In the far future, the Earth is ruled by a single global theocracy, and a young student of history learns that in every revolution, there is one man with a vision.
Size: 884 KB (160,369 words)
Genre: Science Fiction
Sex Contents: Some Sex
Tags: Ma/Fa, Consensual, Romantic, Heterosexual, Science Fiction, First, Pregnancy, Slow
Review by ethalsar [other reviews by ethalsar]
Reviewed:
This is my all-time favourite story on SOL. Hammbingbyrd7's tale is a soaring vision that is totally unique in my experience, and for anyone at all interested in possible alternative futures, this one's a blinder.
The story centres on one person's life-long mission to bring down a post-Islamic dystopia on an Earth slowly recovering from nuclear devastation. It's the depiction of that dystopian society that left me giddy on first reading: what a remarkable conceptualisation. I found myself both appalled by and attracted to its severities, perhaps they appeal to a darker side in me. I end up identifying so strongly with the protagonist, though, that the toppling of the system was incredibly satisfying - though the price it came at was a shock, and the ultimate resolution a relief.
This should be in print, it should be feted and studied and talked about in book groups. How lucky for us that it's on SOL instead!
Review by zimmm [other reviews by zimmm]
Reviewed:
My favorite sci-fi on this site.
The world is ruled by a global theocracy. Everyone is tested and ranked by an ancient computer with a lifespan based on that ranking.
The world hammingbyrd7 dreamed up reminds me a lot of what early Vulcan civilization with a focus on religion and logic intertwined might be like. Most stories in the "post apocalypse" genre focus on the rebuilding. What happens when the society the survivors rebuild is flawed?
Review by Bobster [other reviews by Bobster]
Reviewed:
What an amazingly creative story! It never ceases to amaze me how talented people can create a world so unique and so detailed in their minds, and then communicate those creations to us as a story!
The Preacher Man is a story of the human race following the dual events of DNA re-writing and a global nuclear exchange. Something not unthinkable in our own near future.
It relates both the depths of mankind's depravity and ability to visit horrors on their own, and the remarkable ability for humankind to rise above itself! Both horrible despair and infinite hope are described.
The common factor in our history, and this story, when we as a race have done good things for ourselves and our planet is that we were motivated out of a true and binding love that transcends individual gain. This story is a fantastic example of how that love can be attained and the bounty it can unleash!
I wish to thank 'X' for recommending this story to me! 'X' sent me an email following another review and suggested several stories I might not have read, this was the first of them that I read, and I am eager to start on their next recommendation. A testament to the review system in action!
Review by acrence [other reviews by acrence]
Reviewed:
A wonderful story. Adjectives just don't do any justice to this story. I don't know why people like hammingbyrd7, people who can spin such an amazing story with such intricate plot details, don't just go professional. It is no mean task, coming up with such an awful lot of details and putting them down on paper in a presentable way.
A sci-fi story set after an apocalypse, it describes the meteoric rise of one man, or rather a boy, into ruling the world and changing it into a better place to live in.
There was definitely much more scope for stroke, but I guess at the speed the story was moving one would have probably just skipped through the stroke content to get on with what happens after.
A must read, but I guess that can be gathered from the fact that it figures in one of the 'All Time Long Classics'.
Review by Woody [other reviews by Woody]
Reviewed:
In a post-apocalyptic future, human society has been warped by a religion designed by a madman. It is highly restrictive to men and enslaves women. About the only positive of it is that it is stable having lasted 8000 years and it cares for the planet.
Elias is a young man who sees the evil in the society and wants to change it.
This epic story is how he does that very thing. It's long, it's complicated, it involves science and religion, and it is hard to put down once you get started. It's technically perfect as far as I can tell and publishable if it wasn't quite so long I suppose.
There is sex in the book but the sex is not frequent and is not the reason for the story so I'll give it a low stroke rating. If you like Science Fiction and alternative societies and enjoy a heroic character (actually several), you'll want to read this book, probably more than once.
Review by BlackIrish [other reviews by BlackIrish]
Reviewed:
Hats off to hammingbyrd7. Amazingly creative story.
We're in the year 8235 +/- and the world is a very strange place. The great thing about Preacher Man is that it makes sense. I can understand how the world got to this place and how it functions in this time. It's a viable explanation and that's a huge selling point for me.
People live for 200+ years and society has a lot of bizarre rules. Note for the heat seekers, the sex is occasional and not overwhelming but Ilias does have multiple wives so there is variety.
If you like good sci-fi and worry about too much religion in your life, have I got a story for you!
