An utterly gripping science-fiction thriller for readers who adored Philip K. Dick, William Gibson, Kurt Vonnegut, and Michael Crichton. Discover why readers are calling The Unfortunate Expiration of Mr. David S. Sparks “an intricate and evocative sci-fi triumph,” “a feat of impossible imagination,” and “a complete science fiction masterpiece.” Who is David S. Sparks? Where is David S. Sparks? … S. Sparks? Where is David S. Sparks? When is David S. Sparks?
In the aftermath of The Chemical Wars, nature has reclaimed humanity’s infrastructure. This world, lush with life – yet dangerously uninhabitable for mankind – houses the remaining population who ekes out an existence in quarantined cities anchored off the mainland.
David S. Sparks awakens into the chaos of this future world, unsure of his place in a reality wildly different from his fragmented memories. As the desire to retake the planet swells, so too does the question of how. Will the same mistakes be repeated? Can technology beat nature, or is it time for another approach? And what is David Sparks’ role in it all?
Dive into a wild, mind-bending journey as one man chases the ultimate question of self, discovering the truly illusive nature of reality.
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What Readers are Saying About The Unfortunate Expiration of Mr. David S. Sparks
“Most, if not all of Aicher’s stories feature characters and situations that inspire confusion, curiosity, exploration of the self, and exploration of reality. This one is no different, and it reaches new heights of tension and originality.” – Peak Story Reviews
“A futuristic post-apocalyptic, dystopian, mind-bending thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seats. A completely wonderful sci-fi novel that overwhelms the senses. A feat of impossible imagination and a triumph of the sci-fi genre.” – Alliereads Book Blog
”… you find yourself thinking about your choices in life and the way the world is headed. Is there something that we should be doing differently to stop this from happening? What’s more, this world was unique from many I have read in the post-apocalyptic genre (which is increasingly hard to find any more.)” – Official Onlinebookclub.org Review
“If you like futuristic mystery, this one is definitely worth your time.” – Sci-Fi & Scary
”… a book with multiple levels of interpretation and the author manages to awake the ancestral and subconscious fears of the human being, in the best tradition of science fiction.” – Eva Garcia Fornet, author Keep Ithaka Always In Your Mind
“A thought-provoking, intellectual book about our environment, digitally obsessed society, and need for self-preservation, Aicher sneakily creates an ingenious modern day satire with David Sparks.” – The Uncorked Librarian
”… my mind was just blown and I need to talk about it with someone.” – Micah Chaim Thomas, author The Little Demons Inside
“Aicher pulls out all the stops and goes full-on Philip K. Dick on his readers. You literally cannot trust what is real from one paragraph to the next.” – Amazon.com Review
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Wow…This book was amazing! I read the whole thing front to back in two days. I couldn’t tell which world was actually real for David as I glimpsed through the two different realities in his mind. The whole mystery surrounding David Sparks kept me gripped right until the very end. Definitely one of my new favorites and I hope there will be more after this.
I love science-fiction that takes me on a journey into the future. And I’m not talking time-machines here. I’m talking possibilities. Even if those possibilities are dark; a reflection of the way humanity may one day stuff up nearly everything they’ve built. A possibility, which most of us know, is becoming more of a probability by the day.
In The Unfortunate Expiration of Mr David S Sparks, William F Aicher not only explores the world we’re creating for ourselves through the use of technology, but also what that world could look like if/when our endeavours ultimately blow up in our face and nature itself turns against us.
From the get-go, Aicher introduces you to a world torn apart. Due to the nature of the story, explaining this world cannot be done in a review; you have to experience it for yourself. But let me just say, a story where people grow replacement eyes in fields definitely has my attention.
The world isn’t the only thing torn, though. David S Sparks is a man torn between two worlds; a forgotten past that slowly reveals itself as the story progresses, and a future that will be shaped by one of two factions. And he must choose a side.
Although I listened to the audiobook of The Unfortunate Expiration of Mr David S Sparks, I felt completely comfortable with Aicher’s writing style. The pacing of both the story and the narration was right within the green zone. Speaking of narration, Scott R Smith did a splendid job in giving the story both the energy and the voice(s) it deserves.
On the whole, The Unfortunate Expiration of Mr David S Sparks was right up my alley, and while this was the first work from Aicher I’ve had the pleasure to experience, I get the feeling it won’t be the last. With such a wild imagination, Aicher is certainly an author to watch.
PS: A big thanks to author Jennifer LeBlanc for introducing me to this book.
Well, ‘The Unfortunate Expiration of Mr. David S. Sparks’ was absolutely a delight to read. The story begins with David Sparks realizing that he has no memory of who he is or why he’s where he’s at. While this could have been a risky beginning to hook me in as a reader, it was executed well and paid off.
Aicher skillfully weaves between the unknown timeline and one from the past (aka the reader’s present world). Many stories that focus on a confused character in search of themself tend to impose that confusion onto the reader. Aicher managed to avoid that entirely. While David lives in two worlds, it’s easy enough to follow what’s going on as well as learn who these characters are. On top of an interesting story set in a plausible, dystopian future, the writing style is thoroughly engaging.
I don’t like comparing authors, but there’s a Gaiman-feel to Aicher’s writing style. $5 words are intermixed with layman’s language so that the reader not only feels enriched, but can easily follow the tale, enjoy the characters and world. In the most complimentary way possible, it’s detailed yet uncomplicated writing which is absolutely something I personally love.
I absolutely loved and highly recommend ‘The Unfortunate Expiration of Mr. David S. Sparks.’ A perfect weekend read for sci-fi or speculative fiction lovers.
This book. WOW. I usually don’t read a lot of sci-fi, even though I enjoy it. This was recommended to me by a friend and I was blown away. It was such an unexpected trip. Every time I thought I had something figured out, it was quickly reminded that I most certainly DID NOT. And I loved it. William has such a unique storytelling voice, and this book is put together in such an intriguing way, I’ve never seen anything quite like it before. The visual descriptions, especially of the city of Chicago, were incredible. Living close to the Windy City, and having been there many, many times, I was able to instantly bring the city to mind—and visualize the world of the main character—through his own eyes, and mine. Truly a unique experience. I was completely immersed in the world. Both casual and hardcore sci-fi readers will love this book. I borrowed it on KU, and will be purchasing a hard copy for our home library so we can read it over and over again!
William F. Aicher’s The Unfortunate Expiration of Mr. David S. Sparks immediately thrusts readers into a strange world of biotechnology, virtual reality, and post-modern political turmoil. David S. Sparks, the singular point of view throughout the story, provides readers with a window into a bleak post-apocalyptic outlook of the world, mired with chemical warfare, bioengineering mishaps, and political conspiracies. David is just as foreign to this new world as anyone who picks up this tale.
That narrative device serves as both a blessing and a curse for Aicher, for the slow introduction to the world for both reader and character creates a sometimes tedious and confusing pace at the start of the story. However, as David slowly understands the strange world that surrounds him, I, too, began to connect the dots, and by the time I finished the first third, I was along for the ride. I think anyone who latches onto the creativity of the first few pages will stick through the immediate yet understandable fog that rests upon the first portions of the story.
Sparks truly excels through its characters and setting. Whether it’s David, Bethany, the Preservationist, Alice, or even Ghost, this novel is peppered with a memorable cast. And its locales, from plasticity to the eyefields to a few other locations I won’t spoil, they build a world that’s strangely believable in its absurdity.
There’s just two aspect of the story, from a science fiction perspective, that I take issue with, that pulled me out of the believability and immersion near the end, though I won’t spoil those events for readers. I will say they’re issues that are most likely particular to my tastes, and not those of most science fiction aficionados.
Well done, William F. Aicher. Now it’s time to see those scores!
Writing: 8/10. Aicher’s language is easily understandable, and I particularly appreciate his choice to use short chapters. Especially during the confusing portions at the beginning of the story, they helped me stay engaged with natural stopping points.
Characters: 10/10. I can’t say there’s a single character in this story that lacked some sort of depth. I loved them all, especially Ghost. He’s a cool dude.
Setting: 9/10. On each page, you can tell Aicher spent a lot of time thinking through the history and place of his world. I applaud the creativity; though he loses a point for a particular pseudo-scientific explanation that I oppose.
Plot: 7/10. While overall I loved the plot of this tale, a few choices along the way caused a few point drops. I won’t spoil, but one particular option felt just a bit too deus ex machina for my tastes.
Overall: 8.5/10. With a score of 8.5, Sparks receives a high four stars, one of our few reviews to break above the 8 point mark. Well done!
Highly recommend this book, it is a thought provoking read, with some interesting ideas into what the future could bring us. Very much enjoyed reading this one.
An amazing sci-fi piece that takes the reader through various levels of intrigue and suspense. You never know who to fully trust, and that’s what stuck with me throughout the entire reading. The world created provided mental imagery that was incredibly captivating, and left me wanting to know more about how this world came to be the way it is. Very well-written, with characters that deserve more than the once-over treatment. Look forward to the next installments.