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Revolution 2050
Samuel Moore is living a dystopian lie…
After a civil war, the North American Commonwealth now dominates the eastern half of the former United States. Controlled by a totalitarian regime called the Directorate, the NAC demands compliance, awareness, and unity. A Directorate member and teacher, Sam enjoys the benefits while skirting the forbidden.
Then Sam encounters Katie Spencer. She sneaks him a short wave radio and he hears the Western Alliance broadcasts. Katie also reveals a video she captured of NAC death camps. Sam realizes he’s involved in a nightmare that could shake every foundation.
With the video broadcast date approaching and several students desperate to escape to the Western Alliance, Sam is forced to decide. Remain loyal to the Directorate? Or abandon all he’s ever known to fight for freedom?
After a civil war, the North American Commonwealth now dominates the eastern half of the former United States. Controlled by a totalitarian regime called the Directorate, the NAC demands compliance, awareness, and unity. A Directorate member and teacher, Sam enjoys the benefits while skirting the forbidden.
Then Sam encounters Katie Spencer. She sneaks him a short wave radio and he hears the Western Alliance broadcasts. Katie also reveals a video she captured of NAC death camps. Sam realizes he’s involved in a nightmare that could shake every foundation.
With the video broadcast date approaching and several students desperate to escape to the Western Alliance, Sam is forced to decide. Remain loyal to the Directorate? Or abandon all he’s ever known to fight for freedom?
330 pages, Paperback
Published April 3, 2018
2 people are currently reading
323 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 8, 2017
In this day and age, we once again need reminders that each generation must fight for its own freedoms or it will lose them. What better plotline to borrow than the original: Orwell’s 1984. A dystopian society, close enough to our own to be scary. A repressive regime. A disaffected lower-level Party member, afraid to buck the system, but at the same time unable to follow the rest of the sheep any more. The question is, can one person make a difference? If so, how?
In Revolution 2050 we have a middle-American high school setting. Sam is a 27-year-old teacher who is beginning to have second thoughts about his support for the Directorate. He meets Katie, and sparks of various kinds fly.
A measure of quality of such a novel is whether the main character’s journeys, inner and outer, ring true. Is Sam near enough to reality to enthuse us, to make us believe that yes, one person can make a difference? In the case of this book, the author mostly carries it off. Except for one large coincidence that allows the story to proceed and the hero succeed against unbeatable odds, we are led, step by step, through the development of an ordinary person into a true hero. Can a meek schoolteacher become a tough revolutionary? It seems he can.
The first half of the book is taken up with Sam’s slow change in attitude, so the action is more inner than exterior. In the second half, the agonizing is over, the action starts and the tempo speeds up considerably.
Well-written if not completely original. Recommended for dystopian history fans, and especially YA readers who really need to hear this theme one more time.
PS
This author probably thinks he hired an editor. He didn’t. He got a decent job of proofreading for spelling and usage errors. All the other mistakes – like using “suddenly” four times in half a page with little action – are the kind of error an editor picks up.
In Revolution 2050 we have a middle-American high school setting. Sam is a 27-year-old teacher who is beginning to have second thoughts about his support for the Directorate. He meets Katie, and sparks of various kinds fly.
A measure of quality of such a novel is whether the main character’s journeys, inner and outer, ring true. Is Sam near enough to reality to enthuse us, to make us believe that yes, one person can make a difference? In the case of this book, the author mostly carries it off. Except for one large coincidence that allows the story to proceed and the hero succeed against unbeatable odds, we are led, step by step, through the development of an ordinary person into a true hero. Can a meek schoolteacher become a tough revolutionary? It seems he can.
The first half of the book is taken up with Sam’s slow change in attitude, so the action is more inner than exterior. In the second half, the agonizing is over, the action starts and the tempo speeds up considerably.
Well-written if not completely original. Recommended for dystopian history fans, and especially YA readers who really need to hear this theme one more time.
PS
This author probably thinks he hired an editor. He didn’t. He got a decent job of proofreading for spelling and usage errors. All the other mistakes – like using “suddenly” four times in half a page with little action – are the kind of error an editor picks up.
November 30, 2017
Samuel Aden Moore is a high school teacher for the North American Commonwealth. The NAC is a totalitarian regime that controls the eastern half of the US. Sam is a member of the Directorate which rules the NAC. He has always followed the party line while enjoying some of the forbidden contraband, such as novels and history books.
When some of his students introduced him to the ideology of the Western Alliance his resolve to remain an arm of the Directorate starts to crack. Then Katie Spenser provides him a short-wave radio where he can listen to the WA broadcasts. She also has a video of the death camps run by the NAC. Now, Sam questions everything he has been taught.
Chalk’s novel, Revolution 2050, caught me hook, link, and sinker right off the bat. I dove eagerly into this book and rapidly consumed Part 1. Part 2 was the total opposite. It was long and boring. Chalk even delved into the paranormal here. This section could have easily been condensed into a couple of chapters or for the most part cut completely out of the book. Part 3 recaptured my interest but not to the level as the beginning. The ending left the story wide open to a sequel.
Watching Sam struggle with his morality and grow into a leader was well written. The overall storyline is very original. The similarities with many things happening currently in our real world are eerily concerning. This novel certainly proves Edmund Burke’s quote – “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
A good editor is needed to clean up and streamline the story. The middle punched the air out of my balloon. Therefore, I am unable to give more than 3 out of 5 stars.
I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book for free from the publisher. This in no way affected my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
When some of his students introduced him to the ideology of the Western Alliance his resolve to remain an arm of the Directorate starts to crack. Then Katie Spenser provides him a short-wave radio where he can listen to the WA broadcasts. She also has a video of the death camps run by the NAC. Now, Sam questions everything he has been taught.
Chalk’s novel, Revolution 2050, caught me hook, link, and sinker right off the bat. I dove eagerly into this book and rapidly consumed Part 1. Part 2 was the total opposite. It was long and boring. Chalk even delved into the paranormal here. This section could have easily been condensed into a couple of chapters or for the most part cut completely out of the book. Part 3 recaptured my interest but not to the level as the beginning. The ending left the story wide open to a sequel.
Watching Sam struggle with his morality and grow into a leader was well written. The overall storyline is very original. The similarities with many things happening currently in our real world are eerily concerning. This novel certainly proves Edmund Burke’s quote – “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
A good editor is needed to clean up and streamline the story. The middle punched the air out of my balloon. Therefore, I am unable to give more than 3 out of 5 stars.
I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book for free from the publisher. This in no way affected my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
March 14, 2018
From the first chapter to the climatic, the tension in Revolution 2050 ratchets up tight as both Sam and Katie struggle to find the right path to take, the right way to fight for the rights and freedoms of themselves and those they love. Sam and Katie find themselves both drawn into a battle with high stakes, and their choices may save or sacrifice the people around them. With unexpected twists and turns, unexpected possibilities of betrayal and reconciliation, Revolution 2050 takes a new path into the realm of dystopian thrillers. I highly recommend it!
May 16, 2018
I won a copy of this book.
I wanted this book the minute I read the blurb for it. Chalk imagines a future where The United States has had a war and broken apart. A high school teacher learns of the land beyond his territory and sparks a chain of events that will change everything. YA dystopia at its best!
I wanted this book the minute I read the blurb for it. Chalk imagines a future where The United States has had a war and broken apart. A high school teacher learns of the land beyond his territory and sparks a chain of events that will change everything. YA dystopia at its best!
January 11, 2018
I won an ARC of this book on Goodreads. This was a pretty good offering in the science fiction and war genres. Good realistic characters stand out here, with a pretty good plot to boot. Even though there will probably be a sequel or two to this novel,the story ended on a good note and not a cliffhanger. all in all, a read worth your time.
August 6, 2022
Revolution 2050 is an intriguing dystopian novel set in a world where the USA, as we know it, has collapsed.
Sam Moore, resides in the North American Commonwealth ruled by the brutal, fascist Directorate. Although nominally a party member, his only joy in this world comes from teaching, walking a fine line between party doctrine and prodding his pupils to think for themselves. A chance encounter with Katie, a New York NAC employee and secret supporter of the Western Alliance turns his world on its heels. Listening to a prohibited radio opens his eyes to the chaos and the killings within the NACs borders.
I really enjoyed this one. The character progression was excellent - seeing Sam grow from a loyal Directorate member into someone who openly questioned and even resisted their rule came across naturally. Some of the themes were similar to other dystopian works, but there was enough fresh twists and outlooks to keep the reader engaged.
Well worth checking out!
Sam Moore, resides in the North American Commonwealth ruled by the brutal, fascist Directorate. Although nominally a party member, his only joy in this world comes from teaching, walking a fine line between party doctrine and prodding his pupils to think for themselves. A chance encounter with Katie, a New York NAC employee and secret supporter of the Western Alliance turns his world on its heels. Listening to a prohibited radio opens his eyes to the chaos and the killings within the NACs borders.
I really enjoyed this one. The character progression was excellent - seeing Sam grow from a loyal Directorate member into someone who openly questioned and even resisted their rule came across naturally. Some of the themes were similar to other dystopian works, but there was enough fresh twists and outlooks to keep the reader engaged.
Well worth checking out!
January 18, 2018
I got this as a Goodreads give away. I have to say the setting and premise are very interesting, and the main character is pretty well developed. There are some flaws however. There is a bit of mysticism/magic in the middle that seems out of place, there are a couple of characters that seem to suddenly act differently without great development or reason. The ending wraps things up but adds an opening for another book, which would be fine except it seems hammered in. I wouldn't steer anyone away from this, and Mr. Chalk certainly has an interesting vision and some undoubted talent, but still needs some development. As this is his first book, I am excited to see where his talents will go, but I wouldn't prioritize this as a read.
July 10, 2019
This is actually a four and a half star book.
I read this despite the fact it's not my normal genre. But I really enjoyed it. The entire story is grounded in realism as opposed to the typical dystopian tropes.
I really enjoyed the character building. They were all multi-faceted.
The main character cares about his country and family and it's grounded in morality. Plus it's just as much a drama and romance as it is science fiction and dystopia.
If you are looking for something different in dystopia, this is it!
I read this despite the fact it's not my normal genre. But I really enjoyed it. The entire story is grounded in realism as opposed to the typical dystopian tropes.
I really enjoyed the character building. They were all multi-faceted.
The main character cares about his country and family and it's grounded in morality. Plus it's just as much a drama and romance as it is science fiction and dystopia.
If you are looking for something different in dystopia, this is it!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews