Joshua Stelling has crafted a futuristic ballad steeped in science fiction. The setting is a modern Shangri-La existing not too many decades in the future, where self-sufficient machines leave humans with little to worry about. Even better, gene manipulation has stabilized humans, rid them of disease, even banished inconsequential annoyances such as ugliness. In this climate, people are left with plenty of time to explore their own selfish desires and their place in Halcyon, this computer enhanced world. Without the fear of death, humans can finally evolve to their fullest potential. However, in Halcyon, being an evolved human with almost unlimited potential does not equal freedom.
The imagery is undeniably beautiful in Genex of Halcyon. Stelling employs numerous metaphors and tangled dialogue, adding to the otherworldly feel of the text. The story takes place over a short period of time, yet the characters, and by extension the reader, experience great tumult. Stelling devotes much of the space in the novel to introspective drug fueled recollections and sexual gratification and less to the intriguing technologically advanced society of the 2050’s. The science surrounding the rise of the machines is explained in a compelling way, adding to the realism in such an imaginative book.
Genex of Halcyon fuses a stark dose of grim reality with scientific advancement and poetic grace to create a discordant yet sublime sci-fi gem.
