"A complex, timely, and engaging dystopian tale... It's a high-stakes tale that offers a timely spin on the familiar dystopian scenarios of such works as Nineteen Eighty-Four and Brave New World... Lopez shows himself to be a skilled, confident storyteller, and where he goes from here will be intriguing to watch." Our Verdict: GET IT —Kirkus Reviews

"...memorable, influential saga... Chapter titles are delightfully creative... descriptions are succinct and hard-hitting... the certainties and insecurities of youth and digital gods alike create unexpected and alluring juxtapositions... ...a story that is truly immersive and satisfyingly unpredictable. Libraries seeking uniquely creative standouts in the genre of apocalyptic science fiction... will want to make The Ascension Directive a 'must have' on their acquisition lists. Much more than the usual dystopian sci-fi story... a unique read—especially paired with a hard science focus that gives it a powerful edge of realistic possibility." —D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

"..excavates the emotional fallout of a society hellbent on 'fixing' everything... [Lopez's] writing style is wildly unpredictable—lyrical in one sentence, brutally direct in the next... These characters ache... for freedom that doesn't come with a barcode... made me feel unsettled in the best way... It's emotional, it's thoughtful, and it pulls no punches. If you liked The Giver but wish it had more grit, or if Black Mirror ever made you cry instead of just freak out, this one's for you." — Literary Titan ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"A thought-provoking and intense science fiction novel... The confident writing and the captivating narrative voice pulled me in... This gripping novel had me racing through the pages. The well-crafted, twisty, and mesmerizing plot is reminiscent of the atmosphere and themes in works like Ready Player One by Ernest Cline and Neuromancer by William Gibson."

— Christian Sia, Readers' Favorite ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Timely and scary in its dissection of one possible future with AI, Cal Lopez's THE ASCENSION DIRECTIVE is a captivating piece of dystopian science fiction."  — Craig Jones for IndieReader