The Past (VanWest #1)
Published May 2020, Paperback 195 pages
The Past is the first book in the VanWest series, about an Enforcer who lives in a dystopian Earth of the year 3000 and works for an authoritarian ruler called the Universal Council. Tasked with travelling through time to stop a renegade sect, that seeks to change Earth’s past, he comes to learn about his dark origins and his unique ability.
Falling in love with the daughter of its leader, he returns to the present to face a difficult choice, whether or not to save her. And be part of the New Beginning.
User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
Sometimes you take a risk on a new author and it pays off. As someone who has love for dystopian novels that focus on the underpinnings of society, I really enjoyed where the author went with this book. The societal critique/philosophy isn't so strong as to take away from the entertainment value. I can tell that Kenneth Thomas really polished this piece of work as he doesn't run into the standard errors I see with sci-fi and new authors in general - which is to have clear blind spots. In other words, when I read a new indie author I often see brushes of greatness in things such as prose, dialogue, and plot points, but they simply haven't put in the required polish necessary to produce a fully realized work. This is forgivable, as even highly esteemed authors run into these issues within their less regarded works. So, it's a pleasant surprise when a new author has been meticulous with putting together a book that is enjoyable without sacrificing substance, deep without being unnecessarily flashy (or try-hard with impressing the reader, for lack of a better term). And this is coming from the sci-fi genre no less, which - though I enjoy it - seems to provide more leeway when it comes to saying incredible world-building at the expense of dialogue and prose that falls flat.
What are you in for when you start reading? A book that does the basics well. Yes, you have a parallel society, time travel, and other standard sci-fi elements. But very quickly, the book puts you on your toes. It starts to become a real page-turner - all without the standard "cheap" elements designed to move forward a plot. It truly does feel like a fully realized world you can get lost in and the characters are memorable. I've had to deal with some health issues recently, so it was nice to be able to escape somewhere I truly enjoyed. This book won't change your life but I think you'll be both entertained and think a little about the deeper questions posed by existence in a perennially flawed society. I've got the 2nd volume ordered on Kindle and I'll be happy to dive in again.
Rating: really liked it
Is this a joke? I’m struggling with reality after reading some of the 5 star reviews. This book is abysmal. I couldn’t make it through two chapters. Leaving aside the endless stream of obvious grammatical errors, the writing style is disjointed and extremely childish. The plot was difficult to ascertain because I was so distracted by how terrible the writing is.
This book has an utterly ridiculous and inexplicably high rating (paid reviewers/bots?) and if anybody doubts the sincerity of this review I will happily send you my copy of the book, free of charge.
Rating: really liked it
From the very first page you are thrust into a well built dystopian world that grips you from the very beginning and then drags you along for the ride.
I read this book over the space of two days and found it fast paced and enjoyable.
Above all this book is very well written and the character development was superb.
I believe that fans of the genre will find this book enjoyable as will newcomers to the sci-fi genre.
Rating: really liked it
Read it in one go - captivating story, enticing characters and great attention to detail. I originally thought the book would be purely futuristic, so the time travel part and historical bits were a great surprise. Looking forward to the second part to be released!
Rating: really liked it
Great writer's voice, a science fiction book with depth and a well developed story. Will be recommending it to my Goodreads friends.
Rating: really liked it
VanWest has the makings of being a cult classic. I will be sharing this with my fellow trekkies and science fiction friends. One of the best books I've read this year.
Rating: really liked it
Dystopian novels are by far and away my favourite genre and have been so for as long as I can remember. Kenneth Thomas’ VanWest: The Past, ensures that this remains true and does not disappoint.
In the first instalment of the series, which is set in the year 3000, the Universal Council rule supreme. Obedience by the “citizens” is a must and failure to comply is simply not an option. We follow the intriguing story of VanWest, an Enforcer who valiantly partakes in the Universal Games in order to become one of the “Elites” and attain for himself a life of luxury, influence and power. However, not everything goes according to plan...
From the unforgiving landscape of Antarctica to the famous streets of Paris, the world of the text is captivating, gripping and riveting – it left me on the edge of my seat constantly. Well-paced, the most suspenseful moments are still punctuated by flashes of humour and wit, making the characters even more relatable, likeable and three-dimensional. The story causes us to reflect on our own broken society in today’s world, and gives us a possible Orwellian glimpse into our future. In this way, it constantly held my attention and left me wanting to know exactly what would happen next. If you liked The Hunger Games or 1984, you should definitely give this a try.
Rating: really liked it
When I read and started to visualize "the enforcers", they reminded me of beefy, stoic "Unsolid" soldiers from Game of Thrones, but I was keenly aware it can't be just that. The story kept driving me to read further and further. If you think this book is merely about universal war thingy like Terminator, then I am afraid you are wrong, because the plot is beyond what you expect. As you follow our dear Captain VanWest, I bet you could feel so much more. Besides a great amount of detailed action descriptions, his journey has been mixed with range of wonderment, stress while he has to face difficult choices between rebels and government. You'll be inside his heart, simultaneously, to vividly experience his emotional journey. A clear picture will unveil once you learn all important characters' motives and the reasons of their decisions. Ken's "The Past" is an undoutedly successful work. If you are a fan of sci-fi, especially utopian/dystopian-themed, then this book could be your new keeper. Highly recommended!
