C.J. Arlow's THE ALGO: Book One of the Algo Series takes technological dystopian to new heights with this debut. Masterfully blending logical reasoning with emotional depth, Arlow presents readers with a powerful look at a society run entirely by efficiency scores and the hidden agendas behind them. With nothing left to chance or free will, Jordan Reese finds herself immersed in a world of numbers and hierarchy. Desperate to keep her 97.8 score (and thereby maintain her comfortable lifestyle), she follows the algo’s every prompt and clings to the status quo—as everyone else does. But when abnormalities arise and things start looking more sinister, questions follow. And questions are forbidden, which Jordan soon learns.
Dystopian as a genre has a lot of variance, but the concept of a society ruled by technology isn’t unheard of. No, what really makes THE ALGO stand out from the others is how closely it aligns with the world’s current trajectory, especially humanity’s recent obsession with algorithms and personal scores. Banking, social media, and nearly every other aspect of society has now begun ranking and assigning people numbers and targeted options, so the concept of an algorithm not only offering suggested products and posts but actually ruling every choice we make isn’t too far outside the realm of possibility. This eerie concept is the basis for the world that Jordan finds herself trapped in.
Arlow's complex world is only part of the appeal here. The characters in the story are just as fascinating and believable: Jordan’s highly intelligent and inquisitive mind, Nora’s clipped intensity, Maya’s depth and observant nature. These are just a few of the many interesting people we meet throughout the narrative.
If anything, the only real difficulty the novel presents is that it's a tad slow to start. Not that much, though, as it doesn’t take long for the reader to find themselves asking questions and eagerly reading to see what happens. The world-building is complex, which means that is does take a few pages for the plot to pick up while the groundwork is being laid out. Beyond that, the tempo is perfect; almost like a psychological thriller, it starts out at a leisurely pace and continues to naturally build momentum as the reader is pulled deeper and deeper into THE ALGO.
Offering a powerful look at the world around us through the lens of a dystopian sci-fi novel, C.J. Arlow's THE ALGO: Book One of the Algo Series is a wake-up call to humanity. This thrilling debut is impossible to put down, and it will leave readers thinking long after the final page.
~ Stephanie Lynn for IndieReader