Anticipation Day By Jeff Michelson, A Book Review

A Sci-Fi novel set in 2030 about a simulation of any kind being available to citizens to live a different scenario from their present life, or relive a time from their memories as if they are really there, back in time. There are several characters, and the story is long, and even though it is interesting, the pace was slow in many areas, which waned my attention. The characters starting out in the novel are not revealed again once the simulation stories begin, which I was disappointed with because I had unanswered questions about one of the characters.

The simulation stories were interesting, and some were very detailed, appearing to have been well researched, while others, not so much. I got the emotions and thoughts of each character, but never reached the solid connection to them that I wanted to happen, which kept me from rooting for one or another during their dilemmas. Each simulation was different and explained to understand why they chose that anticipation, but the context or writing was raw, so I couldn’t immerse myself in the story with the character. I just didn’t feel it like I wanted to.

Connecting the characters was also hard for me. Yes, they knew each other but didn’t really interact to reveal their connection, meaning just friends, lovers, acquaintances, or nothing. I questioned what sustained their being in the story with each other. At times, some aspects of how one knew another were mentioned, but they didn’t interact with each other enough to provide a foundation for development and for my thoughts to analyze and connect with. I could only stand on the outside and watch what happened in the story.

Throughout the whole tale, I wondered how it would all end because I wasn’t tying it all together, and I was disappointed. It felt like the whole thing didn’t come together as a storyline from start to finish, but rather short stories of people and what happened in their lives. I get what I believe it was supposed to do, but the common thread through it all was just too wide and thin, or had too many characters not meshing to keep it together. I am not sure which it was.

I think this could be a great story, but it needed a little more work. Because of the raw areas and the storyline issues I had to give it a 3 out of 5 stars.