A Rational Man by J S Hollis is a wonderful blend of science fiction and dystopia, a tale with originality that features compelling characters involved in a powerful conflict against a disturbing futuristic backdrop. While Sebastian Stanhope plays chess in school, the world is watching as his father slaughters his mother. A man who wants to run for Prime Minister has just murdered his wife and the deed is watched by millions, thanks to omnipresent “W,” a technology that robs everyone of the right to privacy. But it is how the young Sebastian takes the news that will surprise readers. 

The plot starts with explosive news. Thus begins a story that explores the power of social media of the individual and the challenges that people face when they want to find sanity in a world controlled by public opinion. The dystopian setting is wonderfully developed and readers are thrust into a world they hardly recognize but one that feels so real. A Rational Man might be set in the future and may deal with realities and events that aren’t relevant to our time, but in the heart of the narrative is a prophetic message of a world we could be creating if we don’t pay attention to our rationality. The characters are real and the social phenomena so beautifully developed that readers feel as though they are part of that world. J S Hollis creates a dystopian world and shows readers the dangers to which our social media tendencies can lead. A Rational Man is deft, balanced, and hugely exhilarating.