Heavy Weight of Darkness
by J.M. Erickson
Genre: Science Fiction / Dystopia
ISBN: 9781942708551
Print Length: 210 pages
Reviewed by Elizabeth Reiser
A cinematic sci-fi dystopia following one man’s search for redemption
In J.M. Erickson’s Heavy Weight of Darkness, readers follow former military officer Willard Bennett as he confronts the consequences of his past actions.
Bennett, once a first-class patrician, has been stripped of everything that allowed him privileges in society. Instead of being revered, he is now just like the people he once found deplorable. To regain his freedom and the life he misses, Bennett must find the person who helped put him in this state. Once he captures the rebellious Cassandra Kurtz, he then must kill her.
However, as Bennett begins his journey and starts looking into more about the elusive Cassandra, he learns the world he has always fought to protect is far more corrupt than he was willing to acknowledge. He now finds himself at an impasse regarding what to do.
Bennett is one intriguing protagonist. He begins the story angry at being in a low place, searching for redemption for his prior perceived failures. His anger is palpable, and that underlying rage adds to the tension that drives the first third of the story. It is a slow-burn start to the book, but the reader stays interested up and through the embarking of his adventure.
Bennett does not work alone on his task, and his cohorts are the ones who help open his eyes to the truth. Working with the mysterious Betsy Ann Hall on his mission to capture Cassandra, they engage in conversations where he is forced to confront and question what he has always believed. Betsy and their other sidekick Virgil balance one another nicely, with Betsy being frank and Virgil more malleable until he finds his way. Their conversations range from serious topics like racism to humorous ones where they tease one another in a genuine, likable way. Combined, they make a great trio.
Cassandra is not seen much in this story. As a sequel to Erickson’s Endless Fall of Night, which follows Cassandra closely, this book focuses primarily on Bennett. While this can be read as a standalone, reading the first installment would provide more context to understand the nuances of Bennett’s tumultuous relationship with Cassandra.
It should also be noted that this series uses Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness as inspiration. Like Conrad, Erickson focuses on how different power dynamics work within classes, race, and morality. The topic is heavy, but it makes for an entertaining read nonetheless. Fans of the science fiction genre and classic books like Conrad’s will enjoy this one.
Heavy Weight of Darkness reads like watching a movie—and an exciting one at that. What a terrific job Erickson has done in creating this world.
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