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Solid State
In the year 2036, humanity has achieved a nearly perfect digitally based society. Behind the scenes, a terrorist group known as The Liberators see it as their mission to free humanity from the shackles of social media. Aided by a rogue tech billionaire, they detonate a nuclear device over the heart of technology, the San Francisco Bay Area. Their act instantly turns back the clock two hundred years on the eight million people who live there, leading to widespread chaos and death.
In the aftermath of the attack, an ambitious, young Senate candidate rescues his family from the horrors of the disaster as more attacks are threatened. The man behind the attack learns he has been a pawn in a global game. Through an encounter with a mysterious stranger, he finds a pathway to redeem himself and make amends to those he has gravely harmed.
In the aftermath of the attack, an ambitious, young Senate candidate rescues his family from the horrors of the disaster as more attacks are threatened. The man behind the attack learns he has been a pawn in a global game. Through an encounter with a mysterious stranger, he finds a pathway to redeem himself and make amends to those he has gravely harmed.
580 pages, Hardcover
Published March 29, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 5, 2023
Just to be clear from the beginning, this 4-star rating is primarily for the author, Tim Knight. I have followed his financial blog, Slope of Hope, for years. He is a good writer, an excellent chartist, a smart ass (in a good way), and seems to be a thoroughly decent chap who views the world much as I do.
This book, however, is a mixed bag. The writing is good, including the dialogue. But the plot and the character development is a bit of a mess. I was drawn to the book by the prospect of reading the author's imaginings of what life would be like after an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) destroyed most/all technology in the SF Bay Area, where I reside. Instead, it felt like the EMP was just a plot device written in to sell books (it worked for me) and to move the action along. (As an aside, if you want to read a well-researched, well-imagined EMP book, check out One Second After.) I don't feel like the author took the time or endured the pain needed to imagine the details of life without technology in a land that was populated by, say, 1,500 humans per square mile but was suddenly reduced to a carrying capacity of maybe 5-10 people per square mile. I honestly feel that Mr. Knight thought the EMP would be a cool concept for a book but he is too nice a person to put himself through immersion in the horror of such an event in a populated area. (I say this as a self-published author who has shied away from writing about ideas I've had just to avoid the dark places it would lead my psyche.)
In Solid State, it seemed that humanity healed pretty quickly from the EMP and the plot continued, carried by a set of characters that just weren't very well developed. Major characters just kind of fell away and more minor characters carried on. I just didn't come away understanding what the author's point was, even though I thought I would be able to guess it ahead of time based on my familiarity with his blog posts. There were many well-written scenes that were clearly love letters to aspects of life that the author enjoys (bees, chickens, dogs, local restaurants, etc.), but they honestly didn't belong in this book.
In summary, it pains me to have to write this review and I have given it several days' thought before committing it to "paper". Sorry, Tim.
This book, however, is a mixed bag. The writing is good, including the dialogue. But the plot and the character development is a bit of a mess. I was drawn to the book by the prospect of reading the author's imaginings of what life would be like after an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) destroyed most/all technology in the SF Bay Area, where I reside. Instead, it felt like the EMP was just a plot device written in to sell books (it worked for me) and to move the action along. (As an aside, if you want to read a well-researched, well-imagined EMP book, check out One Second After.) I don't feel like the author took the time or endured the pain needed to imagine the details of life without technology in a land that was populated by, say, 1,500 humans per square mile but was suddenly reduced to a carrying capacity of maybe 5-10 people per square mile. I honestly feel that Mr. Knight thought the EMP would be a cool concept for a book but he is too nice a person to put himself through immersion in the horror of such an event in a populated area. (I say this as a self-published author who has shied away from writing about ideas I've had just to avoid the dark places it would lead my psyche.)
In Solid State, it seemed that humanity healed pretty quickly from the EMP and the plot continued, carried by a set of characters that just weren't very well developed. Major characters just kind of fell away and more minor characters carried on. I just didn't come away understanding what the author's point was, even though I thought I would be able to guess it ahead of time based on my familiarity with his blog posts. There were many well-written scenes that were clearly love letters to aspects of life that the author enjoys (bees, chickens, dogs, local restaurants, etc.), but they honestly didn't belong in this book.
In summary, it pains me to have to write this review and I have given it several days' thought before committing it to "paper". Sorry, Tim.
January 14, 2024
As aka "LumenLux", I read Tim Knight almost daily on his website, Slopetalk.com. Having grown used to his wide range of intellectual skills, I was eager to see what a novel from him might entail. It took only a few pages for me to realize Tim has another powerful tool for communicating. Tim's uncanny, broad, awareness of what is happening all around us, on a daily basis; combined with his grasp of history, brings a powerful message via this, his first novel. His writing is imaginative and makes an effective canvas for his insight, and maybe his fears. As I read the first available format, the Kindle version was so intriguing, I found myself pulling my phone out and reading at every opportunity. My conclsuion: we can hope, and we can pray, that much of Tim's novel will never be our experience.
December 3, 2024
Wonderful first novel by slopeofhope stock guru and Tastylive chartist, Tim Knight. A futuristic story showing the potential dangers of AI automation that alienate us from nature and our ancestral past. A exciting plot with unexpected twists and turns tells how the comforts of daily life give way to corrupt politicians, anti-automation zealots and terrorists, while normal people are trying to go about their daily lives in the Bay Area. The story begins when a rocket detonates a nuclear blast in space that takes out the City power grid, leaving San Francisco blanketed in black as gangs emerge to infiltrate the posh City neighborhoods. Lots of local references connecting you to City life. Entertaining and insightful read.
March 8, 2023
Very enjoyable
A couple turn of events were both surprising and enjoyable. Write more novels.
Btw. My first trade was the Friday before black Monday. I never knew how easy it was to lose 5k. 🤣
A couple turn of events were both surprising and enjoyable. Write more novels.
Btw. My first trade was the Friday before black Monday. I never knew how easy it was to lose 5k. 🤣
April 17, 2023
I liked this novel! Multiple realistic characters with very personal stories running concurrently. It quickly became clear well before finishing that the characters and story lines should continue and develop into even more intrigue. Well done, Tim Knight. I'm looking forward to more! -JimC-TX
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews