Stephen Ford

Bringing out the wonder . . .

Book cover: Destiny of a Free Spirit

Formats: Paperback, ebook

Publisher: Cinnamon Press

Enjoyable adventure that poses provocative questions

Destiny of a Free Spirit

In the far future, after a nuclear war, the world is separated into two realms, each under the protection of the all-powerful Commission. In Ecologia mammoths, wolves and sabre cats roam the world of Stone Age people, while Economica is populated by modern people enjoying technological convenience, complete with robots that serve every need. In Ecologia the Commission is worshiped as a deity, but in Economica it is resented as an obstructive and unaccountable bureaucracy.

When Peter finds a portal between these realms, he illicitly sets up a life for himself in both worlds, knowing that he is in danger.

But like everyone else he has no idea what the Commission really is, and when Peter’s friend, Simon, figures it out and is silenced by sinister forces, Peter’s questions about his future only become more complicated. His quandary exacerbated by the imminent closure of the portal, Peter has to make a choice about where he belongs; a choice that will be the most important he’s ever made.

Raising questions about what we mean by ‘nature’, ‘humanity’ and life itself, Destiny of a Free Spirit is a compelling debut that will keep you guessing till the end.

Reviews for Destiny of a Free Spirit

I'm absolutely blown away by the thought provoking story that made me think (like the blurb says) about what it means to be human. I found the depth of thought to be so profound that I laid awake pondering it for far longer than I should. And for me, that's why this book is a 5 🌟

Charlotte Bug

“… ideas had detonated in my head, ripping apart assumptions and a conceptual architecture painstakingly assembled by my upbringing, education and life experience … a social commentary that challenges readers to think about what it truly means to be human … examines our relationship with technology and how much government intervention is too much, making it relevant to our times. Fans of dystopian novels with philosophical reflections will no doubt enjoy reading this one.”

Sandra Cruz, Reader Views

“… puts the struggle of humanity to thrive and to flourish, not just physically but creatively, into contrast, and asks the reader to dare to make their own choice between comfort and increased autonomy … daring and exciting, providing ample entertainment while remaining grounded in its audience's reality … a thought-provoking and addictive read.”

Michael Radon, US Review of Books

“An enjoyable adventure that poses provocative questions … a man is torn between two contrasting post-apocalyptic worlds … compellingly draws overt parallels between Peter’s quandary and the very real questions facing contemporary society with the rise of Artificial Intelligence and ever-increasing automation …”

Kirkus

“… touched on big questions about the future of humanity … two worlds … the difference between Economica, which is safe but fake, and Ecologia, which is dangerous but real … wondering whether comfort and safety are worth losing freedom and spirit … The actions, like when Peter fought a saber-toothed cat, were fun to read, and the discussions about Gaia, Commissum, and the meaning of life made it more philosophical and deep … maintained a seamless pace … talks about the future of human society and the influence of AI in the world.”

Alissa Deann, Readers’ Favorite