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  Bitroux: High Country  Jordan Harcourt-Hughes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Genre:  Science Fiction View on Amazon:  https://amzn.to/4gwvdVJ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BLURB: If Merouac ever thought his life’s work would culminate in leading the metal workshops of the Transcontinental Railroad Project, he was sorely mistaken.   Now, his true challenge lies in navigating the other-worldly abilities he’s only beginning to understand—abilities that allow him to tune metal to interdimensional frequencies. While trying to be a guardian to his niece, Evra, he’s realising she may have more to teach him than he ever expected. At the same time, his decision to help an interdimensional race find refuge underground puts him at the centre of an even deeper mystery. As reality reshapes itself around him, Merouac faces a growing realisation: the world of Ahm is on the brink of a profound transformation, and everything he thought he knew may soon be shattered. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ EXCERPT : ‘Well, yes,’ s...

Review: Dry Rain by Kevin C. McClanahan


"Tears streamed down his cheeks as they did down the cheeks of his ancestors. They cried together. Pastor Breedlove connected with the emotion of history repeated and atrocities continued. The murmurs grew to a crescendo as the image of women in white dropping to the ground encircled the gathering like crisp wisps of light. He had placed his stamp of approval on death, just as the preachers of old did on the first ships that left the shores of America seeking to find and deliver their first human cargo." (p. 158, print edition)

★★★★★

Review:

This is a review originally written for Reedsy Discovery. This book has had such a major impact on me that I immediately purchased a physical copy (since books like this one are likely to be banned). It has lived rent-free in my head for the past week as I watch themes from this book unfold under Trump's second presidential term, so now, I bring it to you here, and I urge you to read this story.

Haunting and poignant, multiple stories converge to paint an extreme yet plausible dystopian future in a radicalized Christian America.

When a group of fishermen comes across naked women dancing around a fire in the woods, a witch hunt ensues. Before long, irrational fear and radicalized religion lead to a law being passed that leads to the arrest of adults and children on suspicion of witchcraft. From the use of a Ouija board to reading paranormal fiction, the number of “crimes” that can lead to incarceration is endless. Meanwhile, an opportunistic authoritarian president uses this panic in the Midwest to strengthen his radical Christian nationalist agenda. Selflessness still thrives in a Black teenage girl, Mica, who will employ her faith in God for good, insisting on a procedure that will save her misunderstood friend, a Dominican gang member named Nico. Pastor Breedlove, a Black pastor, will fight against the radicalization and abuse of his faith, and the Black National Security Advisor, Brigadier General Paul Williams, will make a harrowing decision in defense of the Constitution he fought to uphold.

A blend of literary fiction and dystopian fiction, Dry Rain warns of a future that may not be out of the realm of possibility for the United States. Each of the interconnected stories in Dry Rain may appear extreme. However, when we reflect on how Hitler rose to power and led a genocide of Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals, and the physically and mentally disabled, in the current polarized political climate of America, it is not an impossibility. This poignant novel by Kevin C. McClanahan, a Black judge and pastor, is at once frightening and powerful in its message. Brilliantly plotted, I was captivated from start to finish.

Dry Rain highlights the impact of prejudice, racism, intolerance, and despotism. It contains violence and explicit language–including racial slurs–but for a mature young reader reading with a trusted educator or parent, this book would open up an incredible opportunity for discussion and reflection. Dry Rain is a hidden gem and would be worthy of assigned reading in high school and university or as a book club selection.

Audience: adult, mature young adult
Trigger warnings: racism, child death, child illness, incarceration, abuse of power, death, abductions, gun violence
Recommended for fans of: African American fiction, dystopian fiction, literary fiction

Publisher's Synopsis:

In the heart of Independence, Missouri, a Black pastor's leadership sparks a devastating wave of fear and suspicion as rumors of witches grip the town. As new laws against witchcraft take hold, paranoia tears through the community, leading to dangerous accusations and tragic consequences, but also repentance and resistance. Amidst this chaos, a young Black girl, guided by a divine calling, befriends a troubled Dominican gang member. Her selfless act of compassion comes with a profound sacrifice, highlighting the power of empathy in a world overshadowed by fear.

In Washington D.C., a Black four-star general serves as national security advisor to a morally bankrupt president, whose Trumpian agenda exploits the witch hysteria to push a radical Christian nationalism. As the president's authoritarian grip tightens, the general faces a harrowing choice between patriotism and loyalty. His decision culminates in a shocking climax, revealing the high stakes of standing up against tyranny.

Dry Rain weaves together threads of faith, sacrifice, and political intrigue in a gripping tale where personal bravery and moral integrity confront the darkest facets of power and prejudice.

Source:

Reedsy Discovery

©Kevin C. McClanahan: November 11, 2024
Edition: digital review copy
245 pages

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