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Wipe
I’ve seen the tower from the beach a million times.
Way out in the sea, impossible to reach.
It rises gray and bare, up and up, and then out of sight. As if the sea gave birth to something meant to connect it to the sky. I’ve never seen the top. Maze says she’s not convinced it has one.
And I’ve always taken its impossible presence for what the Fathers say it is: a relic from before the Wipe. The hubris of pre-Wipe man, and a reminder for us all as to why it is God’s Will that we never return to technology.
But Maze suddenly has it in her head that the tower means something else, something different than the history the Fathers have given us. I think she’s a conspiracy theorist.
Until she shows me the map. Just the word mirror scribbled in red ink, next to a marking, and she expects me to go into the Deadlands with her. As long as I’ve known of her recklessness, and as much of a bad influence as she is on me, I can’t say no. Because while she doesn’t know they exist, I can’t stop my feelings for her.
And I start to realize, when we first pass over the rotting gates, into the ruin that was a city, that it will take something much more than either of us ever knew we had in order to survive the truth.
Way out in the sea, impossible to reach.
It rises gray and bare, up and up, and then out of sight. As if the sea gave birth to something meant to connect it to the sky. I’ve never seen the top. Maze says she’s not convinced it has one.
And I’ve always taken its impossible presence for what the Fathers say it is: a relic from before the Wipe. The hubris of pre-Wipe man, and a reminder for us all as to why it is God’s Will that we never return to technology.
But Maze suddenly has it in her head that the tower means something else, something different than the history the Fathers have given us. I think she’s a conspiracy theorist.
Until she shows me the map. Just the word mirror scribbled in red ink, next to a marking, and she expects me to go into the Deadlands with her. As long as I’ve known of her recklessness, and as much of a bad influence as she is on me, I can’t say no. Because while she doesn’t know they exist, I can’t stop my feelings for her.
And I start to realize, when we first pass over the rotting gates, into the ruin that was a city, that it will take something much more than either of us ever knew we had in order to survive the truth.
- GenresDystopia
372 pages, Paperback
Published January 30, 2016
32 people are currently reading
254 people want to read
About the author
Joseph A. Turkot
49 books110 followersJoseph Turkot is the author of eight novels and many short stories. He began writing as an independent author, and The Rain is his first release with Blackstone Publishing. He lives in South Jersey, and when not writing, he dreams of the day when he’ll be able to open an animal sanctuary.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 14, 2020
I originally read this story when published in five separate parts:
Part 1 - The story revolves around a post apocalyptic society that is run by a group known as The Fatherhood, who has shunned the use of metal, as it is a substance responsible for the near destruction of humanity, and claims to uphold the word of God. The main character, Wills, is a timid kid who toes the line, for the most part, but deep down feels as though there is more going on than The Fatherhood is telling. His best friend, Maze, is a girl who does not hesitate to go against the tenets of this society, and will take risks to get at the truth.
The story is well written and I enjoyed the interaction between these two characters, especially Wills' uncertainty when it comes to following Maze as she runs head first into didn't situations. The author got right into the meat of the story, which I appreciated. As the first of five parts, this ended in a cliffhanger, but I didn't find this upsetting since the author did well to present enough of the story to pull me in and generate enough interest that I will absolutely continue on with the rest of the story.
Part 2 - Enjoyable reading. The action is fast-paced and constant. The author does well to keep up the suspense. The story suffers in that it is a little predictable at times, and the main character's obsession with a girl is pathetic and takes up too much of the story. In all, I liked the story and will definitely read the next installment.
Part 3 - Excellent installment on the Wipe series! One of the main weak points of the story the far has been the unreciprocated affection that the main character, Wills, has for the girl, Maze, week has led him on this adventure. In the installment, he begins to grow a bit of a backbone, albeit primarily because another female character has drawn his attention. Nevertheless less, his "lovesick puppy" yearnings begin to subside and distract less from what I've a very good story. Turkot shows great ability to keep the story interesting throughout. Wipe doesn't really suffer through those typical flat spots found in most stories. I look forward to part four!
Part 4 - Wipe continues to be more about the unrequited love the main character (Wills) holds in his heart (for Maze) than the post apocalyptic world that surrounds him. The very journey that these two have undertaken is more so about his desire to be close to the woman loves.
