Republic Gets Killer Review
Charles Sheehan-Miles’ Republic: A Novel of America’s Future was reviewed last week on the popular political blog DailyKos, briefly propelling the print edition of the book to the top of Amazon’s rankings for science fiction and alternative history. The review also launched a lively discussion with hundreds of commenters chiming in on the themes of the book.
Here’s what Ken Bernstein of Daily Kos had to say about Republic:
Imagine if you will a series of escalating incidents, occasioned by a nation at heightened alert because of series of terrorist incidents. Now imagine a major attack, say blowing up a shopping Mall next to the Pentagon. What do you think might happen? Might everyone of Arab descent be rounded up on suspicion? If that seems far-fetched, remember the reactions after Oklahoma City and since 9-11. And suppose you had Federal agents with the power to seize whomever they wanted, using whatever force they deemed necessary, without having to inform local authorities of their intent. Suppose some of such incidents had some tragic consequences, including innocent people getting killed. And suppose that at least to start the portrayal of the incidents in the media was sufficiently controlled by the Federal government that most people did not realize that it was the government whose actions were wrong. Might those who had suffered begin to feel as if their government were out of control, not to be trusted? Suppose this were compounded by a sense that the government clearly favored the rich, that the needs of ordinary people were being abandoned. Might resentment build to a dangerous point?
That is the framework for this powerful novel. It is set largely in West Virginia, a state with a strong tradition and history of government, including Federal troops, being used on behalf of powerful interests (such as coal barons) to suppress those opposing such interests (such as mineworkers).
I am going to urge you to read the book. It flows, it will not take you all that long to go through the 331 pages. It will disturb you. It should.
Perhaps the image Sheehan-Miles offers us may seem extreme, unlikely. But in a time when we have seen our basic beliefs about our nation, our rights, our government, challenged and undercut, perhaps we need to at least contemplate the consequences if we do not challenge the erosion of our basic liberties even in the name of security. And if we do not understand how deep some grievances can be, how disconnected some people may become from our society, then this novel of America’s future may be far more prophetic than we might otherwise imagine.
Since its launch on Podiobooks.com two weeks ago, Republic has picked up more than 150 subscribers. With reviews like this, it’s sure to gather more.
June 29th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
I have subscribed to quite a few podnovels from Podiobooks but any glowing review from the Kos Kids assures that I will not, repeat not, be getting this “novel.”