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Parallel Estates
Disease is Death. Labour is Legacy.
It’s 1996 and when Eddie finally lands an assembly job at CoinMech, he and his young family move to a new, seemingly safe, estate—a dream come true, if they can navigate lingering marital issues and the constraints of the Moralist government.
But after Eddie becomes entangled in the estate’s disputes, he pursues the mystery of a grisly murder and grapples with an incriminating paper trail that could rattle the establishment.
What he uncovers draws him into a world running parallel to the one he knew—where those who gained power from disaster a decade ago now use it to experiment on others. When the lines between survival and resistance blur, Eddie must
What will best protect his family—compliance or the truth?
For fans of Nineteen Eighty-Four and The Handmaid’s Tale: Parallel Estates is a grounded dystopian thriller where family bonds clash with corporate power and an authoritarian regime. By exploring human conflicts and dilemmas, this story offers a gritty look at navigating life under pressure.
It’s 1996 and when Eddie finally lands an assembly job at CoinMech, he and his young family move to a new, seemingly safe, estate—a dream come true, if they can navigate lingering marital issues and the constraints of the Moralist government.
But after Eddie becomes entangled in the estate’s disputes, he pursues the mystery of a grisly murder and grapples with an incriminating paper trail that could rattle the establishment.
What he uncovers draws him into a world running parallel to the one he knew—where those who gained power from disaster a decade ago now use it to experiment on others. When the lines between survival and resistance blur, Eddie must
What will best protect his family—compliance or the truth?
For fans of Nineteen Eighty-Four and The Handmaid’s Tale: Parallel Estates is a grounded dystopian thriller where family bonds clash with corporate power and an authoritarian regime. By exploring human conflicts and dilemmas, this story offers a gritty look at navigating life under pressure.
338 pages, Paperback
Published February 28, 2025
3 people want to read
About the author
Paul Smith
391 books26 followersLibrarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
This profile contains books from multiple authors of this name.
This profile contains books from multiple authors of this name.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 4, 2025
It’s the late 1990s. A crisis has led to a fascist government and strict morality rules. However, there are also seemingly benevolent institutions which will look after families - but at a cost. In this world we meet Eddie and Mira, their children and relatives. Eddie starts a new job and things are looking up for them, until Eddie discovers what’s happening beneath the surface.
The characters are well drawn. They are not perfect and have their weaknesses. This makes them seem true to life and so their growing concerns and how they react to them are particularly real.
There are quite a few themes in this book: government control, morality, women’s role in society, and the use of state sanctioned violence. Personally I would have liked to have seen more exploration of some of these, but maybe that would have sidetracked from the main thrust of Eddie’s story.
In summary, well worth reading, all the more so given the world we seem to be moving towards in 2025.
The characters are well drawn. They are not perfect and have their weaknesses. This makes them seem true to life and so their growing concerns and how they react to them are particularly real.
There are quite a few themes in this book: government control, morality, women’s role in society, and the use of state sanctioned violence. Personally I would have liked to have seen more exploration of some of these, but maybe that would have sidetracked from the main thrust of Eddie’s story.
In summary, well worth reading, all the more so given the world we seem to be moving towards in 2025.
March 26, 2025
I loved this book. The tension builds throughout, and kept me guessing what would happen next. You gradually learn more about this alternate world, and the difficult choices the main characters have had to make. I really enjoyed how, as Eddie uncovers more about the estate he lives on and the company he works for, you discover the danger he’s in right alongside him.
I particularly felt for the women in the story, who are forced to navigate a misogynist society that actively works against them. Many of them have understandably internalised these beliefs, making their struggles feel even more frustrating.
What really struck me were the unsettling parallels to things happening in the world today. There are themes around political control, surveillance, propaganda, and the way people are dehumanised under oppressive systems. It’s a fictional story, but it feels all too real.
I would highly recommend for those who enjoy dystopian fiction, with a darker, political focus.
I particularly felt for the women in the story, who are forced to navigate a misogynist society that actively works against them. Many of them have understandably internalised these beliefs, making their struggles feel even more frustrating.
What really struck me were the unsettling parallels to things happening in the world today. There are themes around political control, surveillance, propaganda, and the way people are dehumanised under oppressive systems. It’s a fictional story, but it feels all too real.
I would highly recommend for those who enjoy dystopian fiction, with a darker, political focus.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews