Book Details:
Book Title: The Way Out (Book 1: Be Careful What You Wish for Series) by Gordon Jensen with Cara Highsmith and Gordon Thomas
Category: Adult Fiction (18+), 240 pages
Genre: Sci-Fi
Publisher: Highsmith Creative Services
Release date: September 2020
Content Rating: PG-13 +M. The language is pretty tame, but there are a few swear words. The bigger issue is some of the topics addressed in it.
Book Description:
When the Alpha Centauri crew returns to earth after a failed mission to explore a distant planet, they quickly learn the world is not how they left it.
Under new global leadership, the planet has managed to
go decades without conflict, except for one major problem. Thanks to a pandemic caused by a mutation in a new strain of GMO corn, the world’s population plummeted to 2.6 billion, wiping out a disproportionate amount of men and leaving the globe run almost entirely by women. The mutation altered the human DNA, making it impossible to produce male babies and increasing Y-chromosome related diseases.
Because of their lack of exposure, the Alpha Centauri crew, especially the men on board, now find themselves in high demand. The Powers that Be think they are the solution, but with that solution comes the inevitable hunger for power and control. As greed, self-interest, and corruption rear their ugly heads, a planet that had found its way to peace is thrust into turmoil once again.
So, the question becomes: Are they really the answer to a seemingly unsolvable problem? The world may soon come to understand that sometimes getting what you wish for isn't the gift you think it will be.
The Way Out is at once a brilliant and relatable work of post-apocalyptic fiction. Think The Handmaid’s Tale mixed with Netflix’s The Wilds, and a touch of Interstellar, the movie. It’s a uniquely told story that will have you waiting as impatiently as the crew to understand the New World Order of the near future.
My Review
The Way Out is an exciting adventure story which poses some pretty deep questions too. The story is about a spaceship crew who were meant to explore one of the Alpha Centauri planets as a possible second chance location for humanity when we've irreversibly wrecked the Earth, but their mission goes weirdly awry. I thought we might spend more time on the voyage and learning how the intrepid crew actually found their way home, but the main focus of The Way Out is the days and weeks immediately after their return. There's a New World Order now with predominantly women in charge and the Alpha Centauri crew find themselves viewed more for what they can provide than what they achieved.
Elements of The Way Out, for me, chimed with ideas in Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman so I was intrigued to understand the two perspectives. The Way Out is written as a series of interviews with a prospective documentary maker, a device I liked. It gives the characters more natural chances to inform us readers of what has gone before. The interviewer's chivvying them about using no-longer-appropriate language and concepts is a good way to demonstrate cultural changes. However, The Way Out does get too bogged down in its politics at times and for a book apparently championing gender equality, there's a strong patriarchal tone with male voices doing most of the talking. Overall though, I thought this was an exciting read which could make a provocative book club choice.
Gordon Jensen holds an MBA from University of Rochester, New York, Simon School of Business and a bachelor's degree from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. After working in finance In New York for several years, Jensen went back to Minnesota to run the family business. He retired after selling the the business and is now fulfilling a number of life-long dreams, including writing a novel series.
connect with authors: website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads
July 18 – Rockin' Book Reviews – book review of THE WAY OUT / guest post / giveaway
July 19 – Rockin' Book Reviews – book review of TWO ROADS TO PARADISE / giveaway
July 19 - Literary Flits – book review of THE WAY OUT / guest post / giveaway
July 20 – Literary Flits – book spotlight of TWO ROADS TO PARADISE / author interview / giveaway
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July 21 - The Momma Spot – book review of THE WAY OUT / giveaway
July 22 – A Crane Between The Pages – book review of THE WAY OUT
July 22 – @acourtofbookishreviews (TIK TOK) – book review of THE WAY OUT
July 25 – Mostly Mystery Reviews – book review of THE WAY OUT / guest post / giveaway
July 26 – SpareTimer866 – book series spotlight / author interview / giveaway
July 26 - She Just Loves Books – book review of THE WAY OUT / giveaway
July 27 – She Just Loves Books – book review of TWO ROADS TO PARADISE / giveaway
July 27 - The Momma Spot – book review of TWO ROADS TO PARADISE / giveaway
July 28 – Splashes of Joy – book review of THE WAY OUT / giveaway
July 28 - Kam's Place – book review of THE WAY OUT
July 29 – Splashes of Joy – book review of TWO ROADS TO PARADISE / giveaway
July 30 - @pen.books.and.scalpel – book review of THE WAY OUT
Aug 1 – Mostly Mystery Reviews – book review of TWO ROADS TO PARADISE / author interview / giveaway
Aug 1 - Kam's Place – book review of TWO ROADS TO PARADISE
Aug 1 - @acourtofbookishreviews (TIC TOK) – book review of TWO ROADS TO PARADISE
Aug 2 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book series spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Aug 2 - Cheryl's Book Nook – book review of THE WAY OUT
Aug 3 – @Mel.literate – book review of THE WAY OUT
Aug 4 – Cheryl's Book Nook – book review of TWO ROADS TO PARADISE
Aug 4 - Stephanie Jane - book review of THE WAY OUT / giveaway
Aug 5 – A Crane Between The Pages – book review of TWO ROADS TO PARADISE
Aug 8 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of THE WAY OUT / giveaway
Aug 9 - Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of THE WAY OUT / giveaway
Aug 9 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of TWO ROADS TO PARADISE / giveaway
Aug 10 – Books are a Blessing – book review of THE WAY OUT / giveaway
Aug 10 - Stephanie Jane - book spotlight of TWO ROADS TO PARADISE / giveaway
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Aug 11 – Books are a Blessing – book review of TWO ROADS TO PARADISE / giveaway
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Aug 12 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of TWO ROADS TO PARADISE / giveaway
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