Candidate Spectrum
A Novel
by Brian Cato
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Pub Date Sep 15 2020 | Archive Date Oct 16 2020
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Description
Real-world superhero Spectrum is running for president. Will he be able to do more good for the world as a politician than as a superhero?
In Candidate Spectrum’s pre-dystopian world, author Brian Cato crafts a tale where humanity is headed towards a Dark Age of dissonance and mediocrity.
Having devoted his life to helping others, Spectrum won’t settle for a typical political career. After winning the Missouri governorship, he launches a 2020 presidential bid dedicated to fixing a country that Americans have consistently said is on the wrong track. But as he develops proposals for issues from a growing wealth gap to paralyzing partisanship, he realizes America’s troubles run deeper: a loss of individual agency and an increasing quantification of life that undermines morality and erodes humanity.
Meanwhile, his campaign is beset by problems. He never imagined how difficult it would be to run for president as an atheist immigrant from a destroyed planet who is honest and serious about the issues. His campaign must overcome him forgoing campaign events to rescue people in Bangladesh from a typhoon, and the public's fear of an alien takeover after a scientist offers to restart his race by cloning him. While Spectrum is eager to restore America to its place as a pioneer among nations, a failed campaign could mean the beginning of the end for the country.
A Note From the Publisher
Featured Reviews
Paul M, Reviewer
Spectrum, an alien superhero in the tradition of Superman, longs to make a difference in the world. Sure, he can save lives and prevent destruction with his ability to fly and to manipulate molecular structures, but what about the bigger problems? Inequality, hunger, sickness, economic woes, unrest, how can a superhero address these? In Brian Cato's Candidate Spectrum, Spectrum, a.k.a. Grant Goslin, decides to step aside from his career as a superhero to enter political life, where he thinks he can have a greater impact. He has no trouble being elected governor of Missouri, Congress finagles a way to allow him to run for president, and he joins the fray in the 2020 election.
This is a clever set-up for the story, and Cato has some fun with it. Spectrum's reflections on public service and the life of the superhero are at times interesting and engaging. As the story gets rolling, the story-telling style is very straightforward: this happened, then this happened, then this happened. I kept thinking, OK, Cato is setting the scene for the meat of the plot. Unfortunately, by the time in the book where you think it's bound to get more entertaining, Cato shifts to a lot of speechifying.
Here's the feeling I have. Rather than thinking, "I'm going to write a book about a superhero. As part of the story, I'll have him run for president, and that will frame the adventures and conflicts of the novel," Cato thought, "I have some political ideas and ideals I'd like to write about. I'll create a superhero story to communicate those ideas." In other words, this is a political pamphlet with the barest story, rather than a superhero story in which the superhero runs for office.
So, take it for what you will, but if you are interested in a new superhero backstory, with adventures in crime fighting and heroic deeds, you'll be disappointed. Spectrum is not terribly original, and really only serves as a mouthpiece for Cato's political ideas.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
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