a world that has come alive for me and I loved to turn each and every page.
Not a huge fan of a cliff hanger ending I loved this ending. The war had just begun
WaAr
July 20, 2018
In this world, animals and plants has gone extinct and the people must survive off engineered products from food to medicine. This divides people into those that are willing to serve the corporation, the more service the higher ranking and more benefits. Those unwilling to serve are herded into the Zone and left to scavenge for survival.
The story revolves around several people but the book is about Eadie, a nineteen year old waitress that steps up and helps someone in trouble called the Prophet. He tells her that she is supposed to lead a revolution against the corporations.
This is the first book in the series and I think it did a great job starting everything off. You have a bleak world and those that choose to serve or fight. We all know that I’m a sucker for dystopian stories. But then the story went a little sideways.
There were so many points of views that I got a little lost and spread thin. Although the book is about Eadie I think more time could have been spent on her. Because of being all over the place I had a harder time getting into this story or really caring about many of the characters.
Having said that, this is a good story and a good start to the trilogy. I am curious to see where it is going to go from here. I think this is one that dystopian readers would like.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
The story revolves around several people but the book is about Eadie, a nineteen year old waitress that steps up and helps someone in trouble called the Prophet. He tells her that she is supposed to lead a revolution against the corporations.
This is the first book in the series and I think it did a great job starting everything off. You have a bleak world and those that choose to serve or fight. We all know that I’m a sucker for dystopian stories. But then the story went a little sideways.
There were so many points of views that I got a little lost and spread thin. Although the book is about Eadie I think more time could have been spent on her. Because of being all over the place I had a harder time getting into this story or really caring about many of the characters.
Having said that, this is a good story and a good start to the trilogy. I am curious to see where it is going to go from here. I think this is one that dystopian readers would like.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
June 19, 2018
Based on the synopsis I was really looking forward to reading this book. It seemed interesting and unique, but also in the same genre as many of the other books I read. And perhaps it is that, but it couldn't hold my attention through more than the first 25% of the book and that was the end for me.
I picked this book up several times, attempting to find some semblance of interest in the stories of the characters. However, through the constant switching of perspectives, I found it increasingly difficult to understand the general plot of the story or really understand any of the characters.
*I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I picked this book up several times, attempting to find some semblance of interest in the stories of the characters. However, through the constant switching of perspectives, I found it increasingly difficult to understand the general plot of the story or really understand any of the characters.
*I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
December 24, 2019
This was my first Dystopian style novel (unless you count 1984), so my first modern dystopian novel, and I have to say now I am hooked. Just ordered the sequel, only wish that it was available in audiobook! It's hard for me to find time to sit down and read, but this book was very hard to put down. I found myself thinking about Eadie (and the other characters) and wondering what they would do next. Even if you've never heard of this style of reading/writing, try this book, you'll be intrigued.
Once you begin, you may realize it's not too far off from what reality could actually be like in the future...
Once you begin, you may realize it's not too far off from what reality could actually be like in the future...
July 18, 2018
This is a novel set in a future where resources are near extinction and companies run the world and people are pawns.
I really struggled with this book, the premise itself sounds good but it didn't come across that way. I found some of the situations quite crude and didn't understand why it was required.
There also seemed to be a lot of characters and none were especially likeable.
Unfortunately for me I'm going to give this book a 2.5/5
I really struggled with this book, the premise itself sounds good but it didn't come across that way. I found some of the situations quite crude and didn't understand why it was required.
There also seemed to be a lot of characters and none were especially likeable.
Unfortunately for me I'm going to give this book a 2.5/5
June 23, 2018
I was really interested in this book based on the synopsis, since corporate control seems like a natural ending for the way things are going in the world right now, and I love a good dystopia/sci-fi as much as the next girl. But I didn't find myself actually caring about any of the characters in the story at all - not even to dislike them. I felt nothing for any of them, which made it really difficult to stay interested and engaged in the story.
February 6, 2019
Interesting premise.
Story and characters easy to follow but as true with all or seemingly all fiction published currently authors can not write without using profanity, sex, and violence. Seems there are no longer any good story tellers
Story and characters easy to follow but as true with all or seemingly all fiction published currently authors can not write without using profanity, sex, and violence. Seems there are no longer any good story tellers
May 30, 2014
I received a free copy of the book from the author for my honest opinion.
Well it has finally happened the people have killed the planet. Earth is dying but with over seventeen billion people in the world what can you except. Most of these seventeen billion people are already dead but they have found a way to keep them alive kind of. The bodies is nothing but rotting flesh hooked up to machines that keep their brains working and used as a "brain trust" a place to store information to be used by the company.
If you are lucky enough to work for the company then you are doing well. The company takes care of all of your needs no matter what they are. Well as long as they think you need it that is. If you work for and do exactly what the company and God tells you to do then you are top dog but if you break one of their rules and not do as they say then you are in big trouble. But no need to harp on it for long though because you can either go voluntary or involuntary (either way is fine with the company) to be reconditioned or brain washed to follow the companies rules and do as God says.
Then we have the people who live in the zone. Now these people don't have it so nice. Oh they are expected to follow the rules but they don't get everyone of their needs met. For them to survive they have to sell drugs, steal, barter for food or whatever it is they may need. A lot of the people who live in the zone don't even have a home. They live or sleep where ever they can find a place to lay their heads. But some of the people that live in the zone have it a little better. Some do have jobs and homes or a room to go to at night to lay their head down and sleep.
Seventeen has a lot of different characters not just in numbers. The characters in Seventeen are mixture of people who live in different environments or society. The characters in Seventeen are all treated differently just because of whom they are and what part of town they live in. The "General" Eadie is a waitress who lives in the zone who once live a different live not in the zone. Once a upon a time Eadie's parents worked for the company so they lived higher up on the ladder until one day something happened and both of her parents were fired and they had no choice but to move and they ended up in the zone. So Eadie knows how it is to live in both worlds. She knows that the way the people in the zone are being treated is wrong and wants to change it.
Eadie had no idea that she was going to have a hand in trying to change things as they knew it when she went to work that day but when she saw these guys who were upperclassmen, (college students who would one day work for the company if they did as they were told that is) attack an older man in the diner it pissed Eadie off to the point where she was fighting these guys. They missed her up pretty bad but she was lucky that there just happened to be a first year student at the diner that didn't like the upperclassmen or the way he had to live. He didn't like being told what to do by his father or the company all the time. He was like Eadie he thought everyone should be treated the same. Sett and Eadie didn't know that that day was just the beginning of their fight to change the world. To make it a better place for everyone.
I like all of the characters in Seventeen and had no problem seeing them in my head as if I was watching a movie. I would love to see Seventeen on the big screen. I can't wait to read more about the company and the people who live in the zone as well as all of the characters in Seventeen. Can Eadie, Sett, the Prophet and Dok change the world? Can they make a beginning to start the change that everyone needs? Can they save the world? Or will the planet die alone with humanity?
Well it has finally happened the people have killed the planet. Earth is dying but with over seventeen billion people in the world what can you except. Most of these seventeen billion people are already dead but they have found a way to keep them alive kind of. The bodies is nothing but rotting flesh hooked up to machines that keep their brains working and used as a "brain trust" a place to store information to be used by the company.
If you are lucky enough to work for the company then you are doing well. The company takes care of all of your needs no matter what they are. Well as long as they think you need it that is. If you work for and do exactly what the company and God tells you to do then you are top dog but if you break one of their rules and not do as they say then you are in big trouble. But no need to harp on it for long though because you can either go voluntary or involuntary (either way is fine with the company) to be reconditioned or brain washed to follow the companies rules and do as God says.
Then we have the people who live in the zone. Now these people don't have it so nice. Oh they are expected to follow the rules but they don't get everyone of their needs met. For them to survive they have to sell drugs, steal, barter for food or whatever it is they may need. A lot of the people who live in the zone don't even have a home. They live or sleep where ever they can find a place to lay their heads. But some of the people that live in the zone have it a little better. Some do have jobs and homes or a room to go to at night to lay their head down and sleep.
Seventeen has a lot of different characters not just in numbers. The characters in Seventeen are mixture of people who live in different environments or society. The characters in Seventeen are all treated differently just because of whom they are and what part of town they live in. The "General" Eadie is a waitress who lives in the zone who once live a different live not in the zone. Once a upon a time Eadie's parents worked for the company so they lived higher up on the ladder until one day something happened and both of her parents were fired and they had no choice but to move and they ended up in the zone. So Eadie knows how it is to live in both worlds. She knows that the way the people in the zone are being treated is wrong and wants to change it.
Eadie had no idea that she was going to have a hand in trying to change things as they knew it when she went to work that day but when she saw these guys who were upperclassmen, (college students who would one day work for the company if they did as they were told that is) attack an older man in the diner it pissed Eadie off to the point where she was fighting these guys. They missed her up pretty bad but she was lucky that there just happened to be a first year student at the diner that didn't like the upperclassmen or the way he had to live. He didn't like being told what to do by his father or the company all the time. He was like Eadie he thought everyone should be treated the same. Sett and Eadie didn't know that that day was just the beginning of their fight to change the world. To make it a better place for everyone.
I like all of the characters in Seventeen and had no problem seeing them in my head as if I was watching a movie. I would love to see Seventeen on the big screen. I can't wait to read more about the company and the people who live in the zone as well as all of the characters in Seventeen. Can Eadie, Sett, the Prophet and Dok change the world? Can they make a beginning to start the change that everyone needs? Can they save the world? Or will the planet die alone with humanity?
December 16, 2018
The Book of Eadie: Volume One of the Seventeen Trilogy
LCMS Friends: Remember Concordia!
I wrote to the author through his web page, but he told me he never discusses the spiritual aspects of this trilogy. Hopefully he will forgive me for sharing this secret. I normally leave religious language out of my book reviews unless the book is the kind sold in a Christian bookstore, but I’m sure you’ll see why it’s warranted here.
Who decided that Christian books can’t be dark and scary? Ours is a dark and scary time. We see new examples of our faith being pushed out of public life, by big government, and increasingly by big business, as when Google Ads tried to make LCMS publisher Concordia Publishing House (CPH) remove all references to Jesus and the Bible from its website in order to advertise. Author Mark D. Diehl has produced the perfect clandestine response to this constant encroachment with the first of his “Seventeen” trilogy, The Book of Eadie. There are no references to the Bible and only one bare mention of the name Jesus Christ, but make no mistake: This is a wildly entertaining Christian book spreading the word, right under their noses. Even the book’s cover is designed to resemble the Bible.
The Book of Eadie is the ultimate Christian dystopia: a story about what happens when the institutions of man (like government and corporations) replace the religious institutions, as they are obviously so intent upon doing. There are no churches in The Book of Eadie, but the people have been brainwashed to believe that service to the organizations of man is actually service to the Lord.
Quick! Name two soulless, immortal entities that are amassing tremendous power in our modern world. Governments and corporations never die, yet demand higher and higher levels of obedience, pulling us away from our duty to the Lord, weakening our churches as they draw our attention and energy into themselves. My friends, this is straight out of the Old Testament, but yet we seem to forget it whenever the assault is coming from a place of secular power: “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them” (Exodus 20:5). These institutions were built in the image of the Church, but they do not hold the holy authority of the Church, and yet daily they demand increasingly religious levels of our servitude.
We sometimes slip and imagine that Hell is where the Lord has turned His back upon us, yet we know that we will be forgiven through our belief in Jesus Christ, our Savior, who has died for our sins. The humans in Hell are the ones who turned away, and this is the setting of The Book of Eadie, where we have been conditioned by our organizations to dedicate ourselves to them, rather than to the Lord. It’s an empty world, where people pray in the names of their employers rather than in the name of Jesus, and simple Christian kindness is repaid with authoritative brutality. When Eadie aids a poor soul known as the Prophet*, soldiers of the corporatocracy begin the hunt to execute her. Though their methods have advanced from the Roman days of crucifixion, the message is clear.
*Is he a real prophet, or a false one? It’s up to you to decide. Keep in mind, though, that even false prophets deserve Christian compassion and forgiveness.
#Christian #LCMS #Dystopia
LCMS Friends: Remember Concordia!
I wrote to the author through his web page, but he told me he never discusses the spiritual aspects of this trilogy. Hopefully he will forgive me for sharing this secret. I normally leave religious language out of my book reviews unless the book is the kind sold in a Christian bookstore, but I’m sure you’ll see why it’s warranted here.
Who decided that Christian books can’t be dark and scary? Ours is a dark and scary time. We see new examples of our faith being pushed out of public life, by big government, and increasingly by big business, as when Google Ads tried to make LCMS publisher Concordia Publishing House (CPH) remove all references to Jesus and the Bible from its website in order to advertise. Author Mark D. Diehl has produced the perfect clandestine response to this constant encroachment with the first of his “Seventeen” trilogy, The Book of Eadie. There are no references to the Bible and only one bare mention of the name Jesus Christ, but make no mistake: This is a wildly entertaining Christian book spreading the word, right under their noses. Even the book’s cover is designed to resemble the Bible.
The Book of Eadie is the ultimate Christian dystopia: a story about what happens when the institutions of man (like government and corporations) replace the religious institutions, as they are obviously so intent upon doing. There are no churches in The Book of Eadie, but the people have been brainwashed to believe that service to the organizations of man is actually service to the Lord.
Quick! Name two soulless, immortal entities that are amassing tremendous power in our modern world. Governments and corporations never die, yet demand higher and higher levels of obedience, pulling us away from our duty to the Lord, weakening our churches as they draw our attention and energy into themselves. My friends, this is straight out of the Old Testament, but yet we seem to forget it whenever the assault is coming from a place of secular power: “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them” (Exodus 20:5). These institutions were built in the image of the Church, but they do not hold the holy authority of the Church, and yet daily they demand increasingly religious levels of our servitude.
We sometimes slip and imagine that Hell is where the Lord has turned His back upon us, yet we know that we will be forgiven through our belief in Jesus Christ, our Savior, who has died for our sins. The humans in Hell are the ones who turned away, and this is the setting of The Book of Eadie, where we have been conditioned by our organizations to dedicate ourselves to them, rather than to the Lord. It’s an empty world, where people pray in the names of their employers rather than in the name of Jesus, and simple Christian kindness is repaid with authoritative brutality. When Eadie aids a poor soul known as the Prophet*, soldiers of the corporatocracy begin the hunt to execute her. Though their methods have advanced from the Roman days of crucifixion, the message is clear.
*Is he a real prophet, or a false one? It’s up to you to decide. Keep in mind, though, that even false prophets deserve Christian compassion and forgiveness.
#Christian #LCMS #Dystopia
October 31, 2013
Seventeen: Book One
We are warned in the author’s notes: “We are evolving into a corporate species.”
Welcome to a world set in a not impossible future, where corporations rule the world, all in the name of God. In this world, the only things grown are grown from bacteria, organic items are illegal and nearly mythical. Here we discover the Goldens, humans who have been genetically improved and are educated with the help of implants directly linking them to the sources of knowledge, as well as other things. For every gift, there is a price. In this new world, a brain trust has an entirely different meaning.
Welcome to the Zone, where the dregs of society live, scraping together a life from the leftovers of society’s chosen, the Accepted. Here you will find ordinary people, as well as the Departed. Woe unto the Golden who defies his company, by will or by failure as they shall surely fall and bring down their loved ones with them. For it is the will of God that they shall depart from society, else they would not have failed. This must be true, must it not? Here we also see The Fiends, preying upon all.
The only option outside of becoming Departed for those who fail their Company is reconditioning, not always by the will of the subject. Follow along with Eric as he is reconditioned after he attempts suicide having lost his private journals wherein he spouted his hatred of the state of the world.
In this world, the enemy of my enemy is still my enemy. “War itself has evolved, but it’s still about resources, just like always.”
When a scuffle in a diner escalates into a murder, the game is on. The Feds are working with private companies, at least, most of them. Team Zeta seems to have an agenda all of its own…
Enter Eadie, a waitress and unlikely Joan of Arc.
Enter The Prophet, who names her as General.
Enter Dok, a practitioner of medicine to the vagrants of the Zone.
Enter Sato, a 15th Century Samurai. Failing in his mission, he is trapped by the Life Force in the Vacuum. “Vacuum, the space between spaces where all moments exist concurrently:”
Fortunately for our General, the Life Force sees fit to bring Sato into the modern world through the use of a new street drug. In this battle, she needs all of the help she can get. Along with a ragtag group of Departed and miscreants, Eadie gains followers, as well as the contents of Eric’s journal. With a new world-view and the belief of her Subjects, she prepares to take on the World, while being hunted by private individuals as well as the Feds.
Diehl has woven together an amazing story that will keep you on your toes as you watch the intrigues and conspiracies unfold. The world he built is at once fantastic and believable, the elements he put into it hold true throughout. There is plenty of action involved, and the pace will keep you reading and wanting more in the end. Without giving away too much more, there are hints left to us that Sato may not have been the only one to leave the Vacuum.
“Nature is fighting back, because humanity’s relentless conquest of all things natural threatens life itself.”
We are warned in the author’s notes: “We are evolving into a corporate species.”
Welcome to a world set in a not impossible future, where corporations rule the world, all in the name of God. In this world, the only things grown are grown from bacteria, organic items are illegal and nearly mythical. Here we discover the Goldens, humans who have been genetically improved and are educated with the help of implants directly linking them to the sources of knowledge, as well as other things. For every gift, there is a price. In this new world, a brain trust has an entirely different meaning.
Welcome to the Zone, where the dregs of society live, scraping together a life from the leftovers of society’s chosen, the Accepted. Here you will find ordinary people, as well as the Departed. Woe unto the Golden who defies his company, by will or by failure as they shall surely fall and bring down their loved ones with them. For it is the will of God that they shall depart from society, else they would not have failed. This must be true, must it not? Here we also see The Fiends, preying upon all.
The only option outside of becoming Departed for those who fail their Company is reconditioning, not always by the will of the subject. Follow along with Eric as he is reconditioned after he attempts suicide having lost his private journals wherein he spouted his hatred of the state of the world.
In this world, the enemy of my enemy is still my enemy. “War itself has evolved, but it’s still about resources, just like always.”
When a scuffle in a diner escalates into a murder, the game is on. The Feds are working with private companies, at least, most of them. Team Zeta seems to have an agenda all of its own…
Enter Eadie, a waitress and unlikely Joan of Arc.
Enter The Prophet, who names her as General.
Enter Dok, a practitioner of medicine to the vagrants of the Zone.
Enter Sato, a 15th Century Samurai. Failing in his mission, he is trapped by the Life Force in the Vacuum. “Vacuum, the space between spaces where all moments exist concurrently:”
Fortunately for our General, the Life Force sees fit to bring Sato into the modern world through the use of a new street drug. In this battle, she needs all of the help she can get. Along with a ragtag group of Departed and miscreants, Eadie gains followers, as well as the contents of Eric’s journal. With a new world-view and the belief of her Subjects, she prepares to take on the World, while being hunted by private individuals as well as the Feds.
Diehl has woven together an amazing story that will keep you on your toes as you watch the intrigues and conspiracies unfold. The world he built is at once fantastic and believable, the elements he put into it hold true throughout. There is plenty of action involved, and the pace will keep you reading and wanting more in the end. Without giving away too much more, there are hints left to us that Sato may not have been the only one to leave the Vacuum.
“Nature is fighting back, because humanity’s relentless conquest of all things natural threatens life itself.”
August 13, 2014
Normally I don’t like to give the first book in a series a 5 star rating; but this book definitely deserves all 5 and it’s only the first book in the series!
XVII was not like any dystopian book I’ve read. Nobody wins. There’s no underlying love story to be had. This isn’t a happily ever after… yay they win! None of that happens here; and there is a big cliffhanger at the end, but again, this is only the first book.
The author creates an amazing visual of the future. You can really get a feel for what is happening and how this new world works. You get sucked into the world and “see” more than “read” what is going on. I love it when I can get lost in a book!
People have finally succeeded in destroying the earth. Over population, depleted natural resources, more demand than supply… it’s all here. Even though most of the planet’s 17 billion people are already dead, the corporation has found a way to use their brains in “trusts”. My only negative about the entire book is that I still don’t fully understand exactly how this “trust” works. But that doesn’t really detract at all from the story. The world has gone to hell, but not in a way that most would associate with the typical dystopian book. Corporations run the world. There’s a strict hierarchy in society. Obedience to the authority is not optional, your career is your religion and the corporation your God.
“All of a worker’s needs – housing, food, education, security, medical care, everything – were met in return for the pledge of only one duty: total dedication to the company.”
Characters … There are a lot…and I mean A LOT. At first the story bounces around a bit. We see small pieces of each character’s life and then the story moves on to the next. This might seem like it would be a bit confusing, but all the characters really mesh together to create an easy story flow. The reader is given enough insight into each character to understand (eventually) what part they are going to play in this.
This book pretty much blew me away! At no point through the whole book did I feel like I had any clue as to what was coming next. There were surprises with each turn of the page. It doesn’t have a happy ending and the ending is… well… it’s kind of hard to say much about it without giving away anything. It’s a mess… the world is a mess, our characters are a mess… it’s complete and total carnage!
Can Eadie, Sett, the Prophet and Dok change the world? Can they save the world? Can they save humanity? Can they even save themselves?
I can not wait to read the rest of this series and see how it all ends!
XVII was not like any dystopian book I’ve read. Nobody wins. There’s no underlying love story to be had. This isn’t a happily ever after… yay they win! None of that happens here; and there is a big cliffhanger at the end, but again, this is only the first book.
The author creates an amazing visual of the future. You can really get a feel for what is happening and how this new world works. You get sucked into the world and “see” more than “read” what is going on. I love it when I can get lost in a book!
People have finally succeeded in destroying the earth. Over population, depleted natural resources, more demand than supply… it’s all here. Even though most of the planet’s 17 billion people are already dead, the corporation has found a way to use their brains in “trusts”. My only negative about the entire book is that I still don’t fully understand exactly how this “trust” works. But that doesn’t really detract at all from the story. The world has gone to hell, but not in a way that most would associate with the typical dystopian book. Corporations run the world. There’s a strict hierarchy in society. Obedience to the authority is not optional, your career is your religion and the corporation your God.
“All of a worker’s needs – housing, food, education, security, medical care, everything – were met in return for the pledge of only one duty: total dedication to the company.”
Characters … There are a lot…and I mean A LOT. At first the story bounces around a bit. We see small pieces of each character’s life and then the story moves on to the next. This might seem like it would be a bit confusing, but all the characters really mesh together to create an easy story flow. The reader is given enough insight into each character to understand (eventually) what part they are going to play in this.
This book pretty much blew me away! At no point through the whole book did I feel like I had any clue as to what was coming next. There were surprises with each turn of the page. It doesn’t have a happy ending and the ending is… well… it’s kind of hard to say much about it without giving away anything. It’s a mess… the world is a mess, our characters are a mess… it’s complete and total carnage!
Can Eadie, Sett, the Prophet and Dok change the world? Can they save the world? Can they save humanity? Can they even save themselves?
I can not wait to read the rest of this series and see how it all ends!
November 30, 2025
When I met Mr. Diehl, he told me this book was written because he had something to say about the world. He never told me what that something was, probably because he could not narrow it down to one thing. This relatively short volume contains commentary on environmental destruction, the growing importance and independence of corporations, government overreach, racism, capitalism, over-population, brainwashing (or more generally, social conditioning), religion, destruction of the individual, genetic and biological engineering, and man’s hubris. With so many topics, it is no surprise that there is little time to develop any of them. It is occasionally obvious what Mr. Diehl is trying to convey with a specific scene, but I was often left scratching my head, and not in a thought-provoking way. Oversaturation of ideas is common among new authors (I believe this is Mr. Diehl’s first book), so while it is distracting, it is not unexpected. The writing is solid in sentence form, but the structural organization of the book is disorienting. Split among at least four disparate and geographically separated groups of characters, the story bounces from one to another so quickly as to stagger the imagination. Sometimes as little as a single sentence comprises a section of the book before zipping off to another set of characters. Despite the general disjointed and choppy feel, I was still able to effectively follow most of what was going on because other than the spastic organization, the writing was effective and expressive. On the whole, the characters are not very good. The sheer number of them combined with the fact that much of this book is devoted to a hodge-podge of philosophical discussions means no one receives a significant arc or development. Interestingly, the character with the most development has no effect on the over-arching story, his plotline existing solely to dabble in the philosophical topic of mental and social conditioning. In conclusion, the premise of the book is unique and intriguing, but a bloated cast, jumpy style, packed agenda, and lack of a single driving theme make it a bit of a mess. While I do not recommend this story, I also have hope for Mr. Diehl who is clearly talented. With more experience and a sharper focus, I believe he could produce notable stories in the future.
