Silent Consent

by Circa24

The dystopian world of Silent Consent thrusts readers into a grim, plausible future. Since the end of the carbon era and the collapse of the old empire, the Founder States have used the draconian demotions proposed by Rene Strongbow and Lucrecia Tarquin to punish energy crimes and nepotism. Humans, being what they are, corrupted the system meant to end corruption. As a result, a society that has modeled itself on a warped sense of classical pride, one that preaches that the convicts deserve whatever they get, has begun to implode

The world's dependence on fossil fuels has become a relic of the past, and human labor now supports the lifestyle of a few powerful clans and a ruthless political regime dedicated to maintaining control of the remaining resources. Over the disenfranchised and political dissidents looms the threat of 'demotion' - a grim fate that reduces them to mere objects.

Amidst this oppressive backdrop, a courageous few recognize the injustice of this world and, despite societal pressures, cannot shut their eyes against it. Silent Consent leads us on a perilous journey through the lives of those who dare to challenge the status quo, offering a poignant exploration of their struggles in a society teetering on the brink of darkness.

Silent Consent looks not toward a technologically advanced future for which we may hope. Instead, it foresees what could happen if we don’t conserve resources for our descendants. It gives a raw vision of a world where our descendants live within our legacy of pollution, greed, and waste.

Genres: Science Fiction

428 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 7, 2022

About the author

Circa24 is a professor of Biology. She received a Doctorate in Zoology from The University of Toronto. For many years, she has taught classes on environmental biology and animal behavior. She has spoken at international conferences on the biological roots of cruelty, discrimination, and greed. She uses the pen name Circa24 to distinguish her creative writing from her technical and non-fiction works. Author’s comment: “Hey, if a pseudonym is good enough for Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, Mary Ann Evans, and Samuel Clements, then it’s good enough for me.”.

Reviews

[Claire Richoux Herbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book. Especially if this ever happens

[Marijo · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's something about dystopian novels that intrigues me, and Silent Consent is one of the best I've read in a long time. You won't like all the characters, but you'll grasp their motives. Even the "heroes" are flawed, but in their world, they couldn't be any other way. Silent Consent explores a world in which our access to cheap energy has long faded into history (known as the Carbon Era), and a rigid caste system has taken hold in a desperate attempt at survival. Garry, whom we first meet on his eighth birthday, grows up to become a "Scent," (sentinal) in a squad and district that's bucking the system and trying to help the "Nameless" who function as dehumanized sources of energy.

One of the best books I've read this past year.

[Valerie Ramage · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a DNF for me. Maybe I can come back to it in the future, but I would prefer to read something I enjoy.

[Ptera Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. It was incredibly disquieting because it or a future like it could come to pass. It takes place about 300 years after the end of cheap, concentrated, carbon-based and nuclear energy, and the civilization has reverted to enslavement to make up the deficit. The upper classes maintain control with threats of a most humiliating punishment. There is no death penalty because there's no profit in it. Instead, the convicted, and often their families, are sentenced to become "Nameless" in the draconian system, reducing them to objects held in common by the state. The system that has dominated the culture for centuries is experiencing trouble, and some people struggle to hasten its end.