Note: This is a review of the entire novel Prospect of My Arrival.
In the fascinating and engaging near-future world of this novel, scientist Trish Mesmer is pioneering a project that will allow recently-conceived fetuses to experience the real world and decide if they want to be born. The first subject of the Pre-Born Project (and the book’s narrator) is named Prospect, and he’s implanted with a chip called a CyberSavant while in the womb that provides him with basic language skills and information about society. His consciousness is then implanted in a human body, and he’s sent out into the world to spend time with Referrals, people chosen to give him a sense of what the world is like. As he meets these people (who include his actual parents, an orphan, a conservative businessman who opposes the entire Pre-Born program, and others), he learns about romance, sex, and death, and discovers secrets about his future family, Trish, and his assorted Referrals. Prospect’s strong, innocent voice carries the novel as it ranges from touching to satirical in its exploration of the nature of humanity.
AMAZON.COM VINE REVIEW (2009)
Note: This is a review of the excerpt.
Reading with a cold cynicism that is absolutely scary,this story presents the very worst of what life could be if we could order it like dinner. Prospect is a 'pre-born' - a sort of computer-generated living, breathing human whose task is to decide if he wants to be born into this world. He is a Pinocchio of sorts, only it's not Prospect who dreams of his human existence, but his parents, who have provided the protoplasm which now walks the Earth, trying to make up his mind. It's hard to say what this story reminded me of - "Brave New World", perhaps - but the pure clinical idea of what creation could morph into is frightening. There seems to be the requisite naysayers (predictably Fundamentalists, apparently) with whom Prospect interacts, but I can't get over the feeling that the world saddens Prospect from the outset. A thoughtful, well-written work...
Update on PROSPECT OF MY ARRIVAL
A literary agent has expressed strong interest in PROSPECT this month, November 09. I worked with my manager to ensure that the ms. was in the best shape possible. The interested agent will finish reading the book this month and then hopefully
decide to represent me.
On another note, people who've read my novel have often commented that it'd make a great movie. My manager Nicholas Bogner of Affirmative Entertainment has hooked me up with screenwriter Paul Chart, who was one of the key writers for the terrific futuristic movie "Children of Men." Paul is almost done adapting my novel to be a screenplay! Artist Dan Frey created the magical image (above) for the screenwriter who wanted an image for inspiration while working. Looks to me like it'd make a great movie poster. Or book cover.
THE HOPE STORE
I'm currently at work on my next novel: THE HOPE STORE. It takes place in the near-future when hope can be readily purchased over the counter. The store owner/scientist has isolated the biological components of hope...and devised a process by which to install it in the hopeless. When he first opens his unique boutique -- he is the media darling.
But an undercover reporter poses as a potential customer to get the inside dirt by befriending the other customers. When the reporter is discovered, the store owner challenges her to take the pill herself.