October 20, 2013
Have you ever considered the vast and increasing amount of power wielded by multinational corporations in our world today? Does it worry you? This book may convince you that it should.
In the dystopian world of “Seventeen,” the corporations have taken over completely. They no longer have to hide their machinations, their efforts to influence government and society. Their power is unquestionable and accepted, and they direct every aspect of human life. Corporate employees are considered very fortunate; their companies protect and provide for them, but in return, workers must completely relinquish control of their own lives. Should they fail to conform in every respect to their employers’ expectations, they may find themselves cast off, their security and comfort entirely stripped away, and chances of survival on their own are slim.
People without company jobs are relegated to the city’s squalid ghetto, known as the Zone, and it is here that much of the novel is set. It is a hopeless place, essentially forsaken by the corporate-controlled government, and inhabitants tend to be soon done in by violence, hunger, disease or exposure.
In the Zone lives a young woman named Eadie. While attempting to help a vagrant man called the Prophet, she is involved in a violent confrontation and draws the attention and wrath of a powerful enemy. The Prophet assures her that she is destined to be a leader, and his prediction seems to be coming true as she unwittingly begins to attract an unusual and variously skilled group of followers who help her evade capture. Eadie becomes increasingly convinced that she and her small army can change the world, and she incites a rebellion against the corporate establishment.
The plot is intense, fast-paced and original. The main characters are unique and engaging, and they very effectively embody the individualistic human qualities (courage, self-reliance, and compassion, for example) that the corporate culture strives to extinguish. “Seventeen” is an intelligent and entertaining read from beginning to end. And one should not fail to recognize that it’s also a warning: if corporate entities continue to grow stronger and more influential, the human race may face a bleak and frightening future.
In the dystopian world of “Seventeen,” the corporations have taken over completely. They no longer have to hide their machinations, their efforts to influence government and society. Their power is unquestionable and accepted, and they direct every aspect of human life. Corporate employees are considered very fortunate; their companies protect and provide for them, but in return, workers must completely relinquish control of their own lives. Should they fail to conform in every respect to their employers’ expectations, they may find themselves cast off, their security and comfort entirely stripped away, and chances of survival on their own are slim.
People without company jobs are relegated to the city’s squalid ghetto, known as the Zone, and it is here that much of the novel is set. It is a hopeless place, essentially forsaken by the corporate-controlled government, and inhabitants tend to be soon done in by violence, hunger, disease or exposure.
In the Zone lives a young woman named Eadie. While attempting to help a vagrant man called the Prophet, she is involved in a violent confrontation and draws the attention and wrath of a powerful enemy. The Prophet assures her that she is destined to be a leader, and his prediction seems to be coming true as she unwittingly begins to attract an unusual and variously skilled group of followers who help her evade capture. Eadie becomes increasingly convinced that she and her small army can change the world, and she incites a rebellion against the corporate establishment.
The plot is intense, fast-paced and original. The main characters are unique and engaging, and they very effectively embody the individualistic human qualities (courage, self-reliance, and compassion, for example) that the corporate culture strives to extinguish. “Seventeen” is an intelligent and entertaining read from beginning to end. And one should not fail to recognize that it’s also a warning: if corporate entities continue to grow stronger and more influential, the human race may face a bleak and frightening future.
September 12, 2015
I really liked the premise of this story because it seems very realistic to me. I don't think I've ever read a book with a similar world.
I loved the ending, simply because it was so completely unexpected. Wonderful plot twist!
It was very refreshing to read a dystopian novel intended for adults and didn't include a love story.
During the first 30 pages or so I was utterly intrigued by the world building. It all made perfect sense to me. But then there was the sudden flashback to Sato, a sumarai from the 15th century. From then on, it all kind of went downhill. Countless different protagonists were introduced and they all got their own point of view, making it really hard to keep track of everybody. It also made it impossible for me to form any sort of connection to them. When normally a well-written character death can make me tear up, here I felt absolutely nothing. I didn't really understand the protagonists' motives either. Basically, all the author accomplished was total confusion.
The other thing that really bothered me was the constant talk about God and the Lord's plan and the like. If I had known just how important all this "destined by God" concept was for this book, I wouldn't have read it. I can't stand stories where a perfectly average person is chosen by some sort of higher power to fulfill said power's will.
The last point that I didn't like was that the one protagonist was called "Old Fart". It was kinda funny the first few times, but it gonna annoying real fast.
I'll take a wild guess and say I'm not part of the intended target audience in this case. I believe the right people could really enjoy this book, but I'm not one of them. For the most part I was simply confused and faintly annoyed. I was left with lots of unanswered questions that just didn't make sense to me.
I loved the ending, simply because it was so completely unexpected. Wonderful plot twist!
It was very refreshing to read a dystopian novel intended for adults and didn't include a love story.
During the first 30 pages or so I was utterly intrigued by the world building. It all made perfect sense to me. But then there was the sudden flashback to Sato, a sumarai from the 15th century. From then on, it all kind of went downhill. Countless different protagonists were introduced and they all got their own point of view, making it really hard to keep track of everybody. It also made it impossible for me to form any sort of connection to them. When normally a well-written character death can make me tear up, here I felt absolutely nothing. I didn't really understand the protagonists' motives either. Basically, all the author accomplished was total confusion.
The other thing that really bothered me was the constant talk about God and the Lord's plan and the like. If I had known just how important all this "destined by God" concept was for this book, I wouldn't have read it. I can't stand stories where a perfectly average person is chosen by some sort of higher power to fulfill said power's will.
The last point that I didn't like was that the one protagonist was called "Old Fart". It was kinda funny the first few times, but it gonna annoying real fast.
I'll take a wild guess and say I'm not part of the intended target audience in this case. I believe the right people could really enjoy this book, but I'm not one of them. For the most part I was simply confused and faintly annoyed. I was left with lots of unanswered questions that just didn't make sense to me.
October 17, 2013
When I read the synopsis of Seventeen I was intrigued. The idea of the population being in a brain trust that serves the corporations was mind boggling. How was this done? I don’t read a lot of dystopian novels but this one sounded good so I gave it a chance.
Unfortunately it didn’t really meet my expectations. The writing is okay over all but the brain trust wasn’t really explained so I still have no idea how this entire process is run. The societal descriptions are frightening. Sadly, I could see the world collapsing into this sort of structure. This is not a happy place, even for the elite 1%. You might be upper upper class but there is still a chance you could be “reprogrammed” so you fall into line, blindly believing in the culture.
The main character, Eadie, discovers she has a presence and a way to get people to follow her. She meets with a strange man who calls himself the Prophet and convinces her she is the General, destined to lead the huddled masses into revolution. By the end of the book I was wondering what the point of Eadie really was. I wasn’t expecting the revelation of who the Prophet really was, so it caught me by surprise.
My biggest issue with the book is the way it jumped all over to different characters. I easily became lost, not sure what was going on. Some of the storylines were possibly necessary but I think the story overall would have been much stronger if the author stuck to a few main storylines and focused on the POV of only a couple of characters. It was tricky figuring out whose POV it was in from section to section. I’m not sure if this was deliberate or just sloppy writing.
2.5 out of 5 stars.
I received a copy of this book for an honest review
Unfortunately it didn’t really meet my expectations. The writing is okay over all but the brain trust wasn’t really explained so I still have no idea how this entire process is run. The societal descriptions are frightening. Sadly, I could see the world collapsing into this sort of structure. This is not a happy place, even for the elite 1%. You might be upper upper class but there is still a chance you could be “reprogrammed” so you fall into line, blindly believing in the culture.
The main character, Eadie, discovers she has a presence and a way to get people to follow her. She meets with a strange man who calls himself the Prophet and convinces her she is the General, destined to lead the huddled masses into revolution. By the end of the book I was wondering what the point of Eadie really was. I wasn’t expecting the revelation of who the Prophet really was, so it caught me by surprise.
My biggest issue with the book is the way it jumped all over to different characters. I easily became lost, not sure what was going on. Some of the storylines were possibly necessary but I think the story overall would have been much stronger if the author stuck to a few main storylines and focused on the POV of only a couple of characters. It was tricky figuring out whose POV it was in from section to section. I’m not sure if this was deliberate or just sloppy writing.
2.5 out of 5 stars.
I received a copy of this book for an honest review
August 6, 2016
This book is a different type of dystopian book. I really enjoyed reading about this possible future. There is a couple different groups. The Elite who pretty much run things, the people in the brain trust and people who are what you might say free. You would think the Elite ones would have it made but that is not the case. Each one has a person above them it seems and they can be reprogrammed at any time. The brain trust are really shells of people who are hooked up to machines keeping things going. The ones who are free have to watch their steps with those that are Elite, they steal, fight and some are on street drugs. Everyone seems unhappy and believe the saying the grass is greener on the other side. A change seems to be coming.
The author does a good job describing the world you are in now. You really get a feel for what has happened and how things are run. This is book hops around some and at first I was confused but then I got the hang of it. There is several what you would call main characters to get to know. Eadie seems like a normal waitress. She tries to stay out of the way and live her life. When an old man is attacked she can't help but get involved. Some Elite's try to kill him and she ends up fighting for his life. The old man a prophet says she is a general. I liked how when everyone else turned their back she was willing to jump in. She isn't the only one to do so and a motley crew of characters seem to find their way into a group. That group seems to start the change the world needs. There isn't no love matches or such in this book. It is more an action book. The ending left many things open and you want the next one as it seems even with all that happens in this book there is more to come.
The author does a good job describing the world you are in now. You really get a feel for what has happened and how things are run. This is book hops around some and at first I was confused but then I got the hang of it. There is several what you would call main characters to get to know. Eadie seems like a normal waitress. She tries to stay out of the way and live her life. When an old man is attacked she can't help but get involved. Some Elite's try to kill him and she ends up fighting for his life. The old man a prophet says she is a general. I liked how when everyone else turned their back she was willing to jump in. She isn't the only one to do so and a motley crew of characters seem to find their way into a group. That group seems to start the change the world needs. There isn't no love matches or such in this book. It is more an action book. The ending left many things open and you want the next one as it seems even with all that happens in this book there is more to come.
November 17, 2018
Mark Diehl brings us a gritty, terrifying glimpse of a not-to-distant future where corporations have become all, not just a means of making a living, but state, family, religion, and identity. To be born is to enter a lifelong contract; to be cast out of the corporation is lose one's humanity. Hence, humans must evolve along separate lines, one a hive species inextricable from the whole, another a desperate animal seeking the shelter of a community of suffering. It is a bleak, post modernist look at the ever-encroaching corporate hegemony, owing more than a little to the sharp social commentary of Frank Herbert. Its just that this desert planet is ours.
Voices from a corporate dystopia:
“Obviously, I haven’t turned out as you intended. But what choices have I ever had? I grew up in company housing, went to company school, then company college. I am more than your malfunctioning employee – I am your product! Now I’m locked up here, waiting for you to break me down and reconfigure my pieces. Go ahead. Do your worst. What do I have left to fear?”
Voices from a corporate dystopia:
“Obviously, I haven’t turned out as you intended. But what choices have I ever had? I grew up in company housing, went to company school, then company college. I am more than your malfunctioning employee – I am your product! Now I’m locked up here, waiting for you to break me down and reconfigure my pieces. Go ahead. Do your worst. What do I have left to fear?”
November 21, 2018
Interesting premise. In Earth's future, corporations have co-opted religion and run the planet. The only living beings are human; living plants are illegal, all food being synthesized from bacteria. Everyone inside the protected area works for a corporation, and people either put up with it, get reprogrammed, or Depart for the Zone, where they learn to live like Mad Max or die. A so-called Prophet predicts a girl will emerge to save them all. No one really dies inside the protected area. They're kept on life support so that their brains can be part of the Brain Trust. Apparently, someone has figured out how to use our brain capacity as computers.
There's an interesting side story of a disgruntled employee who tries to kill himself when his diary is stolen; he goes through involuntary reintegration. Eadie reads the diary and decides she's the one who can save the world.
This is probably the grimmest of possible futures for the earth I've ever read. I can't imagine the other two books in the trilogy.
There's an interesting side story of a disgruntled employee who tries to kill himself when his diary is stolen; he goes through involuntary reintegration. Eadie reads the diary and decides she's the one who can save the world.
This is probably the grimmest of possible futures for the earth I've ever read. I can't imagine the other two books in the trilogy.
August 12, 2016
I received a copy via net galley.
I didn't like nor dislike this book. Characters were interesting, storyline was intriguing but I think that the execution was done a bit poorly... Maybe it's just a classic it's not the book but me syndrome. The cover and synopsis was what drew me in, mostly the synopsis but hey I was looking for something different and I found it in this book, go in without judging it too much. I might reread soonish to see if I was just having a bad book funk and wasn't in a reading mood.
I didn't like nor dislike this book. Characters were interesting, storyline was intriguing but I think that the execution was done a bit poorly... Maybe it's just a classic it's not the book but me syndrome. The cover and synopsis was what drew me in, mostly the synopsis but hey I was looking for something different and I found it in this book, go in without judging it too much. I might reread soonish to see if I was just having a bad book funk and wasn't in a reading mood.
September 3, 2016
Review: XVII (SEVENTEEN) by Mark Diehl
As highly dystopian as it gets (if it could be worse, please spare me), XVII postulates an Earth severely groaning under the combined eight of a populace of 17 billion (hence the title) and multi-corporate rule. The 99% of humanity have been wrung dry to feed the gross profit motive of the 1%. What remains can scarcely be considered human.
As highly dystopian as it gets (if it could be worse, please spare me), XVII postulates an Earth severely groaning under the combined eight of a populace of 17 billion (hence the title) and multi-corporate rule. The 99% of humanity have been wrung dry to feed the gross profit motive of the 1%. What remains can scarcely be considered human.
January 1, 2014
First I would like to thank the author Mark D. Diehl for giving me this book for an honest review. This is a very well written dystopian novel. The world building in good and well thought out, the characters are well written, although you do get many points of view throughout the book. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
February 4, 2014
A great written dystopian novel. The plot is wonderful and the characters are well formed. A world where corporations rule the world. Workers have no control over there own lives, if they fail at their jobs they have little chance of survival. Eadie thinks she can change the world and starts to rebel.This story will keep you turning the pages.
August 10, 2016
While this was a super interesting concept, and the world building was awesome I thought that it was TOO much at times. There was just so much going on that it was distracting. I also don't think that it is a YA novel, it was marketed to me as a teen novel, but the themes and action felt more like an adult novel to me.
I received a digital copy of this for review from Netgalley.
I received a digital copy of this for review from Netgalley.
January 19, 2019
Great page-turner! Action-packed: guns, explosives, super-drugs, extreme poverty and wealth, underground tunnels, amazing camouflage skills, egomaniacs, the dystopian future awaiting us if we stay on the materialistic, selfish, uncaring trajectory we're currently on, and more! I'm looking forward to reading the next book, The Book of Wanda.
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