A Dystopian Sci-Fi Thriller by Connor Stevens & Brian Wiggins
‘The Fall’ by Connor Stevens and Brian Wiggins is a dystopian thriller full of invention, imagination, and big questions that will keep you guessing ’til the end.
Jason Thane is a detective leading a narcotics squad, but because he’s from the poverty of The Gaps, he’s looked down upon by some senior officers who don’t see ‘gappers’ as the kind of people who are worth much of anything. When he tries to close in on the drug den of a ‘splice’ gang – a futuristic illegal drug that temporarily alters the users’ DNA – he doesn’t expect what he and his men are about to find.
What begins as a by-the-notes detective story featuring a drug bust, a gruesome murder and a missing kid, soon evolves into a journey that leads Jason down a path that will make him question his past and present actions, his way of life, and the very point to his existence.
The writing is tight and edited with precision, and the story ticks along at a good pace, baking in the backstory organically as Jason’s life begins to unravel and the tension builds. There are some recognisable characters here – the wizened, jaded cop, the tech whiz kid, the arrogant, ignorant, self-involved antagonist boss – but they slot in nicely to help carry the narrative along. The worldbuilding is convincing and full of lovely touches and observations, and the story plays consistently by the rules it creates. There are some really interesting takes on what may happen in a world living through the results of a climate crisis (both in terms of tech and lifestyles) and how far we may be allowed to go to try to survive these new conditions.
The conclusion will keep you reading to find out what happens as Jason throws more and more caution to the wind in his pursuit of justice and redemption. This is a really enjoyable read that asks – like all good dystopian novels do – important questions about ourselves, our society, and how to find meaning in this world. A recommended read – you will Fall into the world created here, be enticed by it, intrigued by it, and want to stick around to find out more…
‘The Fall’ is available for purchase at: https://amzn.to/480gsqc
(Review by Rob Stevens)
