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Metropolis
Metropolis , the sixth prose fiction novel by Monte Schulz, is a dystopian narrative of love in a time of war and moral disintegration. Regency College senior Julian Brehm’s uneventful student life is derailed when he falls for Nina Rinaldi, a beautiful young revolutionary engaged in political activism against the authoritarian regime that rules the country and wages a deceitful, distracting war. Julian's love for ― and moral alliance to ― Nina eventually leads him into a vast undercity beneath the metropolis. Then, east by train and into the war zone itself, where mortal danger in that expanding cemetery of millions threatens Julian’s life; what he witnesses will alter how he perceives the Republic and ultimately his fate within it. Julian’s adventure can be seen as our own, a world of vacillating morality and unceasing violence. Apathy and passion. Fear and courage of purpose. Julian’s is a hero’s journey into the dark unknown. A love story, which extends in many directions. A war novel of incredible scope and horror. A suspenseful mystery novel with a moral puzzle at its core. And a coming-of-age tale of a young man seeing the world he was born into, more dangerous and more beautiful than he could have ever imagined. Metropolis is a meditation on the meaning of virtue and goodness in the face of the most monstrous crimes. It could just as easily be the story of us.
662 pages, Hardcover
Published August 23, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 15, 2022
This book is AMAZING! One of my favorites now. I want to know why more people haven’t read this and I need to get more people to read it ASAP. I usually have a hard time concentrating on print copies of books and prefer audiobooks, but I looked forward to picking this up and getting lost in it every night. It’s a beautiful story of love, war, and even fantasy in this kind of steampunk/dystopian world. Everyone needs to read this.
October 26, 2022
Monte Schulz's Metropolis is a stupendously imaginative epic that wrestles with some of the thorniest subjects still plaguing humanity today (war, xenophobia, disease, fascism) through the lens of a fantastical quasi-European early 20th C. This is a sly mystery tale nestled inside a moving love story, all wrapped up in a war torn dystopia. Imagine China Mieville's The City & The City crossed with Susannah Clarke's Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, and smattering of Lars Von Trier's film Europa.
July 15, 2024
Metropolis, as a novel, exists somewhere in between —or on the peripheral of— other great works of fiction you may have read or heard about. Schulz has crafted a tale set against the backdrop of a long-standing unjust war, about falling in love and loyally remaining within its influence. Through his use of language, Schulz keeps past literary styles alive in the present; imagine if writers from the Jazz Age wrote a science fiction novel today. At times the pacing is like a suspenseful crime noir, while concisely developing the character relationships of a high society drama. Yet, he knows how to let the quiet moments breathe for just long enough.
Metropolis is special, and it’s only a matter of time until readers know that.
Metropolis is special, and it’s only a matter of time until readers know that.
December 29, 2022
Review from Cozy with Books
Wow! I’m going to be talking about this one to friends and family for the next couple of weeks!
For a second, I thought that I had forgotten how to write a review because I was so lost for words. It was a beautiful journey and a rollercoaster of a ride; emotions of all kinds and tears of all sorts flowing.
The writing of this book was the first thing that I picked up. Atmospheric and memorizing, the writing was charming to boot and was a pleasure to read. I fell in love with every sentence, and the dialogue was not forgotten and left behind. I loved the way the world was built. I loved the way things were described. I loved the characters and I loved how they spoke and interacted with one another. I’d be happy to read this over and over if for no reason other than to get lost in the sentences and wording over and over.
The world was suffocating, although, as a dystopian, I didn’t expect anything less. The last time I read a dystopian book, it was Perdido Street Station and I could almost feel the tinge of the smog on my tongue. Here, I could almost see everything, feel everything, and it was absolutely horrifying. Between the level of death in certain parts of the book, the tens of thousands of children in danger, the “law enforcement” that patrolled the street to take you to the Mendel building where one might never be seen again, nowhere did life truly felt safe; something that Julian, a student of the college, will soon bear witness to.
“‘We do survive, Julian. We survive the most despicable cruelties and heinous acts by our fellow human beings because we have no other choice if we choose to live in this blighted world of ours. I think the Desolation must be a mirror of who we are as a race and species, an example to the gods and universe of man in his most inventive and prolific self. We thrive and celebrate our debauchery, all the while defending what we do as both accidental and necessary. I truly believe we are insane.'”
There was a particular section of the book where Julian left the safety of his old life to deliver a specific item and brings him to where the war sits. The horrors that he both experiences and witnesses is enough to give nightmares and plenty of moments that he goes through is forever seared in my mind; the death, the bodies, and blood, the brutality, so vivid in my mind then and now still. All atrocities that many back home, including Julian had he not travelled so far, was so ignorant of. From there on, the horrors doesn’t stop.
I adored the characters of the book and the cast was filled with such brightly colored personalities including sane but maybe most likely probably insane, Marco. There’s our main character, Julian, and his deep love for Nina as well as his care for the energetic and lovely Delia (Nina’s sister). There’s the brilliant (when it matters) drunkard of a roommate, Freddy. The puzzle master, Peter Draxler, was the cherry on top of all this chaos.
“‘Love is a most powerful inducement. Nothing in our world surpasses it. Without love, perhaps none of this has any meaning but storm and fire. Not enough to suffer for. Loyalty itself derives from the heart in terms of faithfulness which can only evolve from love.'”
The plot was gripping and so interesting. From the very beginning, Julian finds himself wrapped in a giant puzzle that carries him all over the place. It’s like a scavenger hunt mixed with hide-and-seek, except arrest and death was on the losing wager. With Freddy’s help, he’s able to unwind piece after piece of one of the most insane game of hide and seek ever played, clues in books locked behind another language, a lost dog, and running around the underground world… The entire part of the book revolves around this puzzle and I was constantly at the edge of my seat awaiting the next clue and answer.
I really enjoyed this book and ending the year with this read is an amazing feeling; both because it was quite a chunky book and also because of how much I enjoyed pretty much every aspect of the book. A good book that I’d recommend if you enjoy a good puzzle, steampunk vibes, and dystopian government that revolve around some majorly harsh scenes and topics. One of those books I’d happily pick up to reread again and again.
Disclaimer: A huge thank you to the author, Monte Schulz, for providing me with a physical copy for review! All opinions are of my own.
Wow! I’m going to be talking about this one to friends and family for the next couple of weeks!
For a second, I thought that I had forgotten how to write a review because I was so lost for words. It was a beautiful journey and a rollercoaster of a ride; emotions of all kinds and tears of all sorts flowing.
The writing of this book was the first thing that I picked up. Atmospheric and memorizing, the writing was charming to boot and was a pleasure to read. I fell in love with every sentence, and the dialogue was not forgotten and left behind. I loved the way the world was built. I loved the way things were described. I loved the characters and I loved how they spoke and interacted with one another. I’d be happy to read this over and over if for no reason other than to get lost in the sentences and wording over and over.
The world was suffocating, although, as a dystopian, I didn’t expect anything less. The last time I read a dystopian book, it was Perdido Street Station and I could almost feel the tinge of the smog on my tongue. Here, I could almost see everything, feel everything, and it was absolutely horrifying. Between the level of death in certain parts of the book, the tens of thousands of children in danger, the “law enforcement” that patrolled the street to take you to the Mendel building where one might never be seen again, nowhere did life truly felt safe; something that Julian, a student of the college, will soon bear witness to.
“‘We do survive, Julian. We survive the most despicable cruelties and heinous acts by our fellow human beings because we have no other choice if we choose to live in this blighted world of ours. I think the Desolation must be a mirror of who we are as a race and species, an example to the gods and universe of man in his most inventive and prolific self. We thrive and celebrate our debauchery, all the while defending what we do as both accidental and necessary. I truly believe we are insane.'”
There was a particular section of the book where Julian left the safety of his old life to deliver a specific item and brings him to where the war sits. The horrors that he both experiences and witnesses is enough to give nightmares and plenty of moments that he goes through is forever seared in my mind; the death, the bodies, and blood, the brutality, so vivid in my mind then and now still. All atrocities that many back home, including Julian had he not travelled so far, was so ignorant of. From there on, the horrors doesn’t stop.
I adored the characters of the book and the cast was filled with such brightly colored personalities including sane but maybe most likely probably insane, Marco. There’s our main character, Julian, and his deep love for Nina as well as his care for the energetic and lovely Delia (Nina’s sister). There’s the brilliant (when it matters) drunkard of a roommate, Freddy. The puzzle master, Peter Draxler, was the cherry on top of all this chaos.
“‘Love is a most powerful inducement. Nothing in our world surpasses it. Without love, perhaps none of this has any meaning but storm and fire. Not enough to suffer for. Loyalty itself derives from the heart in terms of faithfulness which can only evolve from love.'”
The plot was gripping and so interesting. From the very beginning, Julian finds himself wrapped in a giant puzzle that carries him all over the place. It’s like a scavenger hunt mixed with hide-and-seek, except arrest and death was on the losing wager. With Freddy’s help, he’s able to unwind piece after piece of one of the most insane game of hide and seek ever played, clues in books locked behind another language, a lost dog, and running around the underground world… The entire part of the book revolves around this puzzle and I was constantly at the edge of my seat awaiting the next clue and answer.
I really enjoyed this book and ending the year with this read is an amazing feeling; both because it was quite a chunky book and also because of how much I enjoyed pretty much every aspect of the book. A good book that I’d recommend if you enjoy a good puzzle, steampunk vibes, and dystopian government that revolve around some majorly harsh scenes and topics. One of those books I’d happily pick up to reread again and again.
Disclaimer: A huge thank you to the author, Monte Schulz, for providing me with a physical copy for review! All opinions are of my own.
September 28, 2022
This is a brilliant book. Every part of this works. The story is complex but always clear, the world is original, carefully crafted, and entirely understandable, with problems that speak to our world right now. It is not difficult to see how our history may have led us here. Any reader who appreciates a great voice should get this book just for that, because the writing itself is beautiful. If there is an audiobook I will buy it again to hear it spoken.
I’m a Steampunk fan, with a home and a couple of businesses in the New Babbage community in Second Life. Anyone with any interest in Steampunk should read this. I never expected to find a great literary work in the Steampunk realm, but here it is. If you like anything from historical fiction to science fiction to Victoriana, this is for you. If you like great writing, this is for you. I was glad it was a long book and wish it were longer!
One thing I particularly appreciated in this book is the writer did not go for any simple dramatic devices. There are no clichés. Whenever I thought I knew what was going to happen, I didn’t. I was reminded of East of Eden, when Steinbeck would move through a crisis a lesser writer would have made a central calamity, the better to build overall tension. The same happened here. Where a lesser writer would follow the obvious paths to create drama, this writer creates something original and much, much stronger. A great story with a very satisfying ending.
I hope there will be a sequel, as I am still wondering what will happen to this world.
June 30, 2024
MORE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS AMAZING NOVEL. I’m baffled at how few reviews it has. Buy it. Immediately. There’s never been a more important time to enjoy this story.
This one’s for the fans of dark academia, spy thrillers, political dramas, and most importantly for those who feel jaded by the state of popular dystopian fiction. So many stories within the genre leave readers with the dangerous idea that exposing a State’s war crimes to the public is enough to move their hearts to action against the bad guys. We know that isn’t how it works, and Schulz does too. This is a much more realistic take on what’s often required of us if we really mean to change the world. It’s intense, so brace yourself. But this was also just a FUN book - important, philosophical, complicated, but also not scoldy. A fun romp.
Have you recently tried to tell your well-meaning parents about the war crimes recorded on video platforms they don’t accept as canonically, journalistically, historically real? Are your “liberal” parents blind to the genocide in Gaza, and reluctant to accept any proof of Israeli war crimes, dismissing them as Hamas lies? Please, please show them this story - maybe an exciting “fantasy” fiction can show them the way that oppressors squash these narratives and manufacture consent far and wide.
This one’s for the fans of dark academia, spy thrillers, political dramas, and most importantly for those who feel jaded by the state of popular dystopian fiction. So many stories within the genre leave readers with the dangerous idea that exposing a State’s war crimes to the public is enough to move their hearts to action against the bad guys. We know that isn’t how it works, and Schulz does too. This is a much more realistic take on what’s often required of us if we really mean to change the world. It’s intense, so brace yourself. But this was also just a FUN book - important, philosophical, complicated, but also not scoldy. A fun romp.
Have you recently tried to tell your well-meaning parents about the war crimes recorded on video platforms they don’t accept as canonically, journalistically, historically real? Are your “liberal” parents blind to the genocide in Gaza, and reluctant to accept any proof of Israeli war crimes, dismissing them as Hamas lies? Please, please show them this story - maybe an exciting “fantasy” fiction can show them the way that oppressors squash these narratives and manufacture consent far and wide.
January 31, 2023
Certain aspects of this sprawling epic will assuredly stick in my mind for months, if not years. It has so many beautiful elements. It would make a stellar graphic novel.
It also has some meandering, slow segments as well, and those hit you when Julian slogs through the horrors of combat for about 150 pages. This book has a whiz bang beginning worthy of its ambitions, but then gets a little sluggish in the middle. (Or perhaps, I forced myself not to feel anything. This section spared no expense in describing the gruesome atrocities of eugenics, genocide, and imperialism. Seriously, yikes.)
It felt like different parts of the book were written at different times in the author's life, as if it developed into what it became over many years after the clear-as-a-bell vision of the first few chapters was put to paper.
That's a weird way to feel about a book, but it's still a helluva book. Oddly under the radar too. Why haven't more people heard of it, read it, talked about it? They should. It has some things to say and interesting ways in which to say them.
It also has some meandering, slow segments as well, and those hit you when Julian slogs through the horrors of combat for about 150 pages. This book has a whiz bang beginning worthy of its ambitions, but then gets a little sluggish in the middle. (Or perhaps, I forced myself not to feel anything. This section spared no expense in describing the gruesome atrocities of eugenics, genocide, and imperialism. Seriously, yikes.)
It felt like different parts of the book were written at different times in the author's life, as if it developed into what it became over many years after the clear-as-a-bell vision of the first few chapters was put to paper.
That's a weird way to feel about a book, but it's still a helluva book. Oddly under the radar too. Why haven't more people heard of it, read it, talked about it? They should. It has some things to say and interesting ways in which to say them.
July 21, 2023
The prose is lush, maybe even a little too much so. The world building is ambitious. Maybe even a little too much so. But the main characters fall a little flat for me and the supporting characters are much more interesting, which is why I am looking forward to a planned sequel.
Currently reading
September 17, 2024Just started this and it's long. I'm not typically a reader of this genre, but already I can see that it will be a beautifully written piece exploring a story of love and war in a steampunk/dystopian world
February 2, 2024
Amazing.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews