Book Review - Unfettered Journey by Gary F. Bengier

My Rating - 4 out of 5 stars

Publisher - Chiliagon Press
Genre - Sci-fi
Publishing year - 2020
Language - English
ISBN - 978-1648860140
Pages - 530 

My Review -

Unfettered Journey by Gary F. Bengier probes us to learn the philosophical aspects of nature, subconscious, and AI. In the year 2161, after the Climate war, there is a lack of natural resources. People rely on bots and modern technology. The government divides remaining humans into levels; in simple terms, it is like caste, where some people relish others' suffering. 

Joe is a theoretical mathematician. To understand the free will of the mind and AI consciousness, he needs time, so he joined a college as a sabbatical professor. The female protagonist Evie is one of the leaders of an anti-level movement. She met Joe Denkensmith by chance, and he helped him to avoid cop bots. Their different perspective about the levels and robots gave Joe a new aspiration. The more they spend time together, the more they attract to each other. 

Meanwhile, something strange starts happening with the bots, and Joe and Evie are banished for three years for breaking the law. They are sent to Empty Zone, where the chances of their survival are nether. Their journey is full of struggles; they have plenty of time but limited resources. With the help of each other, they understand the meaning of free will and human survival instincts. 

The story portrays a different layer of emotions and urges. Even after the awful extinction, people think about themselves first, and the division was there in the form of levels. In his debut book, Gary F. Bengier manifest that human growth is slow but a gradual process. One can live in the wild without technology like the story's leads, but our desire to give the next generation a luxurious life questions our past and present activity. 

The book questions an old topic of God and religion, and if there is a creator who is described as She, not He by the author. Joe and Evie are set on a path to understands the meaning of their existence, universal truth, and consciousness. The book is filled with impactful messages and conversations that help you think about the future we are heading.

Written in lucid language, the author also provides a glossary at the end for technical terms. The plot is intriguing, and a particular aspect is mind-blowing. If you're looking for some speculative sci-fi book recommendations, here is the one you should read. I recommend it. 

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