#darrendash

*This novel was gifted by the author in exchange for an honest review (although I did purchase a copy for easier reading)*

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5

Author (Platform): Darren Dash (Kindle)

Publisher (Release): Home of the Damned (2023)

What is it to be human?

The million-dollar question we all wrestle with at some point in our lives and can never truly find an answer to. Father of the Future takes it on within its dystopian utopia, regaling the reader with a thought-provoking exercise in philosophy and morality. There's plenty of sci-fi to keep the story from growing stale, but its more cerebral focus does bring the pace to a languish speed. There are no epic battles, for example, with author Darren Dash building the meeting place for minds rather than futuristic combat. Characters, by design, don't quite stand out but powerful culture clashes pit equality and equity against one another, excelling at forcing the reader to challenge their own positions within that space and face the consequences of even their most selfless of stances. It's easy to say peace is the greatest goal of humanity, especially in the midst of a crisis, but if that peace requires your soul, your will, and the very chains that make, what you consider, a whole human being, is it worth it?

Father of the Future provides an intensely layered experience even when its surface content can't quite match its ambitions. Isolating choices and limiting characters works fantastically well in places for world-building but can leave more grounded development a little lacking. Dash's attempt to be more inclusive with non-binary characters and language is admirable but, personally, distracting and frustrating. Gender ideology is a tricky topic that can never seem to find its middle ground and, sadly, Father of the Future suffers from using neopronouns that don't exist outside of a chaotic and ephemeral subculture. Structurally, it brings the reader to a stop as they process whether or not a grammatical mistake has been made when they're assaulted with repeated ze/hir within a sentence and paragraph. Even more concerning is the simplistic approach to being non-binary. Within the novel, it's often portrayed as better than the more traditional understanding of being male or female, with the protagonist even questioning whether or not he should seek help in changing who he is (which, as a gay man, had the unfortunate effect of sounding like conversation therapy).

Stepping back from that rabbit hole, Darren Dash creates a flawed but strikingly thoughtful sci-fi adventure. Fans of time travel will love dissecting the intricacies of Dash's interpretation and moral philosophers will adore the balanced arguments surrounding adversity and character. It won't hit with everyone, but manage to sink your teeth into Father of the Future and you'll find a wholly rewarding experience.

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