Dark Satellites

by W.T. Paterson

In a not-too-distant future, the world is overcome by war. Man-made Satellites, built for protection, orbit the Earth, using artificial intelligence to seek out signals of fear and mutate animals and humans into monsters twisted by paranoia, madness, and violence. Poe is a seasoned and dedicated soldier who has spent years fighting the war. He finds solace in battle, but he has seen too many of the horrors the Satellites have created, both in the field and in his own family. Yet the Satellites can find no fear to use against him, which makes him the last best hope for the human race's salvation. So why have his most recent orders taken him away from the fight? Released from active duty, Poe returns to his parents' home in the City in the Sea, an artificial island built beyond the reach of the Satellites and the war. The residents of the city are safe from the terrors of the outside world, so why does it feel more dangerous than any battlefield Poe has ever encountered?

Genres: Thriller, Fiction

236 pages, Paperback

First published August 13, 2015

Reviews

[Keri M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is written so well and was just so incredibly interesting. The way this was written pulls you in and will not let you go. It was creepy and twisted and so incredibly poetic. This book was a tale of a grim dystopian future where satellites wreak havoc on the world. What we learn is fear is the great motivator. This book is unique in its genre, to me, because the author pulled you in so you felt as if you are one of the characters all while proving that once fear sets in everything is terrifying. Very well done!

[Sylvia Hinojosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was well written, really grabs your attention from the start and just pulls you in, it’s a little scary but not In bad way, more like in a real life perspective.

[JenJenReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think about this book daily! I changed it from a 4 star to a 5 star because I cannot stop talking about this story.

[James Arnold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creepy, twisted and poetic. This book was a wild ride from start to finish. I could not put it down. I am a HUGE fan of Paterson's prose. I would read an instruction manual written this way.

Don't read it in the dark... The great fire still burns....

4.5/5

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4 stars

Dark Satellites offers a hauntingly immersive experience, drawing inspiration from the author’s own nightmares. The storyline, while at times confusing, effectively mirrors the disorienting nature of dreams, aligning well with its thematic exploration of uncertainty and fear. The novel’s thought-provoking themes provoke deep contemplation and linger long after the final page. Despite its occasional complexity, the book’s eerie atmosphere and profound reflections make it a compelling read for those interested in the darker recesses of the human psyche.

[Hazel_Lee_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review

Title: Dark Satellite 
Author: W.T. Paterson 
Genre: Science Fiction / Thriller
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Introduction:
Dark Satellite by W.T. Paterson is set in a dystopian future where satellites create chaos and fear, this novel explores the depths of human emotion and the lengths people will go to when driven by their most primal instincts. This gripping story intertwines elements of suspense, science fiction, and emotional drama to create a unique and compelling story.

Summary:
The novel is set in a dystopian world where satellite technology and space exploration have advanced significantly. The story follows several interconnected characters, each dealing with their struggles while being inexplicably drawn together by the enigmatic "dark satellites" that have appeared in Earth's orbit. These satellites disrupt communications and create global tension, but they also seem to have a mysterious connection to the characters' lives. As the story unfolds, secrets are revealed, and the characters must confront their pasts and the unknown future that the dark satellites represent.

Analysis and Evaluation:
Paterson's writing style is unlike anything I have ever read before, and I absolutely loved it. The poetic and evocative prose pulls you into the story and does not let go.

The novel brilliantly captures the lengths people will go to when driven by fear.
Fear is used to control the public, but the story also delves into other powerful emotions like pain, grief, and greed.
The character development is exceptional, with each character's motivations and struggles feeling deeply personal and real.

Conclusion:
Dark Satellite is a masterfully written novel that offers a thought-provoking and immersive reading experience.
W.T. Paterson's unique writing style and the intense exploration of primal emotions make this book a standout in the science fiction and thriller genres. The intricate plot and well-developed characters add depth and resonance to the story. Kudos to the author for creating such a compelling and emotionally rich story.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a challenging, poetic, and gripping read.

[Cat Matticola · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will start by prefacing that Dark Satellites is not for the faint of heart. But if you’re brave enough to confront the darker side of humanity and the atrocities that thrive in it, you’ll find that the dystopian world in which these events take place is not far off from our own. Through his cast of characters, W.T. Paterson tells a compelling story nuanced by real world issues and insecurities all while cautioning against the potential threat technology could one day pose to us if man does not keep his hubris in check.

[Jonathan Waugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely engaging story that has one of the most unique premises I’ve read in a long time. If you took the paranoia of technology and added a zombie apocalypse with a dash of supernatural “Talk To Me” spookiness you’d get Dark Satellites. Awesome vignettes into what caused the end of the world with a very crafty mystery. My only request is that it was longer cause I didn’t want it to end.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing style of this book is unlike anything I have ever read before, and I LOVED it! I would read anything written with that style. And the way this book captures to lengths people will go to because of our most primal emotion is amazing. Fear is the biggest factor in this book and what is used to control the public… but it also plays on pain, grief, and greed. Kudos to this author!

[Bookreviewsbyalthea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tyler for sure knows how to write a dystopian novel. I love how the war in the book is creative but also pulls in some aspects of real wars that have happened. There is quite a bit of gore so if you do not like that then I would be cautious when reading. It was a very interesting book and super creative.

[T.L. Routledge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me interested from the first page. It’s unique in all the right ways. It’s creepy, but you realize how many of the themes are quite similar to the real world and that’s what’s truly frightening.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It kept me interested throughout, wanting to know what happened next.

[Ashley Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up!!

The last 2 chapters of this books has destroyed me 😭

Willow is by far my favourite character out of the book the way she was wrote was truly beautiful!!

In need of a second book!

[Stacy B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will cause your brain to go into analyzation mode for sure. It's full of hidden messages. There are many chapters that are beautiful & very poetically written.
This book is much like ~The Sixth Sense~ in that the reader MUST pay attention at all times, or they will miss things that are very important to the story.
My favorite character was Tucker. He is the type of person who you need in your life!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND

[Sonya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Satellites inducing fear on mankind, a solider must decide if humanity is worth saving. Truly an interesting concept but the execution didn’t land for me. I found it hard to follow along and a bit disjointed at times. It felt like a fever dream that I am still trying to decipher.

[Janey_Raisinreds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super deep and descriptive! Must Read!

[ErinTalksBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5. This book is very poetically written. It did take me a minute to get through, only because I chose a poor time to start. This morning I picked it up at 7am and I could not put it down. This sci-fi horror had it all. Beautiful prose, a dark plot of should I save the planet or let our fears be the end, and a wicked punch of an ending. This book also surprised me with some existential questions of what is the meaning of fear and how it controls us and our actions among other things. As a parting note, I LOVED the character of Willow. I could have read 100 more pages with her POV. My witchy heart is hoping to hear more from her in a future novel! This is a book I recommend!

[Amanda Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A note of caution: do not start reading Dark Satellites anywhere near bedtime if you have any intention of going to sleep at a reasonable hour. While the non-linear time frame and multiple points of view in the early chapters of Dark Satellites demand you “lean in” to a somewhat surreal narrative as the post-apocalyptic world of the story comes into focus, you’re going to have a hard time putting this book down. In all honesty, I found the early chapters a little frustrating at first, but I also realized this structure is very deliberately designed to feel that way. It seems disjointed because the world of the story is disjointed and chaotic, so you really feel what the characters are feeling in these early stages, and that’s what pulled me ever deeper as the early chapters shuffled the pieces and major players into place. Each movement away from the primary plot—Poe’s experience during and after his time as a soldier at war—is another proverbial gun on the mantelpiece to be fired later in the story. And once they do start firing…well, just don’t count on sleeping before you’ve turned the last page.

