Review: The Millennial Manifesto

The Millennial Manifesto by Michael R. Fletcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was provided a copy of the eARC for this book by the author.

Wow!

I just realized that by stopping there, I could get my point across on how I felt about this book, but it would also be the lamest review I'd ever written. Just that acknowledgement makes it a little better.

But for real. A couple of years ago I was introduced to Michael R. Fletcher through his brilliant debut novel, Beyond Redemption, a grimdark fantasy of the highest order with a perfect blend of violence, grit, characterization, and humor. This is on my short list of books I push on the wary and unwary alike, quickly recommended without hesitation by anyone I come across that asks me for a good read. The other books in that series are nearly as good, and I've been devouring everything Fletcher ever since.

But now he is moving out of his lane. This isn't fantasy. It's not even speculative fiction. It's a modern thriller without any supernatural or fantastical elements. There aren't even very many mirrors, and all those do is reflect back what's in front of them. The hell, man?

But then, as I kept reading, I realized he hadn't changed lanes after all. He was just driving a different colored car. This book definitely fits in his wheelhouse, with characters you will grow to love and happenings that will make you gasp out several WTFs! in the course of reading.

This story is told from the alternating points-of-view of two characters, in much the same manner as Fletcher's other recent novel, Smoke and Stone. Also like that novel, these two main characters are from totally different backgrounds but racing towards a point in time where their lives intersect and they'll never be the same. They're on opposite "sides" of the main conflict, and the brilliance of that approach is that we get great perspective from both angles. It's hard to root for a character towards total victory when another beloved character will suffer. But there is where comparisons to Smoke and Stone end, because the subject matters are completely different. Or are they?

Innana is a young Millennial with a small circle of friends that are concerned about Tessier Waste Disposal Systems, a company that is polluting the local water sources in upper Michigan. The courts and authorities have been no help, as nothing has been proven, at least nothing that a few payoffs couldn't cover up. Innana's friends Chen and Julia lost a daughter recently, died from poisoning of the neighborhood's water. Both are former US Marines, Chen trained as a sniper and Julia as a demolitions expert. Innana's other friend Aarush is a tech wiz and film student. Together, these four have decided it is time to do something to make the world a better place.

Their idea is to kidnap the CEO of Tessier and make him drink the water his company is poisoning, filming it and uploading it to the internet in order to spread awareness of this issue. They hope to force the company to face sanctions for their crimes as public outrage heats up.

Our other main focus character is Hiran, and he's working for Anthony Gartner, the above mentioned CEO. He and his team, Chuck and Fana, do dirty work for Gartner, using their unique skills to encourage opposition of Gartner to change their minds.

Hiran was a leader in Special Forces, while Chuck served under him in Afghanistan. Hiran is the brains, and Chuck is the brawn, being a big bully of a man who delights in being a badass. Fana is the final member of their small team, a young woman fresh out of college as a computer wiz turned hacker.

As can be expected, our two groups are bound to have their agendas in direct opposition as their fates intersect. That can only be good, right?

It's good for a reader, as you have in front of you a book that is very difficult to put down. "One more chapter" is so easy as they're fairly short, but hard to follow through with as each one leaves the reader itching to know what will happen next.

That's what makes a good thriller, no? In that case, I can't see anyone reading this and then telling Fletcher to stay in his lane. The dude owns the roads.

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