Pop
Travel Delivers Real World Issues in a Sci-Fi Setting
Full
Disclosure—I received a copy of this novel free in exchange for an honest
review.
I love science fiction. Love it. L-o-v-e i-t.
Science fiction is my morning coffee. It is the place my mind goes when the day
gets slow or dull. It is what I see behind my eyelids on my daily commute. When
I reach into that meditative place; that nominal realm that most writers tap
into for inspiration, science fiction spills from my fingertips. I’ve tried to
write literary fiction, honestly I have.
I say all this to let you know that I take science
fiction very seriously. It is my “wheel-house” so to speak. Having established
this I can honestly tell you that the worst thing about Tara Tyler’s Pop Travel is that I didn’t write it
myself. I’m jealous. It’s that good. Someone (I refuse to look it up, but it
was probably Vonnegut) once said that the best fiction, the only relevant
fiction, will reveal truths about humanity. Tyler has created a world in which
the frightening implications corporate greed and domestic surveillance come to
full reality. Best of all, she’s done it in a way that seems convincingly true
to life.
J.L. Cooper is a private investigator hired to look
into a recent rash of disappearances. All missing persons are linked to pop
travel, a long range transportation device that dominates the travel industry
of 2080. The corporate over-bosses of PTI (Pop Travel Industries) know that
their device occasionally kills people, but refuse to reveal this over fear of
public backlash and a reduction of the bottom-line. To make matters worse, PTI
has the support of the FBI who can tap into all web enabled devices to monitor
and intercept anyone who tries to uncover the truth. Suffice to say, Cooper has
a difficult task to surmount.
Tara Tyler mixes hard science concepts with modern
day problems (ah-hem…Snowden). Her pacing is Dan Brown-ish, which I say as a
compliment. Any fan of fast-paced science fiction would enjoy this book.
Description:
POP TRAVEL is the way to go!
(at your own risk!)
In 2080, technology has gone too far for J. L. Cooper. He is happily hidden in his simple, secluded life as a private detective in a small town, far from any pop travel laser teleportation stations. Until he takes on a client who insists pop travel made his fiancé disappear.
When Cooper investigates, he finds evidence of pop travel’s deadly flaw, sparking a series of murders, attempts on his life, and threats to his brother. He’d like to pass off the evidence but knows he’s being watched and can’t trust anyone. And who would believe him?
The only way he can save his brother is to fool his observers while looking for a way to expose the problem. He decides to go to the source and confront the Creator of pop travel. On his way, Cooper meets Southern siren, Geri Harper (an undercover FBI agent) who tags along despite his protests. When they reach the Creator, he has plans of his own and leads them on a wild detour.
