Trapped In Tranquility: A Novel

by Brody Coy

George has finally saved up enough money for an emotion adjustment from Brainexx, a company on the forefront of mental health technology, and he couldn’t be more excited. He has always struggled with mental health, but with a Brainexx chip installation, his depression, fear, anger, and anxiety can all be mitigated. We each have a base level for every emotion, and now we have the power to adjust and set that level exactly where we want it. George and the rest of the world dive headfirst into this mind-altering technology in a thought-provoking story that explores concepts involving the depths of human emotion, responsibility, sociopolitical issues, power, and the search for meaning. How much are we willing to surrender, to compromise, in order to eliminate all of our suffering?

204 pages, Paperback

Published November 28, 2022

Reviews

[Zita Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every time I read stories of mass manipulation of society, I shudder. This one is about achieving emotional control through the implantation of a chip offered by a company named Brainexx, akin to the use of anti-depressants in our society.

The questions, of course, are: what is reality? Are we living a lie when we use an "artificial" method to ease our anxieties? Do we turn into someone else, or can we stay true to ourselves and our individuality? Are we taking the easy way out?

The author takes us through the effects of the Brainexx chip on sectors of life relevant to all of us: family, relationships, jobs, etc. The message seems to be that, at some level, we need to keep a perspective on things and maintain awareness to stay in control and preserve individuality. Don’t let the mind-altering mechanism control you.

As this theme has been done many times, my first reaction was, “Not again.” But the scenario was different and the author’s philosophical discussions were interesting. I had problems with the method of narration, however. It seems to want to be first person present tense, but repeatedly goes back and forth between past and present, often in the same paragraph. This ends up sounding like the author was not sure how to phrase things or just forgot which tense he was using, and was jarring to read. Another round or two of copy editing would have been good to smooth out these areas.

[Benjamin X. Wretlind · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who always enjoyed delving into dystopian themes and exploring how our societies could evolve in unsettling directions, Trapped in Tranquility by Brody Coy caught my attention right away. The concept of tackling today’s societal problem of depression and mental health issues through a futuristic solution that includes a chip implantation that can alter emotions was intriguing. Coy’s insightful representation of these issues had me flipping through the pages faster than I had anticipated. His ability to craft an Orwellian-like narrative, full of emotional highs and lows, left me with a resonating message: there are no easy answers, and we must be careful with what we wish for.

Coy has skillfully weaved a story that made me question our perception of happiness, the lengths we would go to attain it, and at what cost. The novel presents an intricate exploration of identity and relationships, making me reconsider the importance we place on human connections and self-perception. The narrative builds a chilling vision of a world where we might lose touch with who we really are, a world where our inherent values and individuality can be sacrificed for an ephemeral sense of happiness.

What made Trapped in Tranquility stand out was the way Coy provoked thoughts around moral questions without making the reading experience feel heavy. The ease with which he crafts the dialogue and the pace of the plot ensured that the book was always engaging. As the narrative unfolded, I found myself invested in the well-portrayed characters, and the plot twists kept me on my toes. To anyone interested in exploring thought-provoking themes wrapped in a captivating narrative, I would wholeheartedly recommend this novel.

[Scott Ravede · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great concept but too much tranquility on the execution.
Putting computer chips in human brains used to be science fiction, but it is already happening to a certain extent. Cochlear implants have been around for a few years, as well as implants that allow the blind to see. Implants to correct paralysis are in the works now. Brainexx, the implant that is the subject of this novel, is different in that it works on controlling emotions. It can modulate your levels of happiness, sadness, anger, etc.
Is this a good thing or a bad thing? The author is on the side of bad. The world of Brainexx becomes totalitarian when insurance companies and the government get involved. People are uninsurable if they don’t get Brainexx because they are unconsidered unstable emotionally and therefore unhealthy and high risk. The government wants people on Brainexx ostensibly to reduce crime but also because to control them.
At least one other reviewer has noticed the same glaring problem I noticed and that is the inconsistency in the tense. The author is constantly switching between present and past tense and like the other reviewer mentioned, often in the same sentence. There is also a plot inconsistency insofar as the characters on Brainexx seem to have free will in the beginning but then seem to become Manchurian Candidates by the end of the book, similar to the characters in “The Invasion of the Body Snatchers.”
All in all, I love the concept. It just needs some editing and revision.

[Ann Birdgenaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trapped in Tranquility by Brody Coy is a thought provoking and current story about mental health and the future of managing our mental issues with technology. Gone are the old notions and hard work of psychotherapy, psychiatry and counselling…even the meds are not working fast enough. The future wants instant gratification and Brainex fits the bill; “Money CAN Buy Happiness” is their motto and for a price, George can have an ‘emotional adjustment’ to alleviate his anxiety and depression. The rest of society has already signed on; “I watched everyone around me walking around with a ridiculous smile on their face–ALL of the time!” George uses all his savings to undergo the treatment with tremendous success. He turns his sad little life around and gets promoted, meets the love of his life and mends his relationship with his family. But you shouldn’t fool Mother Nature and what happens when your emotions are controlled by AI—Intriguing and creative premise.

[Drgail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't generally write reviews. In fact, this may be my first one. And I'm not exactly sure why I'm doing it, except for the fact that this book impacted me.

I didn't give it five stars because there were some disruptive editing issues (like using the wrong character's name) and many of the discussions, especially later in the book, seemed pretty stilted even though there were some very good points made and offered. These quite frankly detracted from the impact.

But... this book provided a deep dive into the role emotions play in our lives and leaves the reader with plenty to think about. It also serves as an allegory (and perhaps even a satire) of the current social (and political) pressures toward conformity and intolerance of differences.

I am a great fan of speculative fiction and this is a good example of the genre. Bravo to Brody Coy.

[Gene Kendall · Rating 3 out of 5]

A brief novel that explores modern living, everything from office jobs to unfulfilling relationships. A company named Brainexx is offering a chip that can regulate our emotions, enabling users to adjust their levels of depression and happiness. So that dull job isn't so dull and your heartache isn't that unbearable.

Each chapter is short and the story moves along with pacing reminiscent of a single-episode story in an anthology-themed television series. The narration is first person, belonging to an average guy used to a dull life, so it's understandable that it's rather flat and straightforward. However, this also creates text that just lacks spirit. I do however give the author credit for looking honestly at an issue and going for a downer ending when he didn't have to.

[robin pollack · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a ride

This is not the type of book that I usually read. I got this book because the author is someone in my neighborhood who talked about it in our community newsletter. I thought that I would love to support a new and local author.

The book is very provocative. It looks at a time in the future where science can attempt to alter our perception of the world. But is that very far off? With all of the medications prescribed that are mood altering I don’t think it’s going to be that far away.

But a perfectly happy world,,that I am kind of skeptical of.

The story is fun and interesting. The characters are fully sketched out and the plot lines are very detailed. It was a quick read, a different story and I enjoyed it with a lot to think about afterwards.

[Pamela · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some meetings should gave been a email. Some novels should have been short stories. And a very, very few novels should have never been written. NEBER. EVER! First impression is that this is nothing mote than a bunch of blathering strung together. Upon reading it in its entirety, it is little more that one of the most boring, long winded’stoner discussions’ I have ever suffered through. What’s worse is that if the ‘author’ had a modicum of talent or even craftsmanship, he could have done this interesting premise into something readable.

And! For that special cherry on top, he continually uses ‘I’ instead of ‘me’ as in ‘This hot mess of a book is a waste of tine for you and I.’

Do yourself a favor. Do not even think about trying to muddle through this jumble of crap.

[Jordan Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed this self-reflective, futuristic, black mirror-esque novel. It was an easy, enjoyable read, with exciting twists and turns as the story quickly developed right from the start. The character relationships were done very well - how they interact, react, and even their body language. It was a fantastic story that makes one question their inherent values, perceived happiness, and how much one would sacrifice for change, even if the results are ephemeral. Looking forward to more from Brody Coy!

[Francis Crowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A daunting prophetic tale of mind control and what corporations and our government may do to quell our individualism. Are we not far from a ‘Stepford’ society as technology advances? If they can control the masses, they make the rules. Tell Rod Serling there is a new episode waiting. This book is well-written with easy-to-follow dialogue, well-paced, and an effortless theme and character arc. Moral questions are handled well, giving the reader cerebral fodder for a not-too-far-off future. I recommend this book.

[Karen Akroyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought provoking

A frightening thought of what the future may bring. With all the advances in technology and where we are at already with 'Big Brother' who knows! A great utopia without war, famine, violence etc, but at the cost of human emotion. Brilliant book.

[ToxicMissLisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scary and Deep

Horrifying is a sense that it could happen, surprisingly deep and philosophical. A few typos and mistakes is the only reason for the 4 stars.

[Chase Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional Rollercoaster! This book is full of twists and turns. Very difficult to put down being there are so many different layers of Georges journey through life.

[Trish Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent read from a debut author. A really interesting futuristic and dystopian concept. It was a fast and easy read that I could not put down. I would definitely recommend this book.

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Liked the idea, not the writing.

[Kirsten Herman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating book that demonstrates beautifully why we need to experience all of our emotions, even the unpleasant and distressing ones. This one will stay with me for a long time.

[Michael Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

short but sweet black mirror esque near future type read. I love black mirror so I enjoyed this book. Not the most literary work but a good and solid read that does make you think.
4/5.