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Idea War #1
Idea War: Volume 1
Sixteen-year-old Callie Baxter refuses to just sit tight and accept the invaders who have occupied her city. Underneath the new Government’s façade of order and fairness lies the ugly reason for its being here, and it’s up to Callie’s group of underground rebels to expose its brutal objective.
She’s worked hard to keep her fledgling group of passionate rebels alive, but as the Government’s hit squads narrow in on them, she realises she has only just begun to understand the pain of loss, and the true cost of growing up.
Abi Godsell uses the groundbreaking new format of a short story science fiction series for a highly entertaining and smart read. In the first instalment of the Idea War series, we’re introduced to the characters behind the resistance to the Chinese occupation of Johannesburg, South Africa. Through the perspectives of various characters, it soon becomes clear that the new government’s first priority is far removed from the one they propagate on the blimps that dot the city’s skyline.
The city represents a shining example of recovery to the outside world, but can a small group of determined teenagers overcome the decay that has taken root at its core?
She’s worked hard to keep her fledgling group of passionate rebels alive, but as the Government’s hit squads narrow in on them, she realises she has only just begun to understand the pain of loss, and the true cost of growing up.
Abi Godsell uses the groundbreaking new format of a short story science fiction series for a highly entertaining and smart read. In the first instalment of the Idea War series, we’re introduced to the characters behind the resistance to the Chinese occupation of Johannesburg, South Africa. Through the perspectives of various characters, it soon becomes clear that the new government’s first priority is far removed from the one they propagate on the blimps that dot the city’s skyline.
The city represents a shining example of recovery to the outside world, but can a small group of determined teenagers overcome the decay that has taken root at its core?
- GenresScience Fiction
61 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 21, 2013
49 people want to read
About the author
Abi Godsell
15 books24 followersI've been writing sci-fi, horror and urban magic short stories since 2006 and had several stories published in Something Wicked. In 2011 I won the South African Science Fiction and Fantasy's South African division of the Nova Short Story contest for my sci-fi piece "Taal". I also moonlights as an Urban Planning student at Wits.
I'm currently dreaming of free public transport and Internet access and musty basement libraries full of books and books and books. Creating new worlds is my speciality, and so I set my first novel, Idea War, in a dystopian future Johannesburg, where the recovery is cautious, hesitant.
I'm currently dreaming of free public transport and Internet access and musty basement libraries full of books and books and books. Creating new worlds is my speciality, and so I set my first novel, Idea War, in a dystopian future Johannesburg, where the recovery is cautious, hesitant.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 11, 2016
What a great start to what I assume will be a longer story. Set in Johannesburg after Chinese occupation in 2050 or so. I loved the gritty feel of my hometown in it's new brooding hatred of the occupying forces. Dark and angry and very well written. I can't wait to read the rest
December 4, 2013
I can't wait to read the next one! This short, but powerful book leaves you with more questions than answers, sure, but I couldn't put it down. It is action-packed and fun and yet it touches on some real and serious issues. I love that is is set in Joburg - a city that is already complex and in this dystopian future just gets more so.
February 12, 2015
Very short and obviously meant as a serial, this is how YA dystopias *should* read: dark and gritty.
October 24, 2019
Very Very impressive piece of work here. The author does a stunning job world building a dystopian future that can at times feel a little too real. Given current trends in our world, with a few political and societal missteps, it's easy to see how a future like this could come about. I think the best part I liked was that characters were a extremely well defined, and you could get a solid sense of who they were. the story likewise was quite imaginative and refreshing.
I wouldn't say the sci-fi itself was very strong, but the work is a solid fun read that keeps you going. You're compelled to read more. The next one in the series is on my reading list:)
I wouldn't say the sci-fi itself was very strong, but the work is a solid fun read that keeps you going. You're compelled to read more. The next one in the series is on my reading list:)
May 27, 2019
This book set in South Africa in a scary dystonian future makes me grateful that our current problems seem small in comparison! A unique and diverse cast of characters that highlight the strengths and courage of our rainbow nation, Idea War is a great read.
January 17, 2014
At some point before this novel begins, well into the 2050s, the Chinese Custodial Authority, or CCA, has taken ownership of South Africa. The world is slowly being destroyed by the Oil Wars and within South Africa, a microcosm of this world starts to play out. Callie, and the other members of the anti-CCA rebel alliance are fighting tooth and nail against the propaganda and violence that have stemmed from this new Oriental government, but the only way to fight violence, is with violence.
Though it starts slow, with jumps from present to past tense, and from primary characters, to those that barely matter, Idea War: Volume One contains ideas that many have thought, but few have been able to write down. Though it is a work of fiction, this novel puts into play a scenario that economists and military strategists alike have pondered, a scenario in which the Chinese government has taken over South Africa. What will become of the country is not given away, but the book makes subtle inferences to the world of Orwell’s 1984, a world in which freedom is rationed out by the government.
Idea War: Volume One is a work quite unlike any other. Writer, Abi Godsell’s style seems jagged and unusual at first, jumping from first to third person and from scenario to scenario faster than expected, but what is created in this style is a world that is all-engulfing, that takes the reader right into the heart of the resistance, into the struggle itself. Godsell has created, with this novel, a peek into a future that South Africans dread, but that may inevitably come to be true. Volume One is a triumph, a very special story that may be classified as a large dish of sci-fi with a good dose of truth. This is an ‘unputdownable’ work and drives impetus for what is sure to be another brilliant work, Volume Two.
Though it starts slow, with jumps from present to past tense, and from primary characters, to those that barely matter, Idea War: Volume One contains ideas that many have thought, but few have been able to write down. Though it is a work of fiction, this novel puts into play a scenario that economists and military strategists alike have pondered, a scenario in which the Chinese government has taken over South Africa. What will become of the country is not given away, but the book makes subtle inferences to the world of Orwell’s 1984, a world in which freedom is rationed out by the government.
Idea War: Volume One is a work quite unlike any other. Writer, Abi Godsell’s style seems jagged and unusual at first, jumping from first to third person and from scenario to scenario faster than expected, but what is created in this style is a world that is all-engulfing, that takes the reader right into the heart of the resistance, into the struggle itself. Godsell has created, with this novel, a peek into a future that South Africans dread, but that may inevitably come to be true. Volume One is a triumph, a very special story that may be classified as a large dish of sci-fi with a good dose of truth. This is an ‘unputdownable’ work and drives impetus for what is sure to be another brilliant work, Volume Two.
December 7, 2013
Idea War Other reviews at The Book Babe's Reads.
I'm going to start off by saying that Idea War was actually a pretty interesting read, but by clocking it in at around 54 pages, I feel like I just didn't get the immersion in this book that I typically like. I'm more of a novel girl.
If I'd read Idea War at full length, the complete story, I feel like I would have liked it more. Making it so short kind of left me with this feeling of an unresolved ending. I didn't understand a lot of the society or the world - there just wasn't enough backstory for my tastes. I was intrigued, but mostly confused throughout most of the book.
Also, I just didn't understand how a lot of the characters tied into the story. Some were obvious (there were changing points of view, slightly confusing), but some were just... not. I had to guess about a couple of them, that's for sure! I'd really like to know where this story is going - by being so short, little actually happened. There were a few super dramatic moments, and I've no doubt that it'll start to add up in the next books, but it was just cut off way too soon.
I've gotta say that the writing was very good, though. I really liked the writing - it was definitely one of the best parts, and what makes me interested to continue. All in all, Idea War was too short for me to really sink into the story, but it was an interesting read, and I'd like to check out the rest of the series.
I'm going to start off by saying that Idea War was actually a pretty interesting read, but by clocking it in at around 54 pages, I feel like I just didn't get the immersion in this book that I typically like. I'm more of a novel girl.
If I'd read Idea War at full length, the complete story, I feel like I would have liked it more. Making it so short kind of left me with this feeling of an unresolved ending. I didn't understand a lot of the society or the world - there just wasn't enough backstory for my tastes. I was intrigued, but mostly confused throughout most of the book.
Also, I just didn't understand how a lot of the characters tied into the story. Some were obvious (there were changing points of view, slightly confusing), but some were just... not. I had to guess about a couple of them, that's for sure! I'd really like to know where this story is going - by being so short, little actually happened. There were a few super dramatic moments, and I've no doubt that it'll start to add up in the next books, but it was just cut off way too soon.
I've gotta say that the writing was very good, though. I really liked the writing - it was definitely one of the best parts, and what makes me interested to continue. All in all, Idea War was too short for me to really sink into the story, but it was an interesting read, and I'd like to check out the rest of the series.
April 25, 2017
Science-fiction/Fantasy a new genre for me to venture into albeit slowly.
I've avoided this genre like one would the plague. It wasn't my thing. It was too far removed from reality, real life, that I could never fathom this world. Maybe I lacked the imagination it required to think those worlds into existence.
I am glad to announce that I am reading AND enjoying these stories, in small doses. I started with "Binti" by Nnedi Okorafor, a www.googreads.com author and I liked this one by Abi Godsell too.
Small but it packed a mean punch. I kept turning the pages in anticipation of what Callie, the protagonist, would do next. Very high-tech read but I didn't get lost in translation.
Abi writes well. Very well. She fused this cold, post apocalyptic world full of coded messages where everything was centrally controlled, with proper humans. People made of flesh and blood. People with hopes of a better country, a better world. People with dreams of a meaningful life. A purposeful life.
The narrative centred around Callie, a sixteen year old teenager, yearning and fighting for the freedom to live her life without any government restrictions. To just be. Reminded me of George Orwell's "Big Brother". She had help obviously. You cannot fight the establishment without your rat pack. There were a lot of explosions and cladenstein rendezvous. A myriad of gadgets and complicated gear coupled with workwear of the kind astronauts would adorn. Abi painted a picture so vivid that I could see the lightning blues and the tinfoil silvers.
I enjoyed this book because Abi set the tale here. Not only in South Africa but in Gauteng. Setting the story so close to home made it so real. So possible. What if Johannesburg, Soweto, Katlehong or Nigel were under siege? A few times I almost got emotional because those children, Chris, Thandeka, Band Aid and Blue Ribbons, could've been mine or my sister's or my neighbour's, being taught like that. Like children in a prison cell. A glass prison. We really have to guard against domination by one nation. We, as a people, have to value and protect our sovereignty. I loved Dumisani's character. He came across like a favourite uncle or brother.
Overall, excellent writing. The use of language and choice of diction was exceptional. Abi knows the subject matter well enough to not have peppered the book with technical jargon. I loved the cover and the map was great idea. It gave me a sense of the topography. The layout was not at eye-level. The sentences started too high on the page.
The book was way too young for me but I am definitely recommending it to teenagers and I will be reading the second one in this series.
Callie, my own heroine ♡.
I've avoided this genre like one would the plague. It wasn't my thing. It was too far removed from reality, real life, that I could never fathom this world. Maybe I lacked the imagination it required to think those worlds into existence.
I am glad to announce that I am reading AND enjoying these stories, in small doses. I started with "Binti" by Nnedi Okorafor, a www.googreads.com author and I liked this one by Abi Godsell too.
Small but it packed a mean punch. I kept turning the pages in anticipation of what Callie, the protagonist, would do next. Very high-tech read but I didn't get lost in translation.
Abi writes well. Very well. She fused this cold, post apocalyptic world full of coded messages where everything was centrally controlled, with proper humans. People made of flesh and blood. People with hopes of a better country, a better world. People with dreams of a meaningful life. A purposeful life.
The narrative centred around Callie, a sixteen year old teenager, yearning and fighting for the freedom to live her life without any government restrictions. To just be. Reminded me of George Orwell's "Big Brother". She had help obviously. You cannot fight the establishment without your rat pack. There were a lot of explosions and cladenstein rendezvous. A myriad of gadgets and complicated gear coupled with workwear of the kind astronauts would adorn. Abi painted a picture so vivid that I could see the lightning blues and the tinfoil silvers.
I enjoyed this book because Abi set the tale here. Not only in South Africa but in Gauteng. Setting the story so close to home made it so real. So possible. What if Johannesburg, Soweto, Katlehong or Nigel were under siege? A few times I almost got emotional because those children, Chris, Thandeka, Band Aid and Blue Ribbons, could've been mine or my sister's or my neighbour's, being taught like that. Like children in a prison cell. A glass prison. We really have to guard against domination by one nation. We, as a people, have to value and protect our sovereignty. I loved Dumisani's character. He came across like a favourite uncle or brother.
Overall, excellent writing. The use of language and choice of diction was exceptional. Abi knows the subject matter well enough to not have peppered the book with technical jargon. I loved the cover and the map was great idea. It gave me a sense of the topography. The layout was not at eye-level. The sentences started too high on the page.
The book was way too young for me but I am definitely recommending it to teenagers and I will be reading the second one in this series.
Callie, my own heroine ♡.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews