It’s nice to see a new novel from Douglas S. Reed. I read Child of Gilead several years ago and enjoyed it immensely. His latest is Elysian’s Son, a thoughtful and engrossing tale about a dictatorial society.
A young boy named David is a citizen of the Divine Five alliance. Children his age receive indoctrination from AI machines. Though orphaned and almost blind, David has qualities that bring him to the attention of authorities. He is assigned to Lady Myla, a highly-placed official’s wife struggling to deal with the death of her infant son.
David is also under the influence of Mother Reina, a member of a religious society that encourages young people to think for themselves. Torn between two persuasive rationales, David must decide who to trust. Matters come to a head as he learns more about his parentage, and Lady Myla begins to question her own place in the world. Together they go in search of a legendary free society, pursued by an assassin bent on preserving the status quo.
Much of the novel is a progression of encounters with people possessing vague, mystical names that cloud David’s quest. Unlike other dystopian novels, Elysian’s Son goes beyond the simple contrasts between good and evil, with a single hero fighting for good. In the Wilderness David encounters many factions who lay out their arguments in great philosophical detail. Reed does an impressive job of fleshing out the foundations of this fractured world and how it came into being. The ruling class has a clever approach to dealing with rebellion that keeps everyone in line and reinforces the idea that government knows and does what is best for its citizens.
Some readers may find the novel tedious at times, but I think Reed has something important to say. He is an exceptional writer, well-read and authoritative about his subject matter. His descriptions of David’s journey are vivid and imaginative. I’m pleased to award Elysian's Son a four-star rating.
Chevron Ross's novels include Weapons of Remorse, The Seven-Day Resurrection, and The Samaritan's Patient. Click here for more information.