Mind vs. Matter

Mind vs. Matter #1

by Konrad Koenigsmann

THE WORLD IS RUNNING OUT OF TIME. . . The year is 2067. World War III has come and gone, and the world has been carved into empires. Its people are oppressed and suffering more than ever before. When a mysterious man named Karl von Liebnitz, the leader of a shadowy organization known as Tyrannei, makes plans to take over the planet, there is nothing the empires can do to stop him...until, that is, a new force emerges. Will Hartford and his son, Pierre, have unparalleled mental capabilities, and soon Karl, Will, and Pierre begin to use their mental prowess to battle for control of the world. But as the two sides move closer to their final clash, questions begin to arise. What if the two factions cannot save the world from themselves? What if there is no scenario where the destruction of the world does not happen? Mind vs. Matter is a gripping and thought-provoking novel recognized by the 2016 Moonbeam Children's Book Awards with a silver medal in the category for authors under 18. The novel was also named a winner by the 2016 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards.

214 pages, Paperback

Published March 29, 2016

About the author

Konrad Koenigsmann wrote the first two award-winning books of this trilogy, Mind vs. Matter and Children of the Gods, beginning in eighth grade. The Rewriting of Time completes the trilogy. His interests include science and classical music. He lives in Congers, New York.

Reviews

[Dr H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of science fiction, so it was nice to see you select this as your genre. Your knowledge of science/math/technology showed through. I would note, however, that you may have used a bit too much detail to hold the interest of some of your readers who aren't scientifically inclined. As the plot evolved to the point of showing that some of the characters had strong ability for mental control, I was reminded of one of my all-time favorite books - "The Demolished Man." There also were some loose connections to elements of my favorite sci-fi author, Robert Heinlein. Your choice of ending was particularly creative... I definitely didn't see it coming. However, I do have one last critique. The best sci-fi books have an important message/moral, and I couldn't discern one here. It may be that the sequel "Children of the Gods" will get into that.

[Morna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super Heroes on Physics!
One of Konrad's most impressive feats is to go so far in to the inner mind of several characters. Another feature of his book is the very strong theme of post-humanism. This is an emergent theme of great interest to literary scholars in our age of nano and genetic engineering. I think the portrayal of the super advanced mind at work and Konrad's ability to engage very deeply with complex physics and technology concepts in such a character driven way is pretty eye-popping. I also appreciate how much psychological development goes into the characters. Their conflicts and their inner natures are quite real, and their psychological compulsion was very believable, especially the quirky emotionally affective voices that the characters used.

[Charles Flaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

A surprisingly good first time novel! A fantastic first attempt considering the author is 14 years old. This novel deals with complex issues such as homelessness and abuse as well as the overcoming of these obstacles. The adults in the story are grounded by their human faults while the protagonists and antagonists battle for world domination by using their minds as their ultimate weapon. A nice surprise ending. Good for all ages. Bravo Master Koenigsmann.

[H K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although the author is only 14 years old, this novel can capture both teenage and adult readers. The plot is engaging and methodically developed. It contains a mixture of futuristic technology, espionage, and human emotions with many unexpected twists and turns. The characters are well thought out. I am already looking forward to the sequel of this book.