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VanWest #1
The Past
The Past is the first book in the VanWest series, about an Enforcer who lives in a dystopian Earth of the year 3000 and works for an authoritarian ruler called the Universal Council. Tasked with travelling through time to stop a renegade sect, that seeks to change Earth’s past, he comes to learn about his dark origins and his unique ability.
Falling in love with the daughter of its leader, he returns to the present to face a difficult choice, whether or not to save her. And be part of the New Beginning.
Falling in love with the daughter of its leader, he returns to the present to face a difficult choice, whether or not to save her. And be part of the New Beginning.
195 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 19, 2020
61 people are currently reading
6181 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 209 reviews
June 10, 2020
Sometimes you take a risk on a new author and it pays off. As someone who has love for dystopian novels that focus on the underpinnings of society, I really enjoyed where the author went with this book. The societal critique/philosophy isn't so strong as to take away from the entertainment value. I can tell that Kenneth Thomas really polished this piece of work as he doesn't run into the standard errors I see with sci-fi and new authors in general - which is to have clear blind spots. In other words, when I read a new indie author I often see brushes of greatness in things such as prose, dialogue, and plot points, but they simply haven't put in the required polish necessary to produce a fully realized work. This is forgivable, as even highly esteemed authors run into these issues within their less regarded works. So, it's a pleasant surprise when a new author has been meticulous with putting together a book that is enjoyable without sacrificing substance, deep without being unnecessarily flashy (or try-hard with impressing the reader, for lack of a better term). And this is coming from the sci-fi genre no less, which - though I enjoy it - seems to provide more leeway when it comes to saying incredible world-building at the expense of dialogue and prose that falls flat.
What are you in for when you start reading? A book that does the basics well. Yes, you have a parallel society, time travel, and other standard sci-fi elements. But very quickly, the book puts you on your toes. It starts to become a real page-turner - all without the standard "cheap" elements designed to move forward a plot. It truly does feel like a fully realized world you can get lost in and the characters are memorable. I've had to deal with some health issues recently, so it was nice to be able to escape somewhere I truly enjoyed. This book won't change your life but I think you'll be both entertained and think a little about the deeper questions posed by existence in a perennially flawed society. I've got the 2nd volume ordered on Kindle and I'll be happy to dive in again.
What are you in for when you start reading? A book that does the basics well. Yes, you have a parallel society, time travel, and other standard sci-fi elements. But very quickly, the book puts you on your toes. It starts to become a real page-turner - all without the standard "cheap" elements designed to move forward a plot. It truly does feel like a fully realized world you can get lost in and the characters are memorable. I've had to deal with some health issues recently, so it was nice to be able to escape somewhere I truly enjoyed. This book won't change your life but I think you'll be both entertained and think a little about the deeper questions posed by existence in a perennially flawed society. I've got the 2nd volume ordered on Kindle and I'll be happy to dive in again.
January 4, 2022
Is this a joke? I’m struggling with reality after reading some of the 5 star reviews. This book is abysmal. I couldn’t make it through two chapters. Leaving aside the endless stream of obvious grammatical errors, the writing style is disjointed and extremely childish. The plot was difficult to ascertain because I was so distracted by how terrible the writing is.
This book has an utterly ridiculous and inexplicably high rating (paid reviewers/bots?) and if anybody doubts the sincerity of this review I will happily send you my copy of the book, free of charge.
This book has an utterly ridiculous and inexplicably high rating (paid reviewers/bots?) and if anybody doubts the sincerity of this review I will happily send you my copy of the book, free of charge.
May 20, 2020
A masterpiece, story is superb. Really love the chapter when VanWest travels back in time to Paris, the setting and the suspense. Enjoyed the ending too, can't wait to read the next book.
August 16, 2020
Great writer's voice, a science fiction book with depth and a well developed story. Will be recommending it to my Goodreads friends.
August 16, 2020
VanWest has the makings of being a cult classic. I will be sharing this with my fellow trekkies and science fiction friends. One of the best books I've read this year.
August 16, 2020
Read the free chapter a couple weeks back, Leap to the City of Light, on vanwestbooks.com.
Knew this was a winner. Just finished reading the ebook, this author writes a great book. Really interesting take on how events and technological advancements in the 20th Century have affected our future. And if we do not take care of our planet, this future might come true.
If you like dystopia and time-travel with a slice of romance then this is the book to pick up.
Knew this was a winner. Just finished reading the ebook, this author writes a great book. Really interesting take on how events and technological advancements in the 20th Century have affected our future. And if we do not take care of our planet, this future might come true.
If you like dystopia and time-travel with a slice of romance then this is the book to pick up.
June 12, 2020
From the very first page you are thrust into a well built dystopian world that grips you from the very beginning and then drags you along for the ride.
I read this book over the space of two days and found it fast paced and enjoyable.
Above all this book is very well written and the character development was superb.
I believe that fans of the genre will find this book enjoyable as will newcomers to the sci-fi genre.
I read this book over the space of two days and found it fast paced and enjoyable.
Above all this book is very well written and the character development was superb.
I believe that fans of the genre will find this book enjoyable as will newcomers to the sci-fi genre.
August 16, 2020
Read it in one go - captivating story, enticing characters and great attention to detail. I originally thought the book would be purely futuristic, so the time travel part and historical bits were a great surprise. Looking forward to the second part to be released!
July 24, 2020
A well-crafted intergalactic, dystopian space adventure...
VanWest: The Past by Kenneth Thomas is book 1 in the VanWest series. I thought the book was superbly written, with brilliantly drawn settings and characters. The author weaved a well-crafted intergalactic, dystopian space adventure that will captivate the reader from the opening chapter. There’s plenty of imagery in the writing style that makes you feel you are right there in the story, and that’s something I look for in a good book. The vivid descriptions of the settings, situations, and the people were stunning. The author’s use of genuine dialogue further added to the overall atmosphere of authenticity. Highly recommended.
VanWest: The Past by Kenneth Thomas is book 1 in the VanWest series. I thought the book was superbly written, with brilliantly drawn settings and characters. The author weaved a well-crafted intergalactic, dystopian space adventure that will captivate the reader from the opening chapter. There’s plenty of imagery in the writing style that makes you feel you are right there in the story, and that’s something I look for in a good book. The vivid descriptions of the settings, situations, and the people were stunning. The author’s use of genuine dialogue further added to the overall atmosphere of authenticity. Highly recommended.
June 28, 2020
VanWest: The Past is another entry in the dystopian fiction world that is so popular. Despite sounding like another typical sci-fi dystopian future story, the book is really quite remarkable in its imaginative setting and story telling. It is unique and intriguing with fully-developed characters and a fast-moving plot that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
It is a dystopian novel with heart and with something interesting to say about the world in which it lives as well as our own. Overall, this is a great story that I would highly recommend to anyone interesting in sci-fi.
It is a dystopian novel with heart and with something interesting to say about the world in which it lives as well as our own. Overall, this is a great story that I would highly recommend to anyone interesting in sci-fi.
June 7, 2020
The reader is met with a fast paced thrilling action from the very first pages, so you have to pay attention, because the post apocalyptic world is already unraveling before your eyes. And it is fascinating!
This book is right up your alley if you are a fan of the sci-fi genre, since it talks about packs of mutant dogs, or gigantic carnivorous insects. I was actually smiling reading about sensory deprivation gases causing hallucinations and I was really hoping that our heroes would encounter some. And they do!
Like a chosen One, VanWest surprises us from the beginning with visions of the past and of the future, and we will soon learn about his awesome abilities. I can really feel his inner conflict, his indecisiveness, being torn between duty and desire, between mind and heart, between what he thinks is right and … something else, even more powerful.
Having traveled back in time, VW is amazed by the things that we, nowadays, take for granted, making us wonder if we are grateful enough with what we have. Do we really appreciate it? I would have loved to see more of his interaction with the 20th century, I liked the way he perceived the past, and how he tried to understand it. Was he ever tempted to stay there and never come back?
The battle at the end is epic, and I read each line holding my breath, with even more surprises unraveling. It was really like watching a movie. I think this would be great on the big screen in 3D (especially the giant cockroaches).
This book is right up your alley if you are a fan of the sci-fi genre, since it talks about packs of mutant dogs, or gigantic carnivorous insects. I was actually smiling reading about sensory deprivation gases causing hallucinations and I was really hoping that our heroes would encounter some. And they do!
Like a chosen One, VanWest surprises us from the beginning with visions of the past and of the future, and we will soon learn about his awesome abilities. I can really feel his inner conflict, his indecisiveness, being torn between duty and desire, between mind and heart, between what he thinks is right and … something else, even more powerful.
Having traveled back in time, VW is amazed by the things that we, nowadays, take for granted, making us wonder if we are grateful enough with what we have. Do we really appreciate it? I would have loved to see more of his interaction with the 20th century, I liked the way he perceived the past, and how he tried to understand it. Was he ever tempted to stay there and never come back?
The battle at the end is epic, and I read each line holding my breath, with even more surprises unraveling. It was really like watching a movie. I think this would be great on the big screen in 3D (especially the giant cockroaches).
June 8, 2020
Ladies and gentlemen, prepare yourselves for a fast-paced thrilling dystopian novel that will have your mind up and down like a roller coaster!
Let me start off by remarking how amazing it was to read a story that combined time-traveling, besides a whole new universal organization where not only earth is a protagonist, but also the solar system. Technology is on its highest development and humanity has lost importance.
The author is very careful on giving a detailed description of how the world has become a battlefield for life and power through all of the character's decisions.
Personally, I loved the action on this book. Even from the beginning, it all happened so fast that I never got bored. Even when I wasn't reading the novel, I found myself wondering how it would end up. And the ending didn't disappointed me at all! It actually surprised me a lot and left me wanting to know what happens next.
*SPOILER ALERT*
It ends with a cliffhanger that just raises the intensity that has been increasing from the beginning. It couldn't have had a better ending than this to guarantee the second part of this story -which I CAN'T WAIT TO READ!- as I'm sure it will answer a lot of questions that left this first part.
Let me start off by remarking how amazing it was to read a story that combined time-traveling, besides a whole new universal organization where not only earth is a protagonist, but also the solar system. Technology is on its highest development and humanity has lost importance.
The author is very careful on giving a detailed description of how the world has become a battlefield for life and power through all of the character's decisions.
Personally, I loved the action on this book. Even from the beginning, it all happened so fast that I never got bored. Even when I wasn't reading the novel, I found myself wondering how it would end up. And the ending didn't disappointed me at all! It actually surprised me a lot and left me wanting to know what happens next.
*SPOILER ALERT*
It ends with a cliffhanger that just raises the intensity that has been increasing from the beginning. It couldn't have had a better ending than this to guarantee the second part of this story -which I CAN'T WAIT TO READ!- as I'm sure it will answer a lot of questions that left this first part.
June 3, 2020
Kenneth Thomas has created disturbing accurate portrayal of where we could end up in VanWest The Past. He has written a brilliant and high drama story that is extremely engaging and entertaining. This is a difficult to put down story and the narrative is constantly moving. As soon as you think you have found your feet, it’s onto the next situation and it really keeps you on your toes (and the book in your hands!). A brilliant start to what will clearly be a captivating trilogy! Looking forward to the next book!
June 13, 2020
Set in the year 3000, Kenneth Thomas effortlessly manages to cover all the bases with his first book in the series. It blends sci-fi, time travel, and utopianism together along with an engaging romantic subplot. This action-packed page turner had me briefly wondering if this is where our society is headed. However, I quickly became lost in the worlds Thomas created. The characters are fleshed out and believable. Loved the futuristic setting, but also thoroughly enjoyed the time travel that takes the main character back to the 1950s. I look forward to reading the next book in this breathtaking series!
July 7, 2020
Penned by author Kenneth Thomas, this 19-chapter science fiction gem is the first one of the VanWest series.
Just by reading the prologue, which gives us some insights into how the story will unfold, we learn it would be an intriguing story which would keep us hooked until its end. The plot centers around an Enforcer who lives in a dystopian Earth of the year 3000 and works for an authoritarian ruler called the Universal Council who the Enforcer finally turned against. The story line is plenty of twists and turns between present and future settings.
Even though the plot revolves around fantastic elements, the narrative is simple with plenty of subplots that help define the effect the author wants to create.
It is a great book hard to put down and I thoroughly recommend it to any person interested in hard sci-fi. I can’t wait for the future installments of this promising saga.
Just by reading the prologue, which gives us some insights into how the story will unfold, we learn it would be an intriguing story which would keep us hooked until its end. The plot centers around an Enforcer who lives in a dystopian Earth of the year 3000 and works for an authoritarian ruler called the Universal Council who the Enforcer finally turned against. The story line is plenty of twists and turns between present and future settings.
Even though the plot revolves around fantastic elements, the narrative is simple with plenty of subplots that help define the effect the author wants to create.
It is a great book hard to put down and I thoroughly recommend it to any person interested in hard sci-fi. I can’t wait for the future installments of this promising saga.
June 26, 2020
VanWest the Past is set far in the future, and reads like non-fiction reporting, which works really well. It's like reading a real account of events online. It gave me that extra vibe that really made the book pop.
Whereas VanWest is a sci-fi, it's also a dystopia. Since I love both genres, getting to see a mash-up was awesome. I don't think I've actually seen a dystopian sci-fi yet, so this was a pleasant surprise.
I would strongly recommend VanWest the Past if you need something easy to read, a bit of escapism now. The world is hard, currently, but this book will take you away from it for a while.
Whereas VanWest is a sci-fi, it's also a dystopia. Since I love both genres, getting to see a mash-up was awesome. I don't think I've actually seen a dystopian sci-fi yet, so this was a pleasant surprise.
I would strongly recommend VanWest the Past if you need something easy to read, a bit of escapism now. The world is hard, currently, but this book will take you away from it for a while.
July 5, 2020
Could not keep this book down. It was truly an amazing dystopian novel. I love a good dystopian novel, and often I am too critical of them, but this one was super good, especially as I didn't know what to expect. Thomas delivered 10000%! The dystopian world was incredibly well built, with so many twists and turns that were completely unexpected being thrown at you! My favourite kind of novel is one that keeps you on your toes till the very end, and this one really did. I actually didn't know how the dilemma was going to be solved! Amazing detail, I highly recommend this one.
May 28, 2020
Dystopian novels are by far and away my favourite genre and have been so for as long as I can remember. Kenneth Thomas’ VanWest: The Past, ensures that this remains true and does not disappoint.
In the first instalment of the series, which is set in the year 3000, the Universal Council rule supreme. Obedience by the “citizens” is a must and failure to comply is simply not an option. We follow the intriguing story of VanWest, an Enforcer who valiantly partakes in the Universal Games in order to become one of the “Elites” and attain for himself a life of luxury, influence and power. However, not everything goes according to plan...
From the unforgiving landscape of Antarctica to the famous streets of Paris, the world of the text is captivating, gripping and riveting – it left me on the edge of my seat constantly. Well-paced, the most suspenseful moments are still punctuated by flashes of humour and wit, making the characters even more relatable, likeable and three-dimensional. The story causes us to reflect on our own broken society in today’s world, and gives us a possible Orwellian glimpse into our future. In this way, it constantly held my attention and left me wanting to know exactly what would happen next. If you liked The Hunger Games or 1984, you should definitely give this a try.
In the first instalment of the series, which is set in the year 3000, the Universal Council rule supreme. Obedience by the “citizens” is a must and failure to comply is simply not an option. We follow the intriguing story of VanWest, an Enforcer who valiantly partakes in the Universal Games in order to become one of the “Elites” and attain for himself a life of luxury, influence and power. However, not everything goes according to plan...
From the unforgiving landscape of Antarctica to the famous streets of Paris, the world of the text is captivating, gripping and riveting – it left me on the edge of my seat constantly. Well-paced, the most suspenseful moments are still punctuated by flashes of humour and wit, making the characters even more relatable, likeable and three-dimensional. The story causes us to reflect on our own broken society in today’s world, and gives us a possible Orwellian glimpse into our future. In this way, it constantly held my attention and left me wanting to know exactly what would happen next. If you liked The Hunger Games or 1984, you should definitely give this a try.
June 14, 2020
When I read and started to visualize "the enforcers", they reminded me of beefy, stoic "Unsolid" soldiers from Game of Thrones, but I was keenly aware it can't be just that. The story kept driving me to read further and further. If you think this book is merely about universal war thingy like Terminator, then I am afraid you are wrong, because the plot is beyond what you expect. As you follow our dear Captain VanWest, I bet you could feel so much more. Besides a great amount of detailed action descriptions, his journey has been mixed with range of wonderment, stress while he has to face difficult choices between rebels and government. You'll be inside his heart, simultaneously, to vividly experience his emotional journey. A clear picture will unveil once you learn all important characters' motives and the reasons of their decisions. Ken's "The Past" is an undoutedly successful work. If you are a fan of sci-fi, especially utopian/dystopian-themed, then this book could be your new keeper. Highly recommended!
May 20, 2020
I love science fiction. So, when I find a book that intrigues I have to investigate it. This book is exciting and paints a new dystopian world coupled with time travel. So, if that is your thing, you this is a must-read.
May 29, 2020
The Past is a novel that kept me engaged from the very beginning until the final closing sentences. A dystopian tale set in the year 3000, there is never a dull moment in this fast-paced, thrilling and adrenaline-fueled story. The characters are enticing, well-written, relatable and simply jump off the page. Kenneth Thomas crafts a world that eerily reflects the worst aspects of the society in which we find ourselves today. It is scarily easy to imagine a future for our own world that is not so different to the brutal one built by Thomas. From the gladiator arenas of the Universal Games, to the breath-taking descriptions of a world gone by in the novel’s time travel sequences, I found myself unable to put it down. Filled with action, suspense and intrigue, The Past is the first instalment in a series that is sure to only go upwards from here.
June 1, 2020
“The Past” is a fresh and exciting take on much loved dystopian tropes; it gives a new perspective on a variety of genres from time travel to historical fiction to sci-fi.
The world within the book is established easily and comprehensively; the reader is quickly engaged by the various moral and social conflicts. The action shifts easily between vastly different settings and I was particularly impressed by the attention paid to details which helped to establish the historical context for the reader.
The characters, particularly the protagonist VanWest, are genuine and captivating, while their emotional reactions and potential romances are handled with honesty and sensitivity.
As the first instalment in a series, it moves along at a brisk pace and sets up an intriguing thread to be carried into the next book. It was an enjoyable and quick read which proved hard to put down.
The world within the book is established easily and comprehensively; the reader is quickly engaged by the various moral and social conflicts. The action shifts easily between vastly different settings and I was particularly impressed by the attention paid to details which helped to establish the historical context for the reader.
The characters, particularly the protagonist VanWest, are genuine and captivating, while their emotional reactions and potential romances are handled with honesty and sensitivity.
As the first instalment in a series, it moves along at a brisk pace and sets up an intriguing thread to be carried into the next book. It was an enjoyable and quick read which proved hard to put down.
May 29, 2020
The first installation in Kenneth Thomas' 'VanWest' series is an enthralling vision of a post-apocalyptic, dystopian future - set in the year 3000 - punctuated by the brilliantly crafted themes of time-travel and causality.
We follow our hero, Captain VanWest, as he squares up against a controlling and brutal society controlled by The Universal Council, to compete for his freedom and the chance to travel back to 1951. The ensuing action is sizzling and hard to put down, the carefully constructed world that includes 1950s Paris and 1990s Florida is genuine and relatable, the characters iconic.
A true delight and hidden gem for fans of sci-fi; I eagerly await the second iteration of VanWest and his adventures.
We follow our hero, Captain VanWest, as he squares up against a controlling and brutal society controlled by The Universal Council, to compete for his freedom and the chance to travel back to 1951. The ensuing action is sizzling and hard to put down, the carefully constructed world that includes 1950s Paris and 1990s Florida is genuine and relatable, the characters iconic.
A true delight and hidden gem for fans of sci-fi; I eagerly await the second iteration of VanWest and his adventures.
May 28, 2020
This a great read for those interested in dystopian novels! The book follows protagonist VanWest as he navigates moral, environmental and societal conflicts through time-traveling adventures. It is truly an action packed plot that really demonstrates the importance of taking care of our planet and our duties to our communities. The book also plays on VanWest's inner conflict between siding with the rebel and government forces and the lessons that the reader can draw from it. The plot had me on the edge of my seat and I managed to finish the book in less than 2 days! Overall, a great read by a great author and I am eager for the next book. Highly recommend. Well done Kenneth Thomas!
May 30, 2020
Thomas has managed to present a perfect blend of the future and the history in his sci-fi title 'The Past'. There is much thought put into the world-building and, as a result, the futuristic, as well as the historical setting, feels alive and three dimensional. The same can be said about the characters who feel true to life and guided by their own conscious. VanWest's journey is truly gripping and, at its peak, nail-biting. I'm eagerly awaiting the next instalment in the series 'The Present' to find out what happens next. I really like this book, would definitely recommend it if you liked 'The Time Machine' by H.G. Wells or 1984.
May 30, 2020
Intriguing, suspenseful, and captivating!
I had a hard time dropping my phone while I was reading VanWest's story.
I fell in love with the characters in the story. Set in the year 3000, I think this novel mirrors a bit how our society will look like in the next century with the rate of pollution and hazards we're exposing our environment to.
I could almost imagine the story as the descriptive ability of the writer is beyond the ordinary.
If you're a fan of sci-fi, time travel, and utopianism, you'll definitely fall in love with this novel.
I'm definitely buying the second book in the series.
I had a hard time dropping my phone while I was reading VanWest's story.
I fell in love with the characters in the story. Set in the year 3000, I think this novel mirrors a bit how our society will look like in the next century with the rate of pollution and hazards we're exposing our environment to.
I could almost imagine the story as the descriptive ability of the writer is beyond the ordinary.
If you're a fan of sci-fi, time travel, and utopianism, you'll definitely fall in love with this novel.
I'm definitely buying the second book in the series.
June 7, 2020
VanWest The Past, by Kenneth Thomas, is a dystopian scifi novel. In 3000, the battle between the haves and have-nots on Earth has become a divide between genetically enhanced, long-lived Elites and working Citizens.
Our hero, Captain VanWest, is a competitor in the worldwide war games, something between our real Olympics and a dark Hunger Games. If VanWest can succeed here, he'll join the Elites. I enjoyed the references to Roman myth here, and this battle allows readers to see VanWest's character.
Although we quickly come to admire VanWest's strength and discipline, it takes a while to see much of his emotions and internal thoughts. VanWest's challenges take him into the past, where we see his strength and quick-thinking again and again, and he's finally challenged to take a stand between obedience and rebellion. Most importantly, by this point, I cared enough about VanWest to worry about him.
The worldbuilding highlights many familiar problems in our own world, and posits a dystopian outcome to these worries. All of today's worries about climate destruction and social inequality have intensified, creating a dark but believable future. Since the story takes place hundreds of years in the future (well... VanWest timetravels, but the story begins far in the future), spoken English has undergone some changes. The characters in VanWest have their own slang, which adds to the worldbuilding whenever they speak.
Without revealing too much about the ending, I'll just say that a sequel is clearly coming.
Our hero, Captain VanWest, is a competitor in the worldwide war games, something between our real Olympics and a dark Hunger Games. If VanWest can succeed here, he'll join the Elites. I enjoyed the references to Roman myth here, and this battle allows readers to see VanWest's character.
Although we quickly come to admire VanWest's strength and discipline, it takes a while to see much of his emotions and internal thoughts. VanWest's challenges take him into the past, where we see his strength and quick-thinking again and again, and he's finally challenged to take a stand between obedience and rebellion. Most importantly, by this point, I cared enough about VanWest to worry about him.
The worldbuilding highlights many familiar problems in our own world, and posits a dystopian outcome to these worries. All of today's worries about climate destruction and social inequality have intensified, creating a dark but believable future. Since the story takes place hundreds of years in the future (well... VanWest timetravels, but the story begins far in the future), spoken English has undergone some changes. The characters in VanWest have their own slang, which adds to the worldbuilding whenever they speak.
Without revealing too much about the ending, I'll just say that a sequel is clearly coming.
June 1, 2020
VanWest: The Past is a thrilling glimpse into a visceral world of loss and brutality, of power and greed, but also one of hope and romance. Thomas’ daring sense of narration gives readers mirrors with which to hold the enthralling story in a context necessary to understand our own — whether it be a mirror of our own narrow-minded leaders, reflected back to us in the authoritative, iron rule of the Universal Council, or perhaps, in mankind’s tenacity, manifested and brought to life by the character of VanWest himself.
A large part of the novel’s overall accessibility is in the way VanWest: The Past succeeds in bringing to life the human condition with rich, mystical lore that borders on real-life magic. Readers will never have to strive or reach for an image too obscure to grasp onto — Thomas is already there, serving tactile adventures that are easily experienced with the five sense through completed characters that leave little to desire of. VanWest is a particular highlight in the way he prizes honor and loyalty above all else, although gently, without harsh excess. Another reminder that VanWest: The Past offers undertakings that are neither too simple that they fall flat, or too convoluted so that readers are swept away by the worlds within.
Whether it was Thomas’ intention to compel readers to dive deep into one’s inwards or not is irrelevant. He succeeds. Readers have no choice but to examine the self’s mortality using all of the tools one needs for such an excursion, represented in the well-crafted duality of the novel’s atmosphere of life and death. In the midst of violence, there is pause. Conversely, where there is peace, unrest boils just under the surface of a space so thin, readers almost cannot separate the two. And frankly, readers won’t want to.
A large part of the novel’s overall accessibility is in the way VanWest: The Past succeeds in bringing to life the human condition with rich, mystical lore that borders on real-life magic. Readers will never have to strive or reach for an image too obscure to grasp onto — Thomas is already there, serving tactile adventures that are easily experienced with the five sense through completed characters that leave little to desire of. VanWest is a particular highlight in the way he prizes honor and loyalty above all else, although gently, without harsh excess. Another reminder that VanWest: The Past offers undertakings that are neither too simple that they fall flat, or too convoluted so that readers are swept away by the worlds within.
Whether it was Thomas’ intention to compel readers to dive deep into one’s inwards or not is irrelevant. He succeeds. Readers have no choice but to examine the self’s mortality using all of the tools one needs for such an excursion, represented in the well-crafted duality of the novel’s atmosphere of life and death. In the midst of violence, there is pause. Conversely, where there is peace, unrest boils just under the surface of a space so thin, readers almost cannot separate the two. And frankly, readers won’t want to.
June 2, 2020
The Past is the first book in the VanWest series that is set in a dystopian post-apocalyptic world ruled over by a totalitarian government called the Universal Council. Under their aristocratic governance, a brutal social hierarchy prevails, with the Elites (members of the Universal Council) lording their advantage over the Citizens. The story commences with the annual Universal Red and Blue Games where selected members of special forces combat against each other in a set of games to emerge as the winner and earn their place as an Elite. The Protagonist, VanWest competing alongside his team emerges as an unanticipated victor and is assigned a special task to travel through time to Paris in 1951 where discussions are underway leading to the formation of CERN that a rebel group plans to sabotage to alter the Earth's past. What follows is an action-packed sequence that ultimately leads Vanwest to uncover the secrets about his past and raises conflicting thoughts in his mind about what is right and wrong as he awakens from his blind indoctrination.
Overall, a very intriguing, fast-paced page-turner. The writing is easy to follow at most parts but it takes a while to get through especially where it talks about the advancement of about 1000 years ahead, but eventually a very rewarding read. The author does an outstanding job of picturizing the future of where Earth and its human races could be headed, should it not heed the dangers of progression at the cost of the environment. Commendable efforts to explore and develop these ideas through strong, vital characters moving in an exciting plot. I was pulled into the story and was so disappointed to learn that I'll have to wait for another month to read about the rest of Vanwest's adventure.
On a lighter note, Roachtard and Roaching are going to be my new favorite words :)
Overall, a very intriguing, fast-paced page-turner. The writing is easy to follow at most parts but it takes a while to get through especially where it talks about the advancement of about 1000 years ahead, but eventually a very rewarding read. The author does an outstanding job of picturizing the future of where Earth and its human races could be headed, should it not heed the dangers of progression at the cost of the environment. Commendable efforts to explore and develop these ideas through strong, vital characters moving in an exciting plot. I was pulled into the story and was so disappointed to learn that I'll have to wait for another month to read about the rest of Vanwest's adventure.
On a lighter note, Roachtard and Roaching are going to be my new favorite words :)
June 15, 2020
From the very beginning of the book, the author takes us into a future world where we see the Universal Games pitting the protagonist, Captain VanWest, and his team of Enforcers against a rebel group from the Natural Earth Alliance. The engagement encompasses several rounds of fierce competition (stage 3 is especially intense) where VanWest battles against insurmountable odds.
Oligarchs control large swaths of the Antarctic enslaving refugees from the cataclysmic holocaust. As these Overlords seek to gain control and establish an elitist cabal of governance, they engage in an unimaginable struggle for power and dominance. Their utopian quest to restore Earth to an earlier time engages the reader in a continuing drama that defies belief.
Radioactive contaminants from a decimated Earth produce hybrid insects that hunt and kill rebel forces attempting to escape calamity underground.
Captain VanWest is thrown into a vortex of time paradoxes as he negotiates a series of challenges in his attempt to rebalance a world whose history has fallen into the depths of chaos. He is also confronted with a personal dilemma as he seeks to reconcile his romantic interest against his growing sense of allegiance toward the Universal Council. As the denouement approaches, the reader leans over the edge of the precipice and imagines the unimaginable.
Oligarchs control large swaths of the Antarctic enslaving refugees from the cataclysmic holocaust. As these Overlords seek to gain control and establish an elitist cabal of governance, they engage in an unimaginable struggle for power and dominance. Their utopian quest to restore Earth to an earlier time engages the reader in a continuing drama that defies belief.
Radioactive contaminants from a decimated Earth produce hybrid insects that hunt and kill rebel forces attempting to escape calamity underground.
Captain VanWest is thrown into a vortex of time paradoxes as he negotiates a series of challenges in his attempt to rebalance a world whose history has fallen into the depths of chaos. He is also confronted with a personal dilemma as he seeks to reconcile his romantic interest against his growing sense of allegiance toward the Universal Council. As the denouement approaches, the reader leans over the edge of the precipice and imagines the unimaginable.
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