Part 4 of this story offers more insight into what happened to cause the "wipe", and why. I found this to be the most disappointing portion of the story. The reasons for the wipe and the explanation for Maze's tattoo seemed far fetched and not well executed.
One more part of this story remains, and I will read it because I have come this far, but I don't expect the conclusion to be anything more than just average.
Part 5 - The final part of what could have been an intriguing post-apocalyptic, dystopian story, but became way too much of a love story for my tastes.
The story seemed to lose a lot of its steam as Maze and Wills reach the Tower. There was so much anticipation built into them reaching it. Once they get there, and it's secrets are revealed, the rest is a letdown.
It felt as if the tower really ought to have been the conclusion of the story, but there's an additional story element that felt forced and didn't really go anywhere.
Part 1 - The story revolves around a post apocalyptic society that is run by a group known as The Fatherhood, who has shunned the use of metal, as it is a substance responsible for the near destruction of humanity, and claims to uphold the word of God. The main character, Wills, is a timid kid who toes the line, for the most part, but deep down feels as though there is more going on than The Fatherhood is telling. His best friend, Maze, is a girl who does not hesitate to go against the tenets of this society, and will take risks to get at the truth.
The story is well written and I enjoyed the interaction between these two characters, especially Wills' uncertainty when it comes to following Maze as she runs head first into didn't situations. The author got right into the meat of the story, which I appreciated. As the first of five parts, this ended in a cliffhanger, but I didn't find this upsetting since the author did well to present enough of the story to pull me in and generate enough interest that I will absolutely continue on with the rest of the story.
Part 2 - Enjoyable reading. The action is fast-paced and constant. The author does well to keep up the suspense. The story suffers in that it is a little predictable at times, and the main character's obsession with a girl is pathetic and takes up too much of the story. In all, I liked the story and will definitely read the next installment.
Part 3 - Excellent installment on the Wipe series! One of the main weak points of the story the far has been the unreciprocated affection that the main character, Wills, has for the girl, Maze, week has led him on this adventure. In the installment, he begins to grow a bit of a backbone, albeit primarily because another female character has drawn his attention. Nevertheless less, his "lovesick puppy" yearnings begin to subside and distract less from what I've a very good story. Turkot shows great ability to keep the story interesting throughout. Wipe doesn't really suffer through those typical flat spots found in most stories. I look forward to part four!
Part 4 - Wipe continues to be more about the unrequited love the main character (Wills) holds in his heart (for Maze) than the post apocalyptic world that surrounds him. The very journey that these two have undertaken is more so about his desire to be close to the woman loves.
Part 4 of this story offers more insight into what happened to cause the "wipe", and why. I found this to be the most disappointing portion of the story. The reasons for the wipe and the explanation for Maze's tattoo seemed far fetched and not well executed.
One more part of this story remains, and I will read it because I have come this far, but I don't expect the conclusion to be anything more than just average.
Part 5 - The final part of what could have been an intriguing post-apocalyptic, dystopian story, but became way too much of a love story for my tastes.
The story seemed to lose a lot of its steam as Maze and Wills reach the Tower. There was so much anticipation built into them reaching it. Once they get there, and it's secrets are revealed, the rest is a letdown.
It felt as if the tower really ought to have been the conclusion of the story, but there's an additional story element that felt forced and didn't really go anywhere.
September 22, 2016
This review is for the omnibus - parts 1-5, the complete series.
Long after the world-as-we-know-it ended, civilization has pooled into communities held together by dogma of one sort or another. In Acadia, Maze and Wills fall into conflict with the ruling Fathers over the touching of forbidden metal and find themselves on the run toward the tower and the key to a surprising destiny, not just for them, but the entire human race.
Wipe is an enjoyable read all the way through, though the end does feel a little rushed. As far as characters go, Maze and Wills are young, human, and interesting. They don’t really surprise, but they are solid enough. The characters that the two encounter as their adventures progress are compelling and as eerily drawn as the world they inhabit. The quest is mysterious and ambitious. The mood and environment of the world that Turkot has constructed is the strength of this book. I hope to see more from this talented author.
I received a review copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This review and more at annevolmering.com.
Long after the world-as-we-know-it ended, civilization has pooled into communities held together by dogma of one sort or another. In Acadia, Maze and Wills fall into conflict with the ruling Fathers over the touching of forbidden metal and find themselves on the run toward the tower and the key to a surprising destiny, not just for them, but the entire human race.
Wipe is an enjoyable read all the way through, though the end does feel a little rushed. As far as characters go, Maze and Wills are young, human, and interesting. They don’t really surprise, but they are solid enough. The characters that the two encounter as their adventures progress are compelling and as eerily drawn as the world they inhabit. The quest is mysterious and ambitious. The mood and environment of the world that Turkot has constructed is the strength of this book. I hope to see more from this talented author.
I received a review copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This review and more at annevolmering.com.
June 6, 2017
Give me back my wasted time
I don't even know where to start. The writing was juvenile and repetitious. Willis was consumed with sex. It was so distracting and annoying. His constant mental meandering was exhausting.
The premise was interesting and was what attracted me. I kept reading hoping it would blossom. Instead it shriveled up and died. I can never get that time back. So much promise unfulfilled.
I don't even know where to start. The writing was juvenile and repetitious. Willis was consumed with sex. It was so distracting and annoying. His constant mental meandering was exhausting.
The premise was interesting and was what attracted me. I kept reading hoping it would blossom. Instead it shriveled up and died. I can never get that time back. So much promise unfulfilled.
April 27, 2016
I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway. The premise seemed interesting. I love a good post-apocalyptic story. This had all the right elements. Small societies living in the aftermath of some great and final conflict. A return to simpler times and ideals. A headstrong girl and the boy who adores her venturing boldly into the wreckage of human history. They seek out the truth of what really happened to mankind. Honestly, I wanted to love this book. There were some really great ideas and contrasts, but the execution didn’t hold up.
There was a lot of repetition. The main character goes through the same series of thoughts over and over again, showing resolve and losing the resolve again in a heartbeat. He has the same thoughts about Maze seemingly every other page, making him less sympathetic and more whiny. They escape absolutely certain death multiple times by miracles of coincidence that stretched the limits of suspended disbelief. Even the same phrases are repeated many times. I lost count of how many times i read “It was all I could do...”
There is a lack of solid explanation for a lot of things in the book. Why does the resistance have access to fuel, when it seems centuries have passed since The Wipe and all fuel would be useless? There’s no explanation of how the skin of the Nefandus is somehow like armor or how some of their tribe have antlers attached to their skulls. The story doesn’t seem as though so much time has passed that evolution would have allowed for these changes. I was also confused how the main characters had so much knowledge of the world before the Wipe. They knew what cars and skyscrapers were. They understood that vehicles used fuel and even that there were different kinds of metal such as steel. They even knew what computer circuitry looked like. However, all of these things were forbidden. So, where did they get all of this knowledge? These inconsistencies, among others, took me out of the story.
Overall it was a solid concept that needed a few really good editing passes. This would have helped alleviate the repetition and close up holes in the narrative.
There was a lot of repetition. The main character goes through the same series of thoughts over and over again, showing resolve and losing the resolve again in a heartbeat. He has the same thoughts about Maze seemingly every other page, making him less sympathetic and more whiny. They escape absolutely certain death multiple times by miracles of coincidence that stretched the limits of suspended disbelief. Even the same phrases are repeated many times. I lost count of how many times i read “It was all I could do...”
There is a lack of solid explanation for a lot of things in the book. Why does the resistance have access to fuel, when it seems centuries have passed since The Wipe and all fuel would be useless? There’s no explanation of how the skin of the Nefandus is somehow like armor or how some of their tribe have antlers attached to their skulls. The story doesn’t seem as though so much time has passed that evolution would have allowed for these changes. I was also confused how the main characters had so much knowledge of the world before the Wipe. They knew what cars and skyscrapers were. They understood that vehicles used fuel and even that there were different kinds of metal such as steel. They even knew what computer circuitry looked like. However, all of these things were forbidden. So, where did they get all of this knowledge? These inconsistencies, among others, took me out of the story.
Overall it was a solid concept that needed a few really good editing passes. This would have helped alleviate the repetition and close up holes in the narrative.
