Mindless, The

by Mark Bozon

208 pages, Paperback

Published July 28, 2026

About the author

Mark Bozon just launched his debut novel, The Mindless: A Futurist Novel. Mark resides in San Jose, California, has 30 years in the games & entertainment industry, and is currently a creative executive for an industry-leading entertainment company focused on extended reality and emerging technology. In addition to writing, Mark loves dreaming up board game designs, fiddling with physical puzzle boxes, and embracing the delightful chaos of dad life with his wonderfully energetic kids and his unrelentingly supportive wife.

Reviews

[GCR | Book Realm]

I received this book through NetGalley.

The Mindless had the kind of premise that usually pulls me in. A closed-off city created to save humanity, genetic engineering, control, progress, and humans trying to play god? That is very much the kind of sci-fi setup I normally gravitate toward.

I liked the ideas behind the story. The questions around humanity, survival, and what happens when people try to shape the future without fully understanding the consequences were the strongest parts for me. That concept is what kept me interested.

Where I struggled was with the actual reading experience. There were parts where I felt confused about what was happening, and because of that, I had a harder time connecting with the story as a whole. I wanted to feel more pulled in than I did, especially because the premise was something I usually love.

Overall, this was a solid read with an interesting concept, but it didn’t fully land for me personally. I’d recommend it to readers who like sci-fi about closed-off societies, genetic engineering, humanity’s need for control, and the danger of trying to fix the future without realizing what might be created instead.

[Sam Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

One of the best dystopian novels I’ve read in a long time!

The Mindless by Mark Bozon completely hooked me from the very first chapter. I genuinely could not put it down and ended up reading it in one sitting.

The premise is fascinating: Jake is given the rare opportunity to tour the closed-off city of Dios, and through his eyes we discover a society where humanity is controlled to an unsettling degree. The deeper the story goes, the more chilling and thought-provoking it becomes, exploring just how far power and manipulation can reach.

Mark Bozon’s writing is excellent - sharp, immersive, and incredibly easy to read. Every chapter kept me invested, and the pacing never lets up. I was constantly eager to find out what Jake would uncover next.

And that ending… I did not see it coming! It delivers a surprising and satisfying conclusion that makes the whole journey even more memorable.

If you enjoy dystopian fiction that is gripping, intelligent, and impossible to put down, I highly recommend The Mindless.

[Hannah Harriman · Rating 4 out of 5]

While dystopian novels and science fiction are not normally my preferred genres, I appreciate how deeply, thoroughly, and eloquently this book explores profound themes of control, freedom, humanity, and technology’s role and proper place in society.

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a sci-fi/dystopian fan, I liked this one a lot. Not only did the author create a satisfying story that grabbed me from the beginning to the last page, but he also made it short enough to be enjoyed as a novella, with a dense narrative and multiple thought-provoking events.

I found myself thinking that humankind has always aimed for some sort of immortality, and with technological advances, we are surrendering ourselves and our planet for what now seems small things, but in a future not very distant, these concessions that were supposed to be for our benefit become our prison.

The author raises so many issues in such a creative and well-presented way. We can see he is knowledgeable of previous works that touch the same themes of hive mind, prime directives, or androids substituting humans for work we don't want to do or to save time. But he takes it a step further.
We have a utopian New Angelica, a paradise dome that is everything the rest of the planet (destroyed) can not be anymore, but inside the New Angelica, which is already being corrupted by humans and their demands, there is a very small percentage living in Dios, controlling all. Think of Dios like the control tower of an airport, restrictive and very advanced in technology, guiding it all.
The plot changes around the 60%. What we thought Jake was doing is no longer the same story. We learn more about Dios, about Jake's late wife, about technology, and what reality is. The plot twists towards the end are complex making this novel one of those to reread and get extra info, connecting the dots, but also is enjoyable and understable as a one time read for those who like puzzle-like plots.
I recommend this book to fans of: (the following examples are my personal experience, there may be more to mention but these are the ones I experienced) Asimov, George Orwell, Westerworld, Blade Runner, movie Ex Machina, any anime that deals with androids, utopians/dystopians with machines serving humans, even games like Detroit Become Human, or Cyberpunk2077, it even will please readers of Dune in some elements and philosophy. If the reader is diving into sci-fi for the first time, this is a great techno/dystopian introduction to the genre. Also great for discussing in a book club (how far would you go playing God to have one more moment with a beloved who has passed away?)
Easy to read, flows well. The grief scenes are powerful.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the future there are two cities Neo Angelica and Dios. Dios is in a dome and is a bit of a mystery to the people living outside of it. That's set to change when Jake, a reporter from Neo Angelica, is invited inside.

It's an interesting concept. It is an idea that had been explored before but this focuses on elements of technology that already exist and has evolved. I liked the questions that is raised and enjoyed exploring the unintended consequences to human meddling.

I did find it confusing on occasion so struggled to connect with the story initially and found it a bit slow paced. It picked up pace half way through and I became engrossed in where the story would go.
I enjoyed the report extracts throughout the book and it has a good twist. I also really like the ending. Great for futuristic sci-fi and dystopian fans.

[Nicky · Rating 2 out of 5]

I almost rated this a 1 star but the concept was interesting, the ending surprised me and it was fairly decently written. While it was slightly confusing at times, I think that has more to do with the actual narrative than the writing.

Why I wanted to rate this a one star, is that this (in my opinion) read like a stereotypical male’s self-insert wet dream, completely centred around their super hero / saviour complex and desire for all (only beautiful) women to fall completely in love with them.

At 75% in, I even stopped to write this note:
““If i had a dollar for every time I read a book written by a man where they create a woman and then freak out about the ethics of creating a woman they control, i would have $2. Not a lot, but weird it happened twice.

What is it about men writing books with a “deep meaning” where the entire plot revolves around their love for the most 2D woman ever described? Or like going through the process of creating an artificial woman, essentially sex bots (but the creator uses his DAUGHTER as a template) and then they crash out when they realise how icky it is. JUST TALK TO ONE WOMAN.”

Like this story felt so close at times to acknowledging the female perspective that I actually had hope for it (which was maybe the saddest thing of all) but it never got there. Not a single female character was anything other than a beautiful, young plot device for male characters. So just to take it further because I’m mad and disappointed these are all of the female characters:

1. Angie - the dead (beautiful, young) daughter of a scientist/engineer who fuels his passion to create a sex bot (I’m not going to unpack this because it’s giving me the ick too much but like honestly what did he think a mindless beautiful, young female body who lived to please its owner would be used for?!) because he missed her and loves her so much. I’m sure she’d be thrilled to know her daddy was making slaves in her likeness.

2. Cammy - dead wife of main character. She had cancer and was the love of his life. Why does he love her so much? She was young and beautiful and very supportive of him moving on after she died. Oh and so supportive of his dreams. (Aka he loved what she did for him - not for who she is)

3. Angie sex-bot / Cammy impersonator - she is mindless, perpetually young, beautiful, and her only desire is please her master (just how daddy made her!). So of course main character falls completely in love with her after meeting her twice AND I QUOTE “”Venz, I haven’t felt that way about anybody since I lost Cammy. Never once.” He walked back to the table, grabbed his drink, and paced again with the glass in hand. “I was with her for ten minutes and the connection was indescribable.””

And last but certainly not least….
4. Scarlett - the young, beautiful woman he passes on the street and instantly connects with. Again, we learn nothing about her but she instantly goes out to buy the book he shared and then trusts this complete stranger to guide her into reality with only a “what do we do now?!” Because only this man could be intelligent enough to lead the world…

I’m sorry to be so harsh but this is such a 2D version of a story that could have been incredible. The whole thing just felt like that thing where an adult man suddenly realises that other people also have thoughts, feelings, dreams etc. Like when your guy friend turns to you and says “I had this really deep realisation the other day, and I hope you can understand what im trying to say because I know its like really philosophical but just like my world revolves around me right… all these people, they’re also just all people and they have lives. Every single one is a person living their lives…” like wow my guy, you really did something there!

It had so much promise being set in this dystopian world where everything is overlayed with a digital render. It’s a truly fascinating concept with its dystopian setting and being a luxury city within a sole surviving city. But having set up such complex world building, it just ended up completely underdeveloped. Either the length of the novel wasn’t enough (although I am glad I didn’t have more to read tbh) or it should have been simplified as it wasn’t really that vital to the story.

All in all, don’t reccomend.

I read this as a digital ARC thanks to Roundfire Books via NetGalley and (clearly) this is my honest review.

[WaVe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A shout out to old school sci fi, right from the cover!

This was such a moving read!! It's very human and deals with questions such as what it means to be human in the first place.

It felt like a blending of past and future, with tech that already exists, but enhanced. Futuristic but also very 90s in its approach, it's how I imagine the future would have been seen back then.

We follow Jack, who gets to experience this super elite futuristic city, while the rest of the world outside is crumbling. His impressions feel real, and his interactions with other characters are genuine and intimate, thanks to high end tech. Jack, and the book itself, ask one simple question: Is a fake but luxurious life worth living?

While the ideas and themes weren't completely original, their presentation in the story felt fresh. I did see the twist coming, but it's not a bad thing for me personally.

What I loved:

✔ Polarity. The book explores themes such as past vs future, good vs bad, death vs life, control vs freedom, and it's mature enough to show you the in-between.

✔ Clear writing. The author introduced all the elements clearly, I felt as if I was the one on tour experiencing the new city.

✔ Buddhism. Some of the ideas are Buddhist in their core, such as experiencing our reality subjectively, how each person has their own world and a different perspective on the same object, and I loved how the author played and incorporated that in futuristic technology.

What did not work:

✘ Rushed open ending. There were some things that weren't explained, and even seemed to contradict each other, left me feeling that it wasn't thoroughly thought through.

In conclusion:
A raw and deeply human story about death, loss, and the lengths we go to in order to cope with them. It reminds us that some problems have no easy solution.

Recommended for:
Classic sci-fi fans, and readers who are interested in concepts such as immortality, cloning and creation of life and the relationship between humans and technology.

Vibe check:
✱ Tourist
✱ Futuristic society
✱ Dark truth

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mindless follows Jake, a journalist living in Neo Angelica, one of the last cities on Earth. He's given the rare opportunity to spend a day inside Dios, the mysterious domed city of dreams nestled within Neo Angelica, that's home to the very best humanity has to offer. Tasked with documenting what a day in the life is like for its privileged inhabitants, Jake is granted unprecedented access to Dios, and will be the first ever to return to tell the world about it.

Serving as his guide is Venz, one of the city's overseers, who offers both Jake and the reader an all-access pass to everything Dios has to offer. As Jake explores the city, we gradually uncover the nature of Unity, the fascinating system that powers this seemingly perfect society. The Mindless presents a compelling vision of a not-too-distant future, giving us a glimpse into what life might look like when every need and desire can be effortlessly fulfilled.

Jake is an excellent protagonist, just inquisitive enough to satisfy, while leaving you wanting more. Venz, on the other hand, reveals just enough information to keep the mystery alive, making it difficult to determine where the story is heading. Their interactions are some of the most engaging parts of the story, seeing this world through each of their eyes. Despite their differing perspectives, both characters are relatable and genuinely likeable.

Overall, I found The Mindless to be well-paced, with believable characters and engaging world building. The premise hooked me, and I was curious to see where the story would lead. Ultimately, it was a satisfying read with a fresh take on an affluent society and the often overlooked costs of pursuing a life of absolute comfort. Thanks to Mark Bozon, Collective Ink Limited, and NetGalley for the ARC, I really enjoyed this one.

[Mya Joan Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those don't judge a book by its cover books. And don't let this short book fool you, it packs a punch. An emotional, heavy one. This is a book about humanity starting over again, but it's also about hope, loss, sacrifice, and what it truly means to be human when everything you've ever known has been stripped away.

I went into this expecting a quick sci-fi novella, but what I got was so much more. Even with its short page count, it managed to make me care about the characters and the world they were trying to rebuild. Every chapter felt like it had a purpose, and there wasn't any wasted space. It's impressive how much emotion was packed into such a small book.

What I loved most was that beneath all the futuristic ideas and science fiction elements, the story never forgot its heart. It asks some really interesting questions about humanity and whether we ever truly learn from the mistakes of the past. There were moments that left me hopeful and others that honestly hit me harder than I expected.

The pacing was fast without feeling rushed, and I was completely invested from beginning to end. By the time I reached the final pages, I just sat there thinking about everything that had happened. Those are my favorite kinds of books, the ones that stay with you long after you've finished them.

If you're looking for a massive sci-fi epic, this isn't that. But if you're looking for a thought-provoking, emotional story that proves you don't need hundreds of pages to leave a lasting impact, this is absolutely worth your time.

A short read with a huge heart. Five stars from me.

[Rhea · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG what a book. What a rollercoaster of emotions. What an amazing premise and story.

Jake, a journalist, is one day invited to the domed city Dios to document the lives of those living inside the greatest capital of the world. Only he never knew that he would never make it out of there. And what a ride that was for him. Venz, his guide, will show him more than he initially believed he’ll witness in the capital city, and while Venz’ character is utterly mysterious and charming, you can tell there’s something darker and secretive about him.

What follows Jake’s incursion in Dios is not far from maddening experiences that leave the mind in crumbles and makes you question ethics and life and value. On a few, certain occasions I felt completely overwhelmed by emotions. And other times, things were simply mindbending. The city is built to overwhelm, to seduce, to numb you, but to those willing to see beyond the veil, it is nothing but a fog concealing a more obscure world.

I can’t even give out too many details of the story because it would ruin the whole mystery and beauty of it, but I can say that this book is without a shadow of doubt the definition of what an engaging novel should look like. It confuses you, moves you, touches you and your mind on many levels.

If you enjoy mindbending stories, the kind that makes your brain kick in high gear and question everyone’s beliefs and actions, then this is the book for you.

Many, many thanks to Mark Bozon, Collective Ink Limited, and NetGalley for the ARC. This is a voluntary review, reflecting solely my opinion.

[BB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you both the publisher, the author and NetGalley for an opportunity to read The Mindless and share my thoughts about the book.

The story follows Jake Tentlewood. Jake is a journalist who gets a chance to get to know Dios, a city under a dome where only those who are chosen (and have money) get to live for a day-long visit. Naturally, that kind of closed off paradise is never a paradise, and also Jake will learn that during his journey.

To be fair, it took me a moment to get really into the story but when it started to roll, I had fun. I think that’s quite typical with scifi; sometimes it takes a moment to catch up what’s happening in the world. Eventually, I ended up really enjoying the world and I think that was the best part of the world. After I started to get into the story, I really wanted to figure out the situation with Jake.

It’s not the most fast-paced one but more like a slowly unraveling mystery that Dios is and figuring out that the world is not what it seems like. For me, it felt more like reading a book that could be a game or an episode of Black Mirror, which made sense after I found out that the author has a background in game development.

Overall, I really enjoyed how the story developed and the world building and I had a fun time reading this one.

[Chelsea is Booked · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up to 4

The Mindless is about a future version of Earth where most people live in a new walled-in version of Los Angeles called Neo Angelica. But the elite few live in the capital under dome called Dios, the greatest city ever known. Those living in Neo Angelica don't know what its like to live in Dios but Jake, a journalist, is given the opportunity to come for a day tour and report back on his experience. But Jake learns and experience so much more than expected.

This very much read like old school sci-fi, from how the future looks, the technology, and also the way women are seen decades ago. I enjoyed the concept of a few people playing gods and trying to bringing them down. I also like that we got information in different ways like flash backs, reports, and surveys. A few things that didn't work for me were that I found some of it to be confusing and contradictory. I am still not 100% sure how this concept of Unity works. I also felt like the ending was a bit rushed. Overall it was a quick read that I found to be mostly enjoyable.

I'd like to thank the publisher for a review copy.

[stacey Elizabeth Coombe · Rating 5 out of 5]

The mindless is one of them books that has your brain working overtime long after you've read the last page. The world building was immersive and interesting. The characters were written in great detail and there thoughts and feelings were expressed really well. The plot was well thought out and the plot twist was explosive. I truly didn't see it coming and that's unusual for me. Jake's character is fantastic and he truly questions the paradise that is dios. I think many in his position would just take the offer and never look back but his morals wouldn't let him and that makes him truly special. Venz is a well thought out character- I'm not sure I can call him a villain. I think he's just stuck in his ways of what his perfect looks like and can't see any other way. Both characters are 2 side to a coin and both relatable. This story is well written and executed and I wouldn't change a thing.

[Zed · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mindless was such an intriguing read, following Jake through the streets of Dios gets weirder and weirder the more he continues on his tour. Venz was such a captivating yet cryptic character. it was so hard to figure out his true motivation for the tour, yet i couldn’t stop myself from continuously trying to guess.

The characters were so well thought out and explored that by the time of the end of the book, you feel like you know each of the three main characters.

Having Jake as a journalist helps to make his probing of “paradise” more realistic from the get-go. His continuous questioning feels more earned, knowing his position.

The world was fun to learn about as the book went on, and the hope for the future really stuck with me considering today’s political climate.

The twists of this book had me hooked and caught me completely off guard. Definitely recommend reading this one!

[Doga Sevgi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

4.5 stars rounded up.

The Mindless is one of those novels that hooks you and doesn't let your brain rest throughout. It does a fantastic job building this immersive futuristic world and bringing life to its characters. You get presented with new technologies and philosophical questioning regarding life throughout your reading experience. With the current rise of AI and fast-paced advances in technology; the scenarios that play out in the novel is quite plausible for humanity's near future -- which I believe will make the readers even more engaged with the story.

I would also have to note, how the plot-twist caught me off guard. However, I wish we had more time to see the events that took place after - as the ending felt a bit rushed for my taste.

If you are into sci-fi that revolves around tech controlling the way we live - this is the book for you!

[Ashley Martinez (ilovebooksandstuffblog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating dystopian sci-fi story that was inspiring and intriguing!

I enjoyed this look into humanity and the use of AI and technology. The story was engaging and really pulled me in. It was one that made me think and question which I loved!

I also loved the surprise twists along the way. I do love how this one made you think about the cost of comfort and luxury in life.

Thank you to collective Ink for an arc!

[Roger Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a big sci fi fan for books and I had to veer off my path of books to read this book by mark bozon. IV read a book about a dome over the city by Stephen king called under the dome and thought ok another dome story. One is horror and one is sci fi and wow the mindless was great I loved it. I got lost in this book and at times I thought I was reading a book from a well known author who had put years into his craft. Well done mark bozon. A fantastic read

[g · Rating 1 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from NetGalley

Great concept but incredibly slow paced. It also feels a little been there done that. 20% in and I’m having a hard time getting into this book.

[Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast-paced read that draws you in, deeper and deeper within the city of Dios, until the mystery and mania twist in an instant.
The Mindless faithfully blends classic sci-fi with on-the-horizon dystopia.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book entertaining and thought-provoking. I don't normally read science fiction, but I enjoyed following along imagining being in this pretend world.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of The Mindless: A Futurist Novel from NetGalley. This book was so engrossing that I read it in one sitting. I absolutely loved it.

The twists and turns will have you guessing what's going to happen until the end.

Give it a read, you won't be disappointed.

[Petri · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received an ARC for this book from NetGalley for free.

I didn’t like this. I hated how the author described women and the plot felt just a mismatch of other scifi works.