Poe himself is especially enigmatic. Upon introduction, he’s a ruthless soldier at war, and when he is immersed in his element he clearly enjoys the fight and the kill. He is not especially likeable on first impression because he seems so emotionally detached from everyone around him, but he is interesting. He can gouge a dog’s eyes out and drown a man with his bare hands, but he also doesn’t think twice about risking his own life to save a little boy and shows powerful devotion to his family. He has seen and done things that would drive other men to madness, but Poe remains steady, driven by his mission to protect others. As he follows the path to his own destiny he becomes far more likeable, even admirable.

Then there are the satellites themselves, which we don’t actually see, but we know they are the source of all the war, destruction, and bizarre behavior ravaging the general population. Because their source of power is human fear, they become the vehicle of a fascinating study of this very basic human impulse. The satellites take the idea of self-fulfilling prophecy to a terrifying level because they are designed to zero in on a person’s worst fear and rebuild reality around that fear. If you fear your children might be harmed, the satellites make you a predator. If you fear your beloved will reject you, you’ll be rejected. While this novel is clearly science fiction, with elements of fantasy, it also highlights the ways we often let fear control and destroy us in our own world, our own lives—and we don’t need technology run amok to make that happen since the fears are within us all the time. It inspires the kind of self-reflection that might keep you awake even after you’ve turned the last page.

[Andrew Call · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poe, a bloodthirsty soldier more at home in battle than anywhere else, is the protagonist of this science fiction/paranormal blend of ultraviolence, a bit of carnal sexuality, and the occasionally stereotypical story of a chosen one come to pass. The book jumps headfirst into the fictional fantasy world in which manmade satellites have gained sentience and lain waste to humanity through manipulation of fears, and you’re either on board with the interwoven intricacies or you’re not. What started out as heavy prose on a bumpy road of back and forth, outlined by chapters and strange sub/pre chapters, quickly whipped around wild corners and steadily spun its wheels forward in an uphill climb.

Dark Satellites is the kind of fiction that knows where it stands on the spectrum of the genre, a little to the left of moderately wild, and it leans heavily into its moments of action, existential exploration, and ecstasy over intricate character building and subtle context. Details dash forward when we’re getting somewhere with the story, and everything slows to an almost gut-wrenching, often blood-soaked crawl when we hit a high note in the action, play witness to a one-on-one beachside fight to the death, or enjoy an erotic encounter.

The book felt like wandering into dream-defining territory on several occasions, which is a mixed bag. Those odd in-between chapters are very cerebral and almost poetic, which can be a jarring change of pace as the plot powers forward into strange territory. There’s a wave of heady abandon at times that the reader will either surf on or sink under, and the author is unapologetic in the vision he’s put to paper. If violent post-apocalyptic science fiction bordering on paranormal anime is your thing, give Dark Satellites a try and see how it sits.

[Gail H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a constant tone of horrific creepiness that underlines this novel, made all the more nightmarish when the story occasionally wanes into life as it had been prior to the arrival of the Satellites. The author does an outstanding job of depicting the new soulless human beings, monsters that were once animals and other unsavory apparitions. It seems that the Satellites that were created to protect have morphed into mechanisms that feed on fear. So now, this “new” “Law of Attraction” manifests fears. As with darkness, there is light however and our hero Poe (interesting choice of name), intends to bring back the light. There are several well-drawn and fascinating characters that inhabit this book and if you are looking for a dying goddess, a witchy woman, and an antediluvian child you have come to the right place. Along with being majorly being freaked out as I read this page turner, I also enjoyed the philosophical points of view. For example, by collectively giving our power away we do not have to accept responsibility for the results and the idea that punishment is not rehabilitation, but is a false sense of safety and works out of fear.

In any event, I recommend this book for anyone who likes a good, page turning adventurous read. It is spellbinding!

[Diane Hage · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book grabbed me from the beginning and did not let go! What an interesting take on fear, on how people with power use it against those without, on how fear can run your life, and how overcoming fear benefits saves you! Poe is such a relatable character for me. Tucker gave me such good vibes with his fun carefree personality! The world building was fantastic and the writing was poetic!! Please give this book a shot! You won't be disappointed!!

[Keri Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool take on the concept of good versus evil and the corruption of power.