Reviews in Brief

A single ant moving against the grain of his colony threatens the fabric of an entire dystopia in Mr. Average and the 12th Stone by Ben Run, a thought-provoking masterclass in allegorical fiction. Despite being named the most average ant in the entire Ant Nest, Ave has a secret buried in his mind, as well as a plan to finally reunite with the one he loves. However, a free-thinking ant is much harder to control, especially by a false god, and despite his destiny, Ave’s truth-telling and curiosity may end his new life before it ever begins. In the midst of the author’s whimsically gymnastic prose and overlapping themes of liberation, it’s easy to forget that this multilayered parable is, in fact, about ants, meaning the author was doubtlessly successful in his aim, creating a thoroughly imaginative mix of incisive social commentary and creative fantasy.

A warning for our age of digitally addicted consumers looking for the newest life hack, Synthetica: The Dystopian Future of Digital Existence by Sophia M. is a prescient work of sci-fi, with a shrewd take on the current moment. A few decades in the future, free will has been seized by the titular megacorporation and its domineering Algorithm, allowing them to restructure society and mind control the vast majority of the population. However, there are those who resist the oppressive reign of these digital overlords, and seek to free society from this collective nightmare. Heavy on dystopian exposition, but comparatively brief in plot crafting and character development, this stark novella offers a grim glimpse into a potential future that seems all too possible.

A blisteringly fast-paced military novel, Operation Cavolo by E.S. Benton will satisfy any reader of action fiction, unloading like a film while never skimping on intense detail. After months of imprisonment and torture, Captain Kale knows that his one and only mission now is revenge, with poison as his weapon of choice, and if Alpha team doesn’t rise to his challenge and find the antidote, many innocent people will die. Benton excels at pacing and dialogue, conveying the action through precise details of character behavior and movement that never weigh down the narrative. Fluidly written and gripping from the start, this second installment of The Silent Codename series manages to be a fun page-turner, even with the dark events and daunting stakes.

A thought-provoking stew of odd tales and lingering lessons, The Man Who Buried Chickens (and Other Stories) by A.I. Johnson is a rewarding foray into the eccentric side of storytelling. From the horrific shock of being replaced in your own life to the madness brought on by a plumbing system with a penchant for psychological torture, these off-kilter stories play gracefully at the edge of the bizarre and inexplicable. Each story is fronted by distinct yet consistently neurotic narrators, and the vivid prose is grittily detailed, showcasing a talented pen gleefully fluctuating from satirical and clever to sinister and chilling. Taking subtle and profound jabs at social ills such as bigotry, dehumanization, untrustworthiness, inequality, extractive labor, and common indecency, this strange collection is in turns meaningful and perplexing, but always original.

Logic clashes with legend in Guardians of the Ley Lines by Greg Maxfield, a thoughtful and entertaining supernatural thriller that challenges both ancient beliefs and the arrogance of modernity. A data-driven researcher is determined to disprove the existence of ley lines in the spiritual nexus of Redstone, Arizona, but the inexplicable phenomena he finds there transcend indigenous folklore or cozy local delusions. Quick-moving and relentlessly probing about the clash of science and spirit, this novel delivers a clever condemnation of contemporary society and a stern reminder for all to respect the lifeblood of the Earth.

Refreshingly forthright in its professional and personal wisdom, Part of a Greater Something: Discover Your Purpose and Joy in Business and Professional Life by Lawrence Doochin is a contemporary guide for crafting a joy-driven and fulfilling life. The brief and compelling chapters suggest ways to identify one’s true gifts, set value-aligned goals, overcome deep-seated fears, and take responsibility for what we put into the world, among many other transformative pieces of advice. Standing apart from other business and self-help books, the author draws creative parallels to nature, astrophysics, religion, poetry, philosophy, and literature to deliver his message, with a focus on inspiring new generations to build a more intentional and sustainable future. Accessible, mind-expanding, and bluntly critical towards unhealthy systems of thought, this book has the potential to actually make good on its purpose to help people both personally and globally.