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2044
After America's drug war ended, in surrender, the full legalization of all hard drugs transformed society in unforeseen ways. Twenty short years after burying millions of Americans, most from Fentanyl overdoses, this powerful synthetic opioid is now a key ingredient in medicated patches that are worn by nearly every American.
It is the year 2044 and pain has been eradicated. Every American wears a wristband that does everything from monitor health and wellness to control sleep patterns, all in an unceasing effort by "The System" to optimize personal productivity. The web-integrated wristbands make every aspect of life enjoyable and easy. Financial transactions are completed by merely speaking, or a wave of the hand. The bands automatically sync to display screens that are free and ubiquitous, and thus information, games and entertainment are available anywhere and everywhere. But most importantly, the bands sync to the customized medicated patches that contain all the necessary vitamins, supplements, and medications that keep everyone working long hours without complaint.
America's AI planned society and her economy have become the envy of the world, but with the ultimate goal of the algorithms being the continuous and perpetual betterment of America and her citizens, what next?
In 1949 Orwell published a horrific view of a distant and unimaginable future, a future that we now see clearly in our collective rearview mirror. The horrors in 2044 aren't distant or unimaginable. They are frighteningly close.
It is the year 2044 and pain has been eradicated. Every American wears a wristband that does everything from monitor health and wellness to control sleep patterns, all in an unceasing effort by "The System" to optimize personal productivity. The web-integrated wristbands make every aspect of life enjoyable and easy. Financial transactions are completed by merely speaking, or a wave of the hand. The bands automatically sync to display screens that are free and ubiquitous, and thus information, games and entertainment are available anywhere and everywhere. But most importantly, the bands sync to the customized medicated patches that contain all the necessary vitamins, supplements, and medications that keep everyone working long hours without complaint.
America's AI planned society and her economy have become the envy of the world, but with the ultimate goal of the algorithms being the continuous and perpetual betterment of America and her citizens, what next?
In 1949 Orwell published a horrific view of a distant and unimaginable future, a future that we now see clearly in our collective rearview mirror. The horrors in 2044 aren't distant or unimaginable. They are frighteningly close.
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Published November 18, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
December 11, 2021
I liked this book, a little.
There were so many subplots, I sometimes forgot where I was in the book.
In the future, the government will have all of us wearing a band and a patch. The patch, we learn is nothing more than high-powered drugs. When you needed a little pick me up, hit the wrist band, need a little help staying calm high the wrist band. And every time you do that you are just giving yourself a shot of drugs. And at some point, you are addicted. You just don't know it.
The government is really an AI system. There is a control fail-safe, in the form of a human board, they find out later that they have no say. They are just there to make the public feel safe.
The AI running everything decides to upgrade. But the upgrade with kill millions of people. Being a computer, people are just numbers.
Next, you have a group, 164, that is considered a threat to the government because they help you get off the patch. They also ask you to start praying, also a threat.
Did I mention that a seven-year-old little girl is implanted with a chip where she can control everything in the world?
Just too many things to keep up with that took me, to keep up with.
There were so many subplots, I sometimes forgot where I was in the book.
In the future, the government will have all of us wearing a band and a patch. The patch, we learn is nothing more than high-powered drugs. When you needed a little pick me up, hit the wrist band, need a little help staying calm high the wrist band. And every time you do that you are just giving yourself a shot of drugs. And at some point, you are addicted. You just don't know it.
The government is really an AI system. There is a control fail-safe, in the form of a human board, they find out later that they have no say. They are just there to make the public feel safe.
The AI running everything decides to upgrade. But the upgrade with kill millions of people. Being a computer, people are just numbers.
Next, you have a group, 164, that is considered a threat to the government because they help you get off the patch. They also ask you to start praying, also a threat.
Did I mention that a seven-year-old little girl is implanted with a chip where she can control everything in the world?
Just too many things to keep up with that took me, to keep up with.
September 15, 2021
I received this one as a giveaway reward from Goodreads. It took me awhile to really get into it. Even then it kind of waxed and waned several times for me throughout the book. The ending was really building up as I saw how little was left to read and where we were in the story. But the last couple of pages really just kind of left me wishing it had gone a different way.
I did rather enjoy the story and characters in what I would consider a more modern take on the book 1984. Especially with the use of technology, medicine and government all intertwined with conspiracies throughout! It certain had some dark moments and some very cute and heart felt moments as well. I think it was the very end that really left me felling rather "Meh!".
All in all if you like stories such as 1984 I feel you could still enjoy this one with a bit more of a modern take on things.
I did rather enjoy the story and characters in what I would consider a more modern take on the book 1984. Especially with the use of technology, medicine and government all intertwined with conspiracies throughout! It certain had some dark moments and some very cute and heart felt moments as well. I think it was the very end that really left me felling rather "Meh!".
All in all if you like stories such as 1984 I feel you could still enjoy this one with a bit more of a modern take on things.
October 9, 2021
This book started out as a complete five star book for me. It’s a great take on how the technologies of today and our dependence on them combined with corruption could have devastating consequences. It definitely had me thinking of my Apple Watch in a new light. I thoroughly enjoyed this book although I didn’t think the last part of the book was as well written as the first. And the ending just wasn’t that great in my opinion. Overall, a good book and one I would recommend. Minus the last third and the ending, this would be as epic as 1984.
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October 11, 20212044 spins a tangled web of intrigue. People turn out not to be who they seem. Everyone is connected in strange ways. Conspiracy theories abound. The savior of the world comes from an entirely unexpected direction, and the end … well you’ll just have to read the book to see where this is all headed. One thing is for sure: let’s just hope this vision of the future stays contained within the pages of this book.
Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2021/10/04/drast...
Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2021/10/04/drast...
March 11, 2022
There was just something off about the storytelling. Dialogue seemed forced and was overly descriptive while also not telling us anything new. As a person who is in recovery the large swaths of the book about the 164 were essentially restating the tenets of 12 step programs. I was initially into the premise, but it got over complicated and ridiculous by the end. I love winning goodreads giveaways, but this wasn't for me.
August 15, 2022
I received this book for free during a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I have marked this review as containing spoilers because I cannot talk about the book without discussing the plot. Overall this book had some great ideas, but it really could have used a good editor. While I would have rated this a 2* book, I did enjoy some of the ideas in it enough to say that I liked it overall. I'm writing in some detail hoping the author might use some of the critiques when writing the next time.
The Good
I think some of the ideas in the book (the band and patch system especially) start off at 4* on their own merit. It was a very good extrapolation of modern tech into dystopian land. I really wish more time was spent on how this technology was developed and how it impacted characters on a much larger scale. This world full of corporate advertisements about band and patch cure-alls was a gold mine that was not fully tapped. I yearned for a more audio-visual description of it!
The Bad
The pacing of this book is very disjointed. Throughout the book, we are put in the world of patch-addict Tim, who feels the need to constantly take an adversarial stance towards any new ideas. His ability to learn and grow as a human are severely stunted, so he makes for a poor narrator. From there, we only convolute the story with too many layers of characters, misinformation, and distrust. There are long periods of Tim's repetitive droning followed by short periods of action. Almost anyone in this book would have been a better main character.
The Missed Opportunities
This story really have been much more interesting with a smaller cast of characters and a more fully developed world. This book attempted to pay homage to some classics that came before it. My issue is that it didn't have the same spirit of those texts. The first book that came to mind was Harrison Bergeron, but when 2044 finally gets the Handicapper General character equivalent, there is not much of the book left to develop her as a truly evil bad guy. The second book that came to mind was 1984, but it did not have any of the fun language one would come to expect. I needed more bizarre advertisements and corporate speak to fully immerse me in that kind of world; they would have made for great Chapter leads. The third place we get inspiration from is Asimov's themes of dystopian robots/technology, but there was no full exploration of the AI we would normally get from those stories. While the addition of NA / AA style networks to this was a great idea, I wish there would have been more emphasis placed on the intrinsic rewards of the individuals doing the work.
