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athenas_choice adam boostrom without men thought provoking exchange for an honest men back science fiction bring men back world building main character highly recommend well written athena vosh really enjoyed free copy received a free technological advances takes place young woman recommend this book
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PatriciaC
2.0 out of 5 stars I'm still on the fence on this one.
Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2019
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I thought the writing was supurb with little to no type-o's. Other than that, the story line lacked substance. It seemed to me that the author tried too hard to impress with his interpretation of the future science advancements and not hard enough on personal interaction. Athena was not really very likable nor was her lover/best friend/roommate. Actually none of the women in this book were less than frosty. This male view of a total female world is not realistic. Although I did read the entire book, I could not identify with any character, nor could I picture any of the finger snapping pop-ups. I thought the plastic morphing apartments were a bit silly. Too many implants, and too much Big Sister watching your every move. No, I am sorry to say that this was not one of my favorite reads.
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Kody Boye
5.0 out of 5 stars A gorgeous novel about what it means to live in a world without men
Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2019
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What if, in the future, a virus was engineered to eradicate terrorism? And what if it killed all the men on the planeet?

This is exactly what happens in Adam Boostrom’s novel ATHENA’S CHOICE, and what sets the stage for the novel throughout.

Set in the decades following the eradication of men, we follow a young woman named Athena Vosh — who, though a typical teenager in her own right, becomes caught up in a wild mystery when it is revealed that the Lazarus Genome, which is meant to correct the genetically-engineered virus and bring men back into existence, has been stolen. Though initially accused of stealing said genome, it becomes quickly apparent to the powers that be that this young woman, only a teenager, could have had nothing to do with it. However, after Athena reveals that she has experienced a series of strange dreams about a book titled "Original Sin" — which appears to exist in a library that one of the world's most advanced AI cannot find — an officer of the Public Safety Organization believes that they may, in fact, be more than just random. Thus, Athena Vosh is tasked to help find the genome, and, as a result, bring men back to the world.

ATHENA'S CHOICE is a gorgeous novel. Set in the year 2099, it follows a young woman through a futuristic world that is filled with everything from magnetic implants, to happiness profiling, food printers, heli-cars, and more. Though on the surface it may appear to be little more than a young-adult science-fiction novel, ATHENA's CHOICE examines the very real concept of gender and what it means to be a woman in a world without men. I was particularly impressed by the relationship dynamics that are present within the novel, and the particular attention the author paid to the downfall of all men, including those trans-men who lived during the height of what is described as the Y Plague. This novel was obviously well thought-out, and I can only commend the author for his sensitivity and willingness to reach beyond the casual "What If?" story to make something wonderful.

I would highly recommend ATHENA'S CHOICE to anyone who loves a good science-fiction story, tales of friendship, and coming-of-age narratives that focus on young women. It's one of my favorite novels of the year, and you should definitely read it, too.
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Chris
5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging and Imaginative On Every Level
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2019
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Boostrom describes a not-too-distant future in a throughly descriptive yet concise way. He respects the reader by not getting bogged down in extraneous detail, while still painting a picture that is easy to imagine. Likewise, the technology seems plausible from what we have now and how fast it is developing.

The story is thought-provoking, troubling, fascinating, and compelling. This is science fiction at its best.
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neilorie
3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting premise, good story
Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2019
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For a first time author, this was a surprisingly well written story. The futuristic tones, didn't strike me as outlandish, it reminded me a little of episodes presented in the Netflix series Black Mirror. The only surprise I encountered was that it was written by a man. Since the premise of the story was there are no men in the future, I kept thinking this had to have been written by a radically feminist female and maybe "feminist" isn't the right word, someone who hates men may be a better description. I say that tongue in cheek, because what other kind of individual would come up with the theory that hatred, war, ego (and all things negative in the world) were the fault of man. Can all wars, all sources of death and hatred, not to mention perverted sexual crimes, be the result of mankind as a whole; 'man' being the operative word. I don't mean 'feminism' in the traditional/dictionary description of domination and suppression of women in general. The book is not about feminism.
In the end, Athena is left to decide whether bringing men back into society would be its future downfall ... or not. In essence, the writer presents that idea and both sides of the argument in a profoundly logical way.
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allieoo
5.0 out of 5 stars Feminist Science Fiction At Its Finest
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2019
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This feminist coming-of-age story strikes the perfect balance. I was at once pulled into the fast-paced and exciting story of Athena while simultaneously experiencing a shock of surprised recognition. While light-hearted and fun on the surface, the underlying premise—the harm and oppression of a male-dominated world that calls for a change—is all too real. This detective-like novel with a sparkling female lead will keep you entertained while hitting you in the gut with its fundamental debate. Read it, think about it, discuss it with friends. The societal issues that led to this fictional future are our own.
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EKG
5.0 out of 5 stars Two months later and it’s still on my mind
Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2019
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It’s great when a young author is able to show off their talents in a first novel. The author crafts a great narrative, weaving complex ideas and an engaging story in a genre that often does one or the other but not usually both. I don’t know if this will be a trilogy or a saga but I am eagerly awaiting whatever comes next from this wonderful up and coming writer.
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MT
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read and food for thought
Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2019
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This story takes place in the future – the late 21st century. Many of the inventions in this futuristic society are quite clever, although it is not a society that I would want to live in. The way the author reveals information is also quite clever. This story kept my attention from beginning to end and while it was an enjoyable read, it was also food for thought.
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RedRose
5.0 out of 5 stars Unusual, readable and a lot of fun
Reviewed in Australia on December 12, 2019
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A thought-provoking book. Well thought out, around a conundrum humanity has always faced and I hope always will: Do we face adversity head on and learn and grow or do we settle for the safe and comfortable life? A sophisticated format which works, and intelligent writing. Thoroughly good reading. Thanks for the book.
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