Title: Lessons on Destroying the World
Author: Gene Gant
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Transgender
Length: Novel (200 pages)
ISBN: 978-1-62798-793-6
Publisher: Harmony Ink Press (6th February 2014) (Dreamspinner)
Heat Level: Nil
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4 ½ Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: Micah McGhee has struggled all his life against prejudice and abuse. Forced to drop out of school after the death of his mother, Micah works full-time to support himself and his alcoholic father. One night, on his way home from a party, Micah’s hard life ends when he’s beaten to death by a street gang.
Three days later, Micah awakens with godlike abilities granted by the alien device that resurrected him. His work helping the downtrodden and performing miracles soon earns him worldwide attention—including the notice of conservative Reverend Vaughn Titus. Micah’s friends, devout Christians Antonio and Monica, along with Reverend Titus, urge Micah to use the power of the artifact to impose Biblical rule on the world. But Micah is all too familiar with how Christian law treats LGBT people, and he opposes the idea. When Antonio, Monica, and Reverend Titus gain access to the device, Micah must risk everything to stop them from forcing their religion onto everyone on earth.
Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4684
Review: Micah has had to fight for what he has, dropping out of school and getting a job to survive after his mother died and to keep a roof over his dead-beat fathers head Micah has avoided the pitfalls that others have fallen into. But, one night the actions of another has Micah being brutally beaten and he awakens to a whole new awareness. Resurrected by a mysterious orb, Micah now has Godlike powers and he sets about easing people’s pain, it isn’t long before he falls foul of the Government and the devote worshipers of religion. When the orb falls into the hands of his friends Antonio, Monica, and the fervently devote Reverend Vaughn Titus, Micah tries to convince them of the wrongness of their plans for Christian rule and now Micah must risk everything to stop their religion from being forced on the world.
So first of all I have to hold my hands up and admit I was drawn in by the title and the great blurb and I’d secretly hoped for a couple of tips, but alas unless I find an alien artifact my bid for Universe domination will have to wait. So to the story, this is a brilliant story that is very down to earth and has great characters that are engaging and entertaining. We start out by discovering a lot about Micah, his life, his family and what he hopes for and we quickly take him to heart. As we follow him through the story we are drawn to his level-headedness seeing how he uses his new powers for good and not for selfish gain (well, with a few blimps for revenge), nobody is below his help until his good deeds start to backfire and draws unwanted attention.
Micah is a fantastic character who is superbly written, each character we come across comes to life, but it is Micah who sticks with me. While I remembered this was a transgender story I kept thinking it was going to be a secondary character because Micah was just a boy, a brash cussing boy, but when the big reveal came it really knocked me off my feet because of how well written Micah was. Antonio, Monica, and Titus were great in their roles but annoyed the hell out of me for their belief that if everyone followed the bible then the world would be a better place… I nearly laughed my ass off when it backfired. I also really liked that even though Micah tried his best for others he learned that no matter how much good you do people still wanted more; you heal a few sick and more people demand to be healed, you stop a famine and give them a bountiful land and people will go to war over the spoils.
Starting this story I really didn’t know what to expect but I was extremely pleased with the entire story, it led me on the journey of a young adult who knew what he wanted to do when he was given godlike powers, we follow him through the ups and downs, the repercussions and the pitfalls and the final solution.
I recommend this to those who love young adults finding their paths in life, science fiction that is intriguing, characters that are brilliantly written, and the startling discovery that just three bible verses could wipe out humanity.