Rating: really liked it
“The Past” is a fresh and exciting take on much loved dystopian tropes; it gives a new perspective on a variety of genres from time travel to historical fiction to sci-fi.
The world within the book is established easily and comprehensively; the reader is quickly engaged by the various moral and social conflicts. The action shifts easily between vastly different settings and I was particularly impressed by the attention paid to details which helped to establish the historical context for the reader.
The characters, particularly the protagonist VanWest, are genuine and captivating, while their emotional reactions and potential romances are handled with honesty and sensitivity.
As the first instalment in a series, it moves along at a brisk pace and sets up an intriguing thread to be carried into the next book. It was an enjoyable and quick read which proved hard to put down.
Rating: really liked it
Set in the year 3000, Kenneth Thomas effortlessly manages to cover all the bases with his first book in the series. It blends sci-fi, time travel, and utopianism together along with an engaging romantic subplot. This action-packed page turner had me briefly wondering if this is where our society is headed. However, I quickly became lost in the worlds Thomas created. The characters are fleshed out and believable. Loved the futuristic setting, but also thoroughly enjoyed the time travel that takes the main character back to the 1950s. I look forward to reading the next book in this breathtaking series!
Rating: really liked it
Kenneth Thomas has created disturbing accurate portrayal of where we could end up in VanWest The Past. He has written a brilliant and high drama story that is extremely engaging and entertaining. This is a difficult to put down story and the narrative is constantly moving. As soon as you think you have found your feet, it’s onto the next situation and it really keeps you on your toes (and the book in your hands!). A brilliant start to what will clearly be a captivating trilogy! Looking forward to the next book!
Rating: really liked it
Thomas has managed to present a perfect blend of the future and the history in his sci-fi title 'The Past'. There is much thought put into the world-building and, as a result, the futuristic, as well as the historical setting, feels alive and three dimensional. The same can be said about the characters who feel true to life and guided by their own conscious. VanWest's journey is truly gripping and, at its peak, nail-biting. I'm eagerly awaiting the next instalment in the series 'The Present' to find out what happens next. I really like this book, would definitely recommend it if you liked 'The Time Machine' by H.G. Wells or 1984.
Rating: really liked it
VanWest: The Past is a thrilling glimpse into a visceral world of loss and brutality, of power and greed, but also one of hope and romance. Thomas’ daring sense of narration gives readers mirrors with which to hold the enthralling story in a context necessary to understand our own — whether it be a mirror of our own narrow-minded leaders, reflected back to us in the authoritative, iron rule of the Universal Council, or perhaps, in mankind’s tenacity, manifested and brought to life by the character of VanWest himself.
A large part of the novel’s overall accessibility is in the way VanWest: The Past succeeds in bringing to life the human condition with rich, mystical lore that borders on real-life magic. Readers will never have to strive or reach for an image too obscure to grasp onto — Thomas is already there, serving tactile adventures that are easily experienced with the five sense through completed characters that leave little to desire of. VanWest is a particular highlight in the way he prizes honor and loyalty above all else, although gently, without harsh excess. Another reminder that VanWest: The Past offers undertakings that are neither too simple that they fall flat, or too convoluted so that readers are swept away by the worlds within.
Whether it was Thomas’ intention to compel readers to dive deep into one’s inwards or not is irrelevant. He succeeds. Readers have no choice but to examine the self’s mortality using all of the tools one needs for such an excursion, represented in the well-crafted duality of the novel’s atmosphere of life and death. In the midst of violence, there is pause. Conversely, where there is peace, unrest boils just under the surface of a space so thin, readers almost cannot separate the two. And frankly, readers won’t want to.
Rating: really liked it
The Past is a novel that kept me engaged from the very beginning until the final closing sentences. A dystopian tale set in the year 3000, there is never a dull moment in this fast-paced, thrilling and adrenaline-fueled story. The characters are enticing, well-written, relatable and simply jump off the page. Kenneth Thomas crafts a world that eerily reflects the worst aspects of the society in which we find ourselves today. It is scarily easy to imagine a future for our own world that is not so different to the brutal one built by Thomas. From the gladiator arenas of the Universal Games, to the breath-taking descriptions of a world gone by in the novel’s time travel sequences, I found myself unable to put it down. Filled with action, suspense and intrigue, The Past is the first instalment in a series that is sure to only go upwards from here.
Rating: really liked it
The first installation in Kenneth Thomas' 'VanWest' series is an enthralling vision of a post-apocalyptic, dystopian future - set in the year 3000 - punctuated by the brilliantly crafted themes of time-travel and causality.
We follow our hero, Captain VanWest, as he squares up against a controlling and brutal society controlled by The Universal Council, to compete for his freedom and the chance to travel back to 1951. The ensuing action is sizzling and hard to put down, the carefully constructed world that includes 1950s Paris and 1990s Florida is genuine and relatable, the characters iconic.
A true delight and hidden gem for fans of sci-fi; I eagerly await the second iteration of VanWest and his adventures.
