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Moral Authority
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are prescribed ideals in America of 2050. The Moral Authority, the nation's newest branch of government, has virtually eliminated crime, poverty, and most social ills, but it also rules the land with a tyrannical fist, championing ignorance and brandishing fear. Mark Bryan is a gay man whose existence brands him an outlaw; Isaac Montoya is a charming stranger, who entices Mark to defy moral law; and Samuel Pleasant runs the Moral Authority and plans to punish moral offenders and a rebellious uprising-no matter the cost. Will liberty and justice return for all?
340 pages, Paperback
First published August 2, 2011
3 people are currently reading
202 people want to read
About the author
Jacob Z. Flores
20 books320 followersJacob Z. Flores lives a double life. During the day, he is a respected college English professor and mid-level administrator. At night and during his summer vacation, he loosens the tie and tosses aside the trendy sports coat to write man on man fiction, where the hard ass assessor of freshmen level composition turns his attention to the firm posteriors and other rigid appendages of the characters in his fictional world.
Summers in Provincetown, Massachusetts, provide Jacob with inspiration for his fiction. The abundance of barely clothed man flesh and daily debauchery stimulates his personal muse. When he isn’t stroking the keyboard, Jacob spends time with his daughter. They both represent a bright blue blip in an otherwise predominantly red swath in south Texas.
You can follow Jacob’s musings on his blog at http://jacobzflores.com or become a part of his social media network by visiting http://www.facebook.com/jacob.flores2
or http://twitter.com/#!/JacobZFlores.
Summers in Provincetown, Massachusetts, provide Jacob with inspiration for his fiction. The abundance of barely clothed man flesh and daily debauchery stimulates his personal muse. When he isn’t stroking the keyboard, Jacob spends time with his daughter. They both represent a bright blue blip in an otherwise predominantly red swath in south Texas.
You can follow Jacob’s musings on his blog at http://jacobzflores.com or become a part of his social media network by visiting http://www.facebook.com/jacob.flores2
or http://twitter.com/#!/JacobZFlores.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 7, 2013
OMG! I SO WANT TO HATE THIS BOOK!!! REALLY HATE!!!! BC I HATE THE WORLD IN IT!!! I HATE IT WITH MY WHOLE HEART!!!!! I FEEL SO WRONG FOR GIVING THIS BOOK 5 STARS BC I FEEL LIKE GIVING THIS WORLD 5 STARS! GAAAHHHHH....
OK I HAVE A WARNING FOR ALL YOU "MUST HAVE HEA" READERS NOT TO READ THIS BOOK!
NO HEA HERE.... ACTUALLY NOTHING HAPPY IN THIS BOOK...
I must say that blurb gives you nothing!! Nothing!!!!
At first I had some trouble with getting into the story but as soon as Mark was sent to rehabilitation I was hooked. I could not put it down. Some parts were a bit predictive but I didn't care. Some parts I really didn't see coming.
The world was described to every detail. It usually bugs me when there is too much description but in this case I enjoyed it BC I could build the whole world in my head.
And let me tell you that I HATE that world. I would burn it to the ground!
I started to hate words MORAL and AUTHORITY! In this world everything was punished if it wasn't morally appropriate by the laws. Even for walking too fast you could get into trouble, so you can even imagine what kind horrible things homosexual people endured while being imprisoned. BC America should be a country with high morality, without crime, without speaking your mind, homosexuality etc.
There were some scenes that made me shed tears, some scenes that reminded me on some happenings in our history, and that just send chills down my skin.
This book has everything. From love, to plots, to horrible world to live in, to people that want to fight it, spies , abuse, torture, hope, murders.... everything.
I don't want to say anything about it, you all should just dive into this story without knowing anything. you will hate the ending, I cried ... and the way it ended I wanted to kill somebody!!!! seriously not right.... ending that says so little but gives so much to think about ....
OK I HAVE A WARNING FOR ALL YOU "MUST HAVE HEA" READERS NOT TO READ THIS BOOK!
NO HEA HERE.... ACTUALLY NOTHING HAPPY IN THIS BOOK...
I must say that blurb gives you nothing!! Nothing!!!!
At first I had some trouble with getting into the story but as soon as Mark was sent to rehabilitation I was hooked. I could not put it down. Some parts were a bit predictive but I didn't care. Some parts I really didn't see coming.
The world was described to every detail. It usually bugs me when there is too much description but in this case I enjoyed it BC I could build the whole world in my head.
And let me tell you that I HATE that world. I would burn it to the ground!
I started to hate words MORAL and AUTHORITY! In this world everything was punished if it wasn't morally appropriate by the laws. Even for walking too fast you could get into trouble, so you can even imagine what kind horrible things homosexual people endured while being imprisoned. BC America should be a country with high morality, without crime, without speaking your mind, homosexuality etc.
There were some scenes that made me shed tears, some scenes that reminded me on some happenings in our history, and that just send chills down my skin.
This book has everything. From love, to plots, to horrible world to live in, to people that want to fight it, spies , abuse, torture, hope, murders.... everything.
I don't want to say anything about it, you all should just dive into this story without knowing anything. you will hate the ending, I cried ... and the way it ended I wanted to kill somebody!!!! seriously not right.... ending that says so little but gives so much to think about ....
November 21, 2011
The year is 2050 in the United States of America. Democracy is a distant memory, and the current government is a four-armed fascist system which is ruled by a supreme leader who is referred to as the Moral Chancellor. In reality, he is the country’s dictator and the ruler of the highest branch of government called the Moral Authority.
Protagonist Mark Bryan is a college student and journalist who takes exception to the Orwellian laws that have been imposed upon society by the Moral Authority. Not only does he struggle with the moral standards of conduct which are rigidly enforced by the Moral Police, but he also is opposed to the outright ban the government has placed upon homosexuality.
Mark is himself gay, albeit closeted. All gay people are closeted, though, for it is illegal to embrace any form of self-identity which is contrary to heterosexuality. The moral police are very diligent in tracking down offenders, and sting operations are frequently conducted to identify and imprison violators.
Mark meets a man to whom he’s attracted and cautiously begins to cultivate a relationship. Soon he finds himself in the midst of a sting, and is sentenced to imprisonment. This occurs around the time a crackdown has been implemented. The Moral Chancellor is impatient to root out all forms of deviant sexual behavior once-and-for-all, and has a passionate hatred for homosexuals especially.
Concurrent to Marks arrest and prison sentence, an uprising ensues within the country. Rebel forces which are led by the Human Rights Campaign begin to openly defy the government. Their efforts are well-coordinated and draw the attention of the media. It appears the nation is on the verge of civil war.
Meanwhile, Mark finds himself in a detainment camp which has been created specifically for homosexuals. Several of these camps have been established throughout the country in much the same manner as were Hitler’s extermination camps of Nazi Germany. The atrocities that Mark and the other prisoners face are unspeakable. Brutalized, tortured, starved, executed, sodomized, and repeatedly beaten—the prisoners are humiliated and degraded in every imaginable way.
In spite of the horrors Mark faces, he somehow manages to cling to the hope that freedom will prevail. He is an inspiration to his fellow prisoners, many of whom he watches suffer and die at the hands of the camp’s sadistic overlords. Miraculously, Mark finds love in the midst of this Hell on Earth, and he manages to remain focused on his dream that America will one day return to its principles of liberty and the right to the pursuit of happiness for all its citizens.
Moral Authority is a heartbreaking story. It is a page-turner that is excruciating to read yet impossible to put down. The story itself is horrific, yet its message is profound. It is thought-provoking and terrifying in the sense that it gives the reader pause—is it possible that we as a nation could fall victim to a system of imposed, legislated “morality” such as this?
The writing appears seasoned, and I was rather astonished that the work was written by a first-time, self-published author. The editing is fairly precise and highly professional. From a critical standpoint, large segments of the beginning chapters are told in passive voice. As the story progresses, the author begins to “show” much more than “tell”, however.
The plot was well-thought out; the historical and geographical references appeared to be well-researched. Most of the chronology seemed plausible to me, although I did have some questions as to exactly how we as a nation got from where we are today to a place that embraced fascism. Although I’m dying to read a sequel to this novel, I would also welcome a prequel. There was no explanation of what happened to the Democratic Party. Where were all the liberals when the country’s rights were being stripped? I find it hard to believe they would have stood idly by and allowed the nation to travel so quickly down this slippery slope.
In spite of the questions I have about the story’s premise, I found this to be a fascinating read. I was moved emotionally on more than one occasion, and I stayed up most of the night reading through to the end. I think this book is extremely powerful, and it is without hesitation that I recommend it highly.
I offer one caveat: The book may be disappointing to those who insist upon an HEA ending.
Protagonist Mark Bryan is a college student and journalist who takes exception to the Orwellian laws that have been imposed upon society by the Moral Authority. Not only does he struggle with the moral standards of conduct which are rigidly enforced by the Moral Police, but he also is opposed to the outright ban the government has placed upon homosexuality.
Mark is himself gay, albeit closeted. All gay people are closeted, though, for it is illegal to embrace any form of self-identity which is contrary to heterosexuality. The moral police are very diligent in tracking down offenders, and sting operations are frequently conducted to identify and imprison violators.
Mark meets a man to whom he’s attracted and cautiously begins to cultivate a relationship. Soon he finds himself in the midst of a sting, and is sentenced to imprisonment. This occurs around the time a crackdown has been implemented. The Moral Chancellor is impatient to root out all forms of deviant sexual behavior once-and-for-all, and has a passionate hatred for homosexuals especially.
Concurrent to Marks arrest and prison sentence, an uprising ensues within the country. Rebel forces which are led by the Human Rights Campaign begin to openly defy the government. Their efforts are well-coordinated and draw the attention of the media. It appears the nation is on the verge of civil war.
Meanwhile, Mark finds himself in a detainment camp which has been created specifically for homosexuals. Several of these camps have been established throughout the country in much the same manner as were Hitler’s extermination camps of Nazi Germany. The atrocities that Mark and the other prisoners face are unspeakable. Brutalized, tortured, starved, executed, sodomized, and repeatedly beaten—the prisoners are humiliated and degraded in every imaginable way.
In spite of the horrors Mark faces, he somehow manages to cling to the hope that freedom will prevail. He is an inspiration to his fellow prisoners, many of whom he watches suffer and die at the hands of the camp’s sadistic overlords. Miraculously, Mark finds love in the midst of this Hell on Earth, and he manages to remain focused on his dream that America will one day return to its principles of liberty and the right to the pursuit of happiness for all its citizens.
Moral Authority is a heartbreaking story. It is a page-turner that is excruciating to read yet impossible to put down. The story itself is horrific, yet its message is profound. It is thought-provoking and terrifying in the sense that it gives the reader pause—is it possible that we as a nation could fall victim to a system of imposed, legislated “morality” such as this?
The writing appears seasoned, and I was rather astonished that the work was written by a first-time, self-published author. The editing is fairly precise and highly professional. From a critical standpoint, large segments of the beginning chapters are told in passive voice. As the story progresses, the author begins to “show” much more than “tell”, however.
The plot was well-thought out; the historical and geographical references appeared to be well-researched. Most of the chronology seemed plausible to me, although I did have some questions as to exactly how we as a nation got from where we are today to a place that embraced fascism. Although I’m dying to read a sequel to this novel, I would also welcome a prequel. There was no explanation of what happened to the Democratic Party. Where were all the liberals when the country’s rights were being stripped? I find it hard to believe they would have stood idly by and allowed the nation to travel so quickly down this slippery slope.
In spite of the questions I have about the story’s premise, I found this to be a fascinating read. I was moved emotionally on more than one occasion, and I stayed up most of the night reading through to the end. I think this book is extremely powerful, and it is without hesitation that I recommend it highly.
I offer one caveat: The book may be disappointing to those who insist upon an HEA ending.
April 21, 2013
When asked, I always list the movie American History X as the one that everyone should have to watch. I think this will be the book I'll name in future discussions of that nature. While American History X teaches us about racial issues, Moral Authority shows just how far the 'Moral Majority' could easily go in dealing with gays and other 'immorality'.
Want to Read
October 26, 2017The summary of this story scares the shit out of me; every day I find myself thinking that something like this is more than just a little plausible.
00-mm-horrible-disaster-fail-dnf
October 26, 2017So the thing to look forward to in 2050 is society catapulting itself back into 1850?!!? Homosexuality is a crime, AGAIN?!!?!!? Nah, this sounds like it'd piss me off! Now if being a homophobe were a crime, THEN I'd read it, otherwise this is most definitely NOT for me #AlwaysAndForeverAnAlly!!
May 29, 2013
What a story...
Amazing book! A brutal dystopian vision of a Moral Authority dictates life of all American. The brutality lies not only in the story itself but also in the frightning possibility of something like this might happen in the future. It's too imaginable.
But I recommend this book highly because it might change your perception on some current moral discussions and on some political movements.
This story has no HEA or not even a HFN. But there is hope that people start to fight back.
Amazing book! A brutal dystopian vision of a Moral Authority dictates life of all American. The brutality lies not only in the story itself but also in the frightning possibility of something like this might happen in the future. It's too imaginable.
But I recommend this book highly because it might change your perception on some current moral discussions and on some political movements.
This story has no HEA or not even a HFN. But there is hope that people start to fight back.
June 10, 2013
The blurb does not do justice to this intense and engrossing story. It gives no indication of the harrowing and intense journey that is the fight against the Moral Authority.
Set in the future, the United States is ruled by the Moral Authority. Society is now bound by rules which dictate acceptable behaviour and enforce punishment on those that do not abide by them. Moral police are on patrol everywhere and the concept of freedom and free speech no longer exists. Homosexuality is illegal.
The story follows Mark, a young gay college student, who is entrapped by the Moral Authority and sent to a detainment camp. The experiences at the camp are told in graphic detail as the detainees are kept in horrific conditions and treated appallingly. This is a world of torture and death.
The obvious comparison of the world presented in this book is to the Nazi concentration camps. In reading this book be prepared for this type of environment. Much of the book shows brutality in the appalling treatment of people.
The book is intense. It paints a grim picture of a world gone too far, where behaviors are controlled to the extreme. The book provides detail of the political landscape - the President, the Moral Authority and the Human Rights Campaign. The HRC are an underground movement of people preparing to fight for what is right and give people back their freedom.
I was a little concerned that this book would just be a strong political statement but it does not come across like that. There is mystery and drama, twists and turns, and characters that invite you on their journey.
There is hope. Mark and the friends he makes refuse to give in to their captors, remaining strong in spirit. The Human Rights Campaign is full of good people fighting the cause. There is also love, a love that Mark finds during this very dark time in his life.
This book is a powerful story, an intense and compelling read. It was very difficult to put down. There is definitely no happy ending for Mark in this story. There is perhaps hope for the future but the ending is abrupt and leaves so many questions unanswered. I felt a sense of shock to reach the end, with an outcome I was not hoping for and desperate to find out the conclusion to the war, answer some questions about certain characters and find out what happens next for Caleb, Aaron, Isaac and Gabe. If there was a sequel I would be starting it right now!
Once again, just to repeat, this book does NOT have a happy ending.
This book was kindly provided by the publisher for an honest review - and I am so glad it was as I don't think I would have chosen to read this book based on the blurb alone.
