Alia Tero: The Many Lives of Darren Datita

by Lull Mengesha, Scott Spotson

Alia Tero, a planet cloned from Earth, presents both opportunity and despair for a bewildered young man named Darren Datita, who must deal with its strange rules, evolved from over hundreds of years of experimental society-building designed to enrich everyone. Everyone on Alia Tero must rotate every four months: this means leaving behind current jobs, roommates, lovers, and city of residence, to take on a fresh new life. While readers laugh at the pitfalls as Darren fumbles one new situation after the other, an undercurrent of restlessness—over just who runs Alia Tero—surfaces at unexpected moments.

Genres: Fantasy, Humor, Satire, Fiction, Science Fiction, Dystopia

311 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 31, 2017

About the author

Lull Mengesha is an Ethiopian American author who was born in Sudan and emigrated to America as a child. He obtained his economics degree and his Master of Science in Information Management University of Washington in Seattle.

He has published “Lull and his Ladybugs,” an inspirational story to empower children to learn entrepreneurship. He has also written “The Only Black Student,” a valuable resource guide for students of color trying to fit into predominately white colleges. With co-author Scott Spotson, Lull has released a humorous book detailing the bumbling adventures of a lovable schmuck, Darren Datita, in a planet cloned from Earth but with very strange rules of civilization.

To learn more about Lull and his works of fiction and non-fiction, please go to www.facebook.com/lullmengeshafanpage.

Reviews

[Davyne DeSye · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book starts with an interesting premise: On an alternate Earth, a utopian worldwide society has developed. They have never had war, they care for the environment, everyone is equal…

The most interesting aspect of this alternate society is the concept of Rotations – that is, every four months, everybody moves… to a new home, a new job, a new town, as this theoretically promotes equality. As a consequence, nobody builds up possessions (instead inheriting whatever was left in the home by the last occupant), nobody develops lasting relationships (most especially family relationships), and (for at least our bumbling protagonist, Darren Datita), nobody really develops any expertise in their jobs.

What I loved about the book is the absurdist way the authors present the society… while there are many things that are implausible about how the society operates, I was willing to accept that somehow it does work (or as you get deeper into the book, doesn’t work) because there is never any question, based on the tone of the narrative, that it is meant to be absurd and humorous. Even so, the social commentary contained in this book is along the same lines as the some of the great dystopian novels, asking the same questions, arriving at similar answers. Good stuff.

I also enjoyed the character arc as Darren grew and matured through the book. Not to mention some of the almost slapstick situations Darren consistently found himself in.

That being said, I did have two complaints about the book, which is what brought my rating down a bit. First, the prologue. I am not one of those who dislikes prologues in general – done right, they enhance the story that follows. And certainly, I loved the tone of the prologue, which let me know right away that the book would be told tongue-in-cheek. However, in this case, it seemed to me merely to be telling the “rules” of the society I was getting ready to read about. In my opinion, it was therefore unnecessary, as I believe that the world building could (should?) be accomplished through the story itself.

Second, once the “rules” of the society had been set forth in the prologue, the story itself contained inconsistencies that broke those rules. Several times, this left me saying, “Huh? But I thought the prologue said…” As just a couple of examples: According to the prologue everyone is equal… but when Darren Datita is assigned a ten-year-old child to father for one of his rotations, there are “boys’ toys” supplied. I would think true equality would have just supplied “toys.” Or, according to the prologue, everyone has just three outfits: Blue for work or school, purple for leisure and black for Rotation Day. Yet at one point, Darren meets a girl with a leopard print top in a bar. Or, no one develops longstanding relationships and certainly never gets married, yet one character is referred to as Mrs. So-and-so. So, while the story was a good one, there were way too many times that I was popped out of the story with a “Huh? But I thought…”

(Oh, and one personal pet peeve: In the middle of the book, after lots of references to hours, minutes, etc., comes this line: “for the next eight jordets [three hours] Darren was…” and then later in the same paragraph, the reference reverts to “hours” and “jordets” are never seen or heard from again for the rest of book. It’s just me, I know, but this type of “see, my world is different” reference makes me a little nuts.)

My complaints aside, this was good, humorous look at a serious subject and an enjoyable read.

[William Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up.

Alia Tero: The Many Lives of Darren Datita by Scott Spotson and Lull Mengesha is an intriguing read. The premise of a world which began as a clone of Earth is a fantastic and unique idea. The idea of everyone changing their entire lives every four months, i.e, the experimental striving for equality for everyone is also a bizarre, but fascinating concept.

The writing was satisfactory and laced with a comedic edge for the majority of the book. The world building was very well done, bar a few inconsistencies. I particularly enjoyed the colourful chapter names.

Darren himself was a likeable character whose development grew throughout the novel and he was easy to root for once we learned the twist along with him. Whilst Gabriel was thoroughly unlikable, which he was supposed to be.

I felt the prologue was extraneous as we readers don’t need the exact details spelled out for us, but it was also entertaining to read. I felt the story lost itself around the middle, but then brought itself back by the last third. I also would’ve liked to see a lot more about the ‘rulers’ of this enforced utopia.

Overall, it’s quite a light read, but within is a social commentary about mankind conforming to systems even if they are completely ludicrous.

[James McCormick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I really liked this one, but I had mixed feelings about the introduction. Necessarily exposition heavy it was fascinating and I was more than impressed by the premise and depth of thought which sets out world B/ cloned Earth of the tale. Yet the heavy authorial voice seemed to be trying just too hard to be erudite and whimsical at the same time. In tone and style, it was very similar to Charles Kingsley. Yet what reads well in a Victorian novelist eager to edify the reader, doesn’t quite work in a work of modern speculative fiction.

Anyway, to the book. As I read this one, I almost had the feeling I was watching a mini- series on Netflix rather than reading a novel, each “life” being a different episode. It is so quirky and idiosyncratic it has the feel of an original mini-series to it. It certainly doesn’t read as a conventional novel, more like series of themed shorter tales bound together by the same protagonist, Darren Datita. On the one had this certainly kept things fresh, almost like a reboot with every new “life” Darren takes on, but I also found myself on occasion missing a traditional story arc and the beats one might expect in a novel.

There is no denying though that Alia Tero (Esperanto for Another Earth) is a work of incredible imagination and one which, like such classics as Brave New World and 1984, looks at a world where social engineering is taken to the extreme and considers what it is like to live in a society where every aspect of one’s life is controlled and regulated. The society, with its attempt at social utopia, has far more in common with Huxley’s vision rather than Orwell’s “boot stamping on a human face — forever.” The meticulous way this world has been thought out is truly impressive.

The authors also deserve credit for creating a very human, flawed protagonist we can both empathise and sympathise with, someone who can lead us into this other world. We first encounter Darren as an awkward, uncomfortable seventeen-year-old student. We are treated to a less than flattering introduction: “It was easy to make fun of Darren …he wasn’t the most handsome boy … he had a receding chin and greasy brown-black hair …a slender body, but also a pot belly. His arms and legs were like oversize pipe cleaners—gangly and bony.” Soon we follow him as he begins his first job (of several rotations), one which sees him as a plumber in a bingo hall, his incompetence inciting an angry mob of senior citizens. After this comedic beginning, we then follow him as he becomes a guardian for a ten-year-old at the age of nineteen (with only a 600-page manual to instruct him!!!), an orderly, a teacher then at the age of twenty-seven a parole officer.

This was a very enjoyable read, one which stayed fresh throughout. Darren’s journey is far from over but one suspects he is about to live in interesting times (in Chinese curse terms). The society around him, one suspects, might not be quite as stable as we at first suspected. Who knows what will happen next? I for one am eager to find out.

[T.C. Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alia Tero was an interesting read to say the least. The protagonist, the 20-something Darren Datita goes through an every "shifting" life of many jobs, where every four months he faces a new challenge and new and unusual circumstances arise causing issues in his life. Thus the humor. But, things are certainly bizarre throughout the book. What seems like a utopian world with no government is actually a veiled dystopian futuristic world with a controlling government. Essentially, you are being shown a world that seems great, easy, and almost attractive - with little issues, no government corruption or imbalance of any sort. But, the reality is things seem too good to be true. Which can also be a metaphor for life. But, to stay on topic, this book was humorous, but strange.

I have heard theories of alternative universes, i.e. "Earth B" or "Earth 2" or as it's called in this book, "Pangea". That part isn't necessary hard to understand, but what isn't very persuading is the sudden split that occurred in the prologue. I mean, it could happen I suppose and nobody would notice, but it didn't catch on in my mind like I hoped it would.

Darren was a fairly funny character and entertaining to follow, but the story and the constant shifts and mishaps on his adventures grew somewhat monotonous. There didn't seem to be a strong plot to follow and the story kind of side-stepped any main focus as it progressed. That could be a good thing if you're a read who likes certain literary fiction or young adult fiction, because that's pretty frequent in those genres (think John Green), but if you like plot-based stories where the character actually makes growth, relationships or change happen, this may not be your favorite book.

However, one fresh breath of air was the rebellion, which I wish would have showed itself more often and earlier in this book. The idea of a new job every four months is definitely an interested concept, but for something in a more "hard core" dystopia or darker future world. Something like Divergent-ish fiction. If there is a sequel, I think seeing a heavier and more influential rebellion would be a positive.

Anyways, there's my review. A pretty well written book with some laughs here and there. Another last note, though. The authors writing style doesn't come off quite as catchy as I would hope in a new adult, science fiction, future novel. It's a little "pros-y", but not too heavy handed. The prologue didn't drag me in like it should have, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be given the benefit of the doubt.

[Myndi · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the idea of Alia Tero was an interesting one, I had trouble staying invested in the story because of how much it jumped around. Big chunks of time were skipped which kind of disoriented me, even with the chapters telling you how old Darren was.

I did like the idea of this futuristic world, however, and I like the message that people shouldn't get too focused on Smart Phones and other things to realize the importance of voting and keeping up with politics.

I was given a free copy of this book which I voluntarily reviewed.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alia Tero: The Many Lives of Darren Datita, by Lull Mengesha and Scott Spotson, focuses on the daily struggles of Darren Datita, and his journey through the society of Alia Tero, where relationships, families, and careers are shaken up every four months. The book explores the impact of such a system on society, on every day life, and on the individual themselves.

Darren starts out as a sympathetic character who isn't exactly competent in his daily activities, and ends up earning the ire of those around him. Through a series of events, he ends up growing as a character and begins to question what is happening around him, and why the system is set up the way it is. I was curious as to whether or not the world of Alia Tero was meant to be a commentary on the hands off, dysfunctional society that modern society has turned in, or a commentary on some elements of collectivist ideology, and it left me pondering this question.

Unfortunately, the way Darren's characterization is set up leaves much to be desired. A few foibles or mistakes here and there are fine, but when it becomes the staple of the character (to such an absurd degree) it leaves much to be desired in a lead. The reactions from classmates and those around him seem forced, and the circumstances of such hardships artificial in nature. I understand what the authors were attempting to do with Darren's character growth, but early on it stretched credulity. Later on it felt rushed and artificial.

The writing was serviceable, though the dialogue felt dry. Distinct character voice was lacking in some areas, and some of the characters themselves felt flat and two dimensional.

The events of the story did not seem organic, and many of the events were contrived, cliched and rather convenient to the characters in question, or just bizarre and out of place. There also appeared to be no consistent narrative progression: much of what was happening was a sequence of random events. Plot elements were raised and then dropped not two scenes later, leading to confusion and frustration over what relevance these elements would have on the story. What was at stake in the story was not made apparent until near the end of the story. Many of the book's scenes in my opinion were not interesting in their own right, and I found myself lacking any connection to the characters. Though, there were a few times that the characters did feel organic and alive.

The set up for the society is also a point of contention. In comedys, this would be played up for exaggerated effect, and would not be presented as a full fledged, functional society. The way Alia Tero is set up would see societal instability and collapse within a few months to a few years, due to how incompetently everything would be run. The level of social control in place (which I suspect is meant to be Orwellian in nature) would be insufficient to prevent the populace from rebelling against such a system. Another story element, introduced around the half way mark, makes this set up even more absurd, and not in a good way.

The ending was not set up properly in my opinion, and the events leading up to it, and the opposing force's actions in the end, were not believable, which detracted from the book.

Overall, I give Alia Tero a two out of five stars.

[Leon Huet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alia Tero has an intriguing premise and enticing prologue introducing the reader to an alternate Earth where everyone has to move to a different part of the world and take on another job every four months. This setup lends itself to humour, particularly when combined with a hapless protagonist who bumbles his way through life.

Given that he does bumble along without much of an aim, and the rotation system makes it difficult to have a sequential, cause-and-effect plot, the novel (especially given its length) might not suit those who enjoy being driven along by a story desperate to know what happens next.

That said, the writing has a certain freshness and zing to it – often bizarre in places, it sometimes felt as if the whole thing could be a dream. Some great ideas then, but for me, the ideas trump the execution. However, some might take to the protagonist more than I did and just be glad to join him in his many lives.

[J.B. Trepagnier · Rating 3 out of 5]

I reviewed this book last month. I found out that the authors have done numerous rewrites and axed a few plot lines and characters. This edited review is for the new version.

I still maintain this book reminds me of a mashup of several Black Mirror episodes. There is 1 Black Mirror episode that is almost directly like the Life Cards and your peers taking and giving points. The system of having two children with a random man, then the woman being able to choose the third reminds me of another episode where your date is assigned and at the end of the date, your phone pops up a message how long the date will actually last in a way.

In this new version, the society makes a little more sense, but there are still a few things that jumped out at me. You have people like Darren, who spend life in 4 month rotations, then you have The Gifted, who are essential workers like doctors and engineers. Now, me personally, I think an artist is an essential worker, but I don't think this is the case on Alia Tero. Or, at least, it's never mentioned when The Gifted are being discussed. Alia Tero has television shows and there is references to music several times. Who is writing the TV shows, acting in them, and writing and performing music? If it's the Gifted, it's not mentioned. It's not possible for someone like Darren to be writing and performing music. It takes more than 4 months to learn to read music and the rotations don't give the time to perform and build up a fan base. If it's The Gifted responsible for that, perhaps it needs mentioning or it just bothered me because I've been in piano lessons or dance lessons since I was 7

[K.T. Munson · Rating 3 out of 5]

**Actual Rating 3.5 Stars**
Characters

This entire story revolves around Darren Datita. The reader follows him through his crazy life, high school forward. Darren is such a haphazard hero. He is rather sweet, although sometimes I couldn't get a clear idea of what he looked like. I don't know why this bothered me, but it was like I couldn't see the full picture. Despite that he was quite amusing and fun! A great story arc where Darren grew and stayed true to the goodness within him. I also like Rachel. Likely because I was seeing her through Darren's eyes.  

Plot

What a unique premise. This felt like a science fiction but an analysis of culture and what a different reality of Earth could look like. If instead of the 'family' dynamic it was set up as a continual rotation. Darren gets to experience all of the different types of life but then tries to break/change the rules. He wants the bloodlines to stay together. Although the timeline gets really confusing in the middle. I was really enjoying it right up until the very nonsensical moment when Darren gets transported to Earth. I completely understand why the author did it but for me it cast a shadow across the entire story and undercut its brilliance. Although there were a few scenarios that were a little bizarre and almost unrealistic, it was an enjoyable read. 

Overall

As always, the author's writing is enjoyable and easy to follow. The cheeky story telling and flippant character, made for an overall enjoyable read. Although there was a mention on Santa Claus at one point and I couldn't help wondering 'how did Darren know that?' Also when Darren gets a windfall the people who tell him he is now in a special group that "This has never happened before" and I just thought there was no way. Besides these periodic mishaps, the author weaved an interesting tale. Although a bit long, it was amusing to see Darren working from one system to the other. 

Rating

3.5 stars (rounded down)

Overall a unique story with a charming main character that gets a little muddled in the middle. An amusing story! 

This is a voluntary review. More reviews at creatingworldswithwords.wordpress.com.

[Cathleen Townsend · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alia Tero proposes a future Earth where equality is the primary virtue in society. To accomplish this, everything goes in rotations of every four months. Everyone moves to a completely different home, and all official family ties are broken. Parents acquire new children (with whom they have no biological relationship), everyone moves on to new jobs, and nobody takes anything with them. Conformity is also prized; for example, work clothes are all blue, and leisure attire is purple. Faithful adherence to the system results in points given, which determine the type of retirement each person has earned.

But of course, humans being what they are, ways are found to subvert the system. Rumors are spread under the guise of feedback, and children game the system with new, uncertain parents. For the protagonist, Darren, cracks have appeared beneath the perfect façade.

Darren hits the age of twenty and receives his first child, a boy of ten named Kyle. One perk that comes with parenthood is a larger apartment, and in his new home, Darren discovers revolutionary books, ones that question the system of rotations. He later discovers that his new roommate, who is also a new father, has devised a clever system whereby he can keep track of his precious books when he goes on a new rotation.

The story contains some lovely descriptive passages, and some fun metaphors: “They moved at ten kilometers per hour, the same as that of a turtle on crack.”

My biggest criticism is that the scenes feel episodic, disconnected, and don’t advance the plot. OTOH, they do show a great deal of attention and thought in building the author’s world. Fans of spec fic and dystopia who enjoy well-built worlds would be the audience I would recommend for this book.

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alia Tero, by Lull Mengesha & Scott Spotson, is an intriguing novel that blends science-fiction with satirical comedy. Though its tone remains light throughout, there is a darker edge to its story that will leave readers with a chill down their spines.

The world of Alia Tero is, like the etymology of the name suggests, an alternate one. Described as a cloned earth, the inhabitants of Alia Tero live strictly regulated lives - rotating their jobs, possessions - and even relationships, never holding onto anything or anyone for very long. This rotational approach to life is meant to be an equalizer, creating a utopian society. And yet, through the daily routine of the story's young protagonist, Darren Datita, readers will find it both humorous and sad - and altogether ridiculous.

Authors Mengesha & Spotson have no doubt intended for the story to be funny, but this is science-fiction with a hard comic edge. Readers seem to be meant to chew on the idea of this alternate world, which - in all its absurdity - is a reality that bears similarities to our own. What might happen to a world that is so strictly controlled that free will no longer exists? Do relationships have value if they for a limited time only, and therefore only on-the-surface? What, if anything, do we really own, and what worth do our things (or other's things) have to us? For the answers to some of these questions, we need look no further than our own backyards, while others ask us to contemplate social and governmental systems around the world. But the point is - we need only look to the real world around us to see that the earth we live on today isn't so much a leap, but possibly only a few steps away - from Alia Tero. Ridiculous? Yes. But also creepy? For sure.

[Joanne Rolston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This entertaining story is set on Alia Tero, Earth ‘B’ in a parallel universe.

Darren Datita, the hero of the tale is a likeable guy. He makes his awkward, shambolic way through a disrupted life where he has to rotate jobs, flats and house mates every four months.

In Alia Tero’s quest for a peaceful social order and equality this chaotic world has a brand of communism that is vaguely reminiscent of Brave New World. It’s inhabitants have no freedom over their work or the places to which they are assigned. Property ownership does not exist. Nor does family life. The maxim “it takes a village to raise a child” is taken to extreme where the child only gets to stay with the mother for two rotations. After that children are raised by a series of caregivers who change every four months. Everyone is equal, but the citizens have to constantly reinvent themselves.

The ruler or rulers of Alia Tero are never seen in the story. We can but wonder who is making the decisions, choosing Darren’s rotations and running his life.

We go through the various iterations of Darren’s messed up life where the only constant is his nemesis Gabriel, an enemy from schooldays who keeps turning up in the same rotations.

This is a hilarious, witty and vaguely disturbing story packed with some wonderful characters. I especially loved the main character Darren.

The story ends with a choice Darren is going to have to make. I was left wanting more. I hope there is a sequel.

It’s a brilliant story. You should read it.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Alessia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

This book intrigued me a lot, but I wish it had been developed more. The world of Alia Tero is a good idea of a distpico world. The rotations, the points, the hierarchy, the lack of "love" or "family" in the society... I loved it so much.

I immediately liked Darren, the main protagonist, with his desire to know, his not wanting to "be in line" with all the other members of the society... he reminded me a lot of Orwell’s "1984".

The development of Darren throughout the novel is one of the things that I have appreciated. He doesn't change his plan for the rebellion, he continually seeks a way out to reunite his loved ones in one place.

The style is fluent and humorous, although the various "rotations" - between one chapter and another - gave me a sense of "blocking", like I was missing something.

I hoped the other protagonist were more developed. I know, is like seeing only a fragment of the entire image for every character.

In the end, I like this book, it's an enjoyed and quick read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Noor Al-Shanti · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished reading this book yesterday, but I have been going back and forth on the rating I want to give it since then.

It's set on a planet called Alia Tero where the main character, along with everyone in the society around him, are forced to move and uproot their lives every 4 months, changing jobs, roommates, even guardians, along with their change of location. These "rotations" are supposedly designed to make everyone "equal," at one point one character comments on the main character's past few (difficult) jobs and says "those jobs will keep you honest." However, as you can easily predict, this system brings many issues with it that provide a perfect opportunity for the authors to shine a critical light on some of the problems of our own society, not just that of Alia Tero. A huge missed opportunity.

Instead of exploring deep issues of family, human connection, personal choice, individuality vs conformity, and so on, the authors choose instead to focus on the main character's lack of competence and the intimate details of his sexual urges... they even missed an opportunity to explore the ideas of love and family properly although many words were wasted with the character talking about these things constantly in very simplistic terms. There was also a weird - and completely unnecessary - appearance of Earth in this book which just seemed to be there so the authors could make a weird connection between democracy (red-faced argumentative parliamentarians and all) and family which made absolutely no sense.

I expect that a lot of my issues with this book come down to personal taste. I'd prefer a serious, deep look at the ramifications of the world that was created, something that spends time on the character's emotional growth and so on, but the book was written in a style that kind of reminded me of those Jim Carey movies where the world and set up are just there for the main character to be silly in. And maybe that's what the authors were going for.

At the end of the day it wasn't a bad read and it certainly got me thinking. In my opinion its main flaw was that it fell short of reaching the potential that the set-up and idea were screaming for. If you'd like a lighthearted read that poses a lot of questions, but doesn't look too deeply at them, then you will probably enjoy this.

[Elna · Rating 2 out of 5]

*Received an ARC for review*

First of all,this does not belongs in the "young adult" category - for the majority of the book Darren is an adult, and the discussion of sexuality is too explicit for the young adult audience.

I have not read any other books of Spotson's, but in this novel at least his writing of women needs serious improvement. All mentions of women are accompanied by a physical description of them, whereas that's not the case with the male characters. Darren's love interest, Rachel, apparently has no qualities of note other than her looks - is she funny? A good listener? Smart? We don't know! But at least she's beautiful and shapely.

The idea is interesting, but that's about all I can say.

[Angela Kalnins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alia Tero: The Many Lives of Darren Datita
By: Lull Mengesha

They say everyone has a doppelganger, a twin, a clone. Somewhere out there, there is, another you who looks JUST LIKE YOU but is living an entirely different life from yours. The basis of Alia Tero is this: EARTH HAS A DOPPELGANGER! Somewhere in another universe, spinning around some other Sun, there is another Earth—one called Alia Tero. It looks like earth. There are people walking around on Alia Tero who have jobs, hobbies and smart phones—just like we do. They’re living in homes like ours; they play basketball and listen to music. They spend way too much time in front of TV’s, just like us. And yet, they’re living very different lives than we do.

On Alia Tero, life changes—for everyone on the planet—every four months. In one “rotation” a man might be the CEO of a Women’s Lingerie Company. Four months later he might be a Trigonometry teacher or Trash Collector. He might live in an apartment, a mansion, a hovel or on the street…but, only for four months. Rotations are designed to keep everyone on Alia Tero equal. Everyone wears the same type of clothing, the same watch, carries the same phone. No one is better off than anyone else; at least not for more than four months.

No one marries on Alia Tero. No one can stay in a relationship for more than a third of a year. No one, man or woman, can have more than three children. In fact, it is required that every woman have three children. However, none can raise their own child. Children, like the houses, the jobs, the clothing, are shuffled rotation after rotation; between guardian after guardian, home after home, until they come of age and begin their own series of rotations.

THIS is thought to be Utopian…but, is it really?

The story follows one main character, Darren Datita through a handful of his rotations.
Darren is a very “down-to-Earth” young man, despite not being on Earth. He is flawed, like every human being. But, he’s basically a good guy with a good heart.

At the core of the story are questions: Who is truly running things? There is no government to speak of; so, who runs the schedules? Who makes the rules? Who has the power…and the temerity to change things? Do they even need to be changed?

It’s a unique story-line. I enjoyed the premise very much. In fact, when the story ended (and NO I will not tell you how) and I closed my Kindle, I remember thinking, “Gosh, I’d like to know what happens next”. That, for me, is actually a sign of a good story. When I’m not ready for it to end; when I continue to think about the characters and wonder what might happen to them next…that means I liked it.

Darren is engaging, as are the people he meets and learns to like and love in each rotation—including his parents and half-siblings whom he meets as the story matures.

His “nemesis” is a truly rotten person whom you’ll love to hate. At least for a while. There comes a time, though, when you, the reader, realize that even he is just human.

I especially enjoyed reading about Darren’s rotation as a guardian—a “dad”—at the tender early age of 19. He makes some truly horrific mistakes. But, he learns from them. By the end of the four-month period of parenthood, he’s a better guardian and a better man.

NOW, for the real critique: While I did enjoy the read…it was a hard read.

This APPEARS to be the author’s first attempt at fiction. There are parts of the story that are mesmerizing (see above concerning parenthood). However, these enthralling chapters are few and far between. For the most part, I found the story to be thin and un-imagined. So many scenes—most scenes—seemed rushed and unexplored. Others, were described and traversed with such heaviness and mundanity that I found myself staring off into space and drooling like one in a wakeful coma. And wouldn’t you know it? Those were chapters that dealt the most boring and disgusting themes.

There was one chapter which semi/sort-of hinted that one of Darren’s rotation room-mates might be a ghost? Vampire? Skillful Ninja? I don’t know. The whole thing was left hanging. Frustrating.

Let me be clear: The premise is distinctive. The main character is likeable and relatable. The plot is interesting. The writing is passably good. It’s not a bad book. It’s not a great one either.

HOWEVER, there is enough good to make a reasonably decent read on a rainy day.

[Johnny Moscato · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alia Tero: The Many Lives of Darren Datita is a comedy set in another dimension on a “second” Earth. People have developed differently on this version of Earth. The biggest difference and the premise for this book is the structure of society. Once you’re old enough you begin work rotations that last four months. Every four months you move to a new place (anywhere on Earth) and get a new job. It’s all assigned and coordinated. Of course, this four month rotation makes little sense because no one can be good at their job without training and only four months experience trying to manage it on their own. And therein lies the comedic aspect of The Many Lives of Darren Datita.
I couldn’t stop myself from picturing Darren as Fry from Futurama as he bumbled his way through each rotation. Trying to do his best in impossible situations with only average intelligence (at best) and a young mind sculpted by a strange society being controlled by an anonymous coordinator. You often feel bad for Darren as he struggles to learn to live via instruction manuals.

The writing is lighthearted but the plot covers a full range of characters that are trying to manipulate the system to their advantage or shut the system down all together. Crossing paths with these characters during Darren’s rotation keeps the plot going.

The author does a good job of contrasting Darren, the new young adult being pushed out into the world of adult rotations, and the older characters he comes across who have figured out that their society makes no sense. It’s parallel to our own world. In Alia Tero everyone is brought up believing that the rotation system is a great thing. But once you grow up and think about it, you realize it’s a poor system that is designed to keep people from forming lasting bonds with each other. People are easier to control that way. I was glad to find characters in this book that actually questioned the system. Although it reads like a comedy, this book has some serious statements to make. I think the overall message of this book is a commentary about how people will conform to a system and even embrace it no matter how stupid the system may be.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an open-ended character-driven story of a guy who starts out clueless and evolves into a more confident person. This story was engaging; I found myself staying up late reading it, wondering about Darrin’s next life. Darrin annoyed me at first, being a bit of a loser, but as he lived his many rotations, doing a variety of jobs from a short stint as a CEO to a compost man, he grew a spine, learned how to navigate the world better and, to me, was more engaging and likable.

The opening had a narrative, Hitchhiker’s Guide feel to it that set the stage. You knew it was going to be amusing. However, the real strength in this book is the characterization and the unique premise. Every character leaps off the page, is multi-dimensional, and even if you don’t like him or her, they are realistic. And I can honestly say, I’ve never read a book with this type of set up.

Let’s talk about the world. It is totally implausible. There is no way this would work. You can’t have your citizens be at a job for only 4 months and then move onto another job. You’d never have expertise. I wouldn’t want someone day 1 on their first rotation doing heart surgery on me! But honestly, I just let it go. The point of the world was to set up a system so Darrin could grow. It was interesting and pointed out our human need for connection that the rotation system culled.

There were some inconsistencies, like some people looked like they really knew their job, always better than Darrin. There were some jobs where the people arrived early, or there were homeless (in a society where everyone takes care of everyone, you always have a job and a home). These didn’t fit in how I understood the world and scratched at me while I was reading.

My biggest complaint was the ending with no real resolution. I don’t want to ruin it for you, but there are hints at an ‘over plot’ that were not resolved. I was left looking for the next page, surprised that I hit the ending.

All in all, Alia Tero was a great read. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys character-driven books on personal growth and life and interpersonal connections.

[Dante Silva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alia Tero tells the a story of Darrin Datita's early adulthood. We see the lows and highs of Darrin's life in the intriguing mirror earth that Mengesha and Spotson have created, but an inconsistent narrator and a loose hold on narrative threads kept me from enjoying it as much as I think I might have.

While the geographical world of Alia Tero is similar to Earth, the societal structure is unique with a strong sense of order and regular regimine though lacking any government. The narrator explains this to the reader at the beginning of the story is a bold, informal voice but mostly disappears thereafter, only popping in to compare some aspect of society that differs from our own before vanishing again. The loose third person left me guessing occasionally if we were seeing from the narrator's perspective or Darrin's and left me untrusting of the perspective. I wish that either the narrator held a strong presence throughout the whole story or that his personality was subdued in the beginning. The murky middleground bothered me.

Each chapter is a self-contained arc, but I was curious where the story was going for the first half of the book. It wasn't until the chapters began to slowly build on each other in the later parts of the book that I understood where things were heading. There are a number of interesting ideas that are kicked around over the whole course of the story, especially that of who organizes the society if there is no government, and I was frustrated that they go no where, particularly in the early sections of the book. Darrin's narrative does reach an end in a subdued manner that satisfies the need to see him mature and become his own person, but I feel, much like the narrator issue above, the open questions of how the society works should have either been drastically scaled back or explored much more fully.

This story is about Darrin Datita, his life, and his perceptions of the world around him. The world of Alia Tero is intriguing and complex and has tremendous amounts of potential, but though we get to see it through a native's eyes and experiences, we never get to see behind the curtain that we're teased with.

[Taylor Callahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Darren Datita’s world, relationships, jobs, familiarly, and everything that constitutes our world is left behind after only four months. The society that is known as Alia Tero has created a seemingly “utopian” community in which everyone must rotate to a new location with a new job and new people every four months. Lull Mengesha and Scott Spotson trace Darren’s existence from his high school year to his adulthood.

The concept that appealed to me most about this world and this society was the normality of the situation. It is interesting to consider how evidently absurd circumstances can be both normal and valued by those who have never experienced anything else. Darren’s character is relatable in his uncertainty in the system he is a part of. While Darren does see the flaws of the system, he also recognizes the benefits, and as a person who has only ever experienced the Alia Tero society, he cannot easily come to terms with whether or not the system is as valuable as others seem to think. I really enjoyed this aspect of Darren’s character, because it models the way in which many of us think—we can simultaneously desire a new way of being while recognizing the faculty and utility of our current situation. This ability to wrestle with his thoughts and emotions makes Darren a likeable character with plenty of room for development and personality.

However, while I did enjoy Darren’s character and his relationships with others, a problem I encountered was the stagnation of the actual plot. In the last few chapters of the novel, everything comes crashing down on one single plot to finally take action against the rotation system. However, up until this point, the novel simply describes the day-to-day life of Darren in his “many lives,” occasionally throwing in some thought about possibly taking action. While Darren himself made significant development of character and ability throughout the novel, the plot itself did not build upon itself. Instead of a steady build-up of plot, which would have given the reader a sense of anticipation, the plot simply switched on near the end, quickly reaching a conclusion with no apparent difficultly. Although Darren’s day-to-day life, along with his challenges and successes, was quirky and compelling, it did not allow for much anticipation.

Despite the challenges that the plot faces, Alia Tero is an interesting and new take on the idea of utopia. Darren’s character is a humorous and relatable character who does a good job at representing the world in which he lives. While not the most edge-of-your-seat novel, Alia Tero is a fresh idea that provides both comedic relief and peculiar intrigue.

(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)

[D.J. Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun story of a geeky guy and his struggles to find his place in Alia Tero, a cloned version of the Earth, where everybody changes jobs, accommodation and relationships every four months.

Most of the humour derives from Darren’s clueless attempts to master various jobs he has no aptitude for, and his inability to accrue points which will raise him in the pecking order. However, his character matures as the book goes on and the emphasis shifts to his efforts to hold on to his blood relationships and friendships and keep the woman he’s fallen in love with.

Some readers have described the story as a satire on egalitarianism and its tendency to crush individuality, but this society is not truly egalitarian. It contains a Gifted class of citizens, like doctors, scientists and engineers, who are allowed to remain in their highly skilled jobs because society could not function without them. The story also makes the point, deliberately or not, that jobs like plumbing and driving a garbage truck, although not as highly valued, are skilled and not something you can just pick up in a few days or weeks.

There is also a class of elite pensioners living on the Gold Continent, who have accrued masses of points (not always by fair means) and enjoy a luxurious retirement. Darren winds up there by mistake and we can enjoy a few laughs watching him trying to fit in with the seniors.

The secondary characters are also vivid and entertaining and each contribute to Darren’s progress to self-realisation. However, on the negative side, the author seems to have a strange hang up about older people, especially old women, who come across mainly as witch-like caricatures. Women in general tend to be defined according to their looks or family relationships.

Overall, though, it’s a fun, light-hearted, but sometimes thought-provoking book for readers who would enjoy an unusual utopian/dystopian fantasy adventure with a strong dash of humour.

[Steve Pillinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book explores an alternative Earth that exists in parallel to this one. The world-building is excellent, with a thoroughly detailed alternative socio-political structure in which the entire world population 'rotates' every four months to a different location, different job, different social context, and so on, without any regard for keeping bloodlines (families) together. This provides the authors with many opportunities for comedy and satire, as well as setting the scene for the protagonist's eventual quest—to discover, and somehow get together with, his family and the woman he loves.

I have to admit, though, that the book didn't really take off for me until the second half, when Darren finally gets going on his quest. I think the first half was mainly intended to regale the reader with satirical humour in the various 'rotations' Darren finds himself in; but, maybe because I'm not a North American, most of that passed me by and I found the story rather weak. I also felt Darren was not a strongly-drawn character, and his various friends and contacts were somewhat generic.

One of the episodes in Darren's quest—to avoid a spoiler I'll only say it's the one where he learns about 'family'—although crucial to the story, nevertheless felt very much like an 'add-on'. It did not flow naturally out of the rest of the plot. And once it had happened, it was forgotten: the mechanism involved played no further part in the narrative. I found that rather artificial and disappointing. But again, if I'd been able to appreciate the satire better this might not have been an issue.

The ending, though, was satisfying. The quest is achieved, though in one respect only partially. It nevertheless puts Darren in the history books, as the Epilogue reveals.

In conclusion, I can only say I wish I'd enjoyed this more! But North American readers may well not have that problem—so, if you’re of that persuasion, I'd say give it a go!

[David Coe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Darren Datita lives lives in a world that exists without any governing bodies. Citizens of this world are "rotated" every four months into new locations or "work zones", are given new professions and all traces of relationships they have established are completely erased. Basically, their life starts over anew to preserve the "system" that governs their existence and preserve tranquility. Most don't know parents or family unless alerted by their smartphones should they ever cross paths with that person.
Darren and most others, as he discovers through his life episodes, don't like this way of life but it's all they have ever known. There is talk and references to a "revolution" throughout the book.
I found it hard to become immersed in this novel as it seems to follow the mundane lives of it's characters who are unhappy with their way of life, talk of changing it through revolution but never seem to quite know concisely what that revolution would be or how to accomplish it exactly, (at least not until just before the end of the book). Even Darren seems to just stumble happenstance daily through the episodes of his life with blind luck leading him through all major events. Not much seems purposeful. I kept waiting for the next page to turn and bring it all together. Even the events that should bring a revolution seem lackadaisical with little purposeful endeavor.
Only Darren and the character of Rachel, his love interest, are developed in any depth. Most supportive characters come in and out of Darren's life in a blur without much background development, if any.Some come into and out of his life several times but I felt I was never given much detail of their lives outside their contact with Darren.
We are never told the situations that brought about the "system" that Darren's world operates within, just that it exists.
I was a little frustrated reading the whole book as if it recounted a daily, slow walk in the park.

[David Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Alia Tero is quite possibly one of the most interesting and imaginative universes I’ve read about coming from the satire genre. I’m amazed at the absurdity combined with the reality that went into creating Alia Tero, which was a world cloned from earth back in 3,967 BC. Alia Tero is not formed from a bunch of random strokes, but a very clever analysis of our world today and how differently things could be if we ran on a different set of principles.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the technological “progress” made, and how a person’s worth was decided through mobile voting of those nearby. Sounds like that could certainly be a feature introduced by Facebook in 5 years.
There’s a lot that may attract readers, including myself, to this world: The belief in no war, no government (because power certainly leads to corruption), and a guiding principle to always make a positive impact on the world. However even these apparent utopias come with their downfalls. As part of their goal for total enrichment, all residents of Alia Tero are forced into a 360 degree perspective refresh through changing location/occupation/relationships/etc every four months.
At the forefront of this story is Darren Datita, the stereotypical young, restless, and unconfident male who (often aimlessly) wanders throughout his existence. Through the book, the reader follows Darren as he manages to get through his various mandatory rotations, to often very funny results. While this book may meander a bit for plot-focused readers, the various situations Darren finds himself pay off to readers looking for an inventive, funny, story that through satire points more at our lives today than you may initially realize.

[Tristen Kozinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Alia Tero was an enjoyable read, and had an interesting concept, I just think it couldn't quite decide what it wanted to be. The story vacillated between the exploration of a concept and a revolution story without truly committing to either. The narrative is biased against the world it inhabits from the beginning, nor is there any effort put into discovering if this society could work, or how it originally initiated (the absence of this last one never particularly bothered me, it's just a symptom for the lack of really exploring the concept.)
On the other hand, the book didn't lend itself to a revolutionary story either. There's no real conflict on that front, and very little argument brought to bear against the revolution throughout the course of the entire book. The revolution just happens near the end; there's no lead up, no emotional journey for the protagonist (as in Fahrenheit 451.) Yes he accumulates reasons and considers his revolutions throughout the course of the book, but he was already biased against the system from chapter one and the journey exact no real effort from him, either in surmounting his personal prejudices toward/for the system or that of others.
In the end, I think the book could have used a more nuanced look at the concept, a concerted effort to devise of means of making that style of society work, without forgetting the naturally chaotic human element that would inevitably bring deep flaws to the working, flaws the author could then slowly expose and discuss with the reader.
As it is, the story is enjoyable sequence of flash stories centered around a single character and his journey through the wildly different society from ours.

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

*A free e-ARC was given through BookSirens. This is a voluntary review and is published on skavansieur.home.blog, Goodreads and Twitter. *

Alia Tero: The Many Lives of Darren Datita is a fast-paced story that follows Darren. In Alia Tero, everyone goes through a rotation every four months where they are relocated to a new country with a new job, new home, new roommate and unable to be in contact with others from past rotations. All based on the 'point' system where the more points you receive, the better job you get and vice versa. From a young age, Darren wasn't like the rest of the people around him, instead, he constantly questions the rule of the society in Alia Tero and wonders if there's a way to revolutionize and put an end to it.

The world of Alia Tero was thought-out quite well. The rotations made it seem as if it was absolutely impossible to get together to conspire against the leaders, the school curriculum discouraged thinking out of the box and everyone did as they were told. Despite that, there were some who tried their best to do so.

I enjoyed the story when it first started, however, it became rather boring in the next few chapters. I couldn't get myself to like the protagonist or even have any feelings for him other than secondhand embarrassment. It was difficult for me to motivate myself to read it but I managed to push on because of the short chapters. Still, there were a few things that didn't sit well with me. It was extremely fast-paced, to a point where some events happened just for the sake of information and understanding, making it a bit sloppy in my opinion.

Overall, it's a light read that I definitely needed so I enjoyed that quite a lot.

[Enigma · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5
Alia Tero: The Many Lives of Darren Datita is a sci-fi book with a unique setting. 

The idea of Alia Tero is intriguing - a world where everybody switches life every 4 months. Some people enjoy this rotation system, some want it to change. Darren is one of the latter. In this book, we follow Darren grow up and mature.

Darren Datita is the main character. He is a likable character who is fun to read about as he gets himself into absurd situations. The chapters are written to be a few rotations apart from each other. Because of this, there is a lack of a proper character arc. However, we are able to read Darren mature throughout the book, which felt just as satisfying as a normal character arc to me.

The plot circles around the philosophical questions of the Rotation system. Darren particularly detests the system and wants to change it. Others feel changing it would bring chaos.

As I learned more of Darren's intention, I began hoping for some great revolutionary that Darren would start. Maybe reading too many fantasy books led me to that particular expectation, but I found the actual "revolution" quite disappointing. I wanted him to do more work, yet he actually did not do much. The people who helped him out was barely credited as well. In fact, there was barely any information in this book that described his process as he fought for his cause.

There was also this 1 particular moment in which he was invited to join the dominion. I found this quite random and out-of-place. I would suggest adding more information on what he did there.

Overall, this is an interesting book to read. However, towards the end of the book, it becomes quite disappointing. I recommend this book to some sci-fi fans.

(note: I received a free copy of this book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)

[AnnaReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Alia Terom The Many Lives of Darren Datita
Authors: Lull Mengesha, Scott Spotson

Description
Alia Tero is a planet cloned from Earth. Everyone on Alia Tero must rotate every four months: this means leaving behind current jobs, roommates, lovers and city of residence, to take on a fresh new life. Darren Datita is a young man who must deal with these strange rules.

Initial thoughts
I was extremely interested in this book after reading the description and the prologue just made me even more excited.

Characters
To tell the truth, I had no idea what to think of Darren at first. When we meet him and also during the fisrt couple of chapters, he just stumbles through his life without making any real connections. There are lots of rotations that aren’t even told about. We get only glimpses of his life, the ost important aspects of his life, so to speak.
But I’ve grown to like him, his determination to change things, his love for his relatives and his curiosity.
The other characters aren’t that well-developed as Darren but they complement Darren’s story nicely.

World-building
Alia Tero is much like our Earth, with a different history. I really liked that a map is provided so you can follow Darren’s journey. I found Alia Tero’s past interesting and would’ve liked to know more about it.

Final thoughts
The outcome of the revolution Darren starts is only explained in an epilogue and not very thoroughly and because of this I’m giving 4 stars. I was left wanting for some more explanation.

Overall, I liked this book, it gave me some good laughs so I can only recommend it.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Florian Armas · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I can put together painting and literature, this book is a mix of Cubism and Dadaism, something between weird and interesting, and not for everybody’s taste. There is for sure a lot of imagination in the rules of Pangea, a kind of alternate Earth without visible government where people are shifted like toys between one ‘Rotation’ to another. In each Rotation, everybody changes home, job, town, as this theoretically promotes equality - except for the Gifted, of course. There is humor of the bizarre type. There was also a lot of confusion in the brain of this reader. The opening is very good, but slowly becomes too complicated, and the best word I could find to describe Darren life is crazy, as life on Pangea is driven by the necessity of receiving points in any social interaction. And even in utopias, people likes to cheat for a ‘like’.
In the end, arriving at the culminant point ‘Rotation 51 Stanley’s age’, the book leaves you with the feeling that you just started to read it. In both flavors, the two ‘Rotation 51’ are the best parts of the novel.
Demanding and a little bizarre, Alia Tero, was an enjoyable read.

[Laura Koerber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alia Tero is story about a rebel in a wannabe utopia that is actually a dystopia. The imaginary society of Alia Tero is a managed culture based on the principle that long term relations between people lead to bad outcomes are thus avoided. Except for the privileged class of the Gifted, everyone lives on rotation, cycling thought a series of jobs and localities as they age, always meeting new people and never forming lasting relationships with anyone. It’s a weird premise, but the authors make it work.
This is a well edited, thoroughly proofed book, written smoothly and easy to read. The text is often funny, sometimes slapstick but usually quiet, ironic humor. The characters are well-developed and grow over time. Darren, the protagonist, starts out as an annoyingly inadequate and unformed person but grows into a likeable hero.

I do a lot of reviews as part of a book review club, and some books are a chore to read. This one wasn’t. The plot bounces along at a good pace, the characters become more interesting as the story proceeds, and I enjoyed the humor. Thank you to the authors of Alia Tero!