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Future Winds
Set in a science-fiction setting with elements of twisted horror, Future Winds is a strange yet wondrous tale of species, self-preservation, and the all-out moral cost of survival. Forced to leave Earth, humanity discovers a planet capable of supporting life and hatches an audacious plan that will warp them across the universe to settle and begin anew. There is a darkness that resides below the planet's surface, but with no option to turn back, humanity must find a way forward.
- GenresScience Fiction
Audible Audio
First published November 25, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 11, 2015
Review also on Dannimae.com
Normally, I’ll start writing a review immediately after I finish a book. I’ll brainstorm the points I want to make, and my overall thoughts. But with Future Winds.. after finishing I felt nothing but shock. Let me tell you, this book has one hell of an ending. Like Girl with all the Gifts style, but better. I wasn’t at all expecting what was going to happen, and it was like a cherry on a piece of sci-fi-pie. (Is that cheesy? It’s totally cheesy. I’m leaving it in there anyway.)
As for the rest of the book, I was enamored. The characters alone had me hooked. Not only are they all incredibly diverse- from personality to ethnicity- they are all so unique. This was a multi-viewpoint book, and normally with those you have your “main character” and everything else is just flavor text. Not with Future Winds. Each character was so well written with their dynamics and their separate conflicts that Laymon could have written a story about any one of their perspectives, and it would still be interesting. My favorite character was Aries, an artificial intelligence drone. I loved the line between human and robot presented by this book, especially during one particular part that I’m not going to spoil, but that scene alone made me want a sequel. But to piece all of the viewpoints together gave so many perfect views of a world that is corrupt to the core, and seeing this from all these different eyes and angles creates a world that is completely three-dimensional.
And that’s another thing! The world! It was so well written that I feel like I could easily draw every aspect of it. Everything was meticulously described, so it’s easy to imagine the kind of strange world the characters are entering, but it’s not detailed to the point of tediousness *cough* Ayn Rand *cough*. Nothing important was left to the imagination, and I think that maybe that’s why, days after reading it, I’m still constantly picturing this world and the characters in it. (Not that it’s at all a pleasant picture.)
It is dark. There are a lot of gorey, nasty moments, but what’s really dark about the book is the overall tone. Laymon, through his novel, makes a commentary on government power, big corporations, and the darkness of the human nature. Reading it, I felt constantly trapped and anxious, and there were parts that made me gasp out loud even though no one else was in the room with me. (If anyone else has read this, message me. I need to talk about what happened to Lucas with somebody.)
But it wasn’t all perfect! Things I didn’t like:
Good God it’s not for children! Which isn’t really a flaw.. I just wasn’t prepared for the amount of gore I was getting myself into.
I’m wishing the Overlords were elaborated on. Maybe there will be a sequel? *Crossing fingers*
Everybody swears! Even, like, the stone-cold officials, which seemed out of place. But I think this was supposed to be a way of showing the unraveling of society.
Future Winds just leaves so much to think about, particularly with the symbolism presented by the Overlords in the book, I definitely want a sequel! I feel like there was one chapter in the book that could have been an entire novel in and of itself, and I’d love to see the author elaborating on the world he’s created. This is a book for people that like to delve into the deeper meaning of things, that want to have an intellectual conversation about symbolism and secrets. If it didn’t have so much blood and cussing I’d recommend it for an English class. But if you’re not into that, it’s good at surface value, too.
Overall, I loved Future Winds. It was brilliant in its realistic characters, inventive scenery, and underlying message. This debut shows an author with so much potential, and I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next!
Normally, I’ll start writing a review immediately after I finish a book. I’ll brainstorm the points I want to make, and my overall thoughts. But with Future Winds.. after finishing I felt nothing but shock. Let me tell you, this book has one hell of an ending. Like Girl with all the Gifts style, but better. I wasn’t at all expecting what was going to happen, and it was like a cherry on a piece of sci-fi-pie. (Is that cheesy? It’s totally cheesy. I’m leaving it in there anyway.)
