Protopia: A dystopian thriller set in the very near future. Which side are YOU on?

by John Calia

America’s cultural divide turns deadly.

When lifelong friends Olivia and Alexandra find themselves in opposing camps, the bonds of their friendship are tested like never before.

Olivia seeks solace in a socialist utopia that promises protection and belonging, but at what cost?

Meanwhile, Alexandra chases freedom. But can she survive in a community with few, if any, rules?

As their worlds collide and tensions escalate, secrets and lies threaten to destroy the foundation of their relationship.

Can they bridge the gap between them, or will their differences tear them apart forever?

In this gripping tale of loyalty, adventure, and human connection, the stakes are higher than ever. Protopia is a thought-provoking thrill ride that explores the power of friendship in a world on the brink.

If you devour the complex characters of Emily St. John Mandel or the visionary world-building of Octavia Butler, you'll be captivated by this latest masterpiece by the author of the Amazon best-seller The Awakening of Artemis.

Genres: Dystopia

384 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 15, 2025

About the author

A Brooklyn-born, recovering businessman, John Calia has been a naval officer, banker, entrepreneur and consultant. He began writing his blog “Who Will Lead?” in 2010 attracting more than 120,000 readers. The five-star rating of his first book – a business fable titled “The Reluctant CEO: Succeeding Without Losing Your Soul” – inspired him to keep writing. His fascination with artificial intelligence and its impact on society inspired him to write “The Awakening of Artemis and its sequel Parallel Lies. His most recent novel is Protopia--the journey of two women through the fractured landscape of America's cultural divide.

Reviews

[Priscilla Bettis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Protopia is a near-future, dystopian thriller that takes place in Wyoming. Cygnus and Elyria are twin cities (towns, really) with opposing personalities.

Olivia and Alexandra are friends from way back and are the main point-of-view characters. Olivia is a natural follower. Alexandra is a natural leader. We all have friends from years back, and I recognized the comfortable push and pull between these two friends. I loved the way Calia made both of these characters and their long-term friendship believable.

The supporting characters are compelling too. The bad players are spiteful, and some of them are duplicitous, being sneaky behind the scenes.

And finally, both Cygnus and Elyria become characters in the story. It’s easy to recognize the appealing face of a liberal, freedom-loving town. It’s also easy to embrace the attractive personality of a peaceful, equality-based town. I found myself bouncing from cheering for one town and then the other (and cheering for Olivia and Alexandra in the process). This book will make you think. What is important in our society? What works and what doesn’t?

As for the thriller part, think gun fights, high-stakes finances, and explosions. This story will keep you turning pages.

The end left me with warm fuzzies. It's the beautiful sunset kind of ending you see in a good movie.

I scored an advanced copy of Protopia from the author. I enjoyed the read so much that when it's released 5/15/25, I'm going to grab my own copy. Overall, this one’s easy: five stars!

[Lily Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the opening lines, I felt completely pulled into Olivia Fletcher’s world,heavy with emotional weight and charged with the tension of a society in decay. What struck me most was the realism of her exhaustion; it's not just physical, but emotional and moral. I could feel the burden of leadership on her shoulders. And then comes Alexandra,bold, unpredictable, and raw. Their dynamic is mesmerizing. It’s not often that we get to see female relationships painted with such complexity. The prose is intelligent and evocative. I read just two chapters and was left craving more. This isn’t just a dystopian story,it’s a deep psychological and emotional journey. Highly recommended to book clubs that enjoy layered characters and thought-provoking narratives.

[Ava Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book begins with quiet intensity and quickly blossoms into a deeply emotional ride. What I love is how much empathy the author builds for both Olivia and Alexandra. You can feel their history in every interaction,the codependence, the loyalty, the frustration. Chapter 1 sets the tone with Olivia’s haunting thoughts about her role in a broken world, and Chapter 2 brilliantly rewinds to show us why she’s so emotionally torn. It’s cinematic and character drive,perfect for thoughtful readers who enjoy dissecting interpersonal relationships in dystopian settings. Five stars and I can’t wait for Chapter 3.

[Carolyn Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Protopia gripped me from the first page and didn’t let go. John Calia doesn’t just build a world he holds up a mirror to ours. The story of Olivia and Alexandra isn’t only about opposing ideologies; it’s about the fragile threads that hold humanity together when everything else falls apart.

The writing is sharp, cinematic, and achingly emotional. I saw reflections of today’s world in every page the polarization, the fear, and the desperate hope for something better. Yet through it all, Calia reminds us that love and friendship can still light the darkest paths.

This is not just dystopian fiction it’s a wake-up call wrapped in heart and heartbreak.

[Mike Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Calia’s Protopia feels terrifyingly close not a far-off future, but tomorrow’s news. His characters breathe with authenticity, caught between freedom and safety, love and loyalty. Olivia and Alexandra’s friendship is so raw and real that watching it fracture across ideological lines is both painful and mesmerizing.

Calia’s prose has the pulse of a thriller and the soul of a philosopher. He doesn’t preach he provokes. He makes you question your own beliefs, your comfort zones, and what you would truly stand for if the world broke in two.

This is the kind of story that lingers not because of its chaos, but because of its truth.

[Cecelia James · Rating 5 out of 5]

At its core, Protopia isn’t just about dystopia it’s about people. About what happens when ideology becomes identity, and friendship becomes collateral damage. Olivia and Alexandra’s journey is tender, heartbreaking, and full of courage.

John Calia’s writing pulses with empathy. Even as he explores a world divided by politics and power, he never loses sight of what makes us human our capacity to love, to forgive, and to find hope where there should be none.

If you loved Station Eleven or The Handmaid’s Tale, you’ll feel the same haunting ache when this book ends. Because Protopia doesn’t just tell a story it asks you to choose a side.

[Nathan Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing in this book is stunning. It has a literary depth you don’t expect in dystopian fiction, blending powerful imagery with intimate emotional truths. Olivia’s inner conflict about her leadership role and her relationship with Alexandra is both heartbreaking and relatable. The contrast between Olivia’s logic and Alexandra’s fiery impulsiveness is written so well,two very different women shaped by trauma, still trying to protect one another. I loved how Chapter 2 offered a rich backstory without dumping exposition. This book is already stirring discussion in our club. We want more!

[James Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely gripping from the first page. Olivia’s internal exhaustion is palpable you can feel the weight of a world on her shoulders. The war-torn setting is bleak, yet her quiet hope pulls you in. And then Alexandra appears a firestorm of impulse and trauma. Their dynamic is rich, complex, and emotionally charged. I can already sense that this relationship will be the heartbeat of the story. I’m hooked!

[Alice Winn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride! Protopia delivers pulse-pounding moments alongside emotional introspection and razor-sharp political commentary. I found myself torn between the two worlds just like the characters, and that moral ambiguity is what made the story so compelling. It’s not just a dystopian thriller, it’s a profound exploration of how ideology can both connect and divide us. Calia absolutely nailed it.

[Emily Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first paragraph, I felt the emotional weight Olivia carries like a backpack filled with bricks. The world building is subtle but powerful, and the author’s ability to tap into the psychology of war fatigued characters is remarkable. I loved how the story jumped back in time in Chapter 2, giving us a deeper understanding of Olivia and Alexandra’s bond. This feels like the beginning of something epic.

[Olivia Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

The contrast between Olivia’s cautious logic and Alexandra’s reckless passion is brilliantly drawn. The emotional layers
grief, loyalty, fear of abandonment are threaded beautifully into the action. The writing is sophisticated but accessible, and I’m already picturing how these two women will be tested. Can’t wait to see where the journey takes them!

[Henry Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story opens like a slow burn, heavy with emotion and tension. Olivia’s deep rooted doubt and sense of responsibility hit hard. I love how the world is introduced through her perspective not just a war zone, but a personal battlefield. Chapter 2’s flashback was a masterstroke, peeling back the layers on Alexandra. I couldn’t stop reading.

[Charlotte Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chapter 1 captures the weariness of a broken world through Olivia’s tired soul, and Chapter 2 brings the emotional punch with Alexandra’s spiral after her brother’s death. This isn’t just a dystopian adventure it’s a psychological portrait of two wounded women trying to find meaning in chaos. I’d recommend this for readers who love introspective but powerful storytelling.

[Ethan Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This feels like the beginning of something epic. I love how grounded it is emotionally. You’re not just dropped into a new world you feel it, smell it, ache with it. Olivia is a rare kind of protagonist: intelligent, self-aware, and deeply human. Alexandra is the spark that ignites her, and I already feel emotionally invested in them both.

[Amelia Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a poignant, layered opening! The writing is cinematic without being overdone. I found myself rereading entire paragraphs just to sit with Olivia’s thoughts. The relationship dynamic with Alexandra reminds me of Thelma & Louise meets The Handmaid’s Tale. I want to know what breaks them… or saves them.

[William Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the first paragraph, this book feels alive. Olivia’s weariness is rendered so vividly that I could feel her dragging herself forward. The themes of survival, trust, and the need for connection feel relevant and real. And the introduction of Alexandra blew the emotional roof off. This is book club gold.

[Grace Jennings]

Chapter 2 did something incredible it made me care deeply about both Olivia and Alexandra without needing pages of backstory. Their shared history unfolds naturally through emotion and memory. I loved the Central Valley setting too there’s something nostalgic and tragic about leaving a place of safety for the unknown. Can't wait to see what they're running toward.

[Jack Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who loves character driven fiction, this novel speaks to me. The dialogue is sharp, the emotional stakes are high, and the pacing is perfect. The mix of war, politics, sisterhood, and trauma is compelling. And the internal monologues? They cut to the bone. This is literary dystopia at its best.

[Lucas Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book begins like a whisper before it roars. The war torn world feels painfully real, but it’s the emotional war inside Olivia that kept me riveted. Chapter 2’s transition to the past was seamless and heartbreaking. The themes of loss and loyalty are universal, and the writing is absolutely gorgeous.

[Benjamin Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterfully written. From the first lines, I felt like I was right there with Olivia tired, determined, hopeful against all odds. Alexandra’s grief fueled spiral feels so real it’s almost uncomfortable but in the best way. This is storytelling that pulls you into the minds of its characters. Book club readers will love unpacking this.

[Dora Ruyhie · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Calia has created a chillingly believable world where friendship, loyalty, and survival collide. I was emotionally torn watching Olivia and Alexandra drift apart, and equally riveted watching them find their separate truths. This book is not only thrilling, it’s human. Absolutely gripping.

[Rhodes Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story isn’t just dystopian, it’s deeply personal. Calia's writing made me reflect on my own choices and relationships. A beautifully written, emotionally charged page-turner that stays with you long after the final chapter.

[Emily Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

These first two chapters reminded me why I love stories about complicated female friendships. Alexandra is chaos incarnate, and Olivia is the steady flame. But it’s not so simplethe lines blur, the power shifts, and I’m left wanting more. This story feels important. Urgent. Personal.

[Sophie Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m in awe of how the author builds tension with restraint. There’s no info dumping, no dramatics just real, raw emotion. Olivia’s fear of being ‘not enough’ hit me hard. It’s rare to see a female protagonist so vulnerable, yet so strong. This is the kind of book that sparks deep conversation.

[Hannah Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story balances emotional complexity and worldbuilding with such finesse. I already have so many questions. Who really is Alexandra beneath the anger? Why does Olivia always follow? The dynamic is magnetic and layered. It’s hard to believe I’ve only read two chapters.

[Gabriel Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has the rare ability to speak to both the mind and the heart. The philosophical weight of Olivia’s doubts in Chapter 1 paired with the emotional realism of Chapter 2 makes for compelling, unforgettable storytelling. Everyone in our book club is craving more.

[Daniel Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

The prose is haunting yet elegant. I was immediately drawn to the broken beauty of the dystopian world, but it’s Olivia’s inner struggle that really captured my heart. The themes of abandonment, loyalty, and survival are portrayed with nuance. I genuinely can’t wait to see how Olivia evolves.

[Olivia Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This feels like a literary dystopia with a soul. The friendship between Olivia and Alexandra is raw and complex. The flashback structure is so well done,it filled in backstory without dragging the pace. This would spark great discussion in any book club!

[Samuel Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chapter 1 sets the mood like a slow burning fire, and Chapter 2 adds fuel to the flame. There’s a grounded emotional realism to the characters that makes their dystopian setting feel relatable. This is not just a post-war tale,it’s a deep dive into loyalty, trauma, and choice.

[Benjamin Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the first two chapters with my heart in my throat. The writing is that compelling. You immediately want to root for Olivia, even as she doubts herself. The layers of history between her and Alexandra are written with such care,I can feel how messy and human they both are.