Red Ivy Afternoon

by Mark R. Brand

Red Ivy Afternoon is a novel of community and disenfranchisement, subversion and revolution in the digital age. The setting is a future we already know: good homes are unaffordable, good jobs are outsourced to other countries, and people anchor themselves to the glowing monitors in their homes to distract themselves. Julian Lightfall, a relatively successful Boston shipping secretary, lives his life from gadget to gadget and bar to bar in a haze of consumerism and boredom. He frequents the Portfolio lounge of the Ultimatum Hotel, playground of the rich and powerful, and throws his attention ineffectually at a sultry and disinterested regular named Christina. Another lone bachelor named Pyndan Calabas moves into the apartment next door. Calabas tells Julian he is a trauma surgeon and the two become friends. But, as Julian soon discovers, his new neighbor hides a secret that will change Julian's life, and the world, forever. Red Ivy Afternoon is a post-modern odyssey through a future that is already upon us.

Genres: Science Fiction

164 pages, Hardcover

First published June 30, 2006

Reviews

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was about a 2.5, but since GR doesn't do 1/2 stars, I round up. I'm glad this was a short book, so it didn't take long to read. It seemed like a combination of other books I've read about dystopian societies... Banned books, the wealthy ruling the government, people unhappy... I just didn't enjoy it like others I've read. But, I was interested enough to finish reading it. I did find the comments about the electoral college quite interesting with the whole presidential election we just had. And this book was written in 2006... But, overall, I wasn't that impressed.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

A terrific book that does what all great science fiction books do, offers the reader a look at not just a world much like we know, yet alternate, and speculative, a world where the government is endlessly up to clandestine activities, really, corporations control the means to everything, no, revolution feels this close, well, maybe not, but also provides just enough little twists of imagination, for example, a mysterious, albeit plausible, white powder that instantly heals wounds, and just enough thrills and violence to make for a wholly enjoyable, and yet just different enough read to know you've encountered a book where the authtr is trying to do something a step removed from what we usually read, yet still create a world you can embrace.

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started well with great intrigue but then the how and why seemed to be glossed over so I lost the plot a little.

[jobiwan6 · Rating 3 out of 5]

also read "the damnation of memory" by same author. really liked both.