Editorial Reviews
Causey delivers a mix of business, government, religion, and fantastic technology in this debut sci-fi novel.
Time is not running out; it’s running backward. Using the discoveries of the genius Dr. Lacy Sylvan and the work of his paternal grandfather William, Carlton Ferguson has opened portals into the past—generating massive profits for the family company. Any time and place in the last 48 hours can be reviewed through these Reflection Windows, and while the public doesn’t know it, Carlton hasn’t stopped there, extending his reach by years toward his dream of viewing right up to the beginning of time. Not only that, but he’s kept the secrets of the technology between himself and Sylvan, and even she doesn’t know the full extent of his capabilities. The Reflection Windows have rendered nearly all crime a thing of the past, so it’s tough to imagine anyone going after Carlton. But when Sylvan’s home is bombed, it’s just the beginning of a cascading series of events that could put everything he’s accomplished in jeopardy. Both the religious contingent and the government want control of the technology, either to discover secrets or out of the belief that some things are better left unseen. And when Carlton finally begins to make decisions about monumental issues—whom to trust, how to live, what is right or wrong—the world may be forever changed. This story grapples with ideas that are precise and contemporary, like the question of security versus privacy, and others that are timeless, like whether it is greater for the mind of man to know or simply to wonder. And the glue binding these concepts together is made of precise, well-crafted prose and intricate details, not to mention a fascinating main character. Indeed, the digressions into the precise ways Carlton gets things done and the mechanics of the Reflection system might become dull were it not for the passion the protagonist shows for his life’s mission as well as the complexities of his psyche, from his family history to the loneliness he inflicts on himself. He plays God but nonetheless remains distinctly human. This is a remarkable novel and hopefully a herald of great things to come.
A powerful portal story with a stirring protagonist; it’s everything a good sci-fi tale should be and more.–Kirkus Reviews
Self-Publishing Review–Five Stars! (March 10, 2016)
“The year is 2126, and thanks to the efforts of CEO Carlton Ferguson and his revolutionary creation of Reflection Technology, the world is all but free of the tyranny of crime. Truth reigns supreme as Reflection can show the user any event within a forty-eight hour window. But Carlton knows that the world isn’t ready to hold the key to such power yet, and even less so as his company begins to advance the window from hours to days. He and he alone covets the control of the system, until the United States government offers him a once-in-a-lifetime deal of partnership. As their relationship develops, can it really be said that Carlton was right all along? The answer becomes clear in Reflection: Book One by W. Scott Causey.
This story confronts the responsibility of power the demons of the digital age with grace, aptitude, creativity, and tact, unlike so many others like it. It’s not some crusade or writ against the social media age, or even some patronizing cautionary tale about the future. This is a book that examines the nature of security as we understand it today, taken into a fresh and captivating setting with a fantastic cast of characters playing every angle. The writing is superbly evocative and deft in Causey’s dactylic style. The cover is also stunningly gorgeous, and an absolute epitome of cover design. The logo is incredibly appealing and fits the whole piece beautifully. It really bears note as something absolutely top quality and proves that it can be worth judging some books by their respective covers after all.
The book could be accused of being a tad overwritten at times, taking some extreme metaphors and the odd misplaced hyperbole. It’s not a major problem of the text and it’s only an issue here and there. There’s a surprising absence of black-and-white morality, mostly lurking in a murky gray; on the flip-side it can be hard to find anyone to really, honestly root for during the course of the story as nobody has a perfect case. People with harsher views on personal privacy and police states will struggle with themselves and the viewpoints in the book. While presented fairly, not all of them are necessarily popular. It’s a very dialogue-heavy read, though not a problematic element of the read as, skilfully, there’s a nice balance of speech and action that doesn’t result in unwell blocks. It can feel like there’s an absence of immediacy nonetheless.
These are all nit-picks, in fairness, as it’s hard to find solid criticisms with the read; the only real problem is that there’s a wait for the next installment! Reflection: Book One is a thought-provoking read and a stellar fiction that doesn’t talk down to its reader like so many others. It’s a break-through for contemporary science fiction and definitely deserves attention for its invigorating approach to the genre. It’s easy to get into, hard to put down, and astoundingly brilliant from cover to cover.” 5 stars
Reader’s Favorite–Five Stars! (January 29, 2016)
Reviewed By Lit Amri for Readers’ Favorite
By the year 2126, CEO Carlton Ferguson and his immensely powerful corporation have already introduced the world to Reflection Technology, a means to view any event that has happened in a previous 48-hour window. Effectively ridding the world of crime, the technology is far too valuable and dangerous for one person to control. Still, Carlton is determined that only he alone should have control of this technology and finds himself in a battle to keep what is his. He is also secretly enhancing the technology to go far beyond a mere two-day limit and does not intend to stop until he can witness the very beginning of time itself.
Reflection (Book One) by W. Scott Causey is a sci-fi with time exploration as its premise. Time travel is one of my favorite themes, and it is deftly given a fresh perspective. The future political setting is not that different from our situation today – corporations and governments rule society together with masked strained relations. The proposed technologies in the story are presented in a surprisingly realistic manner.
Causey is definitely a writer with some of the best characterization skills that I’ve ever read. He gives readers a solid insight into the characters’ thoughts and personalities, especially the protagonist, Carlton. The pace is somewhat slow in some parts. On the other hand, the book’s strength in terms of characters, premise and plot, particularly the ingenious technology, more than compensate for this minor flaw. On the whole, Reflection is a satisfying read.
CUSTOMER REVIEWS:
Customer reviews are available on Amazon!
wscausey.com 