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Slowpocalypse #1
Certain Hypothetical
EVERYTHING changes when FURC Director Jonathan Miles seals the fourteen square mile compound home to the Federal University and Research Complex and the community that supports it, cutting them all off from the slowly crumbling civilization on the outside—and making them a target of those who want the facilities for themselves.
The director’s daughter Katherine returns to work for FURC Security with a promotion because of the crisis, eager to face any challenge—but as tensions among the residents rise, she encounters greater peril than she had imagined.
David Belue gives up his classes to help install additional defenses, but his curiosity leads him to discover a threat inside the community, endangering his life—because an enemy within waits for just the right moment to betray them all.
The director’s daughter Katherine returns to work for FURC Security with a promotion because of the crisis, eager to face any challenge—but as tensions among the residents rise, she encounters greater peril than she had imagined.
David Belue gives up his classes to help install additional defenses, but his curiosity leads him to discover a threat inside the community, endangering his life—because an enemy within waits for just the right moment to betray them all.
292 pages, Paperback
First published August 12, 2013
165 people are currently reading
1068 people want to read
About the author
James Litherland
21 books128 followersI’m a graduate of the University of South Florida, and I now reside as a Virtual Hermit in the wilds of West Tennessee. I've lived various places and done a number of jobs – been an office worker and done hard manual labor, worked (briefly) in the retail and service sectors, and been an instructor. But through all that, I've always been a writer.
I’ve been a voracious reader for as long as I can remember. I cut my teeth on Nancy Drew and devoured all the pulpy adventure stories I could get my hands on before moving to genre greats like Agatha Christie and Isaac Asimov. Then in junior high I became a writer. I started studying the craft of writing – reading books and magazine articles, joining a writers’ group, and taking creative writing classes – and I wrote short stories, eventually a novel, and even some poetry. After thirty years of practice I thought I’d learned a little something, and that’s when I wrote and published my debut novel, Certain Hypothetical. And I learn a bit more with every book I write.
I’m a Christian who tries to walk the walk (and not talk much.)
I’ve been a voracious reader for as long as I can remember. I cut my teeth on Nancy Drew and devoured all the pulpy adventure stories I could get my hands on before moving to genre greats like Agatha Christie and Isaac Asimov. Then in junior high I became a writer. I started studying the craft of writing – reading books and magazine articles, joining a writers’ group, and taking creative writing classes – and I wrote short stories, eventually a novel, and even some poetry. After thirty years of practice I thought I’d learned a little something, and that’s when I wrote and published my debut novel, Certain Hypothetical. And I learn a bit more with every book I write.
I’m a Christian who tries to walk the walk (and not talk much.)
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 19, 2019
I received this book as part of a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
Late last year I read a novella called Durable Impressions. It was basically the prologue to this story.
Certain Hypothetical begins sometime in the not too distant future. Based on the very little background we are given, I assume that the USA is falling apart from within due to lots of unspecified reasons. What we do know is that Florida is seceding from the union and there is general unrest in the country.
As this book begins, the governor of Florida is scooping up all Federal properties and using the National Guard as his own personal army. Our characters are in a Federal University compound that is closing itself off in preparation for the impending takeover.
Unfortunately, it feels like nothing really happens in the story until nearly the end. I mean, how much danger are they really in? If Florida takes over the Federal compound, I doubt they would plan to kill all the students and their families.
There was some good intrigue and mystery in the later quarter of the book, but by then it was too late to make the story stronger. The last 10 pages + the "deleted scene" at the end give more information about the state of the outside world than the rest of the book.
The best thing about the story is the pair of main characters, Kat/Kate and David. They showed a growth and progression that was made even better by having read the prequel novella.
Overall, I am not a big fan of this story. I probably will not try to get ahold of the rest of the series.
Late last year I read a novella called Durable Impressions. It was basically the prologue to this story.
Certain Hypothetical begins sometime in the not too distant future. Based on the very little background we are given, I assume that the USA is falling apart from within due to lots of unspecified reasons. What we do know is that Florida is seceding from the union and there is general unrest in the country.
As this book begins, the governor of Florida is scooping up all Federal properties and using the National Guard as his own personal army. Our characters are in a Federal University compound that is closing itself off in preparation for the impending takeover.
Unfortunately, it feels like nothing really happens in the story until nearly the end. I mean, how much danger are they really in? If Florida takes over the Federal compound, I doubt they would plan to kill all the students and their families.
There was some good intrigue and mystery in the later quarter of the book, but by then it was too late to make the story stronger. The last 10 pages + the "deleted scene" at the end give more information about the state of the outside world than the rest of the book.
The best thing about the story is the pair of main characters, Kat/Kate and David. They showed a growth and progression that was made even better by having read the prequel novella.
Overall, I am not a big fan of this story. I probably will not try to get ahold of the rest of the series.
March 14, 2015
I received a free copy of this novel for an honest review.
"Certain Hypothetical (Book 1 of the Slowpocalypse series)" by James Litherland follows David Belue as he and others who live within the compound prepare for a hypothetical attack from the outside. But there is more than it seems, and when the director's daughter, Kat, begins her own investigation into the impending seige their lives are unexpectedly at risk. They must each discover who within the compound is leaking information to the outside before it's too late.
To be honest, I really have no idea what to say about this novel. There really didn't seem to be a plot, despite the summary I gave above. What plot there was seemed to be slapped together like it was added in afterwards. The book talks about people who live in a compound, and while I know there's a perimeter wall, and gates, and various buildings, it takes nearly half the novel before you realize the compound is probably around the size of a town or full city. When the word compound is used, a much smaller piece of land is generally imagined. But the city is run or owned by FURC. We're never told what that stands for, and it's used in various forms (FedU, FURCsnet, FURCS pad, etc) which doesn't make any of it easier. With sci-fi, an acronym is generally explained at least once to let the reader into the world that's been created.
Most of the characters aren't even that likeable either. From the start the characters do really illogical things, or at least they give no reason for them. I think David was rather odd, and highly unlikeable. There were times I had to stop reading because his actions were just so aggravating. His paranoia came from absolutely no where. Perhaps it was justified based on what has happened in his world, but I wasn't privy to any of that history. His "investigation" consisted of following people (largely unsuccessfully, as he admits) and apparently this was enough to put together the pieces of a conspiracy. And then he always seemed tired. He was either following someone, or complaining about needing sleep, or sleeping for days. Literally. I've never read a novel that described a character sleeping so often, or at least pointing it out and making it a focal point. If that was meant as a defining feature of the character, it was an odd choice.
The only character I liked was Kat. She knows how to hold her own, has (dysfunctional) relationships, and we can actually see passion with her that is absent with David. But then something incredibly traumatic happens to her, and she brushes it off, barely thinking about it afterward. When something like that happens, or when someone does something so extreme, it has a psychological effect on a person. Unless you're a psychopath.
There were deleted scenes/bonus material stuck onto the end of the novel, which while I read it, I will not review. Deleted scenes are deleted for a reason. They gave some good information, but it should have been within the novel itself.
This novel has huge potential. There's so much to know about this dystopian world, and the people. I realize this is the first in a series, but I don't know enough about the compound to care if it gets taken over. I think the potential would give me enough motivation to read the rest in the series, but that shouldn't really be the reason to read it. Don't get me wrong: this is not a terrible book by any means. It's definitely not my taste, as I need a bit more to get me clambering for the next book in the series.
"Certain Hypothetical (Book 1 of the Slowpocalypse series)" by James Litherland follows David Belue as he and others who live within the compound prepare for a hypothetical attack from the outside. But there is more than it seems, and when the director's daughter, Kat, begins her own investigation into the impending seige their lives are unexpectedly at risk. They must each discover who within the compound is leaking information to the outside before it's too late.
To be honest, I really have no idea what to say about this novel. There really didn't seem to be a plot, despite the summary I gave above. What plot there was seemed to be slapped together like it was added in afterwards. The book talks about people who live in a compound, and while I know there's a perimeter wall, and gates, and various buildings, it takes nearly half the novel before you realize the compound is probably around the size of a town or full city. When the word compound is used, a much smaller piece of land is generally imagined. But the city is run or owned by FURC. We're never told what that stands for, and it's used in various forms (FedU, FURCsnet, FURCS pad, etc) which doesn't make any of it easier. With sci-fi, an acronym is generally explained at least once to let the reader into the world that's been created.
Most of the characters aren't even that likeable either. From the start the characters do really illogical things, or at least they give no reason for them. I think David was rather odd, and highly unlikeable. There were times I had to stop reading because his actions were just so aggravating. His paranoia came from absolutely no where. Perhaps it was justified based on what has happened in his world, but I wasn't privy to any of that history. His "investigation" consisted of following people (largely unsuccessfully, as he admits) and apparently this was enough to put together the pieces of a conspiracy. And then he always seemed tired. He was either following someone, or complaining about needing sleep, or sleeping for days. Literally. I've never read a novel that described a character sleeping so often, or at least pointing it out and making it a focal point. If that was meant as a defining feature of the character, it was an odd choice.
The only character I liked was Kat. She knows how to hold her own, has (dysfunctional) relationships, and we can actually see passion with her that is absent with David. But then something incredibly traumatic happens to her, and she brushes it off, barely thinking about it afterward. When something like that happens, or when someone does something so extreme, it has a psychological effect on a person. Unless you're a psychopath.
There were deleted scenes/bonus material stuck onto the end of the novel, which while I read it, I will not review. Deleted scenes are deleted for a reason. They gave some good information, but it should have been within the novel itself.
This novel has huge potential. There's so much to know about this dystopian world, and the people. I realize this is the first in a series, but I don't know enough about the compound to care if it gets taken over. I think the potential would give me enough motivation to read the rest in the series, but that shouldn't really be the reason to read it. Don't get me wrong: this is not a terrible book by any means. It's definitely not my taste, as I need a bit more to get me clambering for the next book in the series.
July 1, 2015
What a vivid world! Litherland has created an unforgettable world for readers to loose themselves in. His descriptions bring everything to life in a vivid manner while his writing style gives readers a feel for the people of the world. I appreciate how he also leaves room for further growth in later novels of the series. Litherland reveals this story slowly, allowing readers to feel like they’re really part of the tale. He drops readers into the story, giving them little knowledge of the outside world, and putting them in the same boat as the characters. Intrigue and suspense wind their way throughout the tale, keeping readers on their toes.
I found a few of the characters really easy to connect with. I loved following them through this tale. As a whole, the characters in this novel are intriguing, although not necessarily always likeable. The contrast is compelling. I appreciate how each character has a defined place within the novel, allowing readers to completely understand every aspect of it. The characters aren’t overly developed at the beginning, allowing readers to get to know them as they grow.
Overall, this was an intriguing look at Litherland’s world. It’s a great start to a series that I’ll enjoy reading.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
I found a few of the characters really easy to connect with. I loved following them through this tale. As a whole, the characters in this novel are intriguing, although not necessarily always likeable. The contrast is compelling. I appreciate how each character has a defined place within the novel, allowing readers to completely understand every aspect of it. The characters aren’t overly developed at the beginning, allowing readers to get to know them as they grow.
Overall, this was an intriguing look at Litherland’s world. It’s a great start to a series that I’ll enjoy reading.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
February 7, 2017
3.5 stars
A good start to the Slowpocalypse series. We get the story through two viewpoints. Through Kat, who works in security and whose father is the leader, and through David, who is a student and works on the construction crew.
They live and work inside the Federal University and Research Complex, which is being locked down and prepared for a possible attack and attempted takeover by the governor of Florida, which is seceding. You get to meet a lot of characters and learn the ins and outs of the FURC and how things work there.
I would have liked more info on what exactly was happening in the outside world, but overall it's a good setup to the series and I'm going right into book two.
So was it an actual crossover with Verity Belue in both the Watchbearers and Slowpocalypse series or just the name used in both sets of books? I still haven't finished the Watchbearers yet so I don't yet know if her child is a boy and she names him David. Very cool if it is a crossover.
I received this book free from the author but I'm not obligated to write a positive review, just an honest one.
A good start to the Slowpocalypse series. We get the story through two viewpoints. Through Kat, who works in security and whose father is the leader, and through David, who is a student and works on the construction crew.
They live and work inside the Federal University and Research Complex, which is being locked down and prepared for a possible attack and attempted takeover by the governor of Florida, which is seceding. You get to meet a lot of characters and learn the ins and outs of the FURC and how things work there.
I would have liked more info on what exactly was happening in the outside world, but overall it's a good setup to the series and I'm going right into book two.
So was it an actual crossover with Verity Belue in both the Watchbearers and Slowpocalypse series or just the name used in both sets of books? I still haven't finished the Watchbearers yet so I don't yet know if her child is a boy and she names him David. Very cool if it is a crossover.
I received this book free from the author but I'm not obligated to write a positive review, just an honest one.
March 21, 2017
Slowpocalypse (books 0.5 - 3)
An interesting series that's easy to read and has plenty of suspense to keep you turning the pages.
Durable Impressions is a short introduction to a new and exciting world and to Kat, one of the main characters.
Although Certain Hypothetical (book 1) starts off slowly, it soon picks up and sets the pace for the series.
Each book has an intriguing plot that's well thought out and is a good mix of action, mystery and suspense.
The two main characters are dimensional and they grow and evolve through the series.
The large supporting cast are occasionally hard to keep track of, but the 'returning characters' list at the in the later books reminds you, who's who
Each book wraps up the story lines satisfyingly, leaving the way open for further instalments, but without any great cliffhangers.
Having read books 0.5 to 3, I'm now looking forward to reading book 4, Peripheral Encounters.
I received a copy of Certain Hypothetical free through Goodreads First Reads.
An interesting series that's easy to read and has plenty of suspense to keep you turning the pages.
Durable Impressions is a short introduction to a new and exciting world and to Kat, one of the main characters.
Although Certain Hypothetical (book 1) starts off slowly, it soon picks up and sets the pace for the series.
Each book has an intriguing plot that's well thought out and is a good mix of action, mystery and suspense.
The two main characters are dimensional and they grow and evolve through the series.
The large supporting cast are occasionally hard to keep track of, but the 'returning characters' list at the in the later books reminds you, who's who
Each book wraps up the story lines satisfyingly, leaving the way open for further instalments, but without any great cliffhangers.
Having read books 0.5 to 3, I'm now looking forward to reading book 4, Peripheral Encounters.
I received a copy of Certain Hypothetical free through Goodreads First Reads.
September 20, 2019
Critical Contingencies is dystopian fiction of a subtler kind than I have come across before – I now better understand why the series is called ‘Slowpocalypse’.
The plot centres around political espionage: with the Governor of Florida announcing the state’s secession from the US, and those in charge of FURC (Federal University and Research Complex) determined to protect the compound from the power grab underway by sealing it off from the outside world. We follow Kat and David, both children of authority figures within FURC, as they separately investigate the possibility of betrayal within the compound and try to prevent their parents’ ’empire’ from being handed over to the enemy without.
There is a definite vibe of both Homeland and 24 here in terms of the unfolding plot, but with less of the dramatic action that characterise those shows (terrorists, bombs, gunfights). Here the danger is to political and personal freedom rather than to life and limb… initially anyway! The pace is quite slow; exploring the two main characters individually before eventually bringing them together as events reach their climax.
Kat and David make an interesting pair. They come from similar backgrounds superficially and both have a very strong moral compass that drives them to do the right thing at great personal risk. However Kat is decisive, confident and keen to take action and David is cautious, studious and lacks faith in himself. It will be interesting to see how their different approaches pan out in future plots in the series.