Set in the future, the United States is ruled by the Moral Authority. Society is now bound by rules which dictate acceptable behaviour and enforce punishment on those that do not abide by them. Moral police are on patrol everywhere and the concept of freedom and free speech no longer exists. Homosexuality is illegal.
The story follows Mark, a young gay college student, who is entrapped by the Moral Authority and sent to a detainment camp. The experiences at the camp are told in graphic detail as the detainees are kept in horrific conditions and treated appallingly. This is a world of torture and death.
The obvious comparison of the world presented in this book is to the Nazi concentration camps. In reading this book be prepared for this type of environment. Much of the book shows brutality in the appalling treatment of people.
The book is intense. It paints a grim picture of a world gone too far, where behaviors are controlled to the extreme. The book provides detail of the political landscape - the President, the Moral Authority and the Human Rights Campaign. The HRC are an underground movement of people preparing to fight for what is right and give people back their freedom.
I was a little concerned that this book would just be a strong political statement but it does not come across like that. There is mystery and drama, twists and turns, and characters that invite you on their journey.
There is hope. Mark and the friends he makes refuse to give in to their captors, remaining strong in spirit. The Human Rights Campaign is full of good people fighting the cause. There is also love, a love that Mark finds during this very dark time in his life.
This book is a powerful story, an intense and compelling read. It was very difficult to put down. There is definitely no happy ending for Mark in this story. There is perhaps hope for the future but the ending is abrupt and leaves so many questions unanswered. I felt a sense of shock to reach the end, with an outcome I was not hoping for and desperate to find out the conclusion to the war, answer some questions about certain characters and find out what happens next for Caleb, Aaron, Isaac and Gabe. If there was a sequel I would be starting it right now!
Once again, just to repeat, this book does NOT have a happy ending.
This book was kindly provided by the publisher for an honest review - and I am so glad it was as I don't think I would have chosen to read this book based on the blurb alone.
July 15, 2012
BEC'S REVIEW
Moral Authority is a story that deals heavily with the topic of homosexuality so before I begin this review I want to make it clear. Many of the main characters are male homosexuals. The story is set in a future where, because of the chaos of crime and murder the US had fallen into in the past, Morality itself is governed by the Moral Authority. Things such as swearing, or having too many calories, or even drinking alcohol are punishable by a court of law, and chief among the moral crimes is Homosexuality.
Moral Authority paints an eerie view of the future. It is too easy to see governments deciding to over police society in order to save it from itself. So it is easy to fall into the world of Moral Authority. And the story itself was a great read. I really found myself feeling for the main characters, who just wanted to live their lives but who as a result had to lead double lives or risk being sent to a live a hellish existence in a detention camp where no human rights existed. I was along for the ride, wanting the good guys to win out, reading along to find out what would happen next.
And yet this book is not without problems. In a way it is a political statement, how could it not be. However I was not comfortable with the references to real people (or their descendents) in this book. If they needed a person to originate the moral law couldn’t they make one up? The same is true for the President, and for another member of parliament mentioned, both who are related to current politicians in some way. In a fictional book I feel characters such as these just bring you back to reality.
The ending was my other gripe with this book. I was left unsatisfied with the ending, which while finishing off one aspect of the story left a lot up in the air. Since a big part of the story drew me into the Human Rights Movement that races through a book it didn’t feel right to end the story not knowing how that would all play out. But other than that this a great book, though one that is not for everyone. If homosexuality bothers you, then don’t read it. Otherwise, if nothing I have said has turned you off give this a go and you may find it imagines a future that could one day be all too real.
Source: The Masquerade Crew (http://s.tt/19RHK)
Moral Authority is a story that deals heavily with the topic of homosexuality so before I begin this review I want to make it clear. Many of the main characters are male homosexuals. The story is set in a future where, because of the chaos of crime and murder the US had fallen into in the past, Morality itself is governed by the Moral Authority. Things such as swearing, or having too many calories, or even drinking alcohol are punishable by a court of law, and chief among the moral crimes is Homosexuality.
Moral Authority paints an eerie view of the future. It is too easy to see governments deciding to over police society in order to save it from itself. So it is easy to fall into the world of Moral Authority. And the story itself was a great read. I really found myself feeling for the main characters, who just wanted to live their lives but who as a result had to lead double lives or risk being sent to a live a hellish existence in a detention camp where no human rights existed. I was along for the ride, wanting the good guys to win out, reading along to find out what would happen next.
And yet this book is not without problems. In a way it is a political statement, how could it not be. However I was not comfortable with the references to real people (or their descendents) in this book. If they needed a person to originate the moral law couldn’t they make one up? The same is true for the President, and for another member of parliament mentioned, both who are related to current politicians in some way. In a fictional book I feel characters such as these just bring you back to reality.
The ending was my other gripe with this book. I was left unsatisfied with the ending, which while finishing off one aspect of the story left a lot up in the air. Since a big part of the story drew me into the Human Rights Movement that races through a book it didn’t feel right to end the story not knowing how that would all play out. But other than that this a great book, though one that is not for everyone. If homosexuality bothers you, then don’t read it. Otherwise, if nothing I have said has turned you off give this a go and you may find it imagines a future that could one day be all too real.
Source: The Masquerade Crew (http://s.tt/19RHK)
July 3, 2013
3.75 stars
Do you want to live in a world free of crime and racial prejudices where people are always smiling at each other? You do? Welcome to the world of Moral Authority. Unfortunately, this is also the world where a branch of government controls every aspect of American life, including intake of calories, the way you walk down the street and talk, things you watch and read. America is separated from the rest of the world by two large walls, traveling is severely limited and borders are closed to all non-Americans. Homosexuality is outlawed and one of the greatest offenses to the nation’s morals. Your parents, you neighbors, strangers on the streets, anyone really, could turn you in to the Moral Authority on suspicion only. If your offense is severe enough, you would be apprehended by their police/military force known as K3s (you have one guess how they got that name). The only ones opposing this situation are the members of the Human Rights Campaign.
The story of 2050 America is told through three points of view. The first one is our protagonist Mark Bryan, a graduate student of journalism, estranged from his family, with only one true friend. Mark is kindhearted, naïve and idealistic, especially when it comes to his plans to better the situation in the country through his work. He struggles with intrusive moral laws and not just because he is gay. There is a really powerful scene at the beginning of the novel. Mark walks towards Starbucks searching for a cup of coffee (his only luxury) and a bit of haven. As he walks, the overpowering presence of Moral Authority is revealed to the reader through numerous Uncle Sam posters. He smiles at passersby because he is afraid not to, due to the presence of moral officers. Unfortunately for Mark, he falls for the wrong guy at the worst possible moment – just when MA had decided to revoke all human rights to HRC members and sympathizers. He ends up in a detention camp, which is pretty much a mixture of Guantanamo and Auschwitz.
The POV of Samuel Pleasant is a counterpoint to Mark’s. He is head of Moral Authority and de facto ruler of the country. At first, he comes across as someone who truly believes in MA values due to an unfortunate family history. In and of itself that is chilling, but, as the story progresses, he transforms into a megalomaniac whose actions grow progressively hectic and monstrous. The way he treats a man whom he calls his best friend is probably the most telling thing about him. Well, that and what he calls “rehabilitation”.
The final POV is that of Isaac Montoya, former moral offender and now undercover moral officer which is basically a whore for the moral police. His story is one of redemption, but also of courage. Because there is much more to Montoya than meets the eye and it takes a tremendous courage to do some of the things he did for the sake of a bigger goal. He can be a bit of an arrogant prick, but out of three POV characters he is my favorite. Probably because he comes across as an actual human and I can identify with him, while Mark and Pleasant seem more like types. While you feel compassion for Mark because of all the horrible things he’s going through in the camp and you love to hate Pleasant, they are like two sides of the same coin – absolute good and absolute evil – and hard to identify with.
