Cover Image: Golden State

Golden State

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

The Californian coast grumbles and stretches before settling down once more. Yet the truth is now the only bedrock on which the "Golden State" rests, and preserving that one ‘commandment’ is everything.

Illustrious landmarks are consigned to the minds of readers, as the characters residing in this new prophetic reality find that history has been forgotten in favour of relentlessly capturing the activity of every citizen 24/7, for their own protection, and that of the State.

Everyone self-censors their speech and carefully considers the implications of any statement they make. Their intentions are frequently qualified to avoid being accused of the worst crime imaginable - failing to tell the truth. This leads to some farcical conversation exchanges that are brilliantly maddening while reinforcing the gravity of the law.

And the law is diligently enforced to ensure there are no exceptions. No get out of jail card free. Do not pass go. Mr Lazlo Ratesic makes a huge and memorable impression as an investigator in this alternate world, not only because of his imposing physical appearance, but he is the equivalent of a human lie detector. He has permission to ‘speculate’ when things don’t quite add up, everyone else mustn’t stray from knowable facts – even their greetings are affirmations of facts!

Mr Ratestic’s commitment, his conscience, and even his occasional offensive bark took me on a colossally impressive journey, although it did arrive at rather a sketchy stop. Even so, this didn’t spoil my overall enjoyment. It just felt a little abrupt, is all.

The "Golden State" is a sobering read with an authoritative and convincing voice. It pools striking theories that challenge the beliefs of the characters, tears out their hearts, and has them second-guessing what they truly consider to be ‘Objectively So’.

Was this review helpful?

Excellent Sci-Fi with themes that are very relevant today. There are a few minor annoyances but overall a very good read.

Was this review helpful?

This book was a little slow to start and get used to due to the setting and the way people spoke to one another within but once you got used to that the plot and mystery really pulled you in making you want to keep reading to find out just what the hell was going on in this crazy new world where lies are a criminal offense.

The mystery is well done with lots of twists and turns and I certainly didn't see all of them coming which is always a good thing. I liked the ending and the world setting was amazing.

Would defently recommend to those that love crime novels and also science fiction set in on earth after the current world has fallen.

Was this review helpful?

This was advertised as inspired by The Handmaid's tale which piqued my interest. I do not feel that it is similar in any way other than it is set in a future governed by rules and regulations. It seems to me that the rules are unclear and never explained and the weird talent that the Speculators possess I find unexciting.
I am sorry but this book is not for me, I find it boring.

Was this review helpful?

Fantastic Orwellian thriller that takes the ministry of truth and turns it up to 11. Beautiful prose that flow right through from start to finish. A mystery that has more twists and turns than an Alpine back road.

Was this review helpful?

Set in America in an determinate future, Ben H.Winters’ speculative fiction, Golden State, hints at the impact of today’s political and social issues on social structure and cohesion through mandatory governmental surveillance and monitoring of truth, reality, conformity and freedom of speech. A mystery thriller, a speculative who-dun-it, but also a chilling insight into a possible future? Fans of Margaret Attwood’s A Handmaid’s Tale will appreciate this novel as much as I did. I found it fascinating, riveting and could not put it down.

Was this review helpful?

A mark of a great book is when the main premise is present throughout the entire novel, shaping it and constantly bringing home to the reader exactly why and what is happening.
This is such a book.
It is very, very clever. Within this novel, falsehood is illegal. Lying will get you locked up, or worse, exiled. This is the basic premise. And added to it are the best and most current dystopian tropes - a great and secure walled or enclosed country/city/state, and an expanse of obliterated wasteland outside of it, a ruined Earth of our near future.
It's what makes the tension racket up in so many of these dystopian novels - think of the Handmaid's Tale, for example. This too, echoes that great work.
Laszlo is a 'cop' in this Golden State of truth. He ferrets out lies. He actually (almost literally) smells them out. He has built his life on being Truth. And it's wonderful to read, as his is the voice of the narrator - and he only knows how to narrate in facts, in truthful statements. It lends a wonderfully creepy and absurd view of his world, and when it crumbles, provides some truly great writing.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys the great classic dystopias of Philip K. Dick and Margaret Atwood. Winters is an author worthy of the link to these names!

Was this review helpful?

I’m the BIGGEST fan of The Last Policeman trilogy so to say I was excited to read “Golden State” would be a serious understatement.

It didn’t disappoint- this is a hugely relevant speculative tale, but also a massively entertaining piece of fiction that had me banging through it in record time…

Laz is brilliant, so engaging, living in the shadow of his legendary brother, one of the few people tasked with keeping the record quite literally straight as he senses lies in the air around him.

The world Ben Winters builds here is utterly fascinating. Everyone is watched, recorded, logged 24/7. People open conversations by quoting verifiable facts at each other, a lie is illegal and the harshest punishment is exile into a world before that no longer exists. There are too many layers to this inventive, totally believable place to get them all across in a simple review but it is pretty much the opposite of how we live now.

We learn all this through the eyes of Laz, who is an utter believer in the system and it’s protection of citizens. Indeed this is a world you may nod along with, reasonably convinced through the power of this character that it is absolutely justified and right. It took me a while to find an issue with it…

Then a man falls from a roof, there are definitely anomalies, Laz is thrown together with a new partner and together they will uncover something more than the truth…and his world will change forever.

This was beautifully twisted in its mystery elements and throws up so many thought provoking moral quandaries your head will spin. That’s quite apart from the twists of plot that are so often unexpected, there’s no predicting the outcome of this one although you might think so – and even if there was, speculation is illegal don’t you know unless you are authorised…

I loved it. Quirky, clever and very timely, I will state that “Objectively So” Golden State is a truly excellent piece of storytelling.

Highly Recommended.

Was this review helpful?