The Demi-Monde: Winter

In order to train young soldiers to fight in ever-shifting war zones, the American military has created a simulated world for them called the Demi-Monde. It is populated by Dupes, each of whom has a counterpart in our world. And not just any counter-part—the Demi-Monde contains Nazi generals, Rasputin, Alesteir Crowley (occult mastermind), Henry VIIIth, and more—super-villians from across the ages, all come together to create a living hell. On top of that, the population is just a little too dense, to keep things agitated. There is just enough blood (what Dupes need instead of food) for them all to survive, which of course means that there are massive shortages for most and ample supplies for a few. A computerized program called ABBA (kudos if you get the Chistian reference to God—it’s intentional) is in charge, but in order to make the simulation really good, it’s been programmed to make tweaks in the system, so the outcome is truly unknowable. It’s 2018 in our world.

But the Demi-Monde is breaking its barriers. Norma Thomas, Goth girl, tatted and pierced and the daughter of the president of the United States, has been kidnapped by Alestair Crowley and his minions, who are hoping to break out into our world. Ella Thomas is recruited to go and rescue her. Ella’s young, tall and beautiful, a black jazz singer. She finds herself in a world where she’s called a Shade and viewed as half-animal, but she’s been implanted with a computer chip which gives her enough information to survive, when used in connection with her own wits and ingenuity.

The Demi-Monde: Winter is really well done. Author Rod Rees has researched and really thought out all sorts of fun connections to real-life events, and the story is fast-paced and hard to put down. Most of what makes it so good is its connection to our own world. Plus it’s full of puns; a male-dominated religion called HimPerialism that is sort of Nazi-ish, run by the UnFunDaMentalists, a female counterpoint called HerEticalism, MALEvolence being a sort of male chauvinism, etc. To be honest, I didn’t completely enjoy this book, and the puns made me tired, but the story was gripping enough that I wanted to finish it to see what happened. Of course, it would be the first in a series—now I’m stuck waiting for Spring. Those who like this genre will love this book.

Elizabeth enjoys all sorts of genres, from fantasy to mysteries to classics. Learn more at her blog Planet Nomad.