The only slight issue I had here is related to the worldbuilding. James Litherland has created a realistic, near-future isolation scenario for his dystopia which works really well and feels authentic. It is clear that he has fully fleshed out this society, how it works and why, but these background details are not part of the immediate story and so the book does not dwell on them. This does help to keep the plot tightly focused but can leave the reader feeling a little lost as to setting details like the layout and purpose of FURC, why there is so much urgency about sealing FURC off from the rest of the world, what are the other compounds mentioned and how are they all related, and so on. My impression is the author knows the answers to all of these worldbuilding questions, but that knowledge has not fully translated into the story, leaving the reader feeling like they have come in to events part-way through.
The whole concept of the locked-down compound, with its survivalist and political issues, is a fascinating one and Litherland has done an excellent job of creating a believable world and engaging characters. Fans of well-written, slow-burning, political intrigue will definitely enjoy this series.
Miles sighed. “But we have more urgent worries than the threats from enemies within. We dare not move against them until we’ve dealt with the larger problem – the governor attempting to take over by force.”
“With all your preparations, Jon, the protocols weren’t designed to protect us against the kind of assault Roberts can launch with the State National Guard at his disposal.”
Miles nodded. “There are some pieces in place, though. We couldn’t have done more – it would’ve been obvious, and ruined everything. So now we’ll have to use a slow lure.”
– James Litherland, Critical Contingencies
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
The plot centres around political espionage: with the Governor of Florida announcing the state’s secession from the US, and those in charge of FURC (Federal University and Research Complex) determined to protect the compound from the power grab underway by sealing it off from the outside world. We follow Kat and David, both children of authority figures within FURC, as they separately investigate the possibility of betrayal within the compound and try to prevent their parents’ ’empire’ from being handed over to the enemy without.
There is a definite vibe of both Homeland and 24 here in terms of the unfolding plot, but with less of the dramatic action that characterise those shows (terrorists, bombs, gunfights). Here the danger is to political and personal freedom rather than to life and limb… initially anyway! The pace is quite slow; exploring the two main characters individually before eventually bringing them together as events reach their climax.
Kat and David make an interesting pair. They come from similar backgrounds superficially and both have a very strong moral compass that drives them to do the right thing at great personal risk. However Kat is decisive, confident and keen to take action and David is cautious, studious and lacks faith in himself. It will be interesting to see how their different approaches pan out in future plots in the series.
The only slight issue I had here is related to the worldbuilding. James Litherland has created a realistic, near-future isolation scenario for his dystopia which works really well and feels authentic. It is clear that he has fully fleshed out this society, how it works and why, but these background details are not part of the immediate story and so the book does not dwell on them. This does help to keep the plot tightly focused but can leave the reader feeling a little lost as to setting details like the layout and purpose of FURC, why there is so much urgency about sealing FURC off from the rest of the world, what are the other compounds mentioned and how are they all related, and so on. My impression is the author knows the answers to all of these worldbuilding questions, but that knowledge has not fully translated into the story, leaving the reader feeling like they have come in to events part-way through.
The whole concept of the locked-down compound, with its survivalist and political issues, is a fascinating one and Litherland has done an excellent job of creating a believable world and engaging characters. Fans of well-written, slow-burning, political intrigue will definitely enjoy this series.
Miles sighed. “But we have more urgent worries than the threats from enemies within. We dare not move against them until we’ve dealt with the larger problem – the governor attempting to take over by force.”
“With all your preparations, Jon, the protocols weren’t designed to protect us against the kind of assault Roberts can launch with the State National Guard at his disposal.”
Miles nodded. “There are some pieces in place, though. We couldn’t have done more – it would’ve been obvious, and ruined everything. So now we’ll have to use a slow lure.”
– James Litherland, Critical Contingencies
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
November 7, 2017
Is anything ever Certain?
Format: Kindle Edition
Certain Hypothetical was not at all what I had expected. Don't get me wrong it was good. I just was not expecting it to be as much of a mystery as it was. While dealing with the United States starting to fall apart, this story keeps the reader guessing as to who really is a traitor to the FURC and who is really just trying to stay alive and safe.
At first glance, the FURC seems a little excessive in its policies and how closed the community is, until you realize exactly what is going on in America at this time. While giving away just enough to keep the reader guessing and interested, Litherland also exposes the positives and negatives of this type of community. Litherland keeps the reader guessing while helping us decide who we really want to be a good guy and a bad guy.
It also shows how in any society there are those that say they want to know the truth while only wanting to know their version of the truth and then there are those that should know what is going on but really just want someone to blame for their perceptions.
I also enjoyed the epilogue and additional chapters he added at the end of the book. Hint.....don't read them first. Save them for after you have read the entire book first.
I received a free copy of this book to review.
Format: Kindle Edition
Certain Hypothetical was not at all what I had expected. Don't get me wrong it was good. I just was not expecting it to be as much of a mystery as it was. While dealing with the United States starting to fall apart, this story keeps the reader guessing as to who really is a traitor to the FURC and who is really just trying to stay alive and safe.
At first glance, the FURC seems a little excessive in its policies and how closed the community is, until you realize exactly what is going on in America at this time. While giving away just enough to keep the reader guessing and interested, Litherland also exposes the positives and negatives of this type of community. Litherland keeps the reader guessing while helping us decide who we really want to be a good guy and a bad guy.
It also shows how in any society there are those that say they want to know the truth while only wanting to know their version of the truth and then there are those that should know what is going on but really just want someone to blame for their perceptions.
I also enjoyed the epilogue and additional chapters he added at the end of the book. Hint.....don't read them first. Save them for after you have read the entire book first.
I received a free copy of this book to review.
July 11, 2018
Slowstorycalypse
I must have missed the "Young Adult" label in the description of this book because it's not very deep and the action doesn't flow. The author obviously hasn't spent time in the military because he has troops saluting non-coms and every one saluting every one else too.
It's a simple,silly story about a federal university that might be under attack by the Florida National Guard. The two main characters are a ninja like student who's father runs the place. Her marshal arts skills are legendary even if the guy she works for in security is a close family friend who taught her the skills and is always admonishing her to do better. The second main character is an ordinary g
I must have missed the "Young Adult" label in the description of this book because it's not very deep and the action doesn't flow. The author obviously hasn't spent time in the military because he has troops saluting non-coms and every one saluting every one else too.
It's a simple,silly story about a federal university that might be under attack by the Florida National Guard. The two main characters are a ninja like student who's father runs the place. Her marshal arts skills are legendary even if the guy she works for in security is a close family friend who taught her the skills and is always admonishing her to do better. The second main character is an ordinary g
December 6, 2020
Convoluted, silly, and in need of proofreading
Seemed a pretty standard thriller from the sample.
However, every single chapter changes POV character. Some characters repeat, but not all.
No attempt is made to make characters likeable, or their motives clear.
These faults might get the book two stars; I've read worse. But then, right out of the blue, in a patch of exposition (i.e., not dialect within dialogue), there occurred a cold-blooded usage of "had went." I hadn't liked the book for reasons given above, and this grammatical bloomer was the last straw.
One star. As for self-publishing, Mr. Litterland, this is why you need a copy editor.
Seemed a pretty standard thriller from the sample.
However, every single chapter changes POV character. Some characters repeat, but not all.
No attempt is made to make characters likeable, or their motives clear.
These faults might get the book two stars; I've read worse. But then, right out of the blue, in a patch of exposition (i.e., not dialect within dialogue), there occurred a cold-blooded usage of "had went." I hadn't liked the book for reasons given above, and this grammatical bloomer was the last straw.
One star. As for self-publishing, Mr. Litterland, this is why you need a copy editor.
November 7, 2017
I was blessed with a free copy of this book, and I have chosen of my own volition to share my review with you!
This book was a bit hard to follow. The characters seemed a bit disjointed. The story seemed incoherent at times. This was a tough read, due to the aforementioned factors.
This book was a bit hard to follow. The characters seemed a bit disjointed. The story seemed incoherent at times. This was a tough read, due to the aforementioned factors.
December 2, 2019
This book is really awesome.
January 22, 2016
From The Musings of a Starving Author:
THIS IS A COMBINED REVIEW WITH Durable Impressions!
It’s a two course meal on the table today, my foodies! A double-shot of near-future dystopian eating, Durable Impressions is a small appetizer, setting us up for the main course of Certain Hypothetical. As the first is so short and is meant specifically as the lead-in to the second, I’ll be giving my review as one complete meal, with one final rating to wrap up the whole dish.
Now before we get to that review, let’s recite the Starving Review oath:
I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre
I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible’
Both Durable and Certain contain some interesting flavors, different touches and approaches to the rather large pot of dystopian fiction. The name of the series really says it all, that this meal is set to describe a ‘slowpocalypse’, a slower, gradual descent into chaos as opposed to a sudden crash. With the volatile political environment in the real United States, this kind of dystopian slide is certainly something that feels more realistic than some of the extreme scenarios in other recipes. It’s a refreshingly fresh flavor to add to the pot.
Likewise, there are a lot of solid recipe choices made. The main protagonists are fairly well fleshed-out and the core wordsmithing is well done. The primary plot, as well, is well-thought out and does a fine job with the mystery at its core. The pacing is a bit sluggish, but that has more to do with the world-building problem that is the main sour note of this recipe.
We really can’t go on without talking about this point. The world-building is almost non-existant and that is a critical problem, especially with a speculative future recipe. There are acronyms and abbreviations that are not explained in the texts. We know little about the specifics of where we are and the environment we are in. Not until the very, very end of Certain do we have any real idea of what is going wrong in the rest of the United States.
The reason this makes such a huge difference in how tasty this meal winds up is that, without this vital information, we have no idea what the actual stakes are. We have vague implications that things could go wrong, but we’re never told how this bad event would actually hurt anything. We get a vague sense that this compound the characters live at is somehow vital, but no clue as to why. We don’t even really get a sense of *why* the antagonists are doing what they are doing, only a very vague political reason. Without any real conception of the stakes of the situation, with no real dramatic pressure, there’s no dramatic tension to the situation, making the pacing seem sluggish and stretches of the plot feel meandering.
So, to sum it all up, Durable Impressions and Certain Hypothetical contain a lot of fine ingredients and one big, sour note that throws it all off. Let’s be clear, the lack of world-building doesn’t turn these into awful stories. It simply greatly diminishes them. What would have been nearly perfect turns into something much more average. Still, if you enjoy speculative dystopian works, this isn’t a bad one and it may possibly get the proper world-building in later volumes to make it really pop.
FINAL VERDICT: *** (A lot of fine ingredients but a major lack of world-building throws it all off!)
THIS IS A COMBINED REVIEW WITH Durable Impressions!
It’s a two course meal on the table today, my foodies! A double-shot of near-future dystopian eating, Durable Impressions is a small appetizer, setting us up for the main course of Certain Hypothetical. As the first is so short and is meant specifically as the lead-in to the second, I’ll be giving my review as one complete meal, with one final rating to wrap up the whole dish.
Now before we get to that review, let’s recite the Starving Review oath:
I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre
I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible’
Both Durable and Certain contain some interesting flavors, different touches and approaches to the rather large pot of dystopian fiction. The name of the series really says it all, that this meal is set to describe a ‘slowpocalypse’, a slower, gradual descent into chaos as opposed to a sudden crash. With the volatile political environment in the real United States, this kind of dystopian slide is certainly something that feels more realistic than some of the extreme scenarios in other recipes. It’s a refreshingly fresh flavor to add to the pot.
Likewise, there are a lot of solid recipe choices made. The main protagonists are fairly well fleshed-out and the core wordsmithing is well done. The primary plot, as well, is well-thought out and does a fine job with the mystery at its core. The pacing is a bit sluggish, but that has more to do with the world-building problem that is the main sour note of this recipe.
We really can’t go on without talking about this point. The world-building is almost non-existant and that is a critical problem, especially with a speculative future recipe. There are acronyms and abbreviations that are not explained in the texts. We know little about the specifics of where we are and the environment we are in. Not until the very, very end of Certain do we have any real idea of what is going wrong in the rest of the United States.
The reason this makes such a huge difference in how tasty this meal winds up is that, without this vital information, we have no idea what the actual stakes are. We have vague implications that things could go wrong, but we’re never told how this bad event would actually hurt anything. We get a vague sense that this compound the characters live at is somehow vital, but no clue as to why. We don’t even really get a sense of *why* the antagonists are doing what they are doing, only a very vague political reason. Without any real conception of the stakes of the situation, with no real dramatic pressure, there’s no dramatic tension to the situation, making the pacing seem sluggish and stretches of the plot feel meandering.
So, to sum it all up, Durable Impressions and Certain Hypothetical contain a lot of fine ingredients and one big, sour note that throws it all off. Let’s be clear, the lack of world-building doesn’t turn these into awful stories. It simply greatly diminishes them. What would have been nearly perfect turns into something much more average. Still, if you enjoy speculative dystopian works, this isn’t a bad one and it may possibly get the proper world-building in later volumes to make it really pop.
FINAL VERDICT: *** (A lot of fine ingredients but a major lack of world-building throws it all off!)
February 10, 2015
Review originally posted at Reading Lark: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2015/...
Certain Hypothetical is about the people at the Federal University and Research Center (FURC) in Florida. The outside world has descended into chaos and they must defend themselves against others who would take over the school and use it for (presumably) nefarious purposes. When the governor of Florida decides that he wants the center under his control, the FURC community seals its gates to prevent a threatened incursion by the state’s National Guard.
While I liked the premise of Certain Hypothetical (which reminded me of the small college campus in One Second After by William Forstchen), there were a number of issues that I couldn’t get over as a reader. First, I didn’t feel there was enough background to explain why FURC was important and why the reader should care who was in control of it. Litherland does not explain what FURC does, what its research priorities are, or what the university part’s academic strengths are. In fact, I had to go back to the blurb on Goodreads to actually find out what FURC even stood for because it’s not actually defined in the text. But even that didn’t really help me because there aren’t any federal universities that aren’t military academies in the US today (at least none that I could find). In Litherland’s world, has the federal government begun creating civilian universities? This feeds into my next issue.
Second, because there wasn’t an adequate explanation of what had happened in the outside world, the political situation in the story just didn’t make sense to me. Why did the government start creating federal universities? What is so vital at FURC, or so desperate in the rest of the country, that the governor of Florida will risk an armed incursion to get it? On the other hand, if the federal government is so splintered that the leaders at FURC don’t even discuss getting help from it, why wouldn’t the president of FURC align the center with the governor who is clearly the power most able to protect the center from others? It doesn’t make sense to keep the federal vs. state issue alive unless both are viable players. I’m not saying that Litherland’s characters have necessarily acted irrationally, but there just isn’t enough explanation in the text to let the reader know why they make the choices they do.
My third issue with Certain Hypothetical is that the characters were not as well-developed as they could have been. While I enjoyed Katherine and Caroline’s characters, everyone else felt pretty bland. Miles, Anthony, Ken and even David (the other main character) could easily have been interchangeable. Additionally, the reader must take it on faith that the good guys are good and the bad guys are bad; Litherland doesn’t give us much to go on to help the reader understand the characters’ varying motivations. Also, we see very little of Jonathan Miles who is the director of FURC. Finally, it always bothers me when very young and/or inexperienced characters defeat big bad guys without a lot of painful lessons and sacrifice along the way.
I really wanted to like this book more; many of my favorite stories are post-apocalyptic, and Litherland’s writing is fine. The oversights in the world building, however, were too much for me. I am sorry to say that overall the story was just okay – an interesting idea that fell short of its potential.
Certain Hypothetical is about the people at the Federal University and Research Center (FURC) in Florida. The outside world has descended into chaos and they must defend themselves against others who would take over the school and use it for (presumably) nefarious purposes. When the governor of Florida decides that he wants the center under his control, the FURC community seals its gates to prevent a threatened incursion by the state’s National Guard.
While I liked the premise of Certain Hypothetical (which reminded me of the small college campus in One Second After by William Forstchen), there were a number of issues that I couldn’t get over as a reader. First, I didn’t feel there was enough background to explain why FURC was important and why the reader should care who was in control of it. Litherland does not explain what FURC does, what its research priorities are, or what the university part’s academic strengths are. In fact, I had to go back to the blurb on Goodreads to actually find out what FURC even stood for because it’s not actually defined in the text. But even that didn’t really help me because there aren’t any federal universities that aren’t military academies in the US today (at least none that I could find). In Litherland’s world, has the federal government begun creating civilian universities? This feeds into my next issue.
Second, because there wasn’t an adequate explanation of what had happened in the outside world, the political situation in the story just didn’t make sense to me. Why did the government start creating federal universities? What is so vital at FURC, or so desperate in the rest of the country, that the governor of Florida will risk an armed incursion to get it? On the other hand, if the federal government is so splintered that the leaders at FURC don’t even discuss getting help from it, why wouldn’t the president of FURC align the center with the governor who is clearly the power most able to protect the center from others? It doesn’t make sense to keep the federal vs. state issue alive unless both are viable players. I’m not saying that Litherland’s characters have necessarily acted irrationally, but there just isn’t enough explanation in the text to let the reader know why they make the choices they do.
My third issue with Certain Hypothetical is that the characters were not as well-developed as they could have been. While I enjoyed Katherine and Caroline’s characters, everyone else felt pretty bland. Miles, Anthony, Ken and even David (the other main character) could easily have been interchangeable. Additionally, the reader must take it on faith that the good guys are good and the bad guys are bad; Litherland doesn’t give us much to go on to help the reader understand the characters’ varying motivations. Also, we see very little of Jonathan Miles who is the director of FURC. Finally, it always bothers me when very young and/or inexperienced characters defeat big bad guys without a lot of painful lessons and sacrifice along the way.
I really wanted to like this book more; many of my favorite stories are post-apocalyptic, and Litherland’s writing is fine. The oversights in the world building, however, were too much for me. I am sorry to say that overall the story was just okay – an interesting idea that fell short of its potential.
August 24, 2016
This book was given for free in return for an honest review.
Certain Hypothetical by James Litherland is the kind of book you read if you're looking to get totally immersed in a new world. The coolest thing about this novel is it's exactly that-- a totally new world, something we're not familiar with at all-- but at the same time, it's something totally familiar. David and Kat live in a closed-in compound, sure, but they go through their day-to-day lives pretty similarly to the way we do now.
David and Kat live in a closed-in compound, sure, but they go through their day-to-day lives pretty similarly to the way we do now. That is until disaster becomes imminent.
It's one of those worlds where you're just on the brink of something horrible that you don't quite understand, and that's the kind of thing I think the current world can relate to. The main players in the story are trying to keep their compound safe, to help reinforce barriers under the threat of an invasion that hasn't quite come for them yet. The most disconcerting part, though, is that the biggest threats are coming from within. With the help of a couple of ambitious young people, can their world be saved from forces that are working against the whole community?
What I loved most about this book is how vivid and thorough the world inside the compound is. Litherland has created a real place with its own little quirks and details and that's one of my favorite things about reading a well-constructed book: You can get lost in it. For a minute, you can forget it's not exactly real. He's built a world just like that, one that you can tell he's really fleshed out, complete with the characters to fatten it up. You care about Kat and David and their journey and you root for them the whole time they're trying to solve the mystery of what's happening to them and their home.
If you're looking for a book that'll keep you eager to turn the pages, interested in solving a puzzle, and ready to immerse yourself in a new world, this is the novel for you. I thought it was great!
Review by Amanda Scott for Truth About Books
Certain Hypothetical by James Litherland is the kind of book you read if you're looking to get totally immersed in a new world. The coolest thing about this novel is it's exactly that-- a totally new world, something we're not familiar with at all-- but at the same time, it's something totally familiar. David and Kat live in a closed-in compound, sure, but they go through their day-to-day lives pretty similarly to the way we do now.
David and Kat live in a closed-in compound, sure, but they go through their day-to-day lives pretty similarly to the way we do now. That is until disaster becomes imminent.
It's one of those worlds where you're just on the brink of something horrible that you don't quite understand, and that's the kind of thing I think the current world can relate to. The main players in the story are trying to keep their compound safe, to help reinforce barriers under the threat of an invasion that hasn't quite come for them yet. The most disconcerting part, though, is that the biggest threats are coming from within. With the help of a couple of ambitious young people, can their world be saved from forces that are working against the whole community?
What I loved most about this book is how vivid and thorough the world inside the compound is. Litherland has created a real place with its own little quirks and details and that's one of my favorite things about reading a well-constructed book: You can get lost in it. For a minute, you can forget it's not exactly real. He's built a world just like that, one that you can tell he's really fleshed out, complete with the characters to fatten it up. You care about Kat and David and their journey and you root for them the whole time they're trying to solve the mystery of what's happening to them and their home.
If you're looking for a book that'll keep you eager to turn the pages, interested in solving a puzzle, and ready to immerse yourself in a new world, this is the novel for you. I thought it was great!
Review by Amanda Scott for Truth About Books
May 15, 2014
I won this book through GoodReads first read program.
Litherland tells a clever story about a Federal University Research Center being sealed off from the outside world due to Florida leaving the union and threatening to take the federal facility in central Florida. Each chapter alternates prospectives from David who is a student working on constructing additional defenses into the compound walls and Kat who is a security officer for the compound. Each of these characters has connections to the decision makers for the compound. Kat is the daughter for the director and David is the son of the director's assistant.
It is discovered that there are people within the compound who are helping the governor of Florida in his attempt to take over the compound. David and Kat work seperately to find out who. After alternating chapters for most of the book David and Kat finally meet at the end of the book to resolve the mystery.
Litherland includes a bonus section which is a deleted scene from right after the prologue before the first chapter. I have never seen this done before in a book. Done quite often with DVDs of movies though and this worked in a similar fashion. Hold off and read the bonus section after completing the book. It keeps the mystery alive throughout your reading.
Litherland tells a clever story about a Federal University Research Center being sealed off from the outside world due to Florida leaving the union and threatening to take the federal facility in central Florida. Each chapter alternates prospectives from David who is a student working on constructing additional defenses into the compound walls and Kat who is a security officer for the compound. Each of these characters has connections to the decision makers for the compound. Kat is the daughter for the director and David is the son of the director's assistant.
It is discovered that there are people within the compound who are helping the governor of Florida in his attempt to take over the compound. David and Kat work seperately to find out who. After alternating chapters for most of the book David and Kat finally meet at the end of the book to resolve the mystery.
Litherland includes a bonus section which is a deleted scene from right after the prologue before the first chapter. I have never seen this done before in a book. Done quite often with DVDs of movies though and this worked in a similar fashion. Hold off and read the bonus section after completing the book. It keeps the mystery alive throughout your reading.
October 5, 2014
Certain Hypothetical by James Litherland is set in a the future in a gated community. David and Kat are the main protagonists though Kat proves to be the most useful. The drama unfolds with a total lock-down of the perimeter with two lots of law enforcement agents on patrol. David has an inkling that something is amiss as he observes the constant disappearance of one of his sergeants supposedly guarding David's work detail of laying sensors between the twin barriers. He suspects a few others, including the head of security, as they wait for an impending invasion. David prays for something to happen to prove his suspicions, forgetting the adage: 'be careful what you wish for.' In the end the guilty are rounded up but was there really an invading force waiting for the gates to open?
January 25, 2015
I received this book for free via Goodreads First Reads.
I found the book to be an easy and interesting read. It is set in what I am assuming to be the near distant future in a closed compound in Florida.
The book has strong characters and I especially liked a strong female character in the plot. The plot itself is intriguing and plays out as a mystery. I like the style of the book. There is a slight religious element but it is not overplayed for a book dedicated to 'To God be the Glory'.
An enjoyable read and I will read the next two books in the trilogy at some point. I have already won book 3 in another Goodreads First Reads and I will endeavour to find book 2 as well.
A solid 4 stars.
I found the book to be an easy and interesting read. It is set in what I am assuming to be the near distant future in a closed compound in Florida.
The book has strong characters and I especially liked a strong female character in the plot. The plot itself is intriguing and plays out as a mystery. I like the style of the book. There is a slight religious element but it is not overplayed for a book dedicated to 'To God be the Glory'.
An enjoyable read and I will read the next two books in the trilogy at some point. I have already won book 3 in another Goodreads First Reads and I will endeavour to find book 2 as well.
A solid 4 stars.
February 7, 2015
I received an electronic copy of this book by the author for an honest review. Right off the bat, I have to say I was a bit confused by the beginning. I wish the author had put a little more background information as to the impending threat of takeover and the reasons for it. At the conclusion of the book, the author included bonus material - a deleted scene which explained the motivations behind some of the key players in the book. I understand that the author wanted to reveal the story slowly, as to provide some interest and intrigue, but I would have liked to have had some information as to why Tony felt the need to go over the fence and to why Roberts wanted to take the compound. I enjoyed the book overall and definitely will look forward to reading more by this author.
November 17, 2015
I got this book via the giveaways of Goodreads. At first I was a little sceptical about the book because this isn't a genre I would usually pick. But it was a quite surprising read. At first it was a bit confusing what the whole book was about, but it became more and more clear while reading further. The only problems I had with the book were the random jumps in time, without a warning and the fact that some things were super obvious but the character doesn't figure it out yet (it's like you begin figuring important plot holes/clues out before the character does and you get frustrated because the character doesn't find out the obvious after a chapter or two). But after all I think this was quite a nice read and I'm verry curious about the next books in the series.
April 10, 2016
I received this book as part of Goodreads giveaways. The book starts out strong, and the plot captures your interest. The author has the tools, but at times, it was hard to get engaged with the characters. I feel they needed to be more edgy. Overall, a good introduction to the series. I look forward to reading book 2.
August 19, 2015
Enjoyable read. A bit slow in places with the dialogue, but can be expected as the author is setting the pace for the overall arc of the three volumes. Who has the say and such and the beginning of mishaps caused by the unknown...
April 13, 2016
Great read!!! Characters are all well developed and the plot line flows without interruption. Simple mystery or conspiracy theory lovers will enjoy this book.
October 9, 2016
I won this book through Goodreads Giveaway. I really enjoyed this book. A new exciting world. I read it quickly. Couldn't put it down. Can't wait to see what happens next.
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