This is a second edition of author’s debut novel and as such Moral Authority is outstanding. There were, however, some issues I’d like to address. The author often recounts conversations and events instead of showing them. For example, we just hear about Mark’s best friend, the only one who knows he’s gay, we hear she offered him encouragement an advice, but we never actually see it. The same goes for his distant, cold mother. Basically, the author limits his characters to their lives in this story; we experience very little about their lives outside of it. This is one of the reasons why it’s sometimes hard to see them as actual, three-dimensional humans. Additionally, when the author attempts it, the foreshadowing doesn’t always work (for example, I immediately knew who would be Pleasant’s downfall). It is a shame because it would add so much to the books atmosphere. Finally, I have to talk about the ending. Cliffhanger is not my preferred type of ending, but regardless – when it works, it really works. I have mixed feelings about this one. On one hand, it leaves you mystified. Throughout the novel you are fed these little tidbits that lead you to believe you know the truth about Mark’s parentage. But, out of left field, comes the epilogue that negates all we have previously read. On the other hand, the profession of the character that appears in this scene just may give us some hope in the sequel.
My complaints aside, the writing is fluid and on occasion beautifully dreamy, especially when Mark uses his imagination to rise above the horrible situation he found himself in. The horror of Flores’s world is palpable and, while some things were over the top, the others, unfortunately, seemed more than possible. The violence is present and the casual way the bad guys are dishing it out is sometimes shocking, but, for those who worry about such things, it’s not as graphic as in the last dystopian book I’ve reviewed. Some of the secondary characters (Buddy) will break your heart. While the novel ends without the happy ending for our protagonist, it still gives you hope for the future. I hope the author will give us the sequel soon. Until then, Moral Authority is recommended with some reservations.
Do you want to live in a world free of crime and racial prejudices where people are always smiling at each other? You do? Welcome to the world of Moral Authority. Unfortunately, this is also the world where a branch of government controls every aspect of American life, including intake of calories, the way you walk down the street and talk, things you watch and read. America is separated from the rest of the world by two large walls, traveling is severely limited and borders are closed to all non-Americans. Homosexuality is outlawed and one of the greatest offenses to the nation’s morals. Your parents, you neighbors, strangers on the streets, anyone really, could turn you in to the Moral Authority on suspicion only. If your offense is severe enough, you would be apprehended by their police/military force known as K3s (you have one guess how they got that name). The only ones opposing this situation are the members of the Human Rights Campaign.
The story of 2050 America is told through three points of view. The first one is our protagonist Mark Bryan, a graduate student of journalism, estranged from his family, with only one true friend. Mark is kindhearted, naïve and idealistic, especially when it comes to his plans to better the situation in the country through his work. He struggles with intrusive moral laws and not just because he is gay. There is a really powerful scene at the beginning of the novel. Mark walks towards Starbucks searching for a cup of coffee (his only luxury) and a bit of haven. As he walks, the overpowering presence of Moral Authority is revealed to the reader through numerous Uncle Sam posters. He smiles at passersby because he is afraid not to, due to the presence of moral officers. Unfortunately for Mark, he falls for the wrong guy at the worst possible moment – just when MA had decided to revoke all human rights to HRC members and sympathizers. He ends up in a detention camp, which is pretty much a mixture of Guantanamo and Auschwitz.
The POV of Samuel Pleasant is a counterpoint to Mark’s. He is head of Moral Authority and de facto ruler of the country. At first, he comes across as someone who truly believes in MA values due to an unfortunate family history. In and of itself that is chilling, but, as the story progresses, he transforms into a megalomaniac whose actions grow progressively hectic and monstrous. The way he treats a man whom he calls his best friend is probably the most telling thing about him. Well, that and what he calls “rehabilitation”.
The final POV is that of Isaac Montoya, former moral offender and now undercover moral officer which is basically a whore for the moral police. His story is one of redemption, but also of courage. Because there is much more to Montoya than meets the eye and it takes a tremendous courage to do some of the things he did for the sake of a bigger goal. He can be a bit of an arrogant prick, but out of three POV characters he is my favorite. Probably because he comes across as an actual human and I can identify with him, while Mark and Pleasant seem more like types. While you feel compassion for Mark because of all the horrible things he’s going through in the camp and you love to hate Pleasant, they are like two sides of the same coin – absolute good and absolute evil – and hard to identify with.
This is a second edition of author’s debut novel and as such Moral Authority is outstanding. There were, however, some issues I’d like to address. The author often recounts conversations and events instead of showing them. For example, we just hear about Mark’s best friend, the only one who knows he’s gay, we hear she offered him encouragement an advice, but we never actually see it. The same goes for his distant, cold mother. Basically, the author limits his characters to their lives in this story; we experience very little about their lives outside of it. This is one of the reasons why it’s sometimes hard to see them as actual, three-dimensional humans. Additionally, when the author attempts it, the foreshadowing doesn’t always work (for example, I immediately knew who would be Pleasant’s downfall). It is a shame because it would add so much to the books atmosphere. Finally, I have to talk about the ending. Cliffhanger is not my preferred type of ending, but regardless – when it works, it really works. I have mixed feelings about this one. On one hand, it leaves you mystified. Throughout the novel you are fed these little tidbits that lead you to believe you know the truth about Mark’s parentage. But, out of left field, comes the epilogue that negates all we have previously read. On the other hand, the profession of the character that appears in this scene just may give us some hope in the sequel.
My complaints aside, the writing is fluid and on occasion beautifully dreamy, especially when Mark uses his imagination to rise above the horrible situation he found himself in. The horror of Flores’s world is palpable and, while some things were over the top, the others, unfortunately, seemed more than possible. The violence is present and the casual way the bad guys are dishing it out is sometimes shocking, but, for those who worry about such things, it’s not as graphic as in the last dystopian book I’ve reviewed. Some of the secondary characters (Buddy) will break your heart. While the novel ends without the happy ending for our protagonist, it still gives you hope for the future. I hope the author will give us the sequel soon. Until then, Moral Authority is recommended with some reservations.
September 5, 2011
Gerry B's Book Reviews - www.gerrycan.ordpress.com
“Moral Authority” [CreateSpace, August 2011] is author Jacob Z. Flores’ debut novel, and what a debut it is! Flores has conceived a dystopian plot every bit as prophetic and sinister as George Orwell’s “Nineteen Eighty-Four,” except that in this case the unforgiving focus is on homosexuality as the ‘thoughtcrime’ and homosexuals as the prescribed enemies of ‘the common good’. Therefore, my hat goes off to him for having tackled (successfully in my opinion) a demanding literary challenge of this complexity so early in his career.
The story centres on Mark Bryon, a quite average graduate student who in ordinary circumstances wouldn’t attract any undue attention apart from being young and attractive. However these are not “ordinary” times when every move, both public and private, is subject to scrutiny by those who have voluntarily subjected themselves to a morally-incorrupt, corrupt state: i.e. “The Moral Authority.” Therefore, there is a very Orwellian tone throughout, including a ‘Big Brother’ in the person of Samuel Pleasant, ‘Newspeak,” and the subjugation of free thought.
There are also the usual twin pillars that form the basis of most fascist regimes, e.g. a simplistic reason for being, and a perceived enemy—both within and without. For example:
"According to Randy Gonzales, over the past thirty-five years the United States managed to save itself from moral corruption because of the newest branch of our nation’s government. Since its inception by President Sarah Palin in 2014 and the constitutional amendment she and the Republican majority helped pass the following year, the moral downslide the country experienced then had not only been halted but come about at least 180 degrees. Gone were the days of media violence and pornography. All illegal drugs and associated crimes had been virtually eliminated. Murder, rape, gang violence, thefts, domestic crimes, prostitution, and even vandalism accounted for less than 10% of the overall crime rate in the entire nation. As a result, communities within the United States enjoyed a golden age." 14
And the perceive enemy:
"Constitutional amendments and which all had their origins from within the Moral Authority, freed this country from such unhealthy lifestyle choices that caused many health and societal problems, such as homosexuality, obesity, smoking, alcoholism, and even profanity. To commemorate the thirty-fifth anniversary, the Supreme High Chancellor of the Moral Authority, Samuel Pleasant, planned to address the nation the following week. Speculations already abounded that Supreme High Chancellor Pleasant intended to unveil further social legislation to better streamline this nation’s morality. This came about due to recent attacks against moral law instigated by a group of domestic terrorists calling themselves the Human Rights Campaign." 15 [Emphasis mine].
The story then builds on this theme, and as it progresses the plot gets darker and darker in very much the same fashion as totalitarian states rule by edict and the point of a gun. However, at no time does the author push any of this over the top so that credibility is strained. Even in the latter parts of the story when the Moral Authority’s “K3s” are at their cruelest (i.e KKK, the equivalent of the Nazi’s SS elite guard), the reader is never caused to doubt that it could happen.
Along the way, however, the author does make some cogent observations in the context of the narrative, i.e.
"According to Mark’s research, the number of Americans cited with violations of the moral code of respect had risen in many major U.S. cities. The manpower and resources alone used to enforce such petty violations could be better redirected to rehabilitating offenders who committed more egregious crimes in the nation," 33
which is a point that applies beyond this fiction to real life. I might add, as well, that the hidden cost of every law—large or small—that is made and enforced is a diminution of our civil liberties. I think this is the message to be gained from this story.
On the other hand, I think I could be tempted to accept a law that restricted unruly children in restaurants, i.e.
"The mother and father looked exhausted, and he could see why. Their two preschool aged boys were in the middle of a pretend sword fight with their chopsticks as stand in swords. Obviously, there were no moral officers here as the parents would certainly be in violation of the code of respect concerning the appropriate behavior of children in public." 35 [Emphasis mine].
Altogether this is an engrossing story from beginning to end, a real page-turner and superbly written. I nominate Moral Authority by Jacob Z. Flores as the most outstanding debut novel of the year. Five Stars.
“Moral Authority” [CreateSpace, August 2011] is author Jacob Z. Flores’ debut novel, and what a debut it is! Flores has conceived a dystopian plot every bit as prophetic and sinister as George Orwell’s “Nineteen Eighty-Four,” except that in this case the unforgiving focus is on homosexuality as the ‘thoughtcrime’ and homosexuals as the prescribed enemies of ‘the common good’. Therefore, my hat goes off to him for having tackled (successfully in my opinion) a demanding literary challenge of this complexity so early in his career.
The story centres on Mark Bryon, a quite average graduate student who in ordinary circumstances wouldn’t attract any undue attention apart from being young and attractive. However these are not “ordinary” times when every move, both public and private, is subject to scrutiny by those who have voluntarily subjected themselves to a morally-incorrupt, corrupt state: i.e. “The Moral Authority.” Therefore, there is a very Orwellian tone throughout, including a ‘Big Brother’ in the person of Samuel Pleasant, ‘Newspeak,” and the subjugation of free thought.
There are also the usual twin pillars that form the basis of most fascist regimes, e.g. a simplistic reason for being, and a perceived enemy—both within and without. For example:
"According to Randy Gonzales, over the past thirty-five years the United States managed to save itself from moral corruption because of the newest branch of our nation’s government. Since its inception by President Sarah Palin in 2014 and the constitutional amendment she and the Republican majority helped pass the following year, the moral downslide the country experienced then had not only been halted but come about at least 180 degrees. Gone were the days of media violence and pornography. All illegal drugs and associated crimes had been virtually eliminated. Murder, rape, gang violence, thefts, domestic crimes, prostitution, and even vandalism accounted for less than 10% of the overall crime rate in the entire nation. As a result, communities within the United States enjoyed a golden age." 14
And the perceive enemy:
"Constitutional amendments and which all had their origins from within the Moral Authority, freed this country from such unhealthy lifestyle choices that caused many health and societal problems, such as homosexuality, obesity, smoking, alcoholism, and even profanity. To commemorate the thirty-fifth anniversary, the Supreme High Chancellor of the Moral Authority, Samuel Pleasant, planned to address the nation the following week. Speculations already abounded that Supreme High Chancellor Pleasant intended to unveil further social legislation to better streamline this nation’s morality. This came about due to recent attacks against moral law instigated by a group of domestic terrorists calling themselves the Human Rights Campaign." 15 [Emphasis mine].
The story then builds on this theme, and as it progresses the plot gets darker and darker in very much the same fashion as totalitarian states rule by edict and the point of a gun. However, at no time does the author push any of this over the top so that credibility is strained. Even in the latter parts of the story when the Moral Authority’s “K3s” are at their cruelest (i.e KKK, the equivalent of the Nazi’s SS elite guard), the reader is never caused to doubt that it could happen.
Along the way, however, the author does make some cogent observations in the context of the narrative, i.e.
"According to Mark’s research, the number of Americans cited with violations of the moral code of respect had risen in many major U.S. cities. The manpower and resources alone used to enforce such petty violations could be better redirected to rehabilitating offenders who committed more egregious crimes in the nation," 33
which is a point that applies beyond this fiction to real life. I might add, as well, that the hidden cost of every law—large or small—that is made and enforced is a diminution of our civil liberties. I think this is the message to be gained from this story.
On the other hand, I think I could be tempted to accept a law that restricted unruly children in restaurants, i.e.
"The mother and father looked exhausted, and he could see why. Their two preschool aged boys were in the middle of a pretend sword fight with their chopsticks as stand in swords. Obviously, there were no moral officers here as the parents would certainly be in violation of the code of respect concerning the appropriate behavior of children in public." 35 [Emphasis mine].
Altogether this is an engrossing story from beginning to end, a real page-turner and superbly written. I nominate Moral Authority by Jacob Z. Flores as the most outstanding debut novel of the year. Five Stars.
June 21, 2013
4.5 Hearts
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/
I love it when I get my hands on a book which is so well written it has the ability to evoke a number of emotions from me. I’m also know to love book that have a somewhat realistic approach and ending, and I’m not shy to the ones that have a tragic ending either.
Moral Authority is one such book. It attacks your soul with the first line that goes through you like a bullet and continues to do so through the duration of the story. As impossible as it seemed at the time, this story starts with the very end scene, it tells you point blank there is no happy ending here and it makes it clear as day that this is going to be heartbreaking. With its very prologue it dares you to continue reading and I warn you this is not a light read or a fun one.
In this dystopian world America has come a long way from what it is today in only a matter of half century. In this New America morality is praised and savored and guarded by all means. Moral Authority is a new branch that guards everyone’s life, integrity and morals. Crime as we know it has vanished, diversity too, gangs, murders, stealing, hustling, everything that threatens our lives today have come to an end. Immorality is the crime and everything is dealt with an iron fist. Seems perfect, or it should be, but we all know what happens when extremism reigns.
Individuality is lost and people are turned into one similar mass, clones of each other. Happiness is no longer pursued rather the illusion of it is supposedly a given. The Moral Police dictates how people should live their life and freedom has lost its true meaning. Among all things that are lost to humans is also their right to their sexuality. The Gay/Lesbians/Bisexuals of America has either fled when things changed or went underground. The ones still living among their peers live in fear, always looking behind their shoulder. Undercover police has a new meaning and baits for homosexuals are in each and every corner. Homosexuality is a crime and has a special kind of Hell on Earth, the cruelty of which can’t be comprehended.
I’m not going to dwell on the specifics of the plot and the story. I’m simply going to point out that this story has it all, depression, desperation, love, hope, heartbreak and loss, tortures and cruelty in every form and a most realistic approach that if we look closely in our past and especially countries that has suffered from Dictators, we will see how very similar the events that happen in this story are to events Humanity has already suffered and could suffer if we are not careful of our Human Rights. You can see how similar Chancellor Pleasant is to Hitler, how very similar the gay camps in the books are to the Jew camps the Nazi had. How very similar the life in this “utopian” America is to the countries plagued by Communism or strong Religion. Coming from one such country I couldn’t help but relate to most of the story, to how homosexuals are treaded in such societies, to the horrors of the camps and the despair that comes from not being able to live your life freely. It was gut-wrenching to read and awakened many memories of the past and tales I was told from my elders.
In the end this is a very carefully and brilliantly written book that one should not miss. Strongly recommended.
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/
I love it when I get my hands on a book which is so well written it has the ability to evoke a number of emotions from me. I’m also know to love book that have a somewhat realistic approach and ending, and I’m not shy to the ones that have a tragic ending either.
Moral Authority is one such book. It attacks your soul with the first line that goes through you like a bullet and continues to do so through the duration of the story. As impossible as it seemed at the time, this story starts with the very end scene, it tells you point blank there is no happy ending here and it makes it clear as day that this is going to be heartbreaking. With its very prologue it dares you to continue reading and I warn you this is not a light read or a fun one.
In this dystopian world America has come a long way from what it is today in only a matter of half century. In this New America morality is praised and savored and guarded by all means. Moral Authority is a new branch that guards everyone’s life, integrity and morals. Crime as we know it has vanished, diversity too, gangs, murders, stealing, hustling, everything that threatens our lives today have come to an end. Immorality is the crime and everything is dealt with an iron fist. Seems perfect, or it should be, but we all know what happens when extremism reigns.
Individuality is lost and people are turned into one similar mass, clones of each other. Happiness is no longer pursued rather the illusion of it is supposedly a given. The Moral Police dictates how people should live their life and freedom has lost its true meaning. Among all things that are lost to humans is also their right to their sexuality. The Gay/Lesbians/Bisexuals of America has either fled when things changed or went underground. The ones still living among their peers live in fear, always looking behind their shoulder. Undercover police has a new meaning and baits for homosexuals are in each and every corner. Homosexuality is a crime and has a special kind of Hell on Earth, the cruelty of which can’t be comprehended.
I’m not going to dwell on the specifics of the plot and the story. I’m simply going to point out that this story has it all, depression, desperation, love, hope, heartbreak and loss, tortures and cruelty in every form and a most realistic approach that if we look closely in our past and especially countries that has suffered from Dictators, we will see how very similar the events that happen in this story are to events Humanity has already suffered and could suffer if we are not careful of our Human Rights. You can see how similar Chancellor Pleasant is to Hitler, how very similar the gay camps in the books are to the Jew camps the Nazi had. How very similar the life in this “utopian” America is to the countries plagued by Communism or strong Religion. Coming from one such country I couldn’t help but relate to most of the story, to how homosexuals are treaded in such societies, to the horrors of the camps and the despair that comes from not being able to live your life freely. It was gut-wrenching to read and awakened many memories of the past and tales I was told from my elders.
In the end this is a very carefully and brilliantly written book that one should not miss. Strongly recommended.
June 27, 2013
We would all love to live in a world without crime and poverty and “Moral Authority” by Jacob Z. Flores gives us that. Unfortunately, the America of 2050 (thank you, Sarah Palin) is also one where its citizens are afraid to be…human.
There’s no arguing, no swearing (I’d be thrown in jail every few minutes), and absolutely everyone smiles at perfect stranger in fear that that stranger will be the “moral police” and one would be taken away for breaking “moral law”.
Ugh. By the end of the first chapter, I hated the word “moral” and was tempted to snarl at everyone I saw, hoping one would take me to task for my lack of morality!
Because of the laws set forth by the government, Mark Bryan is a deeply closeted gay man; any knowledge of his sexuality would literally put him in prison. Isaac Montoya is, seemingly, another gay man who saves Mark from the moral police while, at the same time, is drawn to him. Unfortunately, Mark finds himself set up by Isaac, arrested, and sent to prison.
I was really, really hoping Isaac would turn out to be this great guy who rescues Mark and thwarts the government. Maybe in a way he does...but, what Mark goes through in this "moral prison” filled with other gay men is horrid!
I wanted to like this book…it was dramatic, dark, gritty, and well-written. It was also scary and the idea that we could be heading towards something similar made the hair at the back of my neck stand on end. The fact that those in charge of carrying out moral laws were so…immoral…made me want to throw my Kindle across the room or jump into the story and just start beating people. The abuses put forth on humans for simply being gay was horrific. It’s not as though I haven’t read rape scenes before but the scenes in this book were just so graphic and real.
I hated Isaac for doing what he did to Mark. I hated Colonel Mitchell and “Officer Asshole” and I wanted to wrap Buddy up tight and protect him from every evil in the world.
On the other hand, I ended up feeling a bit of kindness for Isaac, pride for Mark and his strength and integrity, and Buddy…
Buddy just flat-out broke my heart.
If anything, Mr. Flores does a great job of giving us a world I want absolutely nothing to do with. I’ll keep the crime, poverty, and total disregard of others to avoid a world like this. I don’t need a perfect world if this is what I’d get.
Regardless of my feelings for this book, it is definitely a must-read story that serves as a warning and it is not for the faint of heart. You may do as I did…skip over parts that were too difficult to read while hurrying to get to the end. Be forewarned, it doesn’t contain a HEA or even a HFN…there is no happy ending to this one.
There is, however, a twist at the end that I never saw coming and left me feeling a bit vindicated for Mark’s sake.
KymD's 3 sweet pea review appears at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....
There’s no arguing, no swearing (I’d be thrown in jail every few minutes), and absolutely everyone smiles at perfect stranger in fear that that stranger will be the “moral police” and one would be taken away for breaking “moral law”.
Ugh. By the end of the first chapter, I hated the word “moral” and was tempted to snarl at everyone I saw, hoping one would take me to task for my lack of morality!
Because of the laws set forth by the government, Mark Bryan is a deeply closeted gay man; any knowledge of his sexuality would literally put him in prison. Isaac Montoya is, seemingly, another gay man who saves Mark from the moral police while, at the same time, is drawn to him. Unfortunately, Mark finds himself set up by Isaac, arrested, and sent to prison.
I was really, really hoping Isaac would turn out to be this great guy who rescues Mark and thwarts the government. Maybe in a way he does...but, what Mark goes through in this "moral prison” filled with other gay men is horrid!
I wanted to like this book…it was dramatic, dark, gritty, and well-written. It was also scary and the idea that we could be heading towards something similar made the hair at the back of my neck stand on end. The fact that those in charge of carrying out moral laws were so…immoral…made me want to throw my Kindle across the room or jump into the story and just start beating people. The abuses put forth on humans for simply being gay was horrific. It’s not as though I haven’t read rape scenes before but the scenes in this book were just so graphic and real.
I hated Isaac for doing what he did to Mark. I hated Colonel Mitchell and “Officer Asshole” and I wanted to wrap Buddy up tight and protect him from every evil in the world.
On the other hand, I ended up feeling a bit of kindness for Isaac, pride for Mark and his strength and integrity, and Buddy…
Buddy just flat-out broke my heart.
If anything, Mr. Flores does a great job of giving us a world I want absolutely nothing to do with. I’ll keep the crime, poverty, and total disregard of others to avoid a world like this. I don’t need a perfect world if this is what I’d get.
Regardless of my feelings for this book, it is definitely a must-read story that serves as a warning and it is not for the faint of heart. You may do as I did…skip over parts that were too difficult to read while hurrying to get to the end. Be forewarned, it doesn’t contain a HEA or even a HFN…there is no happy ending to this one.
There is, however, a twist at the end that I never saw coming and left me feeling a bit vindicated for Mark’s sake.
KymD's 3 sweet pea review appears at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....
March 3, 2018
Moral Authority
paints a bleak picture of a future where a very black and white view of morality is held sacrosanct, and anyone who deviates is punished severely.
This is not a happy book; the tone is set by one of the three main PoV characters apparently dying in the prologue, and the story flash-backs from there, leaving the events from the prologue hanging in the back of your mind.
The story is told through three different character's PoVs, which helps with the world building, but the only character I really got behind was Mark. Samuel is obviously supposed to be unlikable, but I found Isaac very difficult to warm to
The story was horrific, especially Mark's PoV after his arrest, but compelling. It's not an easy book to read, because of the content, but it is well written, albeit with a few places where there is more telling than showing.
My only real problem (apart from Isaac) is the ending, mainly because there are a lot of loose ends left floating around;
And then there's the epilogue, which I found really weird
Basically, this book needs a sequel; the ending reads like there was more to come, and that's what I have my fingers crossed for.
4.25 stars
This is not a happy book; the tone is set by one of the three main PoV characters apparently dying in the prologue, and the story flash-backs from there, leaving the events from the prologue hanging in the back of your mind.
The story is told through three different character's PoVs, which helps with the world building, but the only character I really got behind was Mark. Samuel is obviously supposed to be unlikable, but I found Isaac very difficult to warm to
The story was horrific, especially Mark's PoV after his arrest, but compelling. It's not an easy book to read, because of the content, but it is well written, albeit with a few places where there is more telling than showing.
My only real problem (apart from Isaac) is the ending, mainly because there are a lot of loose ends left floating around;
And then there's the epilogue, which I found really weird
Basically, this book needs a sequel; the ending reads like there was more to come, and that's what I have my fingers crossed for.
4.25 stars
July 7, 2013
With “Moral Authority”, Jacob Z. Flores shows us once again a versatile writing talent that allows him to move from genre to genre seamlessly. This darkly dystopian novel portrays our country in 2050; our government overtaken by the Moral Authority who dictates everything from our speech, to our diet, to our sexual practices and beyond. The Moral Authority has a contingent of KGB-type soldiers who monitor the movements and actions of the populace; standing at the ready to arrest and incarcerate any offenders of the Moral Code. Want to call your neighbor a jerk or how about partaking of that jelly doughnut… better be careful lest you find yourself under the watchful eye of the Moral Police.
In the midst of this future America is Mark Bryan, a young idealistic journalism student who hopes to be able to make a difference in his country by practicing his chosen profession. He is also deeply closeted as homosexuality has been deemed a most egregious crime, punishable by imprisonment in the most dire of places. As the story unfolds the Human Rights Council is declaring and waging war against the Moral Authority to take back the basic freedoms denied to our nation’s citizens. And it’s at this time Mark has the misfortune of trusting the wrong person in hopes of pursuing a forbidden relationship; a deeper human connection that is sorely missing in his life. As a result, he finds himself confined to one of the Nazi-style detainment camps being constructed around the country. And this is where the real story begins...
It is in the camps and the portrayal of the Provincetown that once was that Mr. Flores’s descriptive talents are showcased. He has an uncommon ability to place you in the moment; to make you feel what his characters are experiencing. The pictures he paints are emotionally moving and quite frankly shattering. The depiction of Mark’s “ten day vacation” was painfully sharp and left you with a deep sense of bereavement.
Of course, the epilogue screams of sequel, as this is a story that can’t be told in a single book. Hopefully, Mr. Flores is diligently working towards bringing us the rest of this story.
As others have said, this story is dark, intense, and gritty, but there is a glimmer of hope for the future.
Very well done. A must read.
In the midst of this future America is Mark Bryan, a young idealistic journalism student who hopes to be able to make a difference in his country by practicing his chosen profession. He is also deeply closeted as homosexuality has been deemed a most egregious crime, punishable by imprisonment in the most dire of places. As the story unfolds the Human Rights Council is declaring and waging war against the Moral Authority to take back the basic freedoms denied to our nation’s citizens. And it’s at this time Mark has the misfortune of trusting the wrong person in hopes of pursuing a forbidden relationship; a deeper human connection that is sorely missing in his life. As a result, he finds himself confined to one of the Nazi-style detainment camps being constructed around the country. And this is where the real story begins...
It is in the camps and the portrayal of the Provincetown that once was that Mr. Flores’s descriptive talents are showcased. He has an uncommon ability to place you in the moment; to make you feel what his characters are experiencing. The pictures he paints are emotionally moving and quite frankly shattering. The depiction of Mark’s “ten day vacation” was painfully sharp and left you with a deep sense of bereavement.
Of course, the epilogue screams of sequel, as this is a story that can’t be told in a single book. Hopefully, Mr. Flores is diligently working towards bringing us the rest of this story.
As others have said, this story is dark, intense, and gritty, but there is a glimmer of hope for the future.
Very well done. A must read.
September 18, 2013
Otra distopía ambientada en los EEUU en un futuro cercano.
Esta, en realidad, es relativamente más creíble, o plausible, que el tremendo disparate que es "Agenda 21".
Sarah Palin gana las elecciones presidenciales (!) y a partir de ahí el país entra en una nueva "era moral",
convirtiéndose en una especie de teocracia que sería los sueños húmedos de cualquier facha meapilas como los de
EEUU (o como los que tenemos en España, tipo Hazte Oír y esa gentuza) ...
En si, la novela merecería 3 o 3.5 estrellas. El argumento en si mismo en realidad, no es gran cosa. Desarrolla
este EEUU de pesadilla (relativemente creíble, vuelvo a decir) en el que HRC (Human Rights) es tratada como
organización terrorista y hay una nueva rama del gobierno encargada de todo lo que tenga que ver con asuntos morales,
una especie de Tribunal de la Inquisición del siglo XXI.
Lo interesante de esta distopía es que tiene un claro enfoque LGTB. La mayoría de los protagonistas son hombres
homosexuales, desde el protagonista, una víctima de las leyes homófobas que hacen que sea envíado a un campo
de concentración, a supuestos "ex-homosexuales" que en realidad trabajan para la "policía moral" con el objetivo de capturar
más homosexuales ... Suena delirante ? Bueno, no tanto si lees el libro, como me ha pasado a mi, mientras en
Rusia dictan leyes fascistas que condenan lo que ellos llaman "propaganda" homosexual y salen grupos neonazis a la
calle a "cazar" gays. Ese toque LGTB, muy original en el género, justifica las 4 estrellas.
Lo peor de este libro, en mi opinión, aparte del final (nuevamente, abierto y un tanto abrupto) es que es, a ratos,
demasiado localista (las buenas distopías son las que se mantienen en una permanente ambigüedad espacial y temporal)
y los continuos giros sorpresivos de la trama, con abundantes "juegos de efecto" cuando los personajes parecen
cambiar varias veces de bando durante la trama.
Esta, en realidad, es relativamente más creíble, o plausible, que el tremendo disparate que es "Agenda 21".
Sarah Palin gana las elecciones presidenciales (!) y a partir de ahí el país entra en una nueva "era moral",
convirtiéndose en una especie de teocracia que sería los sueños húmedos de cualquier facha meapilas como los de
EEUU (o como los que tenemos en España, tipo Hazte Oír y esa gentuza) ...
En si, la novela merecería 3 o 3.5 estrellas. El argumento en si mismo en realidad, no es gran cosa. Desarrolla
este EEUU de pesadilla (relativemente creíble, vuelvo a decir) en el que HRC (Human Rights) es tratada como
organización terrorista y hay una nueva rama del gobierno encargada de todo lo que tenga que ver con asuntos morales,
una especie de Tribunal de la Inquisición del siglo XXI.
Lo interesante de esta distopía es que tiene un claro enfoque LGTB. La mayoría de los protagonistas son hombres
homosexuales, desde el protagonista, una víctima de las leyes homófobas que hacen que sea envíado a un campo
de concentración, a supuestos "ex-homosexuales" que en realidad trabajan para la "policía moral" con el objetivo de capturar
más homosexuales ... Suena delirante ? Bueno, no tanto si lees el libro, como me ha pasado a mi, mientras en
Rusia dictan leyes fascistas que condenan lo que ellos llaman "propaganda" homosexual y salen grupos neonazis a la
calle a "cazar" gays. Ese toque LGTB, muy original en el género, justifica las 4 estrellas.
Lo peor de este libro, en mi opinión, aparte del final (nuevamente, abierto y un tanto abrupto) es que es, a ratos,
demasiado localista (las buenas distopías son las que se mantienen en una permanente ambigüedad espacial y temporal)
y los continuos giros sorpresivos de la trama, con abundantes "juegos de efecto" cuando los personajes parecen
cambiar varias veces de bando durante la trama.
June 23, 2013
Most debut novels quickly vanish after their release. Only occasionally does one stand out and receive the accolades it deserves. Such is the case with Moral Authority. Writer Jacob Z. Flores has crafted a story, told from three points of view, that resonates with readers because of its relevance to headlines of today.
Mark, Isaac, and Samuel are three very different young men living in America in the year 2050. For more than thirty years, The Moral Authority has held considerable sway over the nation and is in fact a fourth branch of the federal government. Conservatism run amok, The Moral Authority exerts its controlling tentacles over society by requiring citizens to live according to its edicts or risk criminalization if they don’t.
Mark is bold and daring. Samuel is corrupted by power. Isaac is remorseful of his past. As the story unfolds, the reader becomes entangled in their lives. One will find true love in a barren place. One will find a redemption for himself that he isn’t expecting. One is destined to fight to hold onto his way of life by any means necessary. Dominating each is the painful reality of either following the law of The Moral Authority or living in the perpetual jeopardy that personal freedom entails.
With the question of equality unsettled in the world of today, Moral Authority is a book that gives its audience a look at what the future might be like if lawmakers of the present yield to religious and conservative pressures, restricting rights instead of embracing them. Echoes of Orwell permeate the story without overshadowing it, adding to the message that it conveys, resulting in a novel that is likely larger in scope and importance than it intended to be. Moral Authority is an impressive debut for Mr. Flores.
4.5 Stars
Mark, Isaac, and Samuel are three very different young men living in America in the year 2050. For more than thirty years, The Moral Authority has held considerable sway over the nation and is in fact a fourth branch of the federal government. Conservatism run amok, The Moral Authority exerts its controlling tentacles over society by requiring citizens to live according to its edicts or risk criminalization if they don’t.
Mark is bold and daring. Samuel is corrupted by power. Isaac is remorseful of his past. As the story unfolds, the reader becomes entangled in their lives. One will find true love in a barren place. One will find a redemption for himself that he isn’t expecting. One is destined to fight to hold onto his way of life by any means necessary. Dominating each is the painful reality of either following the law of The Moral Authority or living in the perpetual jeopardy that personal freedom entails.
With the question of equality unsettled in the world of today, Moral Authority is a book that gives its audience a look at what the future might be like if lawmakers of the present yield to religious and conservative pressures, restricting rights instead of embracing them. Echoes of Orwell permeate the story without overshadowing it, adding to the message that it conveys, resulting in a novel that is likely larger in scope and importance than it intended to be. Moral Authority is an impressive debut for Mr. Flores.
4.5 Stars
June 30, 2013
It’s in the future and the world has changed drastically. Moral laws are strictly enforced
This story is told form three pov, Mark a young man bent on changing the world and proving the moral laws are unconstitutional and corrupt, Isaac caught in both sides of the trap and Samuel the enforcer of the moral Laws bent on keeping society how it profits him best.
Wow this story is so thought provoking and scary in a way. I can so see how the world could end up like this and its frightening as heck. The story is fast paced, full of action, twists and turns constantly and a very surprise ending.
Recommendations: if you like dystopia, stories with lots of action, bittersweet, heart wrenching, frightening, nail-biting, betrayal, finding love, fighting for rights, this one is for you! I highly recommend it!
This story is told form three pov, Mark a young man bent on changing the world and proving the moral laws are unconstitutional and corrupt, Isaac caught in both sides of the trap and Samuel the enforcer of the moral Laws bent on keeping society how it profits him best.
Wow this story is so thought provoking and scary in a way. I can so see how the world could end up like this and its frightening as heck. The story is fast paced, full of action, twists and turns constantly and a very surprise ending.
Recommendations: if you like dystopia, stories with lots of action, bittersweet, heart wrenching, frightening, nail-biting, betrayal, finding love, fighting for rights, this one is for you! I highly recommend it!
August 23, 2013
Wow...this story! Let me just say I am ok with a future that is in this story to NEVER see the light of day! I swear I was on an emotional rollercostal ride with every word I read. Mark... I loved him...he had so much courage and strength even after everything he went through. Buddy... I just wanted to protect him and so wanted a happy ending for him... Poor baby and Trent... Oh Trent -sigh-
This is an exceptionally written novel. It is not for the faint of heart but you are so rooting for the guys in captivity! Just a great read. I do so hope there will be another installment and yeah I'm one of those suckers that hoping that someone who maybe considered gone... Really isn't gone... Hint... Hint.. Mark. I just can't let him go!
This is an exceptionally written novel. It is not for the faint of heart but you are so rooting for the guys in captivity! Just a great read. I do so hope there will be another installment and yeah I'm one of those suckers that hoping that someone who maybe considered gone... Really isn't gone... Hint... Hint.. Mark. I just can't let him go!
September 24, 2014
This is the scariest horror book I've ever read because it's something that can happen so easily. No fluff, no happy ending, a lot of death and suffering. The blurb describes it well but the writing makes it much more powerful.
If I could make one change, it would be to lighten the book up just a little in some spots, if only to give the reader a short break. This is a difficult but worthwhile read.
Can I love a book I hate?
If I could make one change, it would be to lighten the book up just a little in some spots, if only to give the reader a short break. This is a difficult but worthwhile read.
Can I love a book I hate?
November 3, 2016
Another book I couldn't finish, so gave it the 2 star rating (even though once I finish it I'm sure it will deserve more) and am moving on.
I may pick this up and try to finish at some point, but at the moment I'm just too busy to try and force myself to read something that doesn't hold my interest.
(Sorry Jacob - you know I love you, doll!!)
I may pick this up and try to finish at some point, but at the moment I'm just too busy to try and force myself to read something that doesn't hold my interest.
(Sorry Jacob - you know I love you, doll!!)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
to-buy
March 11, 2013I really want to read this but can someone please tell me if it's a menage or not?? Blurb makes me think it is!
never-never-never
December 26, 2011More a maybe-when-I-feel-I-want-to-cry
Read
May 27, 2015DNF - I made it to 25% and it wasn't holding my interest.
to-read-maybe
February 27, 2015Maybe when I'm feeling masochistic and don't feel like reading a conventional HEA.
July 13, 2016
4 stars.
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