Corinth 2642 AD by Bindiya Shaefer
Started: 19 January 2022
Finished: 26 January 2022
This one is fun; the first indie published book I’ve written about in book thoughts. And even more, I know a little about this book’s journey to becoming published, so it’s very cool and more than a little inspiring to be able to hold Corinth in my hands and think about how this is one of the stories that made it from draft manuscript to published, ISBN-toting book.
This is a story I probably wouldn’t have picked up usually. It’s a futuristic detective story, set in 2642 AD. While science fiction is a soft yes for me (and to be fair, I am on a bit of a science fiction kick right now) detective stories are usually a miss. That said, I am enjoying the novel’s progression so far, and I’m almost halfway through. It’s a little of a slow start for me, but the premise is unfortunately relatable to 2022, and I’m driven forward by that and by the science fiction flourishes demonstrating a vision of what the future could look like.
Forecasting future technologies and world events is something I personally find incredibly daunting as a writer. So I give kudos to Schaefer, because the vast majority of the tech and worldbuilding she describes feels possible enough and plausibly set up in this version of our world. Partly dystopian aftermath, partly a world that has learned some lessons, but avoided learning others, the idea today that we make it another 600 years is hope I find bordering on utopian, honestly.
Due to the magic of blogging, I’m back! And I’ve finished Corinth 2642 AD. This is a promising debut novel from a promising author. It tackles important, relevant issues – the persistence of white supremacist hate – in a story with fluid, clean prose, dynamic characters, and a fascinating vision of the future. The slow start did persist for me into the middle section of the book, but I will say, when the plot does turn on the gas, it was a mad dash to the end. I happily curled up and enjoyed the ride with our characters. If I had gotten a little more time with some of them, I think some pivotal moments at the end of the book would have hit me a bit harder.
This would be an especially great book for someone who likes mysteries but wants to branch out into science fiction, or someone new to the science fiction genre. I am excited to see what Schaefer writes next, and I hope I’ve convinced you to consider reading (or listening!) to Corinth 2642 AD to experience it yourself.
2022 Reads
- Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
- Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
- Corinth 2642 AD by Bindiya Schaefer