Great Minds

by Shantea Gauthier

Anala and Velena are Great Minds, young scientists recruited into a government program devoted to saving their sky-high utopian city. Despite decades of repairs, the infrastructure is failing, but Anala has a scientific breakthrough that could change the path of humanity. She is the first to admit that her plan is extreme, and the government officials quickly divide over what to do, especially when their salvation depends on a dangerous excursion to the hostile surface. Velena has caught the eye of a dangerous politician who could prevent her from contributing to the city’s salvation. Longing to escape, she discovers circumstances are more desperate than she thought, and she can no longer wait while Anala climbs the political ranks. When Velena gains a spot on the critical excursion team, her opportunity to escape the oppression is too good to pass up, but can she threaten her best friend's chance to save the city in order to save herself?

249 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 6, 2015

Reviews

[Holly Echterling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Minds is the story of two scientists struggling to succeed in a post apocalyptic dystopia. The story begins in SkyTown, a technological marvel that has fallen into disrepair and towers over the wasteland of the planet's surface. Gauthier does a wonderful job building the world and influencing the culture of the people by the harsh realities of their environment. High stakes political intrigue blends with action and adventure as the characters choices make for surprising plot twists that impact their relationships and the world they live in. Gauthier's amazing imagination shines and her excellent command of humor keeps the severity of the world at bay. You haven't read anything like this. I give this science fiction adventure 5 Mutie headshots out of 5.

[Brandi Nyborg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book through a goodreads giveaway. This book centers around two scientists who come from a city in the sky. Anala is ambitious and quickly works her way through government ranks, while her best friend Velena wants more than a marriage to a cruel man. As the society struggles due to lack of water, Anala comes up with unimaginably cruel solution. The author has a way with words and is an awesome world builder. This book has nonstop action that will keep you turning the pages wanting to see what happens next. I really hope this author writes more books, because this one is awesome!

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

An "ahead-of-its-time" hard sci-fi story that could stand with the greats for its compelling characters and prescient world-building. Great Minds' dual protagonists find themselves coming to age in a society on the decline, whose promise of utopia has dwindled due to the consequences of resource extraction and the scarcity which governs every aspect of their lives. (Relatable, really.) Although both girls start with similar potential as 'gifted' children, their paths diverge as one's professional success elevates her to the upper echelons of political power while the other becomes trapped in a marriage in which her wellbeing is utterly reliant on a powerful, yet capricious man. What follows is a gripping narrative as the friends are put on opposite sides of their society's worst aspects. While one embraces all the hidden excesses in her pursuit of power "for the greater good", simultaneously an agent of propaganda and its victim, the other is forced to the fringes for her own survival. Yet, the actions of both girls will change their city in ways they couldn't have anticipated and may make one the city's hero and the other its villain. If you're a fan of Fallout or just good thematic scifi in general, give this one a shot. 5 'ignorance is bliss before it gets you killed' out of 5.

[Donald Regan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a great book .I find interest to read this book.The writer showed great skill to established psychological phenomena.I like this book.