Americans today face a toxic mix of COVID-19, a polarized political environment, a sometimes-violent racial upheaval, and climate-change induced natural disasters. And when you add severe constraints to man’s natural urges for exploring new lands and experiences, not to mention flights of fantasy into the future, we are truly in a downward inflection point of US history.
2120 takes on all of America’s enormous challenges with aplomb, and offers a cohesive vision of the future that addresses the underlying causes of mega-issues ranging from human hubris towards our environment, to parochial interests driving US politics. 2120 makes the flights of fantasy into the future seem all too real, as the audience vicariously lives the future through vibrantly developed and thoroughly believable characters who humanize experiences despite owing their origins to other galaxies.
Strap on your intellectual seat belts and plan for a binge read through “2120” as it prepares for the 2020 election season and humanity’s challenges in the upcoming decade.
I've written several books covering various genres, including international thrillers and memoirs.
I'm also the author of four science fiction books. Well, I'd not really call them science fiction as I think it may disappoint science fiction fans if they are expecting hard-core books in that genre. It's more of 'political science fiction'. It's a dystopian look at our future (environmentally) if we stay on our path. They involve space-travel and take a deep-dive into political psychology.
It's a journey into space and back to future Earth that spans across these books.
Follow me on Instagram, where I post regularly, including all the artworks created for the books.
Here are few of the artworks used in the books:
The books' website has more information (including excerpts) of all four books.
My next book is an international thriller, the story starting in the beautiful Orange County in the US and ending at India/Pakistan border.
My lates book is a memoir where I have penned down my journey from Mumbai, India to the US.
I am a huge fan of Aithal’s creative writing. This author is not afraid to blend his story, 2120 with events from the past. This has worked well in the previous books in the series and provided a personal platform for political, environmental and social views, but this time out, I began to wonder if the emotional negativity referred to in this tale has actually colored, disrupted and tainted the story being told.
I found quite a bit of repetition, as if the author lost his train of thought in the fiction portion, being so eager to make divisive statements regarding contemporary times, over and over. Regardless of my opinions, whether I agree or not, I do feel that perhaps a more balanced approach would have made a better fit.
I read fiction to escape into another world, I understand alluding to events the contemporary world can relate to, but, for me, this went too far for a fantasy read and along with the fiction repetitions, over and over, I was never able to fully connect with the actual story.
I was offered a fictional read to review honestly, not a personal tirade. As I stated, I may or may not agree with statements made, but my rating is based on the quality of the world building and story flow. That said, the strength this author has shown in previous books was seriously lacking and I miss it.
I received a complimentary copy from Aithal. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Series: The Galaxy Series - Book 4 Publisher : Season Ball (September 22, 2020) Print Length : 154 pages Available from: Amazon For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
As with the previous installments of this series, the author manages to blend sci-fi and dystopia with real-world issues. I loved the beginning of this book, it gives just enough information to entice the reader into wanting to know more, which kept me reading till the end. The writing here is so evocative and descriptive I could easily picture every scene as though I was in the story myself. This book provides a very powerful message about what the world--and the environment--would end up like if we don't start paying attention to our planet, something the author is clearly very passionate about. All in all, this series has been quite enjoyable, not to mention thought-provoking, and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys science-fiction.
Having read book 3 in this series (Divided States of America), I was open to read and review this fourth book when invited by the author. The story is the continuation of a time-travelling group, involving another world in a distant galaxy and the interaction of the inhabitants there with a small number of Earth dwellers. But it is more than just a science fiction adventure, good as that element is in story terms. The author uses the medium to explore and analyse the politics of 21st century USA, concentrating on the many negative aspects of President Trump’s leadership in terms of Covid-19 and the ongoing racial issues. Whilst the story contains certain technical solutions to some problems, it focuses on the way the US has become a deeply divided society during this period. There is much to admire here. As is often the case with self-published books, there are editing issues, but I’ve come to expect these and tend to skip over them, even while reading as a writer. The problem is not restricted to self-published novels, but occurs across the board, including some works published by established big publishing houses, unfortunately. The story, however, and the characters depicted, are enough to encourage the reader to carry on. There is insufficient science to put off those with no love for the genre, but enough to satisfy all but those scifi buffs who accept only the ‘hard’ stuff. A worthy read.
‘He was being hunted’ - ‘Your kind is not welcome in our neighborhood’
On the publishing of his first book in 2011 - INDIA WAS ONE - the author simply used the name ‘An Indian’ and this reader stated the following: ‘An Indian is the author of this short book – no name is offered. He was born and raised in Mumbai, India, came to the US in 1989 to New York and currently resides in Los Angeles. His book contains illustration drawings by Darshini.’ Now we know is name is Aithal and his illuminating Galaxy Series began with BEYOND THE MILKY WAY, and continued RETURN TO EARTH, DIVIDED STATES OF AMERICA and now 2120 is the fourth installment.
Aithal understands the importance of initiating a novel with an atmospheric opening: ‘He closed his eyes momentarily as the cool breeze caressed his sweaty face. The beating sun shone on his dark, glistening skin. He picked up his jogging speed from a lazy trot to a slow sprint. It was a warm morning. He was jogging along a windy concrete path that snaked through a quiet neighborhood of single-story family homes. They were set back in front of a green awn with haphazardly growing grass. The neighborhood looked occupied with residents with middle to lower-middle class income. Some porches sported Confederate flags that fluttered lazily. Some lawns had playthings strewn over then like tricycles, sandboxes, a tiny plastic swimming pool for children, and various other things. Many of the houses had pickup trucks in their driveways. Almost all of them had a gun-rack to hold rifles…[encounter]…The helmet was a brilliant way to immerse himself in any prior events – right until 2120 – history, sports, music concerts, education and many more. Life and lifestyle had changed after the 2020 pandemic. This tragedy overshadowed every catastrophic event in the past, both, natural or manmade as they only impacted a specific area of the globe. Whereas, this had a devastating impact on every corner of the world. The spread of the virus knew no physical boundaries, classes or ethnicities….’
Combining story with observation and philosophy/reportage/prediction, Aithal states his view of the book: ‘Americans today face a toxic mix of COVID-19, a polarized political environment, a sometimes-violent racial upheaval, and climate-change induced natural disasters. And when you add severe constraints to man’s natural urges for exploring new lands and experiences, not to mention flights of fantasy into the future, we are truly in a downward inflection point of US history. 2120 takes on all of America’s enormous challenges with aplomb, and offers a cohesive vision of the future that addresses the underlying causes of mega-issues ranging from human hubris towards our environment, to parochial interests driving US politics. 2120 makes the flights of fantasy into the future seem all too real, as the audience vicariously lives the future through vibrantly developed and thoroughly believable characters who humanize experiences despite owing their origins to other galaxies. question your own beliefs—may they be scientific, religious, political, or something else.’
This book, this series, content proves why reading is so important: Aithal makes us think and consider and regroup. We all realize we are approaching the time when we must consider other modes of existence and Aithal’s book opens some of those windows for us. Highly recommended!
"2120" by Aithal, with illustrations by Darshini, presents a cohesive vision of the future that addresses the underlying causes of America's challenges, ranging from human hubris towards the environment to parochial interests driving politics. The book offers a vicarious experience through vibrantly developed and thoroughly believable characters, who despite their origins in other galaxies, humanize experiences. As America faces a toxic mix of COVID-19, polarized politics, racial upheaval, and climate change-induced natural disasters, "2120" offers a refreshing take on the future, making flights of fantasy seem all too real. Overall, it is a thought-provoking and engaging read that prepares for the challenges of the upcoming decade.
The book's vividly developed and believable characters add a humanizing touch to the experiences despite being from other galaxies.
In addition, the book provides an insightful glimpse into the future of technology, which is a major driving force of change in the coming years. Aithal's ability to weave together various themes and concepts, ranging from political ideologies, societal norms, and environmental sustainability, creates a cohesive and engaging narrative that captivates readers from the first page to the last.
Final Thoughts on the book:
"2120" is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the possibilities of the future and the challenges that come with it. The book's powerful message is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers and spark meaningful conversations about the path we want to take as a society.
Aithal's "2120: A Look into Our Future" is a strong, moving look at a future that feels too close yet full of possibilities. The writing is clear and important, drawing you into a world shaped by the choices we make now without being too much. This is the fourth book in the series. The characters, both human and supernatural, are well-rounded and relatable. Their struggles and small victories make the book's big ideas hit home on a very personal level. I liked how the book addressed complex topics like climate change, division, and pride while still offering realistic and innovative ways to address them and build strength. The worldbuilding is clear and believable, and the story has both dark and hopeful times that keep it emotionally honest and, in the end, uplifting.