End

by Geoff Micks

In 2015 a man who has lived since the last Ice Age bought a tape recorder and dictated his memoirs over the course of three days while waiting for a mysterious visitor who he believed would finally be the death of him. What did he say? He rode with the Arabs who spread Islam into North Africa. He was in Medina during the assassinations of both Caliph Umar and Caliph Uthman. He kept quiet as a desperate pope bamboozled the king of the Franks. He watched Charlemagne become Holy Roman Emperor. He worked for some of the greatest minds of the last thousand years. He saw mercantilism and the Industrial Revolution destroy the things he cared about. All these and more make up the last day’s session with the tape recorder. End is the final book in the Tape Recorder Trilogy, a journey through humanity’s past from before recorded history up to the Twenty-First Century. Starting with the aftermath of the first outbreak of Bubonic Plague in Europe, End sees The Narrator embrace Islam and help to bring that faith to Egypt and northern Africa before becoming disillusioned. In the centuries that follow he watches the Roman Catholic Church become independent of a Constantinople torn in two by Iconoclasm only to see half of Christendom in turn become Protestant in rejection of decadent popes. The centuries from the discovery of the New World up to the present are a rollercoaster he struggles to endure. At the end of his story, he has a choice to make about how he will be remembered forevermore.

337 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 22, 2018

About the author

Geoff Micks was born and lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He has been interviewed by the New York Times and National Public Radio about his writing, and in addition to his novels he was also commissioned by Vice Media to write and narrate an animated short that aired on HBO.

For most of his career he has researched, organized, and run industry conferences on a wide range of topics throughout North America and Europe. Prior to that he worked for a number of community newspapers over the course of four years. He has a BA Honours with High Distinction from the University of Toronto and a Diploma in Journalism from Centennial College.

Reviews

[Sebastien · Rating 5 out of 5]

It wouldn't do this book any justice to read it without having read the first two in my opinion.

Geoff Micks does an incredible job wrapping up the Tape Recorder Trilogy with "End." I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.

[Eric Walberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is historical fiction at its best. Not really fiction, as the important events are there, and the narrative and hero blend in with them. The Muslim half is excellent. Lots of interesting material. Easy writing style - straightforward, clean, not cluttered.
Micks channels an educated Muslim way of thinking, as his hero converts to this most developed form of monotheism. He is Karen Armstrong's "freelance monotheist" as he moves between the Christian and Muslim worlds. Micks's hero recognizes the beauty and importance of daily prayers and imagines the 1 billion others worshipping the same way, at the same time around world, a powerful attraction.
He describes how Islam spread by traders settling peacefully abroad, educating, living in civilized way, others attracted, never forced to convert. Islam does not have the tribalism of Judaism or the flawed theology of Christianity, so pagans/ Christians join easily (less so tribal Jews, who are not mentioned, despite their importance).
This is the same today as Muslims forced to flee the oppressive imperial legacy and move to the centre - the US and Europe - where they are accepted grudgingly. As Islam becomes known through locals around the world, it attracts converts from secular alienation and dying Christianity.
Micks also reflects that soldiers fighting for Allah are more successful throughout history than Roman mercenaries at the birth of Islam, just as the Taliban and other Muslim insurgents today are defeating US invaders fighting only for money and power.
A thoughtful and entertaining journey through the last 1500 years.

[Melissa Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

The last of the trilogy, or the end of one long story. Either way, beautifully written, thought provoking and often funny. I really enjoyed it. Will read more by this author!