A Stark, All-Too- Plausible Near Future
The premise of the aptly named ââ?¬Å"Zero Sum Conclusionââ?¬Â? by Thomas Lopinski captured me from the beginning. In 2033 the U.S. erupted into a second civil war. It was short, but the results were life-altering for society and our republic. In an effort to create a new society where everyone truly has the same opportunities, the government makes several bold moves. Every adult now receives 1 million dollars when they turn 18 rather than the standard benefits of the former Social Security, Medicare, and traditional health benefits. That may not seem like much money now, but the government also rolled back the value of the dollar to 1950s prices. Everyone is now free to determine their future paths without being destitute while pursuing their dreams.
This and many other changes following the Second Civil War sure do seem like great ideas. In fact, so many of the social changes many people are pushing in our present day are reflected in this thought-provoking novel. Before you decide that you�re not interested because it�s either going to a pro-conservative or pro-progressive story, let me assure you that this is not the case. There were times when a character seemed progressive while others seemed conservative, or somewhere on the spectrum. But I did not feel that the story offered a slant toward one or the other. Much like a stand-up comedian before the country went PC, everyone gets their moment in the spotlight here; every group, idea, or creed faces criticism at some point.
As much as the government has tried to do away with any type of class system, it sadly rears its reconstructed head. Society has a new form of classification based upon when a person receives their windfall. Most choose the ââ?¬Å"Front-Loaderââ?¬Â? option mentioned above where 18-year-olds receive a million dollars. But there is another option. One can choose to be a ââ?¬Å"Back-Enderââ?¬Â? and wait until retirement at age 50 to claim their money. If they do that, the government rewards them with two million instead of one. All government employees fall into the Back-Ender category. This is where Edgar, as an FBI agent, falls. He lives a simple, fairly standard life without a lot of frills, looking forward to his large retirement payoff. Until a computer glitch upends his world.
Then there�s Ketchum. He�s just turning 18 and receiving his cool million. He�s got *ahem* about a million ideas for spending his money. Then he meets a beautiful girl who rocks his world and has a different plan for that million.
This is a very poignant, thought-provoking, conversation-starting novel infused with a touch of satire. All of this is wrapped up in a fast-paced mind-blowing story that could very well have you reading late into the night as Edgar and Ketchum meet while trying to outrun their nightmares. Now we see a different side to the new society and the choices the government has made to even the playing field for all. Itââ?¬â?¢s devious, treacherous, and possibly even more corrupt than the historical government it replaced. The shadow of George Orwellââ?¬â?¢s ââ?¬Å"Big Brotherââ?¬Â? is cast throughout this novel as people are fed pablum by the news outlets and kept in the dark about real-world events. Itââ?¬â?¢s going to take a brilliant light to overcome this shadow.
Themes of family, resilience, sacrifice, and corruption are woven throughout this intricate tale. There are interesting characters throughout for readers to like or loathe, although some will alter your perception. This is a great book to read with a book club or friends, as there will be thoughts and concepts youââ?¬â?¢ll want to discuss with others. Thomas Lopinskiââ?¬â?¢s ââ?¬Å"Zero Sum Conclusionââ?¬Â? reads more like literary fiction with a very subdued form of satire, making it a perfect fit for those who enjoy more cerebral reads. But make no mistake, there is intrigue, suspense, mystery, and adventure within these pages.
