Review by Blue giraffe -- The Last City of America
Posted: 04 Apr 2018, 04:03
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Last City of America" by Matthew Tysz.]
3 out of 4 stars
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The Last City of America is set in a post apocalyptic America in the not too distant future. A man made virus, Hephaestus, has rendered much of humanity infertile. As birth rates dropped, job openings could not be filled, and houses remained empty. In 2066 all citizens were required to move to one of seven cities and their suburbs – Chicago, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco or Sacramento. The events of the book take place after this time, known as the Founding. Each city is ruled by one person, a Skylord or a Host, and all the cities fear Chicago and it’s lunatic Host. It is revealed very early on that scientist Barnabas Vulcum is responsible for Hephaestus, who wanted to use it to change mankind’s course and ruin civilisation. His apprentice, Harold, is left to decide whether to continue his work after Barnabas’ death. As the title of the book suggests, the story follows how the seven cities become just one.
Tysz tells his story through his characters, using a chapter from each point of view. The way that each perceives the world and the people around them has a distinct bearing on how they affect the events as they unfold. Some of them have deeply disturbing backgrounds. This is especially true of the characters who are based in Chicago. Teddles is an especially uncomfortable character, I couldn’t resolve whether I pitied him or feared him, in the end perhaps a bit of both. After the description of Marcus Rouge’s childhood I had to put the book down and go do something else. Chicago’s Host, Tristan, had a very traumatic childhood to say the least. The book is at times very dark, and some of the things Tysz subjects his characters to is unsettling. For all of this though, the characters don’t feel filled out enough, they are rather one dimensional. Perhaps this is a technique to show how damaged and broken the people are in Chicago, but the other characters from outside the city are just as limited. I didn’t feel a pull toward any side or character’s goal as the story went on because I couldn’t be invested enough in the people.
There is an interesting comparison between the characters, notably Morgan and Adam. Morgan feels that the people around him in Manhattan are cowards just to meekly accept their slavery and the terrible lives they lead, whereas Adam loves the life he has and the people around him. It’s fascinating to watch how their lives pan out over the course of the book, as Tysz uses them to explore whether you can ever truly change who you are. It would be a spoiler to reveal too much more, but the relationship between them and their personal development was an interesting side note.
I thought the idea behind the book was intriguing. Would humans would pull together for the good of all, or will hate, anger and a desire for vengeance would pull civilisation apart for good? As I read, I had a feeling that someone was behind the scenes controlling events, I wondered if it was Vulcum. It was never mentioned but was just a feeling I had. Everything was just too fortuitous to be random chance, but there is no reason given.
I felt the dialogue through the book was clumsy and unnatural. At times, it feels horribly forced. The exchanges between Grakus and the Host of Chicago on pages 72 to 76 are an example. In places, the phrasing of the narrative is awkward and confusing too. On page 135, Evalynn writes “I believe are still be alive” instead of “I believe are still alive”, or “I believe to still be alive”.
I give this book 3 out of 4 stars. I couldn’t give it 4 stars because I felt the dialogue was too clumsy and laboured, and the short chapters made the narrative jump around too much. I would recommend this book for older reader. Some of the themes and events are very graphic. It is not a book for the sensitive reader. If you are a fan of sci-fi, the occasional zombie, and post apocalyptic scenes then give The Last City Of America a read.
******
The Last City of America
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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3 out of 4 stars
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The Last City of America is set in a post apocalyptic America in the not too distant future. A man made virus, Hephaestus, has rendered much of humanity infertile. As birth rates dropped, job openings could not be filled, and houses remained empty. In 2066 all citizens were required to move to one of seven cities and their suburbs – Chicago, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco or Sacramento. The events of the book take place after this time, known as the Founding. Each city is ruled by one person, a Skylord or a Host, and all the cities fear Chicago and it’s lunatic Host. It is revealed very early on that scientist Barnabas Vulcum is responsible for Hephaestus, who wanted to use it to change mankind’s course and ruin civilisation. His apprentice, Harold, is left to decide whether to continue his work after Barnabas’ death. As the title of the book suggests, the story follows how the seven cities become just one.
Tysz tells his story through his characters, using a chapter from each point of view. The way that each perceives the world and the people around them has a distinct bearing on how they affect the events as they unfold. Some of them have deeply disturbing backgrounds. This is especially true of the characters who are based in Chicago. Teddles is an especially uncomfortable character, I couldn’t resolve whether I pitied him or feared him, in the end perhaps a bit of both. After the description of Marcus Rouge’s childhood I had to put the book down and go do something else. Chicago’s Host, Tristan, had a very traumatic childhood to say the least. The book is at times very dark, and some of the things Tysz subjects his characters to is unsettling. For all of this though, the characters don’t feel filled out enough, they are rather one dimensional. Perhaps this is a technique to show how damaged and broken the people are in Chicago, but the other characters from outside the city are just as limited. I didn’t feel a pull toward any side or character’s goal as the story went on because I couldn’t be invested enough in the people.
There is an interesting comparison between the characters, notably Morgan and Adam. Morgan feels that the people around him in Manhattan are cowards just to meekly accept their slavery and the terrible lives they lead, whereas Adam loves the life he has and the people around him. It’s fascinating to watch how their lives pan out over the course of the book, as Tysz uses them to explore whether you can ever truly change who you are. It would be a spoiler to reveal too much more, but the relationship between them and their personal development was an interesting side note.
I thought the idea behind the book was intriguing. Would humans would pull together for the good of all, or will hate, anger and a desire for vengeance would pull civilisation apart for good? As I read, I had a feeling that someone was behind the scenes controlling events, I wondered if it was Vulcum. It was never mentioned but was just a feeling I had. Everything was just too fortuitous to be random chance, but there is no reason given.
I felt the dialogue through the book was clumsy and unnatural. At times, it feels horribly forced. The exchanges between Grakus and the Host of Chicago on pages 72 to 76 are an example. In places, the phrasing of the narrative is awkward and confusing too. On page 135, Evalynn writes “I believe are still be alive” instead of “I believe are still alive”, or “I believe to still be alive”.
I give this book 3 out of 4 stars. I couldn’t give it 4 stars because I felt the dialogue was too clumsy and laboured, and the short chapters made the narrative jump around too much. I would recommend this book for older reader. Some of the themes and events are very graphic. It is not a book for the sensitive reader. If you are a fan of sci-fi, the occasional zombie, and post apocalyptic scenes then give The Last City Of America a read.
******
The Last City of America
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like Blue giraffe's review? Post a comment saying so!