What do you think?
Rate this book
Life on the Preservation
Inside the Seattle Preservation Dome it's always the Fifth of October, the city caught in an endless time loop. "Reformed" graffiti artist Ian Palmer is the only one who knows the truth, and he is desperate to wake up the rest of the city before the alien Curator of this human museum erases Ian's identity forever. Discover the reality bending SF of this new author in this astonishing story.Inside the Seattle Preservation Dome it's always the Fifth of October, the city caught in an endless time loop. "Reformed" graffiti artist Ian Palmer is the only one who knows the truth, and he is desperate to wake up the rest of the city before the alien Curator of this human museum erases Ian's identity forever. Outside the Dome the world lies in apocalyptic ruin. Small town teenager Kylie is one of the few survivors to escape both the initial shock wave and the effects of the poison rains that follow. Now she must make her way across the blasted lands pursued by a mad priest and menaced by skin-and-bone things that might once have been human. Her destination is the Preservation, and her mission is to destroy it. But once inside, she meets Ian, and together they discover that Preservation reality is even stranger than it already appears.
384 pages, Paperback
First published May 27, 2013
4 people are currently reading
220 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
deals
February 5, 20165 February 2016: $2.99 on Kindle
February 12, 2016
“Beautifully strange.”
Comment on the cover:
One look at the cover and you will say, "What is this?". I first thought this was a zombie novel, but as I read through the book, it was not the typical modern zombie type --- it was more like the clueless, trapped android type. The leading lady was also not the common women from books I usually read (which is YA), so her appearance was new and odd for me. The good side was that it was not cliché. Overall, the cover was really bizarre and for a personal preference, I would not be very enthusiastic as to what I would read inside.
Plot summary:
"Inside, it's always the same day. Outside, there are no days left."
It is always the fifth of October in the Seattle Preservation Dome. Ian is the only one who knows the truth and made it his mission to wake up the city before the aliens erase his identity. Kylie is the only one who was not contaminated with the sickness that the post-apocalyptic world spread, and made it her mission to destroy the Preservation. They met inside, and together uncovered puzzling events that were even more perplexing than what was once known.
Book discussion:
The chapters were in third-person point-of-view, usually interchanging among Kylie, Ian and the Curator. The book was light on science with adequate technical terms, but nonetheless would satisfy a sci-fi enthusiast. It was not for the faint of the heart, because some graphic, sexual scenes were vividly described, whether it belongs to the common bed scene or to mutilations common in National Geographic. Lots of déjà vu would happen, which perfectly (but annoyingly) captured Ian's twisted life. The mad priest, who I believe would follow Kylie to the end of the world (literally and figuratively) was what I would call the mushroom villain. He was there, then he was not there. Lastly, the Curator, who was given very few chapters to develop his character, was interesting. His first appearance would make any reader wanting for more.
My journey:
This book was temporarily given to me by my friend, Ayra. Though she has only read two chapters, she wanted me to read it for she found this "weird". After I read the first few chapters, I definitely agreed with her. For some reason, I know I would undoubtedly finish this book. I was hooked by the concept of time loop, because one of my most favorite books, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, was by the same idea. Shaking my morality through the unpleasant actions of Father Jim also did the trick for me to keep reading. Skillingstead did an agreeable job of portraying Ian and Kylie's lives separately, with all their problems, past relationships and well-being unstable, then suddenly fate brought them together to be stronger (or more complicated). I also think that the beginning was slow and the ending rushed, not a good combination, but the middle made up for it.
What I like:
1. Disturbing characters. Disturbing scenes. Disturbing place. Disturbing EVERYTHING. I liked it, though. What's a book without at least tingling your mind and soul?
2. Philosophical questions! While reading the book, sometimes I asked, "Is my life and never-ending, repeating one?", "Am I just an android with a predictable action every day without even knowing it?". Some crazy, philosophical questions.
What I dislike:
I swear my head would have been blown by the never-ending scene of Ian making his coffee every morning. I was like, "Okay, this scene again, damn this was so crazy! Wake up, people in the loop!".
Round up and recommendation:
I rarely finish these kinds of books in such a short time, but I find the book an easy (but disturbing) read. I recommend this to all science fiction readers looking for a thrill. If dystopia, aliens, time loop and a balance of romance and sex interest you, then you might want to read this. Beware though, for mature audience only!
Sample excerpt:
Jack Skillingstead, 2013, 360
Full review on my blog: https://geelinlovesconan.wordpress.co...
Comment on the cover:
One look at the cover and you will say, "What is this?". I first thought this was a zombie novel, but as I read through the book, it was not the typical modern zombie type --- it was more like the clueless, trapped android type. The leading lady was also not the common women from books I usually read (which is YA), so her appearance was new and odd for me. The good side was that it was not cliché. Overall, the cover was really bizarre and for a personal preference, I would not be very enthusiastic as to what I would read inside.
Plot summary:
"Inside, it's always the same day. Outside, there are no days left."
It is always the fifth of October in the Seattle Preservation Dome. Ian is the only one who knows the truth and made it his mission to wake up the city before the aliens erase his identity. Kylie is the only one who was not contaminated with the sickness that the post-apocalyptic world spread, and made it her mission to destroy the Preservation. They met inside, and together uncovered puzzling events that were even more perplexing than what was once known.
Book discussion:
The chapters were in third-person point-of-view, usually interchanging among Kylie, Ian and the Curator. The book was light on science with adequate technical terms, but nonetheless would satisfy a sci-fi enthusiast. It was not for the faint of the heart, because some graphic, sexual scenes were vividly described, whether it belongs to the common bed scene or to mutilations common in National Geographic. Lots of déjà vu would happen, which perfectly (but annoyingly) captured Ian's twisted life. The mad priest, who I believe would follow Kylie to the end of the world (literally and figuratively) was what I would call the mushroom villain. He was there, then he was not there. Lastly, the Curator, who was given very few chapters to develop his character, was interesting. His first appearance would make any reader wanting for more.
My journey:
This book was temporarily given to me by my friend, Ayra. Though she has only read two chapters, she wanted me to read it for she found this "weird". After I read the first few chapters, I definitely agreed with her. For some reason, I know I would undoubtedly finish this book. I was hooked by the concept of time loop, because one of my most favorite books, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, was by the same idea. Shaking my morality through the unpleasant actions of Father Jim also did the trick for me to keep reading. Skillingstead did an agreeable job of portraying Ian and Kylie's lives separately, with all their problems, past relationships and well-being unstable, then suddenly fate brought them together to be stronger (or more complicated). I also think that the beginning was slow and the ending rushed, not a good combination, but the middle made up for it.
What I like:
1. Disturbing characters. Disturbing scenes. Disturbing place. Disturbing EVERYTHING. I liked it, though. What's a book without at least tingling your mind and soul?
2. Philosophical questions! While reading the book, sometimes I asked, "Is my life and never-ending, repeating one?", "Am I just an android with a predictable action every day without even knowing it?". Some crazy, philosophical questions.
What I dislike:
I swear my head would have been blown by the never-ending scene of Ian making his coffee every morning. I was like, "Okay, this scene again, damn this was so crazy! Wake up, people in the loop!".
Round up and recommendation:
I rarely finish these kinds of books in such a short time, but I find the book an easy (but disturbing) read. I recommend this to all science fiction readers looking for a thrill. If dystopia, aliens, time loop and a balance of romance and sex interest you, then you might want to read this. Beware though, for mature audience only!
Sample excerpt:
Emotion tightened his throat, choking off his next few words. He swallowed hard. This was the thing he always feared, wasn't it? You let someone in, you love someone, and they leave you. It was so freaking simple and the pain was so easy to avoid: Don't love.
Jack Skillingstead, 2013, 360
Full review on my blog: https://geelinlovesconan.wordpress.co...
October 24, 2013
The rational vs. the romantic - A struggle for meaning in life.
The word "Life" in this title resonates with heavy irony, I believe, because it is declares the main poignant theme(s) of this novel: - What is life? What does it mean to live? Is life worth the struggle? What constitutes "real life", real consciousness, real identity? The word "preservation" is also very full of resonance: - before we begin the book, we don't know exactly what this means; it isn't clear whether this "preservation" is a good or a bad thing, or a mixture of both. Usually, to "preserve" something is a good thing - to preserve history or precious objects, or to preserve life itself. In this post-apocalyptic world, surely a "preservation" is a sign of hope? But what if preserving a simulated semblance of life is actually a nightmare, a cruel trick, which tortures humanity and strips us of our individuality and free will? Who is in control? Fate? A creator? Or ourselves?
There is so much to delve into with this novel, I had a struggle to start writing this review at first. But doing so has been almost as rewarding as reading the book itself. Unlike some of the negative commentators, I did very much connect with the characters, especially the male protagonist, Ian, who I felt very fond of and identified with on more levels than I expected.
What made this novel so appealing, fascinating and gripping for me, was the superb sensory, visceral and incredibly realistic depiction of Ian's nightmarish existence inside this "preservation" and his struggle to wake up and cling to reality, life and meaning, in an otherwise meaningless world. Aliens and experiments aside, I love to think of this preservation dome as a metaphor for Ian's own mind. In fact, the mysterious character, "the Curator" (who reminds me of the Wizard of Oz: - the shadowy being that may or may not be the creator of this world) suggests that he is not in fact the puller of the strings, but that Ian himself has "lensed" this preservation dome into existence. It is, perhaps, a product of his own disturbed, traumatized, grief-stricken mind. This revelation is never fully explained or established however, and the truth about the preservation remains a mystery. However, whatever the truth really is, I think the preservation dome is a brilliant, poignant psycho-analysis of this young man's mind going through deep grief and post traumatic stress disorder. (But then, I am partial to arm-chair psychology). After all, Ian lost his mother to suicide and is constantly haunted by horrific visions of her corpse in her over-flowing bath tub. And then we watch as Ian is caught helplessly in a loop of reliving his own suicide attempt, time and time again. I can't think of a worse nightmare: - having to reawaken the morning after you try to commit suicide - i.e. to escape your personal hell, only to find you're still in it and stuck there, with seemingly no escape! The agony of this meaninglessness is the epitome of despair. But, I love watching how Ian's character develops and gradually recovers from this despair and starts to cling to hope, and the possibility that there IS meaning after all. Of course it doesn't happen quickly; like all grieving processes, it is a slow and painful journey, with many regressions back into despair and a checking back out of reality. But then, new sparks of life return and the character slowly inches forward towards reawakening, enlightenment and hope.
I didn't exactly identify with Kylie, but that didn't matter. I connected with her and liked her character as almost the antithesis of Ian, or perhaps the remedy for Ian's despair. I admired her bravery, tenacity, spirit and passion for life. Someone claimed she seemed too well balanced to be a victim of such rape and trauma, but I think her character is real and believable because she is just incredibly strong, energetic, young and full of zest for life, despite her circumstances. She is determined to survive and this determination carries her through the disastrous world she finds herself in. (And let's face it, I'm a sucker for strong female characters - I can't stand simpering female victims). I like the fact that she's not afraid to wield a gun, face her main enemy (the priest) and stand up to her other foes (the other bullies) and potential enemies (the zombie-creatures). She is a cute, quirky, female hero, and I couldn't help rooting for her.
Having connected with the two main protagonists (Ian and Kylie) therefore, I enjoyed the chemistry between them when they finally meet, and found it believable, compelling and poignant. There is an element of "fate" about their meeting: - it seems to be coincidental yet "meant to be" in a truly romantic way. However, this is described in very rational and far-from-corny way. Both try to dismiss the idea of "fate" and "luck": - Ian doesn't believe he deserves happiness; Kylie doesn't believe she doesn't deserve it. She's a bold, carpe diem kind of gal and Ian is seized by her passion. Ian's awakening from the nightmare that the preservation creates with each repeating day-loop, is fueled by his sudden new attraction to Kylie and the hope for the future that she brings to him. As he says, she makes him real. Whether he is a real human or an android, (we never really know, and it doesn't really matter) his sense of reality, identity and purpose in life is largely dependent on and generated by Kylie, or his new found passion for her. I love how Skillingstead takes romance and dissects it, rationally and logically and analyzes it from all angles, and yet, at the end of the day, we still get romance! It's somehow exhilarating.
