2021 is when the grandson of Eric Red, a famous author from US, will publish his debut book. In this dystopian novel set in Los Angeles, two boys with special abilities—the ability to see and control fire—are hunted by an organization run by former military experts who want these powers for themselves.
The “classic books to read” is a book that has been released by Eric Red. The book is about the future of humanity and how it will be affected if we continue on our current path.
Verdict
Summary
This should appeal to fans of Eric Red’s previous work, and the significantly softer tone may appeal to more novices to his world. Stopping Power will have an impact on readers, but if Red’s creative foot finds its way back on the throttle, there will be no complaints.
Review:
Journey by car In Stopping Power, the newest novel from Eric Red and Seidelman & Company, the RV mass slams the throttle and sets a course for badass. Stephanie Power, a career-driven divorcee mother, takes time off to bond with her hesitant teenage daughter Libby, who is abducted at a gas station and used as a bargaining chip by femme fatale Ilsa. Ilsa urges Stephanie to pose as a decoy, unknowing of Stephanie’s stunt racing experience and motherly drive, after betraying her own husband and intending to deflect the police from her own terrible robbery. Stephanie finds herself encouraged in unusual ways by her present partner, while also facing challenges from her ex-husband that are just as difficult to overcome as the road. Will Stephanie be able to keep up with the pace and rescue her daughter?
This has to be an Eric Red tale… suspenseful drive down a Texas highway with cops on your tail, all to prevent the haunting antagonist from injuring a loved one or otherwise causing havoc… Some scenes from The Hitcher and Blue Steel (among other tales) make their way aboard Red’s high-octane creative truck in this book, so it’s only logical that it gets crammed into more recent set pieces. Stopping Power is a quick read, with all the action of a chase or heist movie but without as many of the bizarre events that have plagued past Eric Red books. In his world, female protagonists are nothing new, but this time we have a female protagonist, antagonist, and hostage character all in one, with some brilliant role reversals for each. While the evil villainess Ilsa is portrayed as immoral seduction personified, she isn’t nearly the unkillable boogeyman kind that is prominent in Red’s work. According to Libby’s youthful reasoning, her character has a very human, compassionate, and even (very briefly) maternal aspect, which may be absent from Stephanie. Psycho logic meets teen logic.
Some of the history for character interactions is revealed via flashbacks, which halt the pace suddenly, and after they’re completely explained, those familiar with Red’s work will note how it begins to emerge out of nowhere once again. Not that such elements of the plot are necessarily terrible, but it’s like putting certain toppings on ice cream only to discover they’re ghost pepper extract instead of butterscotch — it’s a very different experience if you’re not expecting it. Big things burst and it’s all over by the time the reader’s senses begin to recover.
With the exception of a few female role reversals, there aren’t many new aspects in Stopping Power, whether from Red or elsewhere, although they aren’t always essential. In this situation, reinventing the wheel is good, and if the hubcaps have spikes on them, there’s no reason to believe they’re a woman’s touch. This should appeal to fans of Eric Red’s previous work, and the significantly softer tone may appeal to more novices to his world. Stopping Power will have an impact on readers, but if Red’s creative foot finds its way back on the throttle, there will be no complaints.
