- Title: Court of the Grandchildren
- Author: Michael Muntisov & Greg Finlayson
- Publisher: Odyssey Books on March 23, 2021
- Genre: Speculative Fiction
- Pages: 307
- Available Formats: Paperback & Digital Edition
- Rating: 4/5
Trigger Warnings: Violence, Attempted Rape, Graphic Suicide Attempt, Prejudice, Bombing
Many thanks to Michael Muntisov, Greg Finlayson, and Blackthorn Book Tours or providing me with a digital copy of Court of the Grandchildren with a request for an honest review.
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Court of the Grandchildren Blurb
A man from today and a woman from tomorrow. How will she judge him?
Lily Miyashiro lives much as any twenty-nine-year-old in 2050’s America. Her job is busy, resettling climate refugees from the coastal cities. Then she gets a call. She has family she never knew about. And they want something from her she doesn’t want to give.
Lily is one of the young, reliant on artificial intelligence and facing an uncertain future.
David Moreland was a bigwig during the world’s golden age. He is old and almost forgotten…until he is drawn into the realm of the Climate Court. Now a whole generation seeks to condemn him.
When Lily meets David, she is forced to confront events from her past that she would prefer to forget. Feeling trapped, she hires a young lawyer. Is it to defend David, or to deny the past?
In a world that seems comfortably like the present, hints of sinister differences begin to emerge, and the stakes are raised beyond David’s fate.
Provided by Blackthorn Book Tours for Tour Purposes
My Review
Court of the Grandchildren is nothing like what I expected. Actually, I’m not sure what I expected, but it wasn’t what I read. Michael Muntisov and Greg Finlayson did an excellent job writing this strange tale.
The story takes place in the future, but it is a future that man created. David Moreland is an old man who wants to die, but he needs permission from his next of kin, Lily. What Lily doesn’t know is that David is to appear in Climate Court. Climate Court is a way for the leaders of our current time to pay for how they handled the climate crisis we face now, in 2021. The younger generation of 2059 assumes that the old leaders acted out of greed. But, David believes he is innocent. Is he?
This novel hits so close to home. I will make no apologies for being a liberal. I believe in science, and the details in this book are shockingly the way of our future. In my opinion, the climate deniers of our time want to line their own pockets.
I mean, my daughter and I talked about this the other day. It is Memorial Day here in the US, and that historically meant the unofficial start of summer. It was hot and sunny with nothing in the works but jumping into the pool on a hot day. However, with the crisis we are in now, temperatures in my area were in the low 50’s this week. The facts are right there in front of you. How can leaders deny this is happening?
So, while this book was a bit dry and full of scientific jargon, it is still brilliant. This scenario could be our reality. It is easy to see these things could happen. This future is full of AI, and humanity becomes less secure as folks depend too much on artificial intelligence. Add that to the climate crisis, and this novel spells out a scary future.
I know this won’t be for everyone, but I urge you to read this story. If only to discuss it further. I rate Court of the Grandchildren 4 out of 5 stars. Even with the sophisticated subject matter, it is a great read.
About the Authors – Michael Muntisov & Greg Finlayson
Michael Muntisov
Mike’s professional expertise was in making drinking water safe. He was the editor of a non-fiction book on water treatment, sales proceeds of which were donated to Water Aid. After a global consulting career spanning 35 years, Mike finally got around to writing his first work of fiction. Before he knew it, he was a playwright as well.
Greg Finlayson
Having played in a rock band during his University days, Greg has recently returned to the music scene, where with his teenage daughter he does improv Jazz sets at local clubs. During the day, Greg consults for water authorities around Australia and the USA in fields such as desalination, integrated water management and climate change planning.
Authors’ Contact Links: Website | Twitter
Whoa, this sounds like such an interesting book. Like you, I often wonder about the mess we’re leaving future generations, and this book sounds like a window to the future that could happen if we don’t straighten up this climate mess.
It really is a wake up call.