Kylie entering the dome of course dispels the theory that this place is just a creation of Ian's mind. Suddenly, the aliens, the androids, the strange technology that generates it all, become real with Kylie's invasion from the "outside world". I still love the paradoxes though, such as the possibility that the other characters, (i.e. Ian's friend Zach and Ian's sister, Vanessa), may or may not be mere androids or virtual beings in this holographic-like world, but may actually have their own consciences: - that they might in fact be real, living, conscious beings, not necessarily human, but valid beings nonetheless. I love how these ideas of humanity, identity, individuality, existentialism and consciousness are brilliantly explored in this novel. In fact, Zach and Vanessa are far more than just two-dimensional characters or programmed androids: - they also discover their own identities, and they also shape and influence Ian's life too. So it isn't just Kylie that Ian leans on: - he also finds meaningful friendship and connection with Zach and Vanessa too, which help to build up the case for hope: - hope that life is perhaps worth living after all.
I greatly enjoy Skillingstead's writing style, his use of uniquely descriptive prose, his skillful avoidance of cliche, his penetratingly accurate depictions of scenes, emotions, thoughts and ideas. He also creates a very well structured story that unfolds at just the right pace (in my opinion) to deliver the punches along the way that keep the reader gripped and pulled along. I particularly enjoyed the acceleration of the dramatic pace towards the end - even though I'm actually a fan of slow pace and psychological depth, I do appreciate a fast paced page-turning plot too, and Jack does both of these techniques extremely well. I could not put the book down, and kept turning pages quickly, and yet, at the same time, I had the immense satisfaction of re-reading many sections, to squeeze the juice out of their psychological depth. This is a wonderful balance and a mark of a truly good writer.
I love how, despite all the sci fi, the horror, the spacecrafts, the technology and the fun, whizz-bang, fire-work action stuff, there is also tenderness, delicacy, intricate exploration of human emotions, human connections, relationships and the underlying philosophical questions of life - why are we here? where did we come from? and is it all worth it? This will keep me coming back again and again to Skillingstead's novels. I can't wait to read the next one.
The word "Life" in this title resonates with heavy irony, I believe, because it is declares the main poignant theme(s) of this novel: - What is life? What does it mean to live? Is life worth the struggle? What constitutes "real life", real consciousness, real identity? The word "preservation" is also very full of resonance: - before we begin the book, we don't know exactly what this means; it isn't clear whether this "preservation" is a good or a bad thing, or a mixture of both. Usually, to "preserve" something is a good thing - to preserve history or precious objects, or to preserve life itself. In this post-apocalyptic world, surely a "preservation" is a sign of hope? But what if preserving a simulated semblance of life is actually a nightmare, a cruel trick, which tortures humanity and strips us of our individuality and free will? Who is in control? Fate? A creator? Or ourselves?
There is so much to delve into with this novel, I had a struggle to start writing this review at first. But doing so has been almost as rewarding as reading the book itself. Unlike some of the negative commentators, I did very much connect with the characters, especially the male protagonist, Ian, who I felt very fond of and identified with on more levels than I expected.
What made this novel so appealing, fascinating and gripping for me, was the superb sensory, visceral and incredibly realistic depiction of Ian's nightmarish existence inside this "preservation" and his struggle to wake up and cling to reality, life and meaning, in an otherwise meaningless world. Aliens and experiments aside, I love to think of this preservation dome as a metaphor for Ian's own mind. In fact, the mysterious character, "the Curator" (who reminds me of the Wizard of Oz: - the shadowy being that may or may not be the creator of this world) suggests that he is not in fact the puller of the strings, but that Ian himself has "lensed" this preservation dome into existence. It is, perhaps, a product of his own disturbed, traumatized, grief-stricken mind. This revelation is never fully explained or established however, and the truth about the preservation remains a mystery. However, whatever the truth really is, I think the preservation dome is a brilliant, poignant psycho-analysis of this young man's mind going through deep grief and post traumatic stress disorder. (But then, I am partial to arm-chair psychology). After all, Ian lost his mother to suicide and is constantly haunted by horrific visions of her corpse in her over-flowing bath tub. And then we watch as Ian is caught helplessly in a loop of reliving his own suicide attempt, time and time again. I can't think of a worse nightmare: - having to reawaken the morning after you try to commit suicide - i.e. to escape your personal hell, only to find you're still in it and stuck there, with seemingly no escape! The agony of this meaninglessness is the epitome of despair. But, I love watching how Ian's character develops and gradually recovers from this despair and starts to cling to hope, and the possibility that there IS meaning after all. Of course it doesn't happen quickly; like all grieving processes, it is a slow and painful journey, with many regressions back into despair and a checking back out of reality. But then, new sparks of life return and the character slowly inches forward towards reawakening, enlightenment and hope.
I didn't exactly identify with Kylie, but that didn't matter. I connected with her and liked her character as almost the antithesis of Ian, or perhaps the remedy for Ian's despair. I admired her bravery, tenacity, spirit and passion for life. Someone claimed she seemed too well balanced to be a victim of such rape and trauma, but I think her character is real and believable because she is just incredibly strong, energetic, young and full of zest for life, despite her circumstances. She is determined to survive and this determination carries her through the disastrous world she finds herself in. (And let's face it, I'm a sucker for strong female characters - I can't stand simpering female victims). I like the fact that she's not afraid to wield a gun, face her main enemy (the priest) and stand up to her other foes (the other bullies) and potential enemies (the zombie-creatures). She is a cute, quirky, female hero, and I couldn't help rooting for her.
Having connected with the two main protagonists (Ian and Kylie) therefore, I enjoyed the chemistry between them when they finally meet, and found it believable, compelling and poignant. There is an element of "fate" about their meeting: - it seems to be coincidental yet "meant to be" in a truly romantic way. However, this is described in very rational and far-from-corny way. Both try to dismiss the idea of "fate" and "luck": - Ian doesn't believe he deserves happiness; Kylie doesn't believe she doesn't deserve it. She's a bold, carpe diem kind of gal and Ian is seized by her passion. Ian's awakening from the nightmare that the preservation creates with each repeating day-loop, is fueled by his sudden new attraction to Kylie and the hope for the future that she brings to him. As he says, she makes him real. Whether he is a real human or an android, (we never really know, and it doesn't really matter) his sense of reality, identity and purpose in life is largely dependent on and generated by Kylie, or his new found passion for her. I love how Skillingstead takes romance and dissects it, rationally and logically and analyzes it from all angles, and yet, at the end of the day, we still get romance! It's somehow exhilarating.