February 3, 2016
WIPE is a fantastic dystopian YA novel. It took me awhile after reading this book to digest the story. It is truly gripping and keeps you feverishly turning the pages.
Pulled from his safe world within the fence, Wills follows Maze out of his little village and experiences things he never thought he was strong enough for. Maze is on a desperate search for truth, Wills is blindly chasing love. Characters along the way are well developed, events are written in a believable (for the story) way. The story nears its end with a specific mission for Wills, one that could finally answer all the questions about what the world was like before the WIPE, why the WIPE happened, and the world post-WIPE.
Dystopian YA is my favorite genre, therefore I tend to be a little harsh in my reviews. It's easy to find fault in lesser novels when you've already read the best. WIPE is one of the best! This stand alone novel is so rich that it easily compares with the now common trilogy series. Author Turkot is able to do in one book what others need 3x the amount of paper to accomplish.
Make sure to buy the complete novel, as this was originally released in parts.
*NOTE: I received a review copy of this novel in trade for my unbiased review. And, I assure you, I don't let free books coerce me into kindness. I've trashed many a novel that I've received for free, because that's what they deserved.*
Pulled from his safe world within the fence, Wills follows Maze out of his little village and experiences things he never thought he was strong enough for. Maze is on a desperate search for truth, Wills is blindly chasing love. Characters along the way are well developed, events are written in a believable (for the story) way. The story nears its end with a specific mission for Wills, one that could finally answer all the questions about what the world was like before the WIPE, why the WIPE happened, and the world post-WIPE.
Dystopian YA is my favorite genre, therefore I tend to be a little harsh in my reviews. It's easy to find fault in lesser novels when you've already read the best. WIPE is one of the best! This stand alone novel is so rich that it easily compares with the now common trilogy series. Author Turkot is able to do in one book what others need 3x the amount of paper to accomplish.
Make sure to buy the complete novel, as this was originally released in parts.
*NOTE: I received a review copy of this novel in trade for my unbiased review. And, I assure you, I don't let free books coerce me into kindness. I've trashed many a novel that I've received for free, because that's what they deserved.*
January 17, 2016
I am blown away. Turkot is a true master of words and weaver of tales. How he is not a bestselling author blows my mind. I just can't comprehend it. I read a lot. I mean a lot. And this book just struck a cord in me; it's the type of book that will stay with you forever. I felt that way after reading his book Rain. But this book is just truly a work of art. There is so much suspense and twists that keep you at the edge of your seat. The love story in this book is gut wrenching. Never before have I felt so touched and moved by this love. The realness and rawness of it is incredible. There are many parts I had to re-read because it gets quite deep and one day I plan to re-read it (and it's extremely rare I say that about a book). I personally adored the satire (as I perceived it to be) of God and religion and of technology and human desires. It is a tale that needs to be read and shared. I hope one day Turkot gets the recognition he so deserves.
January 27, 2016
Joseph Turkot sent me a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
I believe that I am being fair when I give it 2 stars. I am a sucker for post-apocalyptic novels. But I am afraid that this one left me a little cold. The ideas are good, the initial set up a bit derivative but interesting and the writing style is good. But the book is much too long for its slender plot and limited characterisation and I was particularly irritated by the "lust" displayed ad nauseum by the hero to the heroine [much much too much]. I think Mr Turkot needs an editor.
I believe that I am being fair when I give it 2 stars. I am a sucker for post-apocalyptic novels. But I am afraid that this one left me a little cold. The ideas are good, the initial set up a bit derivative but interesting and the writing style is good. But the book is much too long for its slender plot and limited characterisation and I was particularly irritated by the "lust" displayed ad nauseum by the hero to the heroine [much much too much]. I think Mr Turkot needs an editor.
January 29, 2016
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. This book started a bit slow, but only for a few pages, and then I was completely hooked. A really interesting exploration of the human spirit in a post-apocalyptic context. Well written and engaging, it kept me wanting more. Very imaginative.
March 12, 2016
I liked the concept of the post apocalyptic world he builds and he's not afraid of writing an "unhappy" ending but the droning on and on about Wills' love/obsession for Maze really needed a good editor to keep it from tedium.
January 21, 2016
An excellent post-apocalyptic novel, good plot line and very interesting reading
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews