February 3rd, 2021 by Jane Turner
This book review of The Visitor by Louvie G. Tucker comes courtesy of a Blog Tour hosted by Rachel’s Random Resources. I received a free copy of the ebook. The Visitor was self-published on 15 January 2021. Books like THIS are why I chose to be an editor.
Nusans don’t cause trouble. Peter is a good Nusan. Single, annoyed with his best friend’s constant blind dates, and comfortably provided for with his job as a genmod technician, he spends his days telling expectant parents what their unborn children will look like. For a fee, he can modify physical and mental traits.
To ensure Nusa’s perfect society, however, it is law that all babies must be born with white skin, an IQ 120 or above, and without any illnesses or disabilities. These modifications are free of charge. It’s the law. And good Nusans obey the law. The people of Susa, however, are known to be troublemakers.
Thank goodness the dark-skinned Susans all live south of the border, in Susa. The closest Peter ever has to come to a dangerous Susan is either on the silver screen being vanquished by a heroic Nusan hero or on the news as deporters — the force charged to keep Nusa safe — prepare to send them south to Susa.
That is, until a dark-skinned visitor is suddenly inside the four walls of Peter’s quiet existence. Snarky. Irreverent and without any regard for the rules, the stranger should be a Susan but is he? Why is he claiming to have fallen from the stars?
Everything Peter knows is suddenly in question and even his status as a good Nusan is under threat as deporters seek him out on suspicion of a capital crime. Has Peter caused trouble?
Life as Peter has known it is fragile. Can he survive long enough to learn the truth? And will he even want to believe it once he finds it?
The premise behind this one is that the United States is no more. It’s now split in two, with Nusa and Susa (North and South). Our characters are Nusan, a highly controlled society – with citizens so zealous and patriotic that I view them as brainwashed. We don’t know what Susa is really like. The only depictions of Susa and Susans are in Nusan films and on the news – propaganda by any other name – where they’re always stupid, violent and not comparable to Nusans in any way. According to the official party line, Susans are only interested in destroying the Nusan way of life.
Sound familiar? No? Read the second paragraph of the blurb again.
What Mr Tucker has achieved here is a social commentary in a futuristic setting. Nusan’s bigotry, fear and propaganda has resulted in a highly structured society based on genetic modification – parents know exactly how their child will look and behave in adulthood, even down to what job they will get. And the most desirable features? Skin colour, height, and attractiveness. Which, for men, also equates to penis size.
Yep. There you go.
However, this is first book in the Corrupted Genes series gives us those inklings of bucking the system. Peter is starting to question.
The Visitor is self-published, which doesn’t really surprise me. This could be considered way too controversial for standard publishers. But I sincerely agree with the author that it’s a story that needs telling, and putting in in a futuristic setting makes the comparisons relatable without being rammed down your throat. An accurate narrative of today’s world in a scifi setting, a parable for 21st century society.
And I can tell it’s self-published because I can tell it hasn’t received a professional edit. That said, it didn’t detract at all from my enjoyment of the story, and only a little from my enjoyment of the reading experience.
THIS is why I got into editing – books like this. I would love, LOVE, to help Mr Tucker with book 2 – which is also a way of getting my hands on it as soon as possible! Hey, Mr Tucker, need a hand with books 2 and 3? Seriously, just give me a shout. 🙂
The Visitor is very highly recommended on it’s story alone. Innovative, evocative and a story that needs to be told.
Keep writing, Mr Tucker. I need to know what happens!
Louvie G. Tucker lives and works in the Pacific Northwest with his wife. Born in Buffalo, New York, he’s called various U.S. states, Japan, and China home at points in his life. When he’s not working in cyber security, he enjoys rock climbing, staying up to date on current events, keeping up with his Japanese language skills, and riding his bicycle. He is currently working on the second book in the Corrupted Genes series.
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