Trevor Hogg reviews The Games by Ted Kosmatka…
Making the creative leap from short fiction, Ted Kosmatka has released his debut novel, The Games, which envisions the world where mutant gladiators become the main attraction at the Olympics.
In the Prologue which is reminiscent of Citizen Kane [1941], a young boy is taken away from his mother, not by a powerful man, but a corporation; the separation causes a lasting psychological scar for Evan Chandler. Carrying on the theme of separation is the father-son relationship between Chandler and an experimental supercomputer.
Part 1: Distant Thunder, introduces geneticist Dr. Silas Williams who has been usurped by the supercomputer in designing the genetic beast which would be competing for the United States at the Gladiator competition. With the highly intelligent and vicious gargoyle-like creature defying classification, Williams seeks to better understand it’s origins by recruiting a xenobiologist, Vidonia João, in Part II: The Gathering Storm. Mankind, beast, and supercomputer collide in Part III: Deluge resulting in dire consequences for the rest of the world. The Epilogue leaves one wondering if history is destined to repeat itself.
Overall the storytelling is fast paced which can be contributed to short chapters and an easy to read writing style. Drama trumps science though great pains have been made to provide a sense of authenticity and believability to the technology. To the credit of the author, none of his characters are safe, thereby, heightening the feeling of jeopardy. For those fascinated by killer mutants, psychotic computers, romance, and scientific heroes and villains, Ted Kosmatka has produced a tale that will chill them to the bone.
Trevor Hogg is a freelance video editor and writer who currently resides in Canada.
Originally published March 30, 2012. Updated April 13, 2018.