As for the rest of the book, I was enamored. The characters alone had me hooked. Not only are they all incredibly diverse- from personality to ethnicity- they are all so unique. This was a multi-viewpoint book, and normally with those you have your “main character” and everything else is just flavor text. Not with Future Winds. Each character was so well written with their dynamics and their separate conflicts that Laymon could have written a story about any one of their perspectives, and it would still be interesting. My favorite character was Aries, an artificial intelligence drone. I loved the line between human and robot presented by this book, especially during one particular part that I’m not going to spoil, but that scene alone made me want a sequel. But to piece all of the viewpoints together gave so many perfect views of a world that is corrupt to the core, and seeing this from all these different eyes and angles creates a world that is completely three-dimensional.
And that’s another thing! The world! It was so well written that I feel like I could easily draw every aspect of it. Everything was meticulously described, so it’s easy to imagine the kind of strange world the characters are entering, but it’s not detailed to the point of tediousness *cough* Ayn Rand *cough*. Nothing important was left to the imagination, and I think that maybe that’s why, days after reading it, I’m still constantly picturing this world and the characters in it. (Not that it’s at all a pleasant picture.)
It is dark. There are a lot of gorey, nasty moments, but what’s really dark about the book is the overall tone. Laymon, through his novel, makes a commentary on government power, big corporations, and the darkness of the human nature. Reading it, I felt constantly trapped and anxious, and there were parts that made me gasp out loud even though no one else was in the room with me. (If anyone else has read this, message me. I need to talk about what happened to Lucas with somebody.)
But it wasn’t all perfect! Things I didn’t like:
Good God it’s not for children! Which isn’t really a flaw.. I just wasn’t prepared for the amount of gore I was getting myself into.
I’m wishing the Overlords were elaborated on. Maybe there will be a sequel? *Crossing fingers*
Everybody swears! Even, like, the stone-cold officials, which seemed out of place. But I think this was supposed to be a way of showing the unraveling of society.
Future Winds just leaves so much to think about, particularly with the symbolism presented by the Overlords in the book, I definitely want a sequel! I feel like there was one chapter in the book that could have been an entire novel in and of itself, and I’d love to see the author elaborating on the world he’s created. This is a book for people that like to delve into the deeper meaning of things, that want to have an intellectual conversation about symbolism and secrets. If it didn’t have so much blood and cussing I’d recommend it for an English class. But if you’re not into that, it’s good at surface value, too.
Overall, I loved Future Winds. It was brilliant in its realistic characters, inventive scenery, and underlying message. This debut shows an author with so much potential, and I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next!
June 25, 2016
Once in awhile you come across one of those books that make you question your reading preferences, and this is one such book. I don't read a lot of sci-fi, but Future Winds by Kevin Laymon took me easily out of my comfort zone. This book is so much more than it's intended genre, although one hell of a science fiction ride it is. It is also a deeply written plot that makes the reader pause to think, question, ponder, and in the end walk away with something lasting. Planets don't just come to an end by themselves, and conquering a new planet doesn't just come along with no moral dilemma.
The world building in combination with an original and well written story lends itself to the magic of taking unimaginable time, place, setting, and characters and molding them into something believable and easy to relate to. Yes, I fully related to the feelings of not only humans in this story, but aliens as well.
The story is never predictable. I am telling you now, any damn thing can happen to any damn-body. Isn't that awesome?
As for the end...yeah. I was happy with the full conclusion and the way that there are a couple of interesting side stories that aren't sewn up so tightly that there is no room for reader imagination and the hope for a sequel.
Favorite Character: Kio-Kai, a native to plant Flare. His perspective makes me question some of the things that we do as a species.
Favorite Supporting Character: Aries, Tyler's bot. She is pretty enlightened. You have to love a robot who takes all that programming and puts it in some sort of useful order.
Bravest Character: Aisha, one of the first to land on Flare. If you love a badastic heroine, you are going to be all about her.
The world building in combination with an original and well written story lends itself to the magic of taking unimaginable time, place, setting, and characters and molding them into something believable and easy to relate to. Yes, I fully related to the feelings of not only humans in this story, but aliens as well.
The story is never predictable. I am telling you now, any damn thing can happen to any damn-body. Isn't that awesome?
As for the end...yeah. I was happy with the full conclusion and the way that there are a couple of interesting side stories that aren't sewn up so tightly that there is no room for reader imagination and the hope for a sequel.
Favorite Character: Kio-Kai, a native to plant Flare. His perspective makes me question some of the things that we do as a species.
Favorite Supporting Character: Aries, Tyler's bot. She is pretty enlightened. You have to love a robot who takes all that programming and puts it in some sort of useful order.
Bravest Character: Aisha, one of the first to land on Flare. If you love a badastic heroine, you are going to be all about her.
December 2, 2015
If you are a fan of science fiction you will want to read this book! Future Winds is about our planets preservation and relocation. Kevin Laymon's words paint a picture that I encourage everyone to take a look at!
December 15, 2015
A delirious struggle between morality, bugs, and bots. When humans come a'knockin things are bound to go awry in this sci-fi tale of humanities struggle to claim new home and their exodus from a dying planet. What starts off as a simple exploration mission to the planet of Flare becomes a twisted tale of survival of the fittest on an unforgiving planet. Humanity fights for survival against the native species, themselves, and even the hellish landscape of Flare itself. If it wasn't enough, there is something even more sinister within the depths of Flare than anyone can imagine. Future Winds is a gritty tale of the twisted and demented, both within ourselves and the unforgiving nature of an unknown land. For a fresh adventure in a walk through darkness, wonder and science fiction look no further.
*Side note, there is a hardcover version on Etsy*
*Side note, there is a hardcover version on Etsy*
November 29, 2015
Future Winds tells the captivating and twisted tale of humanity's race to find a new home on planet flare and the moral cost of this goal. Each of the characters are unique as well as the creatures living on the planet. Artificial intelligence comes alive and the drones represent the highest peak of technological advancement. The attention to detail creates vivid pictures and fascinating imagery in the mind of the reader throughout the whole book; however, the reader has room to make their own interpretations.
February 15, 2016
This was my first book by Kevin Laymon, but will definitely not be my last. Future Winds was a refreshing tale of science fiction and self-preservation. I love science fiction as well as thriller, fiction, and while I have read a few authors who do both well, it is rare to combine the different. This book will definitely make the “Best science fiction book of 2016.
I really loved your writing style and highly recommend this book for younger. Fantastic writing skill and writing style. Waiting for your next book.
I really loved your writing style and highly recommend this book for younger. Fantastic writing skill and writing style. Waiting for your next book.
April 9, 2017
Sometimes I try to read sci fi, and it can be a bit hit and miss... this one didn't grab me.
April 14, 2016
Science Fiction has always been one of my true loves when it comes to literature. Now mix in some horror, a genre that I hold so much affection for, well then you can pull me into a story instantly. That is what Future Winds did for me. Humans find Earth to be no longer habitable and are forced to spread out into the galaxy in search of a new home that can sustain life. Enter planet Flare, a planet with many key similarities to Earth, but also with many visible dangers such as high temperatures and brutal fire storms. What is important though is that Flare can sustain human life, and with the technological advances humankind has made the planet can be shaped to fit the needs of humans. What cannot be shaped and changed is that danger that already lurks deep down in the planet, a danger that humankind if about to meet face to face.
It is a common theme among sci-fi novels to have a story of humankind needing to colonize a new planet, but this book threw in so many twists and changes to that theme that the story told was unique. Whatever you go into this books expecting, I can promise you that it will not be what you get. I found myself constantly shocked and surprised by plot twists and the direction the story took, which made Future Winds incredibly hard to put down. Future Winds is brutal, violent, smart, and exciting. It does not sugar coat the idea of relocating humankind to a new planet. Instead it introduces so much danger, so many mistakes, and shows the violence that can come about when a species decides to take over a planet with wanton disregard for its nature and the current inhabitants.