Kylie entering the dome of course dispels the theory that this place is just a creation of Ian's mind. Suddenly, the aliens, the androids, the strange technology that generates it all, become real with Kylie's invasion from the "outside world". I still love the paradoxes though, such as the possibility that the other characters, (i.e. Ian's friend Zach and Ian's sister, Vanessa), may or may not be mere androids or virtual beings in this holographic-like world, but may actually have their own consciences: - that they might in fact be real, living, conscious beings, not necessarily human, but valid beings nonetheless. I love how these ideas of humanity, identity, individuality, existentialism and consciousness are brilliantly explored in this novel. In fact, Zach and Vanessa are far more than just two-dimensional characters or programmed androids: - they also discover their own identities, and they also shape and influence Ian's life too. So it isn't just Kylie that Ian leans on: - he also finds meaningful friendship and connection with Zach and Vanessa too, which help to build up the case for hope: - hope that life is perhaps worth living after all.
I greatly enjoy Skillingstead's writing style, his use of uniquely descriptive prose, his skillful avoidance of cliche, his penetratingly accurate depictions of scenes, emotions, thoughts and ideas. He also creates a very well structured story that unfolds at just the right pace (in my opinion) to deliver the punches along the way that keep the reader gripped and pulled along. I particularly enjoyed the acceleration of the dramatic pace towards the end - even though I'm actually a fan of slow pace and psychological depth, I do appreciate a fast paced page-turning plot too, and Jack does both of these techniques extremely well. I could not put the book down, and kept turning pages quickly, and yet, at the same time, I had the immense satisfaction of re-reading many sections, to squeeze the juice out of their psychological depth. This is a wonderful balance and a mark of a truly good writer.
I love how, despite all the sci fi, the horror, the spacecrafts, the technology and the fun, whizz-bang, fire-work action stuff, there is also tenderness, delicacy, intricate exploration of human emotions, human connections, relationships and the underlying philosophical questions of life - why are we here? where did we come from? and is it all worth it? This will keep me coming back again and again to Skillingstead's novels. I can't wait to read the next one.
September 2, 2013
This book was absolutely terrible, and I have no idea why I didn't just stop reading it 100 pages in. First, characterization. There's none. The male lead, Ian, has depression. That's it. I would say that he's a graffiti artist, but that's a plot device not characterization because there is no reason why he does that, or what it means to him. The female lead, Kylie, was molested and is being chased by a guy who wants to cut of her clitoris. Yes, I'm completely serious. And if you forget that, don't worry, she'll remind you about it constantly. It's in fact the only conversation she has with anyone. Oh, she likes movies and romance. You know, that girl stuff that girls like. And can fly a plane, because it's necessary for her to be able to fly a plane for the plot. There is no character development, lessons learned, and the only reason you're supposed to cheer for the two of them is that they "have an amazing connection". Seriously?
So after not having any characters, you'd hope at least there was a good plot to make up for it. There might have been somewhere if the pacing was not completely atrocious. I felt like I was in a bad choose your own adventure novel where you turned to page 50, "Father Jim randomly pops out of a corner again!", turn to page 35 "You crash your motorcycle!" There is no building tension, things just randomly happen. I'm curious whether Ian's whole first part of the book was just written first, and the author went crap, I need to find like 5 more random things for Kylie to do, um, let's get her kidnapped for 4.5 minutes. Let's have her make a zombie friend that has nothing to do with anything. Ugh.
The only shred of anything vaguely interesting is the Curator, who I guess has about 6 pages to make him barely a character, and then just became a source of info dumping. A book where it's Groundhog Day and then the Curator is going around making art of people's memories and selling it to them and slowly changing the world around him? That might actually be a book I could read!
Let's cap it off with some super awkward sex scenes, that were really not necessary. Oh except that ejaculation seems to be the only way to wake up as a real human.
Basically, if you're into people being molested, people who talk about killing themselves, clitoris mutilation (like in National Geographic!), nonsensical sci fi explanations for things happening, moist vaginal folds, and a lot of stuff that amounts to absolutely nothing, this is a great book for you!
So after not having any characters, you'd hope at least there was a good plot to make up for it. There might have been somewhere if the pacing was not completely atrocious. I felt like I was in a bad choose your own adventure novel where you turned to page 50, "Father Jim randomly pops out of a corner again!", turn to page 35 "You crash your motorcycle!" There is no building tension, things just randomly happen. I'm curious whether Ian's whole first part of the book was just written first, and the author went crap, I need to find like 5 more random things for Kylie to do, um, let's get her kidnapped for 4.5 minutes. Let's have her make a zombie friend that has nothing to do with anything. Ugh.
The only shred of anything vaguely interesting is the Curator, who I guess has about 6 pages to make him barely a character, and then just became a source of info dumping. A book where it's Groundhog Day and then the Curator is going around making art of people's memories and selling it to them and slowly changing the world around him? That might actually be a book I could read!
Let's cap it off with some super awkward sex scenes, that were really not necessary. Oh except that ejaculation seems to be the only way to wake up as a real human.
Basically, if you're into people being molested, people who talk about killing themselves, clitoris mutilation (like in National Geographic!), nonsensical sci fi explanations for things happening, moist vaginal folds, and a lot of stuff that amounts to absolutely nothing, this is a great book for you!
March 9, 2017
How to word right now?
Lets just say I'm in shock after reading this book. This book crosses from boring to ridiculous in nothing flat. I'm mostly in shock that I read through the whole thing more than anything and was strangely entertained.
In this story, we follow two protagonists - Ian, who has issues. Ever seen ground hog day? Well imagine a less funny, extremely depressing Bill Murray who has forgotten that he is living the same day over and over again and you have Ian. His arc is him not knowing what is going for for roughly a hundred pages while he mopes around the King County area with his friend Zak.
Now Zak sounded interesting. He was a hipster from Bellevue who works for Microsoft. THroughout Ian's pages, all I could think about was how much more interesting it would be to read about Zak.
Alas, Zak is not our second protagonist. The second protagonist is Kylie, the last woman on the face of the earth who can have orgasms. I can not even begin. This is her defining trait, because otherwise she is so extremely passive she needed a crazy stalker who wanted to take away her ability to have orgasms in order for the plot to move forward. If you can't tell by now, Kylie's arc is the ridiculous bordering on frustrating.
Honestly, I don't know what this book wanted to be. There's aliens, a crazy pedophile, a gay curator who is not actually human, androids, and a weird time paradox thing. Why? Because why the fuck not. Also sex. If there was one thing this book needed it was more sex and it has it. As a matter of fact its a major plot point, maybe even the climax.
Yes, kill me now.
Lets just say I'm in shock after reading this book. This book crosses from boring to ridiculous in nothing flat. I'm mostly in shock that I read through the whole thing more than anything and was strangely entertained.
In this story, we follow two protagonists - Ian, who has issues. Ever seen ground hog day? Well imagine a less funny, extremely depressing Bill Murray who has forgotten that he is living the same day over and over again and you have Ian. His arc is him not knowing what is going for for roughly a hundred pages while he mopes around the King County area with his friend Zak.
Now Zak sounded interesting. He was a hipster from Bellevue who works for Microsoft. THroughout Ian's pages, all I could think about was how much more interesting it would be to read about Zak.
Alas, Zak is not our second protagonist. The second protagonist is Kylie, the last woman on the face of the earth who can have orgasms. I can not even begin. This is her defining trait, because otherwise she is so extremely passive she needed a crazy stalker who wanted to take away her ability to have orgasms in order for the plot to move forward. If you can't tell by now, Kylie's arc is the ridiculous bordering on frustrating.
Honestly, I don't know what this book wanted to be. There's aliens, a crazy pedophile, a gay curator who is not actually human, androids, and a weird time paradox thing. Why? Because why the fuck not. Also sex. If there was one thing this book needed it was more sex and it has it. As a matter of fact its a major plot point, maybe even the climax.
Yes, kill me now.
January 2, 2019
I found this novel exciting and entertaining. I am a fan of PKD and KvG and saw some of their ideas replicated here. The discussions of the forms of thought being shared among unconnected organisms excited me because I had not yet read Sheldrake (error rectified). The story itself with the interconnectedness of characters and a fast paced plot made me feel good as I zipped through the pages. Aside from JS's literary fore-bearers, I have never seen anything like this and enjoyed it immensely. I pre-ordered his next project which drops March 19, 2019.
April 14, 2020
A post-apocalyptic novel meets PKD 'what is reality' discourse. Of course, PKD novels themselves were usually set in sad worlds, but this links together something like Dark City with a more action oriented post-apocalyptic survival novel like Station 11.
Much better than I expected, although parts of it were somewhat frustrating (if realistic -- what exactly could one person do when confronted with )
Much better than I expected, although parts of it were somewhat frustrating (if realistic -- what exactly could one person do when confronted with )
May 11, 2022
In a variation on the Matrix theme, the inhabitants of Seattle here are stuck in a time loop that endlessly repeats the day, creating an illusion that hides the fact that aliens have invaded and devastated much of the country. Seattle is covered by a dome--the "preservation"--that perpetuates the illusion and keeps those inside confined, though they are unaware of their imprisonment. The story is engaging, with believable characters doing their best to navigate their newfound self-awareness. Good writing and plenty of suspense will keep the pages turning for fans of dystopian thrillers.
September 18, 2020
I purchased this book at an author's event. This book is kinda fun because it's set in Seattle. It follows young people who are experiencing repeating days after an apocalyptic event. There are some disturbing sexual assault scenes that were difficult to read. I liked the characters, but the plot didn't flow.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2019
Good idea but really boring execution. Every time I thought the story was finally going somewhere, it... didn't. By the end the whole thing felt kind of pointless.
October 21, 2014
While it may not have been a box office success, the praise afforded to Edge of Tomorrow indicates that there’s still mileage in the Groundhog Day concept. This shouldn't be surprising. It’s a SFnal idea that’s ripe with dramatic and comedic potential. The liberty bestowed to someone who is self aware and stuck in a time loop – you can do anything to anyone (including yourself) and get away with it – is also the loop’s curse – without consequences to our actions life quickly stops having meaning.
Jack Skillingstead is aware of all this, both the story potential and the fact that the concept is not, yet, tapped out. Life on The Preservation, based on Skillingstead’s 2006 short story of the same name, is set in Seattle on a single day in 2012 that keeps repeating. Ian, a twenty something graffiti artist who is still coping with the suicide of his mother when he was a young boy, is made aware of the time loop by his gamer friend Zach.
But that’s only part of the story. Unwilling to cover similar ground to other writers who've played in the Groundhog Day sandpit, Skillingstead decides to throw an alien invasion, post-humanism, post apocalyptic Earth and time travel (beyond just the loop) into the mix.
A couple of these science fiction tropes are picked up in the story-line that, for the first half of the novel, runs alongside Ian’s plight in Seattle. We’re told the story of Kylie and her struggle to survive in a post apocalyptic Earth where most of the population is either dead or dying from a plague. Kylie happens to be the one healthy person in town, which angers the local lunatic, Father Jim. He decides that the only way to deal with Kylie and her health is to circumcise her. After escaping Father Jim’s clutches, Kylie and her sick boyfriend decide to make their toward the strange dome covering Seattle.
Of the two story-lines, Ian’s section is the more intriguing mostly because of the Groundhog Day phenomena and partly because of hints of an alien presence that might be manipulating events.
The sections involving Kylie are not as gripping. This isn't the fault of Kylie who I found to be the strongest character in the novel, but rather the post apocalyptic setting which is really no different than any other post apocalyptic setting I’ve encountered. It’s not helped by Father Jim, the mustache twirling villain of the piece who is quite happy to employ sexual violence (he’d previously raped Kylie before the apocalypse) just to show us how bad he is. It’s all a bit tasteless and generic and if not for Kylie’s unwillingness to relent, or for that matter the sections dealing with Ian and Seattle, I’m not sure I could have continued with the book.
Things do rocket along though and in Part Two of the novel Kylie and Ian meet. A love story ensues, which while predictable makes sense within the context of the novel. Sadly for Ian, and the novel, Kylie vanishes seemingly taking the plot with her. The book stalls for the second half of Part Two as the Groundhog Day element again comes to the foreground and Ian and his friends (including his sister) go back to treading the same old ground – is this all real? Will I remember what happened during the previous time loop?
Fortunately things pick up again in Part Three. I won’t explain how why, but the actual climax is more then satisfying. Even the re-emergence of Father Jim isn't as annoying as I thought it might be.
Overall, while Life on The Preservation could have lost its flabby middle and done without Father Jim and his penchant for female circumcision, the mash-up of SFnal ideas and some decent character work makes for an entertaining read. I’m interested to see what Skillingstead does next.
Jack Skillingstead is aware of all this, both the story potential and the fact that the concept is not, yet, tapped out. Life on The Preservation, based on Skillingstead’s 2006 short story of the same name, is set in Seattle on a single day in 2012 that keeps repeating. Ian, a twenty something graffiti artist who is still coping with the suicide of his mother when he was a young boy, is made aware of the time loop by his gamer friend Zach.
But that’s only part of the story. Unwilling to cover similar ground to other writers who've played in the Groundhog Day sandpit, Skillingstead decides to throw an alien invasion, post-humanism, post apocalyptic Earth and time travel (beyond just the loop) into the mix.
A couple of these science fiction tropes are picked up in the story-line that, for the first half of the novel, runs alongside Ian’s plight in Seattle. We’re told the story of Kylie and her struggle to survive in a post apocalyptic Earth where most of the population is either dead or dying from a plague. Kylie happens to be the one healthy person in town, which angers the local lunatic, Father Jim. He decides that the only way to deal with Kylie and her health is to circumcise her. After escaping Father Jim’s clutches, Kylie and her sick boyfriend decide to make their toward the strange dome covering Seattle.
Of the two story-lines, Ian’s section is the more intriguing mostly because of the Groundhog Day phenomena and partly because of hints of an alien presence that might be manipulating events.
The sections involving Kylie are not as gripping. This isn't the fault of Kylie who I found to be the strongest character in the novel, but rather the post apocalyptic setting which is really no different than any other post apocalyptic setting I’ve encountered. It’s not helped by Father Jim, the mustache twirling villain of the piece who is quite happy to employ sexual violence (he’d previously raped Kylie before the apocalypse) just to show us how bad he is. It’s all a bit tasteless and generic and if not for Kylie’s unwillingness to relent, or for that matter the sections dealing with Ian and Seattle, I’m not sure I could have continued with the book.
Things do rocket along though and in Part Two of the novel Kylie and Ian meet. A love story ensues, which while predictable makes sense within the context of the novel. Sadly for Ian, and the novel, Kylie vanishes seemingly taking the plot with her. The book stalls for the second half of Part Two as the Groundhog Day element again comes to the foreground and Ian and his friends (including his sister) go back to treading the same old ground – is this all real? Will I remember what happened during the previous time loop?
Fortunately things pick up again in Part Three. I won’t explain how why, but the actual climax is more then satisfying. Even the re-emergence of Father Jim isn't as annoying as I thought it might be.
Overall, while Life on The Preservation could have lost its flabby middle and done without Father Jim and his penchant for female circumcision, the mash-up of SFnal ideas and some decent character work makes for an entertaining read. I’m interested to see what Skillingstead does next.
October 3, 2014
OMFG THIS WAS SOOOOO DEPRESSING!!! Seriously, the female main character (fmc) (see can't even remember her name) had a fucked up life from the age of 16, because of that sicko priest, and the male main character (mmc) was just . . . depressed. I don't want to read this shit! Most of the book was mmc wandering through Seattle noticing weird shit and being depressed about his life, while fmc is dealing with the crazy ass priest believing he a prophet and running the town telling everyone that fmc is evil cause he's jealous that she has a boyfriend (who is sweet but is WAY too old for her).
Then they don't even meet till 2/3 into the book and . . . I DON'T KNOW!!! I was getting so depressed and bored AND PISSED that nothing was happening that I started skimming like no tomorrow. Then it all comes down to that the people under the dome aren't even real people but androids!
Now this was dumb enough BUT IT GET'S EVEN BETTER!!! (Mr. Moviefone voice) After the big revaltion, which sucked ass, the mmc is then sent back into his body one year in the past. He then tries to get as many family and friends to movie or at least be in Seattle on the day the world ends, since he is told that their is literally nothing he can do to stop the invasion! WTF?!?!?!? He also goes to the fmc small town and woes her and tells her of the future, and is able to stop the priest from raping her. Then for a few chapters it turns into a stalker/romance book as the priest relentlessly followers her everywhere jealously as mmc takes fmc on dates.
Lastly the ending was just plain stupid! Of course it can't be a proper ending without racing toward the deadline of the world ending, BUT of course making it at the last minute to then constantly repeat the same 15 minutes over and OVER again after they arrived. THE END!
No seriously that's the end . . . I HATE THIS BOOK!
Then they don't even meet till 2/3 into the book and . . . I DON'T KNOW!!! I was getting so depressed and bored AND PISSED that nothing was happening that I started skimming like no tomorrow. Then it all comes down to that the people under the dome aren't even real people but androids!
Now this was dumb enough BUT IT GET'S EVEN BETTER!!! (Mr. Moviefone voice) After the big revaltion, which sucked ass, the mmc is then sent back into his body one year in the past. He then tries to get as many family and friends to movie or at least be in Seattle on the day the world ends, since he is told that their is literally nothing he can do to stop the invasion! WTF?!?!?!? He also goes to the fmc small town and woes her and tells her of the future, and is able to stop the priest from raping her. Then for a few chapters it turns into a stalker/romance book as the priest relentlessly followers her everywhere jealously as mmc takes fmc on dates.
Lastly the ending was just plain stupid! Of course it can't be a proper ending without racing toward the deadline of the world ending, BUT of course making it at the last minute to then constantly repeat the same 15 minutes over and OVER again after they arrived. THE END!
No seriously that's the end . . . I HATE THIS BOOK!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2014
What is identity? What makes you a person? What makes you you?
There are two stories that start the novel, first that of Ian, a stereotypical emo 20-something. He’s trying to find his place in the world but mostly wandering through the same patterns day after day. Until he realizes that it really is the same day, over and over, and he’s stuck in a dome that is protecting Seattle from … something.
The second story is of Kylie, survivor of the apocalypse and life in general, fleeing certain death for a chance at something, anything else.
This book really defies category. There are zombies and aliens and androids, cyberpunk theology meets metaphysical physics. Just when I think I’ve got a handle on it, it swoops to the left and down to the side a bit.
From the very first page I was hooked, with the whirlwind tour of some of my favorite spots in Seattle, obviously written by a native – the love shines through. I was able to visualize scenes inside the dome with clarity, though that experience is most likely just due to having been to the Lava Lounge, walking down Post Alley or prowling the bookstores on Capital Hill in person. But there were enough truly original ideas that I couldn’t pop a pre-drawn image in, I’d have to think. It transcended the hook of the repeating day motif, and doesn’t bog down in the survival aspect outside. It’s in turns cerebral and silly, monotonous and entirely fresh. The author completely nailed the ending which left me satisfied and pleased to add this to my list of books that get Seattle right.
It’s one of the nominees for the Philip K Dick award, which makes all the PKD quotes and homages a clever in joke. (http://www.philipkdickaward.org/)
There are two stories that start the novel, first that of Ian, a stereotypical emo 20-something. He’s trying to find his place in the world but mostly wandering through the same patterns day after day. Until he realizes that it really is the same day, over and over, and he’s stuck in a dome that is protecting Seattle from … something.
The second story is of Kylie, survivor of the apocalypse and life in general, fleeing certain death for a chance at something, anything else.
This book really defies category. There are zombies and aliens and androids, cyberpunk theology meets metaphysical physics. Just when I think I’ve got a handle on it, it swoops to the left and down to the side a bit.
From the very first page I was hooked, with the whirlwind tour of some of my favorite spots in Seattle, obviously written by a native – the love shines through. I was able to visualize scenes inside the dome with clarity, though that experience is most likely just due to having been to the Lava Lounge, walking down Post Alley or prowling the bookstores on Capital Hill in person. But there were enough truly original ideas that I couldn’t pop a pre-drawn image in, I’d have to think. It transcended the hook of the repeating day motif, and doesn’t bog down in the survival aspect outside. It’s in turns cerebral and silly, monotonous and entirely fresh. The author completely nailed the ending which left me satisfied and pleased to add this to my list of books that get Seattle right.
It’s one of the nominees for the Philip K Dick award, which makes all the PKD quotes and homages a clever in joke. (http://www.philipkdickaward.org/)
February 5, 2018
Inside the Seattle Preservation Dome "Reformed" graffiti artist Ian Palmer slowly awakes to the reality of his situation: it's always the Fifth of October, the city caught in an endless time loop which most of it's inhabitants are blissfully unaware of unless Ian tries to force them to remember.
Unbeknownst to Ian the world outside the Dome lies in apocalyptic ruin. Small town teenager Kylie is one of the few survivors to escape both the initial shock wave and the effects of the poison rains that follow.
This book surprised me with a quite fascinatingly well conceived plot. The cover description made me think it would be quite a light and easy read but the journey Ian goes through trying to remember his situation and share that memory with others was a lot more complex than I expected. The rebooting of the day, starting so much the same over and over again confused my sense of timeline in a way that at first I found annoying. As it continued however, I started to feel that it gave a very accurate representation of Ian's experience.
The story skips between Ian and Kylie, a tactic I am never that fond of but which gave a structure and timeline to the novel that would have been missing in the preservation's constant reboot. The small town mentality was very well described in Kylie's story and her journey to the preservation was... unexpected!
The two coming together was the obvious catalyst for the resolution of the story, a very satisfying ending, would definitely recommend to other science fiction reader, though it is light on the 'science' the concept it thoroughly interesting and well done.
Unbeknownst to Ian the world outside the Dome lies in apocalyptic ruin. Small town teenager Kylie is one of the few survivors to escape both the initial shock wave and the effects of the poison rains that follow.
This book surprised me with a quite fascinatingly well conceived plot. The cover description made me think it would be quite a light and easy read but the journey Ian goes through trying to remember his situation and share that memory with others was a lot more complex than I expected. The rebooting of the day, starting so much the same over and over again confused my sense of timeline in a way that at first I found annoying. As it continued however, I started to feel that it gave a very accurate representation of Ian's experience.
The story skips between Ian and Kylie, a tactic I am never that fond of but which gave a structure and timeline to the novel that would have been missing in the preservation's constant reboot. The small town mentality was very well described in Kylie's story and her journey to the preservation was... unexpected!
The two coming together was the obvious catalyst for the resolution of the story, a very satisfying ending, would definitely recommend to other science fiction reader, though it is light on the 'science' the concept it thoroughly interesting and well done.
August 19, 2013
Call it 3.6 stars. Good story, well-written, reads like a twilight-zone movie. Takes on the solitary personal angle of characters caught in the midst of an alien attack that leaves Seattle under a dome and stuck in a 24 hour time-loop. Meanwhile, everyone outside the enclosure is dead or dying.
The story focuses on a just a few characters all of whom are isolated, either alone with full knowledge of the circumstance, or held in oblivion and kept unaware.
As each day resets, all memory is wiped, but not so in the case of our main characters. Something is different about Ian, and somehow he got through to at least one friend. But even they can lose their way. Ian and his friend Zack are at times desperate, and must fight for their own awareness while searching for answers.
I might have given this 4 stars. The delivery is quite good, the simple story poignantly captures some human drama, gives it weight, and makes for a memorable read. I gave it 3.6 stars instead, simply because this high-quality book does not quite blow my mind. Which is just fine because that's not what it aimed for.
"Life on the Preservation" has the gravity of a television movie, a long Twilight-Zone episode, or a really terrific after-school special. There is a sweetness about it, a warmth that readers could find refreshing in the midst of an apocalypse.
Like the blue cover. It seems to me lately that all good books are blue, or is it just that all blue books are good?
The story focuses on a just a few characters all of whom are isolated, either alone with full knowledge of the circumstance, or held in oblivion and kept unaware.
As each day resets, all memory is wiped, but not so in the case of our main characters. Something is different about Ian, and somehow he got through to at least one friend. But even they can lose their way. Ian and his friend Zack are at times desperate, and must fight for their own awareness while searching for answers.
I might have given this 4 stars. The delivery is quite good, the simple story poignantly captures some human drama, gives it weight, and makes for a memorable read. I gave it 3.6 stars instead, simply because this high-quality book does not quite blow my mind. Which is just fine because that's not what it aimed for.
"Life on the Preservation" has the gravity of a television movie, a long Twilight-Zone episode, or a really terrific after-school special. There is a sweetness about it, a warmth that readers could find refreshing in the midst of an apocalypse.
Like the blue cover. It seems to me lately that all good books are blue, or is it just that all blue books are good?
May 26, 2016
I saw Life on the Preservation in a display of scifi award winners and nominees (in this case for the 2013 Phillip K. Dick Award) at University Bookstore in Seattle. I was intrigued by the campy cover and when I glanced at the synopsis and saw that the story was set in modern Seattle, I was hooked. I'm a sucker for stories about my favorite city. Skillingstead made good use of the Emerald City, with mentions of Vivace, The Pink Door, and other local favorites. I've always wondered what it would be like to live in New York, the setting for so many books. I imagine it's something like this--a sense of familiarity and a thrill at the fantastic events injected into your daily world.
LotP follows two characters stuck under a dome in Seattle where every day is October 5, 2012. The characters struggle with interesting questions: what does it mean to live in a city where every day repeats, and you're the only one who knows it? What happens if you can't leave? Should you destroy the city, try to wake people up, or just accept your fate? The plot felt a little Groundhog Day, but Skillingstead does contribute some interesting ideas to a storyline that I thought had thoroughly explored.
Recommended for science fiction lovers interested in time travel or Seattle, WA.
LotP follows two characters stuck under a dome in Seattle where every day is October 5, 2012. The characters struggle with interesting questions: what does it mean to live in a city where every day repeats, and you're the only one who knows it? What happens if you can't leave? Should you destroy the city, try to wake people up, or just accept your fate? The plot felt a little Groundhog Day, but Skillingstead does contribute some interesting ideas to a storyline that I thought had thoroughly explored.
Recommended for science fiction lovers interested in time travel or Seattle, WA.
July 21, 2013
Life on the preservation is a bit of a puzzle for a review, the book was at first really hard to get to grips with, the first chapters throwing out a LOT of information but then settling into some fast moving serious entertainment but then falling into a bit of a flat love story without giving any real purchase in the characters to get into. The set up is cool, very oldschool post apocalyptic and very atmospheric, the writing around events is really sharp and very well described but the beginning and the end seem a little rushed, leaving the rest seem a bit out of place. It was worth spending the time to get through but left a bit to be desired. I admit that I don’t know anything of the author and any previous work but I’d hazard a guess that he has probably penned some top notch short story work and despite my negative comments there is a lot of potential on show.
February 6, 2014
Funny to see that two of my friends gave this one four stars, because it just did not work for me. It's obvious the author is a Seattle local, and it was fun to be able to visualize many of the places where the book sets it's action. Unfortunately, that's as interesting as this one got for me. The main character was entirely unsympathetic, the villains (the Curator and Uncle Jim) just kind of petered out, and the dual stories featured a post-apocalyptic world (and, admittedly, I'm a bit over-post-apocalyptic-ed right now) and a depressing take on Groundhog Day. I can see the appeal of some of the concepts that are played with, even if they didn't gell for me. Plus, even though it's not the author's fault, I kept getting distracted by the many typos (including one "rhe" instead of "the", which any spell checker should have flagged).
January 13, 2014
Honestly, why aren't sci-fi writers treated like rock stars? Reading Life on the Preservation by Jack Skillingstead was like getting inside the brain of an alchemist. When sci-fi's broken, it's broken deeply, and intolerably. You can barely get past a page because the intricate clockwork just doesn't grind together, the whole machine quickly falls apart. In novel's like Skillingstead's, you eagerly jump to the next page. Each piece of the dance is executed with precision, perfectly timed.
Full review and more at: http://www.daveburton.com.au/blog/76s...
Full review and more at: http://www.daveburton.com.au/blog/76s...
September 2, 2013
You won't be able to put it down. It's a delightful and scary and often harrowing book (Father Jim is an epic villain). Comparisons with PKD are unavoidable, but only because not since Dick has someone done such eloquent exploration of paranoia and universal doubt and the existentially strange. The prose is great, too -- the kind that pulls you along effortlessly while somehow also surprising you with beautiful turns.
June 7, 2013
Not without its shortcomings this was a pretty entertaining book to read. I really liked the idea behind the story and its execution. I found, at times, it was difficult to relate to the characters who remained somewhat distant throughout the book.
All in all it was a very entertaining read. A more detailed review will appear on Speculative Book Review blog.
All in all it was a very entertaining read. A more detailed review will appear on Speculative Book Review blog.
March 22, 2017
This book just wasn't my cup of tea. I kept waiting for the story to get going, and in my mind it didn't until almost the end. But the book was well written enough for me to want to get to the end, and the characters were interesting.
Give this book a try if you enjoy science fiction and dystopian fiction.
Give this book a try if you enjoy science fiction and dystopian fiction.
February 28, 2014
This book was just so hard to stick with after a confusing and muddled start...the only thing that kept me reading was the knowledge that I paid 8 bucks for it so I had to finish it. Once it got rolling a bit it would abruptly swerve and leave me struggling to figure out what they heck just happened. I didn't connect with any of the characters....just kind of disappointed.
October 18, 2013
This is interesting but it struggles a little at the beginning and the ending is not quite the best option.
http://opionator.wordpress.com/2013/1...
http://opionator.wordpress.com/2013/1...
December 28, 2014
This had great potential, but unfortunately I just found it confusing. I didn't sympathise with the characters, I didn't find the 'bad guys' particularly evil, and overall it just didn't really seem to go anywhere. Disappointing.
June 23, 2013
This novel steals so many ideas from Alex Proyas' Dark City that it almost reads as fan fiction.
September 2, 2013
Groundhog day and a post apocalyptic world mix in this entertaining twilight zone type story
September 28, 2013
Disappointing. The premise was promising, but it didn't engage me with either plot development or characters. I gave up after about 90 pages.
April 25, 2014
So-so. No slow bits, but a little too derivative for my tastes. "Under The Dome" meets "50 First Dates", if you can imagine such a thing.
May 17, 2015
Great concept but the characters were really annoying.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews