A fun ride. A fun, dark, dark ride.
935576
Schlicter is that rare breed: a lawyer who can write in a manner that non-lawyers can understand. It seems fitting that he would eventually get around to writing a novel (he's been an opinion columnist for some time now) and his first venture into the genre of distopian narrative is quite fun.

Call it a mix of Atlas Shrugged (without the preachiness) and Harrison Bergeron (with 12% less satirical sheen) and add in a dash of something by Tom Clancy and you sort of get the main thrust. It's meant to be a hyperbolic view of what many of us believe is the logical endpoint of a PC culture that runs unchecked for generations while accruing more and more power. You can tell that when he mocks some of the book's characters he's only sort of half-joking. Despite the obvious and purposeful absurdity of some parts of the story it isn't *that* hard to believe a world in which a gender-neutral, mumu-wearing person is part of an elite unit of law enforcement. It doesn't strain credulity to believe a guy would add an Hispanic sounding name to his decidedly Anglo surname in order to get ahead in the world of the future.

It ain't The Great Gatsby, but it wasn't meant to be. The characters don't get developed on some deep and important level because they almost don't matter. It's about ideas more than anything else. Fusing absurdism with the backdrop of a distopian--but still believable--place and time makes character interactions secondary to the plot and allows the reader to simply reflect on the questions that are asked between the lines. "How far is 'too far' when it comes to accommodating people's beliefs?" "What are the logical consequences of scrubbing history from society?" "What happens when an entire nation is run by people with the mentality of college kids?"

It's a fun read, unless you are the kind of person that Schlicter is mocking. In which case you probably need to find a safe space and sip some free range, non-GMO chamomile tea and just sit this one out.
2205040
A thrilling ride through a well-conceived parallel world. Enjoyable!
4812571
An amusing romp back and forth through time. Suspend your disbelief, buckle your seatbelt's, and hold on tight for an exciting ride.
1718757
SiFi couples with Noir and "Bad Monkey" is their illicit progeny.  A fun ride and only slightly, but pleasantly, twisted!
577369
This was the first novel by Mr. Sloan that I've picked up and I must say, it's a fun ride. While the character relationships seem to move at an abnormal pace, I thoroughly enjoyed the fun nature of this novel. Mr. Sloan does an excellent job of making light of serious moments.
4752869
A fun action/violence fantasy.

Skinny, professional student, antihero mysteriously pursued by serious business bad guys led by an evil genius, probably insane, sadist. Add assorted professional assassins who can kill with one blow from either hand and you have an exciting, campy chase with action and horror. I actually enjoyed all the comic book-type characters; but not so much the mood disrupting humorous asides.

You can tell this was written with a celluloid version in mind.
4083529
So I read this book, more like experienced this book. A. Meredith Walters takes you on a dark, twisted, enjoyable thrill ride of words and emotions, often causing you to question yourself. Once you're buckled in, theres no turning back. Be prepared to white knuckle your way through, not knowing whats coming, but anticipating that there will be turns and curves, summits and drops, because all the best rides do. It is noteworthy to say that the way the past experiences have shaped who these characters become, that are woven so intricately throughout, that every sentence is important. Long after stepping off the ride that is this story, it still plays through my head, my footing still shaky.
It's been said to #keepthesecret so I cant say anymore. Just enjoy the ride. Enjoy the experience of The Contradiction of Solitude.
4371653
This killer clown movie is fun ride from beginning to end. FULL OF GORE, great special effects, and high body count. Sit back and enjoy the ride
4959206
A lot of fun and action.  The private investigator is an interesting character.  Need money?  Just check out the thoughts of others. Need unlimited energy?  Interested in time travel? It is all skillfully intertwined in this book.  Sometimes very hard to put down.  Enjoy!
2340896
Super fun for a darker read. Thrilling end and a cool think piece.
1078472
Like a roller coaster ride. Kept getting better and better. Hope it's not long for book 3 Black Magic. A most enjoyable read.
3948398
A quirky, fascinating, page turner for those that enjoy dark humour.
2574124
You won't be let down.  Put your pretenses aside, ignore the bad reviews and go on this ride.  Nothing wrong with a little sick, sinister, twisted fun.
1890414
Only if your idea of The Hero's Journey is a backseat ride down a dark, lonely road of questionable intent thru an otherworldly maze of unexpected twists and turns (where you just may ultimately to find yourself in a mysterious white sedan) should you jump in the seat next to fellow traveler John Roshambo, a twenty-something drifter who's prior drifting hasn't taken him any further than the city limits of Golden Hills. There's plenty of heart behind the outcast's appearingly aimless wanderings, making you cheer him on just to see what trouble is up ahead and leaving you wondering who is really at the wheel. For John, Golden Hills, the suburban enclave of cookie-cutter housing developments and shopping malls - none of which have had anything to offer him since he was left to his own devices - is full of signs pointing to the fact that it's time to get the hell out. It's just a matter of how and how soon. Novelist Matt Lutz builds upon his own coming-of-age memories weaving fantastic imaginations of deeper, darker layers of a of an increasingly overwhelming underworld of confusion through which the disenfranchised drifter deftly navigates. While never fully aware of his bearings but determined to head in any direction that leads away, never looking back John survives each sinister encounter with a better sense of where he has been - if not where he is headed.  All of this keeps the pages, as you listen to the libido-driven, self-destructive protagonist tell his story, turning as fast as the events that unfold ahead. Be prepared for an unusually entertaining trip inside the head of an unlikely hero on a refreshingly creative and fun ride.
332085
A wonderful story.  I wish I could climb in and enjoy the ride with the characters.
687425
Let your imagination go on a roller coaster ride of fun!  I enjoyed every minute of it.  Kids will too.
4507914
A fun adventurous ride.  The author does a great job in building the main characters.  The first book in a series and it's a honest page turner.  I recommend this book if you enjoy mystery or thriller types.  Its pleasantly not predictable.