Future Winds involves many different characters and throughout the course of the chapter it will switch from the point of view of one character to another. I was impressed with how seamlessly Laymon did this and never once was I confused or thrown off by a character switch. This writing style introduced so many different views and it made it hard to see any main character as solely a good guy or a bad guy. The book gives not only narration and dialogue from a character but it also their thoughts, which are written in the book in italic text. This delivers an intimate glimpse into the minds of the characters and what they are thinking that they dare not say out loud.
The one thing I found myself wishing for in the book was a little more character development. I wanted to learn more about the cast of characters and what made them who they are. I love when I am able to have a deep connection with one or more individuals in a story and this was something that I felt was missing at times. There were also moments when I sensed a slight disconnect between the characters and their emotions, but in the long run that did not impact the story negatively for me. I looked at it as though the characters in the book had a job to do and were so focused on sustaining their world and their lives that there was not always time for sorrow or sentiment.
A characteristic we always expect from science fiction writing is an underlying lesson, and this is a point that Laymon definitely delivers on with Future Winds. It tackles political corruption, nepotism, division of classes, military atrocities, and the self-importance humankind tends to have towards itself. To me the book warned of the blight that we could face if we continue to make “progress” through war and if we do not learn to treat all beings and lifeforms with respect. Overall I really enjoyed this book. It shocked me, made me laugh, made me cringe, and forced me to think about the world around me and our possible future. If you are a science fiction fan, a horror fan, or someone who is looking for something different and shocking then definitely check out Future Winds.
It is a common theme among sci-fi novels to have a story of humankind needing to colonize a new planet, but this book threw in so many twists and changes to that theme that the story told was unique. Whatever you go into this books expecting, I can promise you that it will not be what you get. I found myself constantly shocked and surprised by plot twists and the direction the story took, which made Future Winds incredibly hard to put down. Future Winds is brutal, violent, smart, and exciting. It does not sugar coat the idea of relocating humankind to a new planet. Instead it introduces so much danger, so many mistakes, and shows the violence that can come about when a species decides to take over a planet with wanton disregard for its nature and the current inhabitants.
Future Winds involves many different characters and throughout the course of the chapter it will switch from the point of view of one character to another. I was impressed with how seamlessly Laymon did this and never once was I confused or thrown off by a character switch. This writing style introduced so many different views and it made it hard to see any main character as solely a good guy or a bad guy. The book gives not only narration and dialogue from a character but it also their thoughts, which are written in the book in italic text. This delivers an intimate glimpse into the minds of the characters and what they are thinking that they dare not say out loud.
The one thing I found myself wishing for in the book was a little more character development. I wanted to learn more about the cast of characters and what made them who they are. I love when I am able to have a deep connection with one or more individuals in a story and this was something that I felt was missing at times. There were also moments when I sensed a slight disconnect between the characters and their emotions, but in the long run that did not impact the story negatively for me. I looked at it as though the characters in the book had a job to do and were so focused on sustaining their world and their lives that there was not always time for sorrow or sentiment.
A characteristic we always expect from science fiction writing is an underlying lesson, and this is a point that Laymon definitely delivers on with Future Winds. It tackles political corruption, nepotism, division of classes, military atrocities, and the self-importance humankind tends to have towards itself. To me the book warned of the blight that we could face if we continue to make “progress” through war and if we do not learn to treat all beings and lifeforms with respect. Overall I really enjoyed this book. It shocked me, made me laugh, made me cringe, and forced me to think about the world around me and our possible future. If you are a science fiction fan, a horror fan, or someone who is looking for something different and shocking then definitely check out Future Winds.
February 16, 2016
I read an advanced copy of emotive and enjoyed it so figured I would check out future winds. it, like emotive, is dark, but given the setting of the book, I guess it really is supposed to be. There is plenty of action and things move quickly, but all in all, I was satisfied at the end.
August 31, 2021
This book gripped me from beginning to end. Lots of twists and violence. I'm going to see what else this author has published!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews