What do you think?
Rate this book
The Apollo Illusion
Nothing is ever what it seems in this riveting science fiction dystopia about a future society's frightening overdependence on technology. A mind-bending, powerful debut from award-winning journalist Shari Lopatin.
"WHAT'S KNOWLEDGE WITHOUT CURIOSITY?"
The year is 2150, and bullied nineteen-year-old Flora can no longer ignore the burning curiosity to learn what's behind the towering Wall surrounding her home state of Apollo. Citizens still read books, discuss philosophy, and send text messages, but questioning The Other Side is forbidden.
When Flora's naïveté accidentally reveals a dark secret about Apollo, she's forced into an isolated web of truth, lies, and survival. Fearing for her life, she leaves behind a clue for her childhood friend, Andrew, placing her last hope in their special bond.
"The Apollo Illusion" is a story for the hackers, the techies, the seekers, and the rebels of the world.
"A dark look at a future more closely in alignment with the present than Lopatin anticipated when she completed the first draft four years ago." -Arizona Daily Sun
"A completely disconnected and probably schizophrenic society." -Brad Horner, author of the Darkside Earther series
"Pacey, exciting storytelling with great characters, loads of action, and a super cute romance." -Lucinda Winters, book reviewer
"The Apollo Illusion should occupy a spot on the to-read list of any true dystopian sci-fi fan." -John Coon, journalist and author of Pandora Reborn
"WHAT'S KNOWLEDGE WITHOUT CURIOSITY?"
The year is 2150, and bullied nineteen-year-old Flora can no longer ignore the burning curiosity to learn what's behind the towering Wall surrounding her home state of Apollo. Citizens still read books, discuss philosophy, and send text messages, but questioning The Other Side is forbidden.
When Flora's naïveté accidentally reveals a dark secret about Apollo, she's forced into an isolated web of truth, lies, and survival. Fearing for her life, she leaves behind a clue for her childhood friend, Andrew, placing her last hope in their special bond.
"The Apollo Illusion" is a story for the hackers, the techies, the seekers, and the rebels of the world.
"A dark look at a future more closely in alignment with the present than Lopatin anticipated when she completed the first draft four years ago." -Arizona Daily Sun
"A completely disconnected and probably schizophrenic society." -Brad Horner, author of the Darkside Earther series
"Pacey, exciting storytelling with great characters, loads of action, and a super cute romance." -Lucinda Winters, book reviewer
"The Apollo Illusion should occupy a spot on the to-read list of any true dystopian sci-fi fan." -John Coon, journalist and author of Pandora Reborn
296 pages, Paperback
Published May 19, 2018
13 people are currently reading
465 people want to read
About the author
Shari Lopatin
5 books24 followersShari Lopatin writes stories that matter. An award-winning journalist in her earlier years, she now writes novels that tie into modern-day social issues, serialized fiction, short stories, personal and political essays, and poetry. Over the course of her seventeen-plus year career, Shari has worked as a newspaper reporter, magazine writer, public relations professional, social media manager, and earned the title of “Cat Mom of the Year.” She published her debut novel, The Apollo Illusion, in 2018 and lives in Phoenix, Arizona, where she was born and raised. Read more of Shari's work and be the first to learn about new books by signing up for Shari’s newsletter as either a free or paid subscriber: sharilopatin.substack.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
September 2, 2018
Dear Shari,
Thank you for sending me your book. When I picked it up and glanced at the back cover, I had a weird moment, because you look quite a lot like our Russian friend Genia. And then when I read it, I had another weird moment at the point where one of the characters discovers, completely out of the blue, that they have terminal cancer. That's just what happened to Genia, and a month later she was dead. We miss her very much.
One of Genia's best qualities was that she was always totally honest, in that way that Russians seem to do better than anyone else in the world. When she didn't like something, she said so straight out. And to honour her memory, I also need to be honest and say that I didn't like the style of your book at all. But then I never like the style of YA books, and I am the wrong age to be reading it, so please don't take that too hard. I decided after the first couple of chapters that I would probably have appreciated this most when I was about twelve, so for the rest of the book I tried to hand over control to twelve-year-old me. As I'd promised, I brought it with me for a long plane flight. Twelve-year-old me started reading when we were somewhere over Greece, and he didn't put it down until he finished somewhere near Qatar, so I'm pretty sure he enjoyed it. I'm now in Dubai, and we're writing this review together.
It's a good story, and it makes some nice points about the world we live in that many twelve year olds would do well to think about. The world really is quite astonishingly fucked up. You never know who's acting in your best interests and who's trying to destroy you, and often the other people involved aren't too sure either. Sometimes they do terrible things while thinking they're acting in your best interests, and sometimes they save your life despite not actually liking you much. Things are rarely what they seem to be. In particular, you can be sure that the government is lying to you a lot of the time about really important matters. And sex, when you're a teen and trying to figure it out, is also terribly confusing. People can do very nasty things when they want sex, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they are nasty people.
It looks like this is your first novel and I hope it won't be your last. It reminded me a bit of Philip K. Dick's The Penultimate Truth. PKD had amazing ideas, but he was a sloppy writer. He needed an editor to supply external discipline, and he was lucky enough to find himself a terrific editor for a while; that collaboration produced his two finest books, The Man in the High Castle and A Scanner Darkly. Every author has to discover their own solutions, and I'm sure you will work out yours.
Good luck!
Manny
Thank you for sending me your book. When I picked it up and glanced at the back cover, I had a weird moment, because you look quite a lot like our Russian friend Genia. And then when I read it, I had another weird moment at the point where one of the characters discovers, completely out of the blue, that they have terminal cancer. That's just what happened to Genia, and a month later she was dead. We miss her very much.
One of Genia's best qualities was that she was always totally honest, in that way that Russians seem to do better than anyone else in the world. When she didn't like something, she said so straight out. And to honour her memory, I also need to be honest and say that I didn't like the style of your book at all. But then I never like the style of YA books, and I am the wrong age to be reading it, so please don't take that too hard. I decided after the first couple of chapters that I would probably have appreciated this most when I was about twelve, so for the rest of the book I tried to hand over control to twelve-year-old me. As I'd promised, I brought it with me for a long plane flight. Twelve-year-old me started reading when we were somewhere over Greece, and he didn't put it down until he finished somewhere near Qatar, so I'm pretty sure he enjoyed it. I'm now in Dubai, and we're writing this review together.
It's a good story, and it makes some nice points about the world we live in that many twelve year olds would do well to think about. The world really is quite astonishingly fucked up. You never know who's acting in your best interests and who's trying to destroy you, and often the other people involved aren't too sure either. Sometimes they do terrible things while thinking they're acting in your best interests, and sometimes they save your life despite not actually liking you much. Things are rarely what they seem to be. In particular, you can be sure that the government is lying to you a lot of the time about really important matters. And sex, when you're a teen and trying to figure it out, is also terribly confusing. People can do very nasty things when they want sex, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they are nasty people.
It looks like this is your first novel and I hope it won't be your last. It reminded me a bit of Philip K. Dick's The Penultimate Truth. PKD had amazing ideas, but he was a sloppy writer. He needed an editor to supply external discipline, and he was lucky enough to find himself a terrific editor for a while; that collaboration produced his two finest books, The Man in the High Castle and A Scanner Darkly. Every author has to discover their own solutions, and I'm sure you will work out yours.
Good luck!
Manny
November 22, 2018
Sometimes the hardest part of reviewing a book is telling the prospective reader that their impressions of the first quarter of a book should not be the expectation they should have by the end.
For me, and with little more to go on other than the feeling like I was reading another The Giver mixed with an impression that this was another 1984 in spirit, my expectations led me to believe that scales would fall from eyes. And they do. But also because this is a YA dystopia with a lot of the feel of Divergent, we can also expect some resistance action. And we do.
But then, the difficulties of leaving home eventually lands us in a very futuristic world and I'm now sitting upright and enjoying the ride. The home of Apollo is not what it seems at all, and this particular quest of discovery makes the rest of the book a lot more enjoyable. For me. After all, I've read perhaps too many of these to get really surprised anymore. :)
Add a bit of Twelve Monkeys, hacker collectives, and a very decently-built world that has a lot more to say than I usually see in these kinds of novels, and the novel fairly hops along with all it's missing people, the despair of whole populaces, and a completely disconnected and probably schizophrenic society.
In other words, it's a pretty realistic description of our world. :)
So, all told, I was underwhelmed at first and excited for the rest. This is a very decent read.
For me, and with little more to go on other than the feeling like I was reading another The Giver mixed with an impression that this was another 1984 in spirit, my expectations led me to believe that scales would fall from eyes. And they do. But also because this is a YA dystopia with a lot of the feel of Divergent, we can also expect some resistance action. And we do.
But then, the difficulties of leaving home eventually lands us in a very futuristic world and I'm now sitting upright and enjoying the ride. The home of Apollo is not what it seems at all, and this particular quest of discovery makes the rest of the book a lot more enjoyable. For me. After all, I've read perhaps too many of these to get really surprised anymore. :)
Add a bit of Twelve Monkeys, hacker collectives, and a very decently-built world that has a lot more to say than I usually see in these kinds of novels, and the novel fairly hops along with all it's missing people, the despair of whole populaces, and a completely disconnected and probably schizophrenic society.
In other words, it's a pretty realistic description of our world. :)
So, all told, I was underwhelmed at first and excited for the rest. This is a very decent read.
September 20, 2018
The Apollo Illusion is the realistic evolution of the dystopian genre; a must-read for the book lover who is stirred by storytelling that is directly influenced by the current state of the world. Because of this, you cannot help but find yourself immersed in the story while reflecting on our present cultural trends. You can feel the change of landscapes the author creates, as well as connecting with the main characters. I found that joining them on their journey was exciting and suspenseful. Shari Lopatin’s writing style so vivid and honest, and I appreciate it being the right length for creating the imagery. I personally do not enjoy reading 4 pages about what it’s like to stand in a forest. I would recommend this book to anyone who is entertained and engaged by the dystopian story, or pondering the future of the world. I’ve started telling friends about this book even with a few pages still left to read, and now that I’m finished, I can’t wait to discuss it with a fellow reader!
May 19, 2018
The romance side of things is a big part of the story. It doesn’t feel forced or overly cheesy. I didn’t feel like it added much to the story but then again I am not a romance kind of person. I liked how the story is hinting at a possible future that could happen to us in this day and age. Just the right push in a specific way could end up like this world the Author built. Where one side information is controlled so specifically. Or the other side where technology tells you when to brush your teeth when to go to sleep when to go loo.
The story made you think, is it better to be ignorant or not? Is the price of happiness worth it? It made you engage your brain and think.
It was a very slow burner, even when ‘action’ happened it didn’t really feel like action. The pace was very steady, didn’t feel like it really spiked at all.
(The Author loves sweet potato casserole. I have never seen it mentioned so much in my life.)
The story made you think, is it better to be ignorant or not? Is the price of happiness worth it? It made you engage your brain and think.
It was a very slow burner, even when ‘action’ happened it didn’t really feel like action. The pace was very steady, didn’t feel like it really spiked at all.
(The Author loves sweet potato casserole. I have never seen it mentioned so much in my life.)
March 8, 2019
Normally, I think dystopian novels are OK. I think they have an interesting premise, but I find that most authors overdo the concept. This makes it excessively difficult for me to buy into the world that they're selling. Then comes Shari Lopatin with one of the best books I've been asked to review in my last two years of blogging. I'm so flipping in love with this book that I was begging it not to end. When it did end, as all good things must sadly do, I stared at my Kindle with an absolutely blank face hoping that my Kindle had simply put the About the Author page in the document too early as some kind of sick joke. Unfortunately, I was only kidding myself.
I talk about characters in all of my reviews, so let's start there. Lopatin has dominated the world of character creation. These kids may be teenagers, but they are so stinking realistic that I forgot that I was reading fiction for a little while. I could definitely see any of the students that I teach doing all of the things that Andrew, Flora, Don, and even Sophie do. This was awesome from a general reader's point of view, but to a teacher that's a dang magic trick. If I can see my kids in those parts so easily, they would see themselves in those roles. If they do that, they would be more likely to give Lopatin's message some real thought.
My favorite character of the bunch was definitely Don. I LOVED HIM. Lopatin, if you're reading this I'm mad and you know why. *Insert angry tears of rage and pain here* He was an absolute enigma at the beginning and once he makes more sense to the readers, there will be an absolute soft spot in your heart for this little guy. Andrew, however, was a close second. He's your everyday, run-of-the-mill, doofy teenaged dude but he grows and becomes SO MUCH MORE! It is beautiful to watch the romance unfold between him and Flora. It is very organic and feels as obvious as the romance between Ron and Hermione. Please for the love of all things wonderful, allow me to live in my fantasy world where these two grow up, get married, and have a child. I hope they name their son Jaron after their friend from The Other Side.
Lopatin has a very important message in this novel. In fact, it was so terrifyingly real that I almost couldn't finish the book because I was spooked. Lopatin introduces a world in which people have become so dependent upon electronics that they can't think for themselves. YIKES! That sounds a little too real. I am terrified of this message because I see so many of my kids who need calculators or other electronic assistance for things that we were forced to use our brains for (I'm 25 and I teach high school. It's not like I'm ancient!). The teacher in me loves it. I want to give a copy of this book to every single one of my students so that we can have the important discussion that would result from the theme of this novel. Students need this to be pointed out to them. Some of them couldn't care less. Others might be as spooked as I was.
If you like The 100, George Orwell, or any sci-fi and dystopian novels, please read this book. YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT. And, if you don't like it. I'll read it again and enjoy it in your place.
I talk about characters in all of my reviews, so let's start there. Lopatin has dominated the world of character creation. These kids may be teenagers, but they are so stinking realistic that I forgot that I was reading fiction for a little while. I could definitely see any of the students that I teach doing all of the things that Andrew, Flora, Don, and even Sophie do. This was awesome from a general reader's point of view, but to a teacher that's a dang magic trick. If I can see my kids in those parts so easily, they would see themselves in those roles. If they do that, they would be more likely to give Lopatin's message some real thought.
My favorite character of the bunch was definitely Don. I LOVED HIM. Lopatin, if you're reading this I'm mad and you know why. *Insert angry tears of rage and pain here* He was an absolute enigma at the beginning and once he makes more sense to the readers, there will be an absolute soft spot in your heart for this little guy. Andrew, however, was a close second. He's your everyday, run-of-the-mill, doofy teenaged dude but he grows and becomes SO MUCH MORE! It is beautiful to watch the romance unfold between him and Flora. It is very organic and feels as obvious as the romance between Ron and Hermione. Please for the love of all things wonderful, allow me to live in my fantasy world where these two grow up, get married, and have a child. I hope they name their son Jaron after their friend from The Other Side.
Lopatin has a very important message in this novel. In fact, it was so terrifyingly real that I almost couldn't finish the book because I was spooked. Lopatin introduces a world in which people have become so dependent upon electronics that they can't think for themselves. YIKES! That sounds a little too real. I am terrified of this message because I see so many of my kids who need calculators or other electronic assistance for things that we were forced to use our brains for (I'm 25 and I teach high school. It's not like I'm ancient!). The teacher in me loves it. I want to give a copy of this book to every single one of my students so that we can have the important discussion that would result from the theme of this novel. Students need this to be pointed out to them. Some of them couldn't care less. Others might be as spooked as I was.
If you like The 100, George Orwell, or any sci-fi and dystopian novels, please read this book. YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT. And, if you don't like it. I'll read it again and enjoy it in your place.
October 5, 2018
I'm a sucker for compelling sci-fi stories and the premise of this book hooked me.
It is set in 2150 in a state named Apollo that has formed out of a portion of the former United States. Flora, a 19-year old college student, is driven by a thirst to find out what lies behind the wall that surrounds Apollo. On the surface, her home state appears to be a utopia of reading and learning. In reality, a sinister Orwellian undercurrent exists that threatens to envelop anyone who dares to question what lies beyond the Wall or even discuss it for that matter. Flora finds herself thrown into danger when her curiosity leads her to try to dig up more about the Wall and its purpose and is rapidly drawn into a technological nightmare.
I enjoyed The Apollo Illusion very much. This is an engrossing and engaging story. You sympathize with Flora's naive curiosity and desire to probe at life beyond her bullied circumstances. Flora and Andrew are unique and dynamic POV characters who give the narrative a strong foundation. This is a story that's well-written and the mysteries contained within the plot draw you in and keep you hooked from one page to the next.
The Apollo Illusion should occupy a spot on the to-read list of any true dystopian sci-fi fan.
My verdict: Five stars.
It is set in 2150 in a state named Apollo that has formed out of a portion of the former United States. Flora, a 19-year old college student, is driven by a thirst to find out what lies behind the wall that surrounds Apollo. On the surface, her home state appears to be a utopia of reading and learning. In reality, a sinister Orwellian undercurrent exists that threatens to envelop anyone who dares to question what lies beyond the Wall or even discuss it for that matter. Flora finds herself thrown into danger when her curiosity leads her to try to dig up more about the Wall and its purpose and is rapidly drawn into a technological nightmare.
I enjoyed The Apollo Illusion very much. This is an engrossing and engaging story. You sympathize with Flora's naive curiosity and desire to probe at life beyond her bullied circumstances. Flora and Andrew are unique and dynamic POV characters who give the narrative a strong foundation. This is a story that's well-written and the mysteries contained within the plot draw you in and keep you hooked from one page to the next.
The Apollo Illusion should occupy a spot on the to-read list of any true dystopian sci-fi fan.
My verdict: Five stars.
April 9, 2018
The author, Shari Lopatin, of The Apollo Illusion contacted me a few months ago about sending me a Kindle version of her book that will be released on May 19th for me to write up a review about the book! I've been asked in the past by authors to do this and am really picky about what I read (many times I decline, but this is the third time I accepted). I don't want to be bored out of my mind or feel forced to read a book in general. Thankfully, this book actually captivated me quickly.
This is pretty much a Science Fiction story for young adults and older teens, both, which I am not of. I read Young Adult books regularly though and prefer them to a lot of adult books, as a way to unwind and break from human trafficking stories I read constantly. It gives my mind time to escape reality.
Let me give you a synopsis of what is happening early on in the story. It starts out in 2150. I can't even imagine how life is going to change in that time when so much has changed in the past 25 years alone.
The Apollo Illusion has two main characters who each give us their perspectives throughout the book. Flora is 19 and has been enjoying college life. She studies hard, but she has a fascination with exploring and indulging her curiosities. Andrew is also 19 and has been Flora's best friend since they were about eight years old. He will go on these explorations with her, but has to keep her reigned in because he really doesn't want to get into any trouble.
The name of the place where they live is called Apollo. There is a large wall that borders where they live, but no one has actually seen it. Flora wants to see it so badly. That is when she meets Don, another guy her age who smokes and seems mysterious. He might have some of the answers to her questions about the Wall, but Andrew doesn't seem to like Don at all!
To give you an idea of content within this book, I actually wish that Shari Lopatin had warned me about the sexual content in this. At first I was just annoyed because Andrew is thinking about breasts and doing things with some young women and expresses it early on. I feel like sometimes when those things are mentioned, it was not done well and makes him look really bad and unintelligent. It doesn't really set his character up for how cool and wonderful he is later. It makes him just look like a womanizer with no actual brains. I feel the book didn't need that. Also there is an entire sex scene in this book. I don't want to read about sex scenes at all. If the books about human trafficking I read about can talk about sex without describing it, so can this. That deducted a star rating from me. There is some bad language in the book, though not a lot, yet the ones that are said are pretty much all of the F word. There is violence in the book too. Definitely the parts where it is talked about is not gruesome.
The story as a whole was really well written, but I think towards the end the author wanted to give explanations about things, while not fully explaining other things, which depicts how real life is. Sometimes we don't know everything and other times we learn too much at once that it is hard to comprehend. I think in a way there could have been a little more balance for how much was shared at once. It was really interesting to learn though!
Some of this story reminds me of Logan's Run, The Island, 1984 (which is even mentioned in the book), and The Village but with its own unique take on things. Some of the technology explained in it is original and really good. Also, the fact that many times in such stories people try to get out to find a better world, but perhaps something to think about is that the world where we came from isn't so bad even though it is not perfect. I felt that was unique.
I feel like this book ended strangely, but not necessarily poorly. It was as if you want to say, "But what now? What about that other world? Is there anything more that can be done?" Perhaps the point of this book is that we are to become victim to something regardless and that sometimes we can't completely overcome every obstacle, but perhaps we have to accept things as they are in order to protect the people we love. It is a little sad to think about. It still didn't have a bad ending at all though. I am glad I read it. It gave a lot of food for thought. There is a lot I can't say here since I am not into giving away spoilers.
I give this book 3.5 stars.
This is pretty much a Science Fiction story for young adults and older teens, both, which I am not of. I read Young Adult books regularly though and prefer them to a lot of adult books, as a way to unwind and break from human trafficking stories I read constantly. It gives my mind time to escape reality.
Let me give you a synopsis of what is happening early on in the story. It starts out in 2150. I can't even imagine how life is going to change in that time when so much has changed in the past 25 years alone.
The Apollo Illusion has two main characters who each give us their perspectives throughout the book. Flora is 19 and has been enjoying college life. She studies hard, but she has a fascination with exploring and indulging her curiosities. Andrew is also 19 and has been Flora's best friend since they were about eight years old. He will go on these explorations with her, but has to keep her reigned in because he really doesn't want to get into any trouble.
The name of the place where they live is called Apollo. There is a large wall that borders where they live, but no one has actually seen it. Flora wants to see it so badly. That is when she meets Don, another guy her age who smokes and seems mysterious. He might have some of the answers to her questions about the Wall, but Andrew doesn't seem to like Don at all!
To give you an idea of content within this book, I actually wish that Shari Lopatin had warned me about the sexual content in this. At first I was just annoyed because Andrew is thinking about breasts and doing things with some young women and expresses it early on. I feel like sometimes when those things are mentioned, it was not done well and makes him look really bad and unintelligent. It doesn't really set his character up for how cool and wonderful he is later. It makes him just look like a womanizer with no actual brains. I feel the book didn't need that. Also there is an entire sex scene in this book. I don't want to read about sex scenes at all. If the books about human trafficking I read about can talk about sex without describing it, so can this. That deducted a star rating from me. There is some bad language in the book, though not a lot, yet the ones that are said are pretty much all of the F word. There is violence in the book too. Definitely the parts where it is talked about is not gruesome.
The story as a whole was really well written, but I think towards the end the author wanted to give explanations about things, while not fully explaining other things, which depicts how real life is. Sometimes we don't know everything and other times we learn too much at once that it is hard to comprehend. I think in a way there could have been a little more balance for how much was shared at once. It was really interesting to learn though!
Some of this story reminds me of Logan's Run, The Island, 1984 (which is even mentioned in the book), and The Village but with its own unique take on things. Some of the technology explained in it is original and really good. Also, the fact that many times in such stories people try to get out to find a better world, but perhaps something to think about is that the world where we came from isn't so bad even though it is not perfect. I felt that was unique.
I feel like this book ended strangely, but not necessarily poorly. It was as if you want to say, "But what now? What about that other world? Is there anything more that can be done?" Perhaps the point of this book is that we are to become victim to something regardless and that sometimes we can't completely overcome every obstacle, but perhaps we have to accept things as they are in order to protect the people we love. It is a little sad to think about. It still didn't have a bad ending at all though. I am glad I read it. It gave a lot of food for thought. There is a lot I can't say here since I am not into giving away spoilers.
I give this book 3.5 stars.
July 9, 2018
Welcome to a world that is frightening and yet, oh so hauntingly familiar. This book will make you wonder about our society and the type of future our children could inherit…
Flora has always loved her life in Apollo, especially the clean, pleasant community of three person families, she calls trilogies. In Apollo, education is free to all and artistic expressions are encouraged. Life is good with her best friend Andrew, so why can’t she just put her curiosity aside? Despite Andrew’s warnings, she is compelled by this illusive puzzle that is.. the wall.
Then suddenly, a mysterious boy shows up in her history class and the comments he makes propels Flora into a new way of thinking, Apollo is hiding something, and now she can’t let her suspicions rest. Determined to discover the answers to her questions, she probes deeper… and just as curious Alice fell down a rabbit hole, so too, will Flora face her own darkness.
This story starts off almost like a contemporary. You’re introduced to this close-knit society and you can’t help but love the friendship between Flora and Andrew and then Don enters the picture and things get very, very, interesting.
I was enthralled once I got about half way through the book. The author raises a lot questions about society, technology, the evil of our world in regards to social injustice, and equality, themes that we all can relate to, and delivers the suspense and action of a wonderful sci-fi adventure. Dual character perspective, elaborate world-building, and a smooth delivery of a mysterious plot-line with enough suspense and romance to interests any age or gender. Highly recommend if you want a light sci-fi/quick enjoyable read.
Flora has always loved her life in Apollo, especially the clean, pleasant community of three person families, she calls trilogies. In Apollo, education is free to all and artistic expressions are encouraged. Life is good with her best friend Andrew, so why can’t she just put her curiosity aside? Despite Andrew’s warnings, she is compelled by this illusive puzzle that is.. the wall.
Then suddenly, a mysterious boy shows up in her history class and the comments he makes propels Flora into a new way of thinking, Apollo is hiding something, and now she can’t let her suspicions rest. Determined to discover the answers to her questions, she probes deeper… and just as curious Alice fell down a rabbit hole, so too, will Flora face her own darkness.
This story starts off almost like a contemporary. You’re introduced to this close-knit society and you can’t help but love the friendship between Flora and Andrew and then Don enters the picture and things get very, very, interesting.
I was enthralled once I got about half way through the book. The author raises a lot questions about society, technology, the evil of our world in regards to social injustice, and equality, themes that we all can relate to, and delivers the suspense and action of a wonderful sci-fi adventure. Dual character perspective, elaborate world-building, and a smooth delivery of a mysterious plot-line with enough suspense and romance to interests any age or gender. Highly recommend if you want a light sci-fi/quick enjoyable read.
May 14, 2018
The Apollo Illusion
I am a sucker for a good dystopian novel-and The Apollo Illusion did not disappoint!
The characters are well thought out and realistic for their too good to be true lives that they lead. Flora provides the reader with a heroine worth rooting for throughout the entire novel.
Shari gives us a frightening glimpse into what society would be like if the government controlled all of our information while isolating us from the rest of the world. I was captivated by the mystery of what was behind the wall and why it was built. And I couldn’t put it down until I knew whether the government was protecting its people or if the rest of the world was being protected from the people inside Apollo.
As a working mom who loves the Hunger Games and other Young Adult mystery novels, this book fit nicely into my niche. This book captures its audience from the first page, all the way until the exciting conclusion. Additionally, just like Pixar’s Wall-E forced us to see what our lives could be like if we stopped caring for our planet, the Apollo Illusion forces us to look at what life could be like if we continue down this dangerous path of living our lives mostly online with no personal interaction. I enjoyed this book immensely and hope for a sequel!
I am a sucker for a good dystopian novel-and The Apollo Illusion did not disappoint!
The characters are well thought out and realistic for their too good to be true lives that they lead. Flora provides the reader with a heroine worth rooting for throughout the entire novel.
Shari gives us a frightening glimpse into what society would be like if the government controlled all of our information while isolating us from the rest of the world. I was captivated by the mystery of what was behind the wall and why it was built. And I couldn’t put it down until I knew whether the government was protecting its people or if the rest of the world was being protected from the people inside Apollo.
As a working mom who loves the Hunger Games and other Young Adult mystery novels, this book fit nicely into my niche. This book captures its audience from the first page, all the way until the exciting conclusion. Additionally, just like Pixar’s Wall-E forced us to see what our lives could be like if we stopped caring for our planet, the Apollo Illusion forces us to look at what life could be like if we continue down this dangerous path of living our lives mostly online with no personal interaction. I enjoyed this book immensely and hope for a sequel!
May 19, 2018
I found the book to be absolutely fascinating, capturing my imagination from the very start. All of the characters are brought to life in a very realistic fashion. The author was capable of creating a futuristic world that the reader could easily understand and buy into, with technology that really gets your own imagination going. I have often walked away from books that did not have the ability to grab my interest from the onset and maintain it. This book does that…. keeps your interest the entire way through. You want to keep reading to find out in what direction the author’s imagination will take you. Both the personal side to the characters will draw you in as well as the thoughtfulness of futuristic technologies and how they interplay within the society which the author has created. All of this has been masterfully done. The book makes for thoughtful deliberation upon what is happening within our society today, both politically and socially. Lots to think about! This book deserves a well-earned 5 stars. I’m looking forward to a follow-up story. I definitely recommend this book!
May 20, 2018
Before anyone begins to read too far into my review, I feel I should be transparent and offer the disclaimer that the author, Shari, is my sister. Anyone who feels this lessens the credibility of my review, feel free to read on to the next review (no hard feelings, I get it). Placing aside my personal connection to the author, I truly was intrigued and captivated by the world I was brought into upon first reading The Apollo Illusion. A world is created which makes us question, which is better, blissful ignorance to reality, or uncomfortable and sometimes terrifying awareness of the authentic world? It also allows us to be transported into a world that begs the question, what is authentic as technology progresses, and what is real? This story keeps you questioning what will happen next. Two of my favorite books growing up were Lois Lowry’s The Giver, and George Orwell’s 1984. The world created in the Apollo Illusion holds its own unique, new, and striking dystopian tale which anyone who has loved these great, classic novels as I do, would likely be engrossed in.
May 20, 2018
In a world of turmoil created by a Virtual Revolution in 2075, Ms. Lopatin spins a story of suspense where Flora, a curious college student and her friends, Andrew and Don, seek answers to what is beyond the wall that surrounds their idealistic home near Flagstaff, Arizona, called Apollo. Ms. Lopatin’s writing style is fast paced and I found myself reading the book in a day! I was always excited to return to find out what lay beyond. The frightening realization of what lies beyond does not seem that impossible to me. As the secrets of the other side are revealed, one can visualize the actual possibility of the revolution happening if our world does not get the digital over dependency under control. I would highly recommend this novel to those whose minds seek curiosity and possibilities.
May 21, 2018
The Apollo Illusion is a futuristic novel that follows Flora, Andrew and Don as they look for answers about the world outside of Apollo. The Apollo Illusion is set in Northern Arizona, and is very well written in an easy to read format. Shari does a wonderful job of painting a picture of a society that appears idealistic, however you quickly realize that there is a lot more going on beneath the surface than the citizens of Apollo are aware. Throughout the book the looming question of “What is beyond the wall?” keeps your interest and I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.
May 12, 2018
The Apollo Illusion is an enthralling dystopian story. Once I started reading, I could not put it down. The story is compelling and holds your attention to the very end. In a George Orwell-type of way, this story makes you think about the future of society, especially given today’s climate about truth, privacy, and privilege.
The story is well-written and captivating. You are immediately sucked into the lives of the characters. Shari weaves together mystery, political commentary, and ordinary life into a believable story about a girl who is seeking the truth about what lies beyond the towering wall surrounding her home state of Apollo.
The Apollo Illusion will leave you with many issues to think about, such as the control of information and the power of propaganda, both of which are hot topics in today’s society. I believe the story does present extremes of both sides, but it does give one a glimpse into what society could become if we go too far in any direction.
I found it to be an enjoyable read and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading.
The story is well-written and captivating. You are immediately sucked into the lives of the characters. Shari weaves together mystery, political commentary, and ordinary life into a believable story about a girl who is seeking the truth about what lies beyond the towering wall surrounding her home state of Apollo.
The Apollo Illusion will leave you with many issues to think about, such as the control of information and the power of propaganda, both of which are hot topics in today’s society. I believe the story does present extremes of both sides, but it does give one a glimpse into what society could become if we go too far in any direction.
I found it to be an enjoyable read and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading.
April 26, 2018
Flora is 19 and lives in the State of Apollo. She is being bullied daily and just dying with curiosity on what is behind the wall surrounding the State, after all everyone can read, send text messages, discuss motivations and philosophies, but questioning what is on The Other Side is not allowed. However she reveals a dark secret and finds herself in a complicated web of both truth and lies. She leaves a clue for her childhood best friend Andrew and hangs all her hopes on that bond coming through for her.
This was a story that was set in the future and is of the dystopian style genre mixed with some science fiction. The story plot was quite clever and was definitely easy to understand and I think relate it to the modern world with some parallels. Hidden in there was a story of 2 childhood friends who certainly love each other however are in denial so for the earlier parts of the story Andrew is a typical late teenage boy with all sorts of breast obsessions. The writing was clear and easy to understand and I could relate to the thoughts and emotions of the characters (most of the time). The way the story ended made me think it wasn't really the end, so don't be surprised if the author writes another book after this one.
This was a story that was set in the future and is of the dystopian style genre mixed with some science fiction. The story plot was quite clever and was definitely easy to understand and I think relate it to the modern world with some parallels. Hidden in there was a story of 2 childhood friends who certainly love each other however are in denial so for the earlier parts of the story Andrew is a typical late teenage boy with all sorts of breast obsessions. The writing was clear and easy to understand and I could relate to the thoughts and emotions of the characters (most of the time). The way the story ended made me think it wasn't really the end, so don't be surprised if the author writes another book after this one.
June 8, 2018
(First I must put a disclaimer that I am the mother of this author. However, with that said, the author herself would be the first to say that this fact would have no bearing on the review! I am probably more critical because she IS my daughter. :)
What is to become of our world and our societies well into the future? How is technology and class structure going to mold the societies of the future? The Apollo Illusion, by Shari Lopatin, gives us a rather harrowing view of what we may see well into our future. Lopatin, in her debut novel, paints a picture of two opposing futures….one within the walls of Apollo, and one on “The Other Side”. However, as stated on the cover of the book, “Nothing is ever what it seems”. The story follows Flora, Andrew, and Don, three teenagers, bonded by their curiosity and desire for truth as they uncover the masks of these two worlds. In doing so, they are faced with dangers and truths far scarier than they could ever have imagined. This novel is a definite "can’t put it down "page turner. Lopatin makes us think, makes us push our minds to understand what could actually BE conceivable in our futures if we are not more careful. Are we letting too much propaganda define what we see as reality? Are we giving technology too much control? In the vein of Orwells 1984 and Huxleys Brave New World, Lopatin’s The Apollo Illusion may just be giving us a peek into what is to come for this generation’s future. And just maybe, we should be very afraid! This book is definitely worth your time. Do not miss it!
What is to become of our world and our societies well into the future? How is technology and class structure going to mold the societies of the future? The Apollo Illusion, by Shari Lopatin, gives us a rather harrowing view of what we may see well into our future. Lopatin, in her debut novel, paints a picture of two opposing futures….one within the walls of Apollo, and one on “The Other Side”. However, as stated on the cover of the book, “Nothing is ever what it seems”. The story follows Flora, Andrew, and Don, three teenagers, bonded by their curiosity and desire for truth as they uncover the masks of these two worlds. In doing so, they are faced with dangers and truths far scarier than they could ever have imagined. This novel is a definite "can’t put it down "page turner. Lopatin makes us think, makes us push our minds to understand what could actually BE conceivable in our futures if we are not more careful. Are we letting too much propaganda define what we see as reality? Are we giving technology too much control? In the vein of Orwells 1984 and Huxleys Brave New World, Lopatin’s The Apollo Illusion may just be giving us a peek into what is to come for this generation’s future. And just maybe, we should be very afraid! This book is definitely worth your time. Do not miss it!
August 24, 2018
I really enjoyed this book.
The story is interesting and it moves along at a good clip for most of the novel. The world is very well-developed, and given the direction our world is going, it seems like a very plausible future. The characters were also vividly rendered, and they were imperfect enough to seem real.
There are a couple of areas that I think could have been improved:
- The alternating viewpoint (Flora/Andrew) was done very effectively, but it did sacrifice opportunities for suspense to build. (The reader found out information before one of the key characters, which I found to be less of an impact. In the author's defense, we didn't have to read the info twice!)
- Some elements were left unexplained or inadequately resolved for my taste. I realise that life doesn't tidy everything up neatly, but there were several elements that I found a little confusing or just abandoned that I think would have improved the book. This includes: Agent Jackson's physical appearance (there has to be more to that!), Stone (I can't imagine he'd just give up), Don's complete disconnect from Appoloan society (I feel as though he should have developed a close relationship with at least one person growing up), I think going a bit deeper into the aftereffects of trauma (other than Flora's experience) would have been very appropriate as well.
This is definitely a haunting book. It's absolutely worth the read.
I received a copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only.
The story is interesting and it moves along at a good clip for most of the novel. The world is very well-developed, and given the direction our world is going, it seems like a very plausible future. The characters were also vividly rendered, and they were imperfect enough to seem real.
There are a couple of areas that I think could have been improved:
- The alternating viewpoint (Flora/Andrew) was done very effectively, but it did sacrifice opportunities for suspense to build. (The reader found out information before one of the key characters, which I found to be less of an impact. In the author's defense, we didn't have to read the info twice!)
- Some elements were left unexplained or inadequately resolved for my taste. I realise that life doesn't tidy everything up neatly, but there were several elements that I found a little confusing or just abandoned that I think would have improved the book. This includes: Agent Jackson's physical appearance (there has to be more to that!), Stone (I can't imagine he'd just give up), Don's complete disconnect from Appoloan society (I feel as though he should have developed a close relationship with at least one person growing up), I think going a bit deeper into the aftereffects of trauma (other than Flora's experience) would have been very appropriate as well.
This is definitely a haunting book. It's absolutely worth the read.
I received a copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only.
October 13, 2018
Is the grass greener on the other side?
In this dystopian Flora quickly finds out not all is what it seems and learns the more to the little world she has been encapsulated in, Apollo is her home which is surrounded by high walls, security cameras and men guarding the wall. Curiosity gets the better of her and she soon finds herself in trouble.
She gets help to escape to explore the outside world but quickly finds herself in the clutches of a psychiatric ward who gets paid for each mouth there is to feed. There is no escape back home, that is until Andrew her best friend and Don who know one knows where he came from but lives in Apollo too comes to the rescue.
Once back home Don is used as the scapegoat and is subsequently killed by authorities to explain away not only Flora 're emerging but 6 others who seemingly disappeared years ago.
This dystopian was interesting and worrying all at the same time. Like most this can happen in real life. Very enjoyable read 😁.
Book given free by author via voraciousreadersonly.
In this dystopian Flora quickly finds out not all is what it seems and learns the more to the little world she has been encapsulated in, Apollo is her home which is surrounded by high walls, security cameras and men guarding the wall. Curiosity gets the better of her and she soon finds herself in trouble.
She gets help to escape to explore the outside world but quickly finds herself in the clutches of a psychiatric ward who gets paid for each mouth there is to feed. There is no escape back home, that is until Andrew her best friend and Don who know one knows where he came from but lives in Apollo too comes to the rescue.
Once back home Don is used as the scapegoat and is subsequently killed by authorities to explain away not only Flora 're emerging but 6 others who seemingly disappeared years ago.
This dystopian was interesting and worrying all at the same time. Like most this can happen in real life. Very enjoyable read 😁.
Book given free by author via voraciousreadersonly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2018
I was kindly sent an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is aimed at YA, but I bloody love a dystopian story. The setting is well thought out, and the characters develop, slightly. I dislike the heavy focus on a romance, and would have much preferred a bigger background into the 'whys?' of this world. Why can't they speak out loud? Why and how did she just get given cancer?! I also felt dissatisfied with the main answer of 'cause they're rich, so they can'. For a first time novel, I think this is a solid book. The author is an award winning journalist, and you can see that in the skillful way she writes. The basis of the story is there, and it was a quick, enjoyable read. But it could have been so much more. That's probably because I'm thinking of this as a 30 year old woman, and not a young adult!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2018
A solid novel with a good premise, quite topical to the current times.
Spelling and grammar etc were excellent, which is always a huge plus!
Characters were mostly believable, but a little under developed. There were no real instances where you could empathise with them. I believe this is because they didn’t really emote genuinely, and this leaves them coming across as stilted and one dimensional. They definitely go through challenges that would normally elicit strong emotions from a reader. There was something fundamental missing and that stopped the connection between character and reader from ever developing.
The ending was disappointing. It felt like an afterthought, rather than a fully developed plot.
Overall a satisfactory story that will keep you entertained, though not one that you cant put down.
I received a complimentary copy from VRO in return for an honest review.
Spelling and grammar etc were excellent, which is always a huge plus!
Characters were mostly believable, but a little under developed. There were no real instances where you could empathise with them. I believe this is because they didn’t really emote genuinely, and this leaves them coming across as stilted and one dimensional. They definitely go through challenges that would normally elicit strong emotions from a reader. There was something fundamental missing and that stopped the connection between character and reader from ever developing.
The ending was disappointing. It felt like an afterthought, rather than a fully developed plot.
Overall a satisfactory story that will keep you entertained, though not one that you cant put down.
I received a complimentary copy from VRO in return for an honest review.
August 17, 2018
A tiny bit reminiscent of the Divergent series but this story stands on it’s own and is not a retelling of those stories. This is fresh and new and explores a host of ideas and commentary on current society through the lens of a dystopian novel.
One of my favorite phrases from the book is when Andrew, a young man in the book, reflects on losing his father and how others in their community helped them- “Their help was genuine, but shallow.” It’s phrases like these that make the book come to life because if you have ever lost someone you understand the truth to that statement.
Thoroughly enjoyable book. I’m hoping to see a sequel.
One of my favorite phrases from the book is when Andrew, a young man in the book, reflects on losing his father and how others in their community helped them- “Their help was genuine, but shallow.” It’s phrases like these that make the book come to life because if you have ever lost someone you understand the truth to that statement.
Thoroughly enjoyable book. I’m hoping to see a sequel.
August 5, 2018
A coming of age novel set in the future in which social media has played a role in creating a divided society. Isolated and walled off, Apollo supported education and the arts while the Other Side has two classes with the majority struggling to survive. The story has Flora and Andrew exploring their feelings and curiosity about the other side of the enclosing wall. The book is well written and thought provoking. This was a free review copy offered to me by the author through Goodreads.com.
August 16, 2018
Another dystopian novel but with a difference. Throughly enjoyed this novel and read it quickly . The difference I feel is that the world described could realistically be our future. The characters are interesting and identifiable. I have given it 4 stars as some parts of the plot are easily anticipated such as Andrews father being in a nearby cell. At times the plot could have more depth and it appears an obvious finish to enable a sequel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2018
Flora is 19 and lives in Apollo - a place which has a motto of 'light, truth and knowledge'. However, Flora begins to question her world and so begins a journey in to the unknown.
Dystopian future books are my favourite genre and I really enjoyed this one - I would highly recommend this book.
Thanks to Voracious Readers Only and the author for my free copy 🙂
Dystopian future books are my favourite genre and I really enjoyed this one - I would highly recommend this book.
Thanks to Voracious Readers Only and the author for my free copy 🙂
December 13, 2018
I received my complimentary copy via voracious readers only and I'm so glad I did! A very detailed, gripping dystopian adventure. I really enjoyed reading this book. It's lengthy but every chapter keeps you interested. The twists and turns kept me guessing the whole time. Highly recommend!
August 24, 2021
Read about 2/3 and have to stop because I'm not enjoying the book. I understand suspension of disbelief in sci-fi/ dystopian fiction, but there are too many holes in this story. The teen romance storyline was also unnecessary. Someone else might be the right reader for this, but it's not me.
October 2, 2018
What a riveting story! From the get go it draws you right in. I was always wanting to know what was next. Definitely a good read.
*received free copy from author via Voracious Readers Only*
*received free copy from author via Voracious Readers Only*
November 23, 2018
This is a fantastic dystopian sci-fi novel! Love every minute of it. Strong, realistic characters. A compelling mystery. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
December 17, 2018
Recived a free copy of this book through Voracious Readers. Excellent book if you love dystopian fiction. Sometimes the illusion is worth it :-)
September 5, 2019
Review: Apollo Mission
Utilitarianism, a political philosophy based on the greatest good for the greatest number, seems like a laudable civic goal. But, like any political system, it’s all in the implementation. What do you do about those who don’t agree with the majority judgment about what is good or bad? How tolerant should a society be of dissenters?
Apollo is a sealed society, entirely walled off from the outside but based on the notion that education and knowledge are paramount. It is also an egalitarian society with free education and medical care for all. Sounds like a utopia and, indeed, if one lives in accordance with its precepts it is pretty close. But there is one human trait that is considered dangerous - curiosity. To wonder what exists beyond the wall is anathema, so much so that individuals can be killed it such curiosity extends to any attempt to try to explore what’s beyond the wall.
Fora is curious, dangerously so. There is nothing particularly extraordinary about her, though she is a lovely nineteen year old. Her best and closest friend since she was eight years old is Andrew. There has never been a sexual attraction (a difficult thing for a reader to accept), more like very close siblings. Andrew’s father disappeared when he was eight, went out one night and never returned. Andrew was devastated, it was Flora who helped him through this crisis and a unique friendship was born. Andrew in no so curious.
Don is a loner, rarely making eye contact. He is a brilliant programmer but very much a loner. But he knows something about the wall and Flora wants to learn what he knows.
This novel draws much from contemporary political and social conditions. There are also some astute observations of certain political and technological trends though I am confused about how those trends played out in the author’s mind.
I enjoyed the book. It is thoughtful with interesting and complex characters and situations.
Utilitarianism, a political philosophy based on the greatest good for the greatest number, seems like a laudable civic goal. But, like any political system, it’s all in the implementation. What do you do about those who don’t agree with the majority judgment about what is good or bad? How tolerant should a society be of dissenters?
Apollo is a sealed society, entirely walled off from the outside but based on the notion that education and knowledge are paramount. It is also an egalitarian society with free education and medical care for all. Sounds like a utopia and, indeed, if one lives in accordance with its precepts it is pretty close. But there is one human trait that is considered dangerous - curiosity. To wonder what exists beyond the wall is anathema, so much so that individuals can be killed it such curiosity extends to any attempt to try to explore what’s beyond the wall.
Fora is curious, dangerously so. There is nothing particularly extraordinary about her, though she is a lovely nineteen year old. Her best and closest friend since she was eight years old is Andrew. There has never been a sexual attraction (a difficult thing for a reader to accept), more like very close siblings. Andrew’s father disappeared when he was eight, went out one night and never returned. Andrew was devastated, it was Flora who helped him through this crisis and a unique friendship was born. Andrew in no so curious.
Don is a loner, rarely making eye contact. He is a brilliant programmer but very much a loner. But he knows something about the wall and Flora wants to learn what he knows.
This novel draws much from contemporary political and social conditions. There are also some astute observations of certain political and technological trends though I am confused about how those trends played out in the author’s mind.
I enjoyed the book. It is thoughtful with interesting and complex characters and situations.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews