As usual, full disclosure up front. The author was a groomsman in my daughter's wedding and is also a friend of my son. When Ben learned of this book review blog, he asked if I might give it a look. This is a first for MRB . . . an entirely self-published book. If you think you'd like to give this a go, your best bet is to go to the book's website (SonOfSedonia.com) for online purchase options. In addition, this book is also a bit of a departure from the usual MRB fare in that it is more of a Sci-Fi thriller, set some 60 years in Earth's future. The book is entirely written, illustrated, and published by Ben.
Sedonia, the world's major city, is a class-revolution in waiting. The city is home to the privileged, walled off from the outside world, especially from the massive surrounding slums and the people unfortunate enough to have been born into the squalor.
Matteo is a sickly child who is being raised by his older brother Jogun. The slums are ruled by the T99 gang. They tear up wrecked transports by stripping them and selling the parts for something valuable - seeds. The shaky peace of the slums, particularly the most vicious of slums, Rasalla, is maintained by the police - EXOs - part man with sort of an exoskeleton that enhances their physical prowess. On one particular sweep, Jogun is picked up by the EXO and sent to prison.
Prison is a work camp on the moon where the inmates are chemically treated to make them docile enough to bear the cruel work conditions while forgetting their past. They are harvesting energy to be shipped back to Earth and meet Sedonia's increasing demands.
Years pass and Matteo is captured in a government imposed sweep to increase the number of workers in the mines because current production is not meeting Sedonia's needs. In the massive mining operation, Matteo accidentally comes across Jogun. Together they resist the mind numbing drugging and end up starting a revolt on the moon and now the inmates are controlling the asylum, intent on heading back to Earth to sow what's been reaped upon the city-dwellers, especially on the government whose only existence seems to be to keep the city dwellers and slum dwellers each in their own place. The mine revolt spreads back to Earth and the walls surrounding the city have been breeched. The fear of the ruling elite is that secrets of the future will be revealed, secrets that will have impact on city and slum-dwellers alike.
As stated above, this is sort of a Sci-Fi thriller. It's a story of upheaval by the most lowly who rise up against a ruling class, many of who barely know of the slum's existence. Of reluctant heros and the difficult efforts of those who struggle to reveal the truth. Ben presents a stark presentation of our future that, hopefully, never will come to fruition. Think of this as being equal parts Blade Runner (for the look at a grim future), City of God (for life in the slums), and Blackhawk Down (for the eventual battle between classes). Pretty good combination if you ask me. Not sure how many Sci-Fi fans read MRB, but if this sounds like it would trip your trigger, this is a very unique offering. This may be Ben's first novel, but that doesn't mean that you will be disappointed. Ben could very well find a solid following with the right audience.
East Coast Don
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