7 ways my dystopian survival trilogy breaks mainstream genre trends
Mainstream genre trends aren’t something I like to bore readers with. Instead, thought-provoking fiction has become the drink of choice.
So, you’re interested in learning about how my dystopian survival trilogy does away with what you see in mainstream fiction? Awesome. It means you might just make it through this work without crying because its revisionist narrative, just to throw a theme out there, didn’t send you running for the hills.
This is a dangerous series. A work of fiction that those who cling to their power and authority in mainstream academia circles wouldn’t want you reading, lest I “poison” your mind with unapproved viewpoints.
But it would just show that the gatekeepers, be they in publishing houses, academic institutions, or even close relatives conditioned on what to think and not how to think, are so insecure in their worldview that they don’t want anyone challenging it.
Even if there was something, a reason, behind why I and so many others challenge it in the first place.
So, how does Beyond the Lost challenge mainstream genre trends and viewpoints of the 2020s? Keep reading, and I’ll give you a rundown. If you finish that rundown and you’re intrigued, you might just be worthy enough to read Book I in this trilogy.
1 – Beyond the Lost takes a realistic approach
Mainstream readers and editors might call it too “on the nose,” but I couldn’t care less. Those who don’t like writing that emulates real life aren’t part of my target audience to start with, so they can do themselves a favor and exit this page.
You’re gonna get some detail about the setting’s landscape early on, when I toss you a knuckleball in the prologue and show a slice of Quinn’s uneventful life. But I also like taking that same realistic, grounded approach in Chapter 1 when all hell breaks loose.
Yeah, it might buck mainstream genre trends, but as you’ll find out, I don’t write to fill quotas. I write to tell stories that resonate for people who’ve turned their back on mindless entertainment as a “need” for an escape.
2 – It’s theme first, genre second
Oh yeah, this one reads like a libertarian-laced rant at times, disguised as a dystopian survival thriller. That said, if you’re into that tired, mindless, and spineless formulaic genre fiction you can predict every scene of, then GTFO. This work ain’t for ya.
If you wanna thought-provoking work, or if you’re just emotionally intelligent enough to at least consider historical revisionism as a major theme within the trilogy, then hop on board. You’re ready for this. I’ll let you make the call.
3 – Its story components are more authentic than you think
Beyond the Lost Horizon is a 37,000-word novella and Book I of Beyond the Lost. One reason is that I had a tough time coming up with enough words to make this thing novel-length that would get my characters from Point A to Point B.
Not to mention, there are only two of them for most of the book, and just one point of view character. That said, I needed to find ways to fill the gaps.
In July 2024, I managed to fill some of those gaps, thanks to a real-life event that was unfolding, and one that reached its conclusion as summer started fading into fall. Let’s just say that I felt more nostalgia and longing for the past than I had in a long, long time.
4 – The entire landscape is also authentic
You know how some authors create fictionalized versions of real-life settings their works fall into? Yeah, you won’t get that with me. Every single landmark, from the trail to the super-center, to the bridge, and even the town descriptions, isn’t based on real places. They are real places in their 2024 form.
That being said, I gave them some anonymity. I don’t come out and name the towns directly. But if you’re from the area and you’re good at reading between the lines and connecting the dots, you’ll know where my setting’s at.
Or, I should say where the setting’s at for the first 20,000 or so words of Beyond the Lost Horizon.
5 – It would scare off sensitivity editors and readers
I love having ChatGPT gut my work to make sure its messages ‘sink’ in. But every time I start a new chat, it means old Chatty likes defaulting to its usual leftist/pro-establishment dogma.
Unfortunately for me, that means it recommends “sensitive” editing practices. At least before I tell it to go screw off. Nah, this book ain’t meant for sensitive people who need safe spaces every time they see or hear something they don’t like.
It’s for people with a brain and a backbone who’d rather hang out in a sane space than a safe space. And if that’s you and you’re a fan of dystopian survival thrillers, you might like Beyond the Lost.
6 – It’s written for libertarians, which is rare in fiction
Libertarian fiction is often relegated to Ayn Rand, George Orwell (despite his democratic socialist leanings), Aldous Huxley, you get the gist. But it’s ultra rare if you want anything modern.
So far, I’ve found two modern works that fit the mold: Flight of the Barbarous Relic by George Ford Smith, and The Erik Blair Diaries by John W. Whitehead. Maybe I’m looking in all the wrong places, I dunno.
That said, I decided to write my own fiction with libertarian flair. And that’s lowercase ‘l’ libertarian flair. Not establishment Libertarianism. And if you don’t like it, you can get off my site and go buy another copy of that “safe” fiction that won’t offend you, and you can cuddle up with.
7 – It’s got a borderline supernatural component
Quinn communicates with pagan gods every now and again, and you get the vibe they communicate back. He also routinely sees visions in Book I, including that of his deceased grandparents.
In later installments, one character who I won’t name jumps out. Born into an inbred family with severe mental and physical ailments, this character was a “genetic miracle,” sporting rockstar good looks, a genius-level IQ, and charisma.
They also display an unusual amount of endurance and toughness. And their vision is so sound that they can even read books in the pitch black without needing a flashlight.
Anyway, if you like what you’ve read and you found some value here, then don’t hesitate to check out Book I in the series, a 37,000-word novella called Beyond the Lost Horizon. And brace yourself for some fiction that goes beyond redundant genre formulas and challenges mainstream viewpoints.
This isn’t your local high school kid’s dystopian fiction. It’s a full-frontal assault on safe narratives, empty genre templates, and intellectual cowardice.