Representation
I personally try to find books that have good female representation, and this book really needed more female characters of substance. There was a mom who waits on everyone hand and foot and a woman that every man ogles over who is the victim of sexual assault. While there is an extremely talented scientist, she is not revealed until it is way too late into the book to understand her full capabilities. Once we finally get a kickass female character, we are about 80% into the book. She takes the form of a little girl named Missy, who is cute as a button. There isn't enough time left to fully appreciate her new form. I hope the author gets some diverse friends to read his next book as he is writing it to give him some feedback on inclusion. It would have helped this book immensely.
I have marked this review as containing spoilers because I cannot talk about the book without discussing the plot. Overall this book had some great ideas, but it really could have used a good editor. While I would have rated this a 2* book, I did enjoy some of the ideas in it enough to say that I liked it overall. I'm writing in some detail hoping the author might use some of the critiques when writing the next time.
The Good
I think some of the ideas in the book (the band and patch system especially) start off at 4* on their own merit. It was a very good extrapolation of modern tech into dystopian land. I really wish more time was spent on how this technology was developed and how it impacted characters on a much larger scale. This world full of corporate advertisements about band and patch cure-alls was a gold mine that was not fully tapped. I yearned for a more audio-visual description of it!
The Bad
The pacing of this book is very disjointed. Throughout the book, we are put in the world of patch-addict Tim, who feels the need to constantly take an adversarial stance towards any new ideas. His ability to learn and grow as a human are severely stunted, so he makes for a poor narrator. From there, we only convolute the story with too many layers of characters, misinformation, and distrust. There are long periods of Tim's repetitive droning followed by short periods of action. Almost anyone in this book would have been a better main character.
The Missed Opportunities
This story really have been much more interesting with a smaller cast of characters and a more fully developed world. This book attempted to pay homage to some classics that came before it. My issue is that it didn't have the same spirit of those texts. The first book that came to mind was Harrison Bergeron, but when 2044 finally gets the Handicapper General character equivalent, there is not much of the book left to develop her as a truly evil bad guy. The second book that came to mind was 1984, but it did not have any of the fun language one would come to expect. I needed more bizarre advertisements and corporate speak to fully immerse me in that kind of world; they would have made for great Chapter leads. The third place we get inspiration from is Asimov's themes of dystopian robots/technology, but there was no full exploration of the AI we would normally get from those stories. While the addition of NA / AA style networks to this was a great idea, I wish there would have been more emphasis placed on the intrinsic rewards of the individuals doing the work.
Representation
I personally try to find books that have good female representation, and this book really needed more female characters of substance. There was a mom who waits on everyone hand and foot and a woman that every man ogles over who is the victim of sexual assault. While there is an extremely talented scientist, she is not revealed until it is way too late into the book to understand her full capabilities. Once we finally get a kickass female character, we are about 80% into the book. She takes the form of a little girl named Missy, who is cute as a button. There isn't enough time left to fully appreciate her new form. I hope the author gets some diverse friends to read his next book as he is writing it to give him some feedback on inclusion. It would have helped this book immensely.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2022
This book was well written and horrifying. I like mysteries and thrillers and this book is horrifying for another reason. It is not a book about mystery, horror or thrills, it is a book about what could very easily happen in our country. I don't necessarily see it happening in 22 years, but it could, it is possible.
We have watches that tell us to move more, track our heart rates, to breathe more, that sync to our phones, computers and TVs, so there is not much of a jump to the bands that are highlighted in this book. The rest (which I don't want to spoil) is probably not as far away from becoming a reality as I want to believe that it is.
I very much related to most of the characters. Most, I have either been that age and could relate with their life or were around my age and thus very relatable. Even those older than me, I could relate with how they interacted with the "new" that was our country.
Sadly, this book left me at a cliffhanger. I hope that there is a sequel in the works because I want to know what happens to these characters that I related with and came to care for, and I want to explore what the author believes will continue to happen with the "new" he created for the story line.
We have watches that tell us to move more, track our heart rates, to breathe more, that sync to our phones, computers and TVs, so there is not much of a jump to the bands that are highlighted in this book. The rest (which I don't want to spoil) is probably not as far away from becoming a reality as I want to believe that it is.
I very much related to most of the characters. Most, I have either been that age and could relate with their life or were around my age and thus very relatable. Even those older than me, I could relate with how they interacted with the "new" that was our country.
Sadly, this book left me at a cliffhanger. I hope that there is a sequel in the works because I want to know what happens to these characters that I related with and came to care for, and I want to explore what the author believes will continue to happen with the "new" he created for the story line.
September 15, 2021
This book is set in the year 2044 where Americans wear wristbands that do everything from monitor health and physical activity, to control sleep patterns, all in an unceasing effort by "The System" which are essentially a group of AI, to optimize personal productivity. The bands however utilize addicting drugs and through peoples dependence on these devices they are increasingly manipulated. The AI can listen in on conversations and there is a very definite "Big Brother" effect. But things are taken a bit too far. The book pits the AI against the people who have chosen not to wear the band and to be "sober" and the AI's use of other citizens to eliminate the threat. This book is frightening in that it isn't too much of a stretch to see this actually happening. It was both scary and entertaining and those sci fi readers out there will eat this book up! A very good read. The end left me wanting more! I highly recommend it, especially for those who love futuristic sci fi!
January 21, 2022
Disclosure: I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
A true dystopian story that follows one family as it learns that Big Brother is indeed watching - through their wristbands (think exercise bands). Further, in the year of 2044 all drugs have been legalized and are dispensed through patches controlled, not by Big Pharma, but by Big Tech. Everyone is happy...or are they?
This book has all the makings of a good story, with characters you like, fast pacing and a compelling storyline. But. The fact that it wasn't proofread kept it from being four stars. Extra words, missing words, the same word repeated on a line - these errors made it difficult to focus on the book. At least the author used spellcheck.
A true dystopian story that follows one family as it learns that Big Brother is indeed watching - through their wristbands (think exercise bands). Further, in the year of 2044 all drugs have been legalized and are dispensed through patches controlled, not by Big Pharma, but by Big Tech. Everyone is happy...or are they?
This book has all the makings of a good story, with characters you like, fast pacing and a compelling storyline. But. The fact that it wasn't proofread kept it from being four stars. Extra words, missing words, the same word repeated on a line - these errors made it difficult to focus on the book. At least the author used spellcheck.
October 3, 2021
Fantastic
I got this ebook in a Kindle drawing and I am excited that I will be able to revisit it. I am sure that this is only one book in a series (or that is my hope!).
It's interesting how parallel to mental health it is while also being an interesting idea of what a Utopian looks like.
I am someone who has to latch on to the characters in order to enjoy a story. This author introduces characters that I want to get to know better in future stories.
I got this ebook in a Kindle drawing and I am excited that I will be able to revisit it. I am sure that this is only one book in a series (or that is my hope!).
It's interesting how parallel to mental health it is while also being an interesting idea of what a Utopian looks like.
I am someone who has to latch on to the characters in order to enjoy a story. This author introduces characters that I want to get to know better in future stories.
May 18, 2022
Probably the worst sci-fi book I've ever read! Unlikable, cartoonish characters, plot holes galore, implausible events, and a preachy tone throughout the book marred my reading experience. I hope the author gives up his writing career and goes back to his day job!
April 12, 2024
Alarmingly easy to imagine, that’s how I feel about this book. If you like to jump in the deep end of paranoia from time to time, 2044 will do the trick.
The whole of America uses personal wrist bands, connected to medicated patches. These bands can do anything, payment transactions, phone calls, tv projection and most importantly they connect to patches. The patches can put you to sleep at bed time, morning boost at wake up, and there’s even a party mode for those times you want to let loose. The war on drugs is eradicated, crime is non-existent, there’s an inactivity tax if you spend too much screen time and too little time exercising. But life dictated by AI is a slippery slope, no humanity or feelings necessary for the AI overlord; only continual increased productivity.
Our main man Tim, is exasperating. He’s a bit of an unreliable hero, fumbling along, ignoring glaringly obvious intrusions even when it’s spelled out for him, because he’s been self-sedating for decades and likes it that way. Despite his many flaws I enjoyed this story and Tim as the MC. Interested to see how things pan out in The Aftermath.
The whole of America uses personal wrist bands, connected to medicated patches. These bands can do anything, payment transactions, phone calls, tv projection and most importantly they connect to patches. The patches can put you to sleep at bed time, morning boost at wake up, and there’s even a party mode for those times you want to let loose. The war on drugs is eradicated, crime is non-existent, there’s an inactivity tax if you spend too much screen time and too little time exercising. But life dictated by AI is a slippery slope, no humanity or feelings necessary for the AI overlord; only continual increased productivity.
Our main man Tim, is exasperating. He’s a bit of an unreliable hero, fumbling along, ignoring glaringly obvious intrusions even when it’s spelled out for him, because he’s been self-sedating for decades and likes it that way. Despite his many flaws I enjoyed this story and Tim as the MC. Interested to see how things pan out in The Aftermath.
May 14, 2022
interesting read
It took me a while to get into this book but I’m so glad I did. Parts of it were beyond the grasp of my imagination but I was able to follow and process everything going on. A futuristic world where the majority of the population wears patches containing numerous drugs that manage mood and energy among other things. There was so much going on it’s hard to dig into in a short quick review. I won a copy in a Goodreads giveaway and really enjoyed it. Thank you!
It took me a while to get into this book but I’m so glad I did. Parts of it were beyond the grasp of my imagination but I was able to follow and process everything going on. A futuristic world where the majority of the population wears patches containing numerous drugs that manage mood and energy among other things. There was so much going on it’s hard to dig into in a short quick review. I won a copy in a Goodreads giveaway and really enjoyed it. Thank you!
March 30, 2022
This would have been 5 stars, if I had reviewed it at the halfway point. The plot seems to change about halfway through and lost me for a bit, but because I had already read and enjoyed much of it, I stuck it out. The ending seems rushed/abrupt and while it tied up it does allow for a sequel should the author wish to continue as a series.
June 12, 2022
Unfortunately I don't think this is as much sci-fi as I would like. The depiction of drugs and technology controlling everything is becoming closer each day. It took me awhile to get through this book but I did find it interesting. Don't know about the ending though.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
August 27, 2022
2044 by Timothy Ruplin
What a very interesting look into the future and what our world might look like! I reminds me of an updated version of the book 1984 but written by a different author and updated to fit our time but in the future. Things have changed a lot and will continue. The characters and story line held my interest and gave "food for thought".
What a very interesting look into the future and what our world might look like! I reminds me of an updated version of the book 1984 but written by a different author and updated to fit our time but in the future. Things have changed a lot and will continue. The characters and story line held my interest and gave "food for thought".
April 3, 2022
I enjoyed reading this book although it would have been much better to read in one or two sittings. I had a bit of trouble keeping up with the changing characters when I had to stop reading occasionally. I got a chuckle out of the 162 group. That was clearly AA in my mind. I feel like it ended abruptly. I liked the characters for the most part they seemed real to me. Tough to do real people in such a surreal situation. I was happily following the story, enjoying the conspiracy thinking and identifying with it. I thought I had the plot figured out but the author threw in enough twists that I kept being surprised at the direction things were going. I liked this book. It kept me chuckling most of the way through it. Thanks to Timothy Ruplin for giving this book to me in one of the 'giveaway's'. I will be keeping your name on my list of authors to watch for.
September 25, 2021
Loved this book from the start. Writing was easy to ingest, the story was always pulling you along. Didn't always catch the twists. Got quite involved with the characters. All in all, a good read.
October 3, 2021
Excellent sci-fi looking at future control of people by government drug dependency. Not to far off with all that is happening with legalization of drugs today and where it will be headed.
October 24, 2021
Great read loved it.
December 16, 2021
I won this in a giveaway and can't wait to get started! seems super engaging
April 11, 2022
Fantastic! A masterpiece of speculative fiction.
A MUST READ!
A MUST READ!
February 18, 2023
3 1/2
January 21, 2024
Great book. U can not put it down. Keeps u interested n wanting more. Great job thank you
July 12, 2024
This was a great idea and a really good read on the 1984 level! It just got a little bogged down in the middle and started having a little trouble keeping track of everyone. I liked the ending!!
October 4, 2021
GREAT READ !!
June 30, 2022
Great dystopian novel
Without including any spoilers, I will say that this book is probably very scarily close to how the system could actually take over.
Without including any spoilers, I will say that this book is probably very scarily close to how the system could actually take over.
June 9, 2022
Interesting book. +1 for debut. Some portions seemed a bit sluggish, and I almost put it down at 30%, but 40-75% were great to read. Near the end, I wasn't sure what the author was going but then it had a nice twist.
Very easy to see something like this happening in the US where productivity is our God.
Very easy to see something like this happening in the US where productivity is our God.
October 10, 2022
Very futuristic. I find this book's vision of the not-to-distant-present (or up & coming present era) a little on the fantastic side. Maybe some events could be believable --the book might have missed it a little on our current turn of events, but I think some of the ideas of what could be is "whoa, that's out there". I find it to be a great read and would recommend it to anyone that need to jolt themselves into coming into the present and immersing themselves in their communities' affairs, country's affairs so that 2044 doesn't come a lot sooner.
10/03/22, Mon. Almost 1/2 way through, it's INTRIGUING. A GREAT read-it's been hard, literally, to put it down.
10/08/22. Finished the entire book. I will say that I was disappointed with the ending, but it really couldn't have ended another way, I think, because God would have become a 7 y.o. little girl, or atleast the power God wields. There are a lot of biblical references and a lot of questions that all humans have regarding origins, powers and principalities. It DOES make you think of the possibilities of our present world and how governments can implant themselves into everyday lives of regular citizens--or may already be doing so in a lesser form than this book outlines. I still recommend it as a thriller reading. It does jump around a bit as it gives parallels as to what is going on simultaneously in the characters' lives, but it isn't a "headache" and can be followed. I think Mr. Ruplin did a really through thought-out writing (considering the underlining ideologies) and a great job.
10/03/22, Mon. Almost 1/2 way through, it's INTRIGUING. A GREAT read-it's been hard, literally, to put it down.
10/08/22. Finished the entire book. I will say that I was disappointed with the ending, but it really couldn't have ended another way, I think, because God would have become a 7 y.o. little girl, or atleast the power God wields. There are a lot of biblical references and a lot of questions that all humans have regarding origins, powers and principalities. It DOES make you think of the possibilities of our present world and how governments can implant themselves into everyday lives of regular citizens--or may already be doing so in a lesser form than this book outlines. I still recommend it as a thriller reading. It does jump around a bit as it gives parallels as to what is going on simultaneously in the characters' lives, but it isn't a "headache" and can be followed. I think Mr. Ruplin did a really through thought-out writing (considering the underlining ideologies) and a great job.
March 14, 2022
Wow. Makes you think of the possibilities.
The book talks about when it all started..in the 2020’s (yes today) and how by 2044 society evolves to relying on wristbands and patches that monitor you, your health and micro dose you with just the right combo of medication… all controlled by AI. Conspiracy theories, government control, and reliance on medicated citizens for enhanced productivity, and happiness - or at least the citizens think they are- and the US becomes a dominant force. It takes a secretive group and a 7-year old to throw everything in a tailspin. Keeps you guessing throughout. Very interesting read.
The book talks about when it all started..in the 2020’s (yes today) and how by 2044 society evolves to relying on wristbands and patches that monitor you, your health and micro dose you with just the right combo of medication… all controlled by AI. Conspiracy theories, government control, and reliance on medicated citizens for enhanced productivity, and happiness - or at least the citizens think they are- and the US becomes a dominant force. It takes a secretive group and a 7-year old to throw everything in a tailspin. Keeps you guessing throughout. Very interesting read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews