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The Oracle Year
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Science Fiction (2018)Knowledge is power. So when an unassuming Manhattan bassist named Will Dando awakens from a dream one morning with 108 predictions about the future in his head, he rapidly finds himself the most powerful man in the world. Protecting his anonymity by calling himself the Oracle, he sets up a heavily guarded Web site with the help of his friend Hamza to selectively announce his revelations. In no time, global corporations are offering him millions for exclusive access, eager to profit from his prophecies.
He's also making a lot of high-powered enemies, from the President of the United States and a nationally prominent televangelist to a warlord with a nuclear missile and an assassin grandmother. Legions of cyber spies are unleashed to hack the Site—as it's come to be called—and the best manhunters money can buy are deployed not only to unmask the Oracle but to take him out of the game entirely. With only a handful of people he can trust—including a beautiful journalist—it's all Will can do just to survive, elude exposure, and protect those he loves long enough to use his knowledge to save the world.
He's also making a lot of high-powered enemies, from the President of the United States and a nationally prominent televangelist to a warlord with a nuclear missile and an assassin grandmother. Legions of cyber spies are unleashed to hack the Site—as it's come to be called—and the best manhunters money can buy are deployed not only to unmask the Oracle but to take him out of the game entirely. With only a handful of people he can trust—including a beautiful journalist—it's all Will can do just to survive, elude exposure, and protect those he loves long enough to use his knowledge to save the world.
402 pages, Hardcover
First published April 3, 2018
1281 people are currently reading
25545 people want to read
About the author
Charles Soule
1,520 books1,668 followersCharles Soule is a #1 New York Times-bestselling novelist, comics author, screenwriter, musician, and lapsed attorney. He has written some of the most prominent stories of the last decade for Marvel, DC and Lucasfilm in addition to his own work, such as his comics Curse Words, Letter 44 and Undiscovered Country, and his original novels Light of the Jedi, The Endless Vessel, The Oracle Year and Anyone. He lives in New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,606 reviews
April 22, 2018
If there is such a thing as Chick-Lit, what is the name for a book that is a guy-type of thing? Is it Dick-Lit? Male-Tales? XY-Chrome-Tomes?
Definitely Dick-Lit.
Well, whatever. The point is that this is a man book. It reads like a disaster book where you are seeing what different people are doing all over the world while you wait for some big event to happen. There are good guys who aren't that good and bad guys who are heading into super-villain territory, and plenty of running for lives.
Bastards love running.
So, the guy who is the Oracle is named Will. He had a dream with 108 prophecies that were random and ranged from someone buying chocolate milk to big disasters. He does what any red-blooded American would do in his shoes: puts some on the internet. After he gets some credibility, it's time to charge money for those prophecies.
He gets rich, but people are obsessed with finding out who he is, including a bunch of governments. But, you know our government will totally respect his rights to privacy and treat him well, right?
The other enemy that he has made is a powerful televangelist who gets all of the religious leaders to proclaim that Will is a demon. This televangelist is pretty unhappy that the Oracle is getting more attention, and donations.
Makes sense. Satan owns the major airlines, right?
With all of the world either wanting their own piece of the Oracle -for good or bad, Will is trying really hard not to die. He's also trying to figure out what all of the prophecies mean. He's struggling with guilt over the events in which people are hurt or killed. And, he's trying to keep his best friends safe. It's not going so well.
Oh, she's totally got this.
Even though this is typically not my kind of book, I did get pretty hooked by the story. I wanted to know where everything was going and couldn't put it down. Personally, I am not big on the whole political thing, so I kind of wished there wasn't so much of that, but overall it was a page-turner so I can't complain. I could see this one being adapted for a movie at some point. A guy movie. Or, Bro-Show.
Definitely Dick-Lit.
Well, whatever. The point is that this is a man book. It reads like a disaster book where you are seeing what different people are doing all over the world while you wait for some big event to happen. There are good guys who aren't that good and bad guys who are heading into super-villain territory, and plenty of running for lives.
Bastards love running.
So, the guy who is the Oracle is named Will. He had a dream with 108 prophecies that were random and ranged from someone buying chocolate milk to big disasters. He does what any red-blooded American would do in his shoes: puts some on the internet. After he gets some credibility, it's time to charge money for those prophecies.
He gets rich, but people are obsessed with finding out who he is, including a bunch of governments. But, you know our government will totally respect his rights to privacy and treat him well, right?
The other enemy that he has made is a powerful televangelist who gets all of the religious leaders to proclaim that Will is a demon. This televangelist is pretty unhappy that the Oracle is getting more attention, and donations.
Makes sense. Satan owns the major airlines, right?
With all of the world either wanting their own piece of the Oracle -for good or bad, Will is trying really hard not to die. He's also trying to figure out what all of the prophecies mean. He's struggling with guilt over the events in which people are hurt or killed. And, he's trying to keep his best friends safe. It's not going so well.
Oh, she's totally got this.
Even though this is typically not my kind of book, I did get pretty hooked by the story. I wanted to know where everything was going and couldn't put it down. Personally, I am not big on the whole political thing, so I kind of wished there wasn't so much of that, but overall it was a page-turner so I can't complain. I could see this one being adapted for a movie at some point. A guy movie. Or, Bro-Show.
November 14, 2018
Review first posted on Fantasy Literature:
The Oracle Year follows the enormous fallout from these predictions and Will’s decisions on how to make use of them. It’s a fascinating premise, and Charles Soule turns this idea into an exciting, fast-paced science fiction thriller. It’s one of those novels I love, where various minor events and plot threads are tied back into the main story line in extremely intriguing ways. A seemingly minor, commonplace prediction can end up becoming surprising relevant.
The main characters in The Oracle Year are well-drawn, with some uncommon nuances to their characters. Will struggles with the feeling of being swept along in events that are no longer within his control and with the guilt that accompanies some predictions backfiring on both him and the world generally. His career as a musician with real talent (just not quite enough to make it in the big city) impacts his worldview and his ability to see subtle connections in events. The villains, though still interesting, are not as well-rounded. One of them makes a particular choice that leads to such widespread death and chaos that it didn’t seem like a logical choice to make. It suggested to me that Soule’s background in comics and graphic novels got the better of him in just a few instances.
I also thought there was a fundamental theoretical inconsistency in the novel’s premise. The Oracle Year posits an immutable past ― Will’s predictions invariably come true, no matter how far-fetched they initially seem ― but that seems to me to be fundamentally at odds with the ultimate reason for Will receiving the predictions in his dream. That reason is revealed late in the novel, so I won’t delve into it further here. But it’s also just a strong supposition of the characters, so some mystery remains.
Be that as it may, The Oracle Year is overall a well-plotted tale with some fascinating technical and social details. I can forgive some inconsistencies if the story pulls me in completely, and this one definitely did. It’s a wild, gripping tale that I’d unreservedly recommend to those who enjoy SF thrillers.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, Harper Perennial, for review. Thank you!!
Content notes: A fair number of F-bombs and some violence. An adult type of book.
OCTOBER 8: FOURTEEN BABIES WILL BE BORN AT NORTHSIDE GENERAL HOSPITAL IN HOUSTON. SIX MALE, EIGHT FEMALE.One morning at about 5:00 am, Will Dando, a struggling young New York musician, abruptly awakes from a vivid dream. In his dream, a voice told Will 108 oddly specific and rather random predictions about the future, which he remembers verbatim when he wakes up. Some are potentially life-changing: warnings of the collapse of a major bridge and other disasters. Others may have a huge financial effect: a football game that will be won by the Jets by four points; a caution about a late freeze of crops in the southeastern United States. Still others are apparently mundane:
APRIL 24 – MRS. LUISA ALVAREZ OF EL PASO, TEXAS, PURCHASES A QUART OF CHOCOLATE MILK, SOMETHING SHE HAS NOT HAD IN TWENTY YEARS, TO SEE IF SHE STILL ENJOYS THE TASTE AS MUCH AS SHE DID WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD.When Will realizes these predictions are coming true, one by one, Will confides in his good friend Hamza Sheikh. Hamza gives up his job as an extremely well-paid Wall Street investment advisor to advise Will. They use dark web consultants to set up a website with massive security protections in order to protect their anonymity. Then Will and Hamsa post a few of the predictions from the “Oracle” on this website.
PACIFIC AIRLINES FLIGHT 256 LOSES CABIN PRESSURE ON ITS DESCENT FOR LANDING IN KUALA LUMPUR. ALTHOUGH THE PLANE LANDS SAFELY, SEVENTEEN PEOPLE ARE INJURED. THERE ARE NO DEATHS.Once the Oracle website captures the attention of the world, Will and Hamsa then offer to sell other predictions. For a fee of ten million dollars, they will allow ten minutes worth of questions via an anonymous chat program, with no guarantee that any question will be able to be answered. But their infallible record speaks for itself, and many companies are willing to take a chance. Meanwhile, Will and Hamsa periodically make more predictions public on the Oracle website.
THIS IS NOT ALL I KNOW.
AUGUST 23: REVEREND HOSIAH BRANSON WILL PUT PEPPER ON HIS STEAK.Reverend Branson is not amused … and is determined to prove the Oracle wrong. Easy, right?
The Oracle Year follows the enormous fallout from these predictions and Will’s decisions on how to make use of them. It’s a fascinating premise, and Charles Soule turns this idea into an exciting, fast-paced science fiction thriller. It’s one of those novels I love, where various minor events and plot threads are tied back into the main story line in extremely intriguing ways. A seemingly minor, commonplace prediction can end up becoming surprising relevant.
The main characters in The Oracle Year are well-drawn, with some uncommon nuances to their characters. Will struggles with the feeling of being swept along in events that are no longer within his control and with the guilt that accompanies some predictions backfiring on both him and the world generally. His career as a musician with real talent (just not quite enough to make it in the big city) impacts his worldview and his ability to see subtle connections in events. The villains, though still interesting, are not as well-rounded. One of them makes a particular choice that leads to such widespread death and chaos that it didn’t seem like a logical choice to make. It suggested to me that Soule’s background in comics and graphic novels got the better of him in just a few instances.
I also thought there was a fundamental theoretical inconsistency in the novel’s premise. The Oracle Year posits an immutable past ― Will’s predictions invariably come true, no matter how far-fetched they initially seem ― but that seems to me to be fundamentally at odds with the ultimate reason for Will receiving the predictions in his dream. That reason is revealed late in the novel, so I won’t delve into it further here. But it’s also just a strong supposition of the characters, so some mystery remains.
Be that as it may, The Oracle Year is overall a well-plotted tale with some fascinating technical and social details. I can forgive some inconsistencies if the story pulls me in completely, and this one definitely did. It’s a wild, gripping tale that I’d unreservedly recommend to those who enjoy SF thrillers.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, Harper Perennial, for review. Thank you!!
Content notes: A fair number of F-bombs and some violence. An adult type of book.
April 27, 2018
★ 2 / 5 ★
This was my Book of the Month add on for April—and well, I’m pretty disappointed with it. I was expecting an action-packed, fast-paced, overall awesomeness-filled novel. And what did I get instead? A slow-paced novel filled with one-dimensional characters, and awkward dialogues. Ugh.
The beginning of this novel is probably the best part; it draws you in and you want to know what’s going to happen to Will (The Oracle) and all his 108 predictions for the future. But then it turns into the whole unoriginal “lets use these future predictions to get billions of dollars from elite corporations” cliche—I mean, come on. How many books/movies have already done this? So yeah, that’s when everything started to slow down (for me) and become painfully unoriginal and bland.
In addition to being unoriginal, most of the time the dialogue felt stuffy. But perhaps that’s because none of the characters are likable and I wanted them all the shut up.
My biggest complaint and negative for The Oracle is that I simply wasn’t invested or interested in the story. It’s not a terrible book; it’s really not. But it wasn’t for me, and sometimes that’s how things go. So, don’t be deterred by my opinion and rating, because if you like thrillers with multiple POVs (a journalist, FBI agent, pastor, etc.), you might like this one! But it wasn't for me.
This was my Book of the Month add on for April—and well, I’m pretty disappointed with it. I was expecting an action-packed, fast-paced, overall awesomeness-filled novel. And what did I get instead? A slow-paced novel filled with one-dimensional characters, and awkward dialogues. Ugh.
The beginning of this novel is probably the best part; it draws you in and you want to know what’s going to happen to Will (The Oracle) and all his 108 predictions for the future. But then it turns into the whole unoriginal “lets use these future predictions to get billions of dollars from elite corporations” cliche—I mean, come on. How many books/movies have already done this? So yeah, that’s when everything started to slow down (for me) and become painfully unoriginal and bland.
In addition to being unoriginal, most of the time the dialogue felt stuffy. But perhaps that’s because none of the characters are likable and I wanted them all the shut up.
My biggest complaint and negative for The Oracle is that I simply wasn’t invested or interested in the story. It’s not a terrible book; it’s really not. But it wasn’t for me, and sometimes that’s how things go. So, don’t be deterred by my opinion and rating, because if you like thrillers with multiple POVs (a journalist, FBI agent, pastor, etc.), you might like this one! But it wasn't for me.
April 9, 2018
Everybody knows that I'm a psychological thriller and horror genre junkie, but every now and then I like to mix it up with other genres, so I was excited to pick up
The Oracle Year
.
The Oracle Year
is written by the renowned Charles Soule—Marvel writer for She-Hulk, The Death of Wolverine, and Daredevil. When I picked up
The Oracle Year
I was hopeful that it would be an original science-fiction superhero novel that would break the mold of the over-saturated superhero market.
The Oracle Year
is indeed an original novel that breaks the mold, but where it falls flat is it's character development and plot.
Will Dando wakes up one day, in his modest New York City apartment, with a dream of 108 predictions about the future in his head. Voices speaking to him let him know what inevitably will happen—and there's nothing people can do to change its outcome. Will decides to recruit his best friend Hamza and the two create a website called The Site where Will posts predictions and solicits wealthy buyers to get their own insider information. The Oracle becomes an overnight sensation worldwide; attracting people from all over the world and making enemies as well. Will and Hamza must navigate through the success of The Site without getting themselves caught in the midst of a worldwide controversy.
The Oracle Year is original—however, the story is around 400 pages and it could've been cut in half without taking anything important out of the story. We get a lot of pointless dialogue until we are halfway through and by that time, you don't really even care about how the story is progressing. There is not one character in The Oracle Year that is either likable or relatable. They aren't even told in a perspective that you'd love to hate them. You are just indifferent and bored with them. Everyone in this story is two-dimensional and that leaves the story flat and mundane.
I will recommend this story for those who enjoy the following: superhero stories, political thrillers, and religious/faith based dramas. If you can't check off 2 out of the 3 the aforementioned options, it would probably be best if you skipped this one.
Will Dando wakes up one day, in his modest New York City apartment, with a dream of 108 predictions about the future in his head. Voices speaking to him let him know what inevitably will happen—and there's nothing people can do to change its outcome. Will decides to recruit his best friend Hamza and the two create a website called The Site where Will posts predictions and solicits wealthy buyers to get their own insider information. The Oracle becomes an overnight sensation worldwide; attracting people from all over the world and making enemies as well. Will and Hamza must navigate through the success of The Site without getting themselves caught in the midst of a worldwide controversy.
The Oracle Year is original—however, the story is around 400 pages and it could've been cut in half without taking anything important out of the story. We get a lot of pointless dialogue until we are halfway through and by that time, you don't really even care about how the story is progressing. There is not one character in The Oracle Year that is either likable or relatable. They aren't even told in a perspective that you'd love to hate them. You are just indifferent and bored with them. Everyone in this story is two-dimensional and that leaves the story flat and mundane.
I will recommend this story for those who enjoy the following: superhero stories, political thrillers, and religious/faith based dramas. If you can't check off 2 out of the 3 the aforementioned options, it would probably be best if you skipped this one.
April 12, 2018
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2018/04/12/...
What a fascinating novel. And to think I almost passed this one up, but every now and then I like to step out of my comfort zone to read something “outside my box”, and books like The Oracle Year make me glad that I do.
The story follows a struggling bassist named Will Dando who wakes up one morning from a dream, his head filled with 108 predictions about the future. Enlisting the help of his friend Hamza, Will proceeds to set up a heavily secured and untraceable website where he begins to release his predictions to the world anonymously, calling himself the Oracle. Pretty soon, he becomes a world-wide sensation when every single one of his prophecies come true. Now everyone wants their future told by the Oracle, from those who think he is some kind of savior to global corporations willing to pay big bucks for any information he can give them.
But not everyone is so enamored with the Oracle. There are those who believe he has too much influence, and that makes him dangerous. From inside the US government, powerful entities are working hard to uncover the real identity of the Oracle, not only to stop him from putting out his predictions, but also to dispatch an unconventional assassin on his tail to silence him forever. Will knows that history has not been kind to its prophets, and that so long his website remains up, his life and those of his friends will always be in danger. It’s only a matter of time before his enemies catch up to him, so in the meantime, the Oracle might as well try to do some good.
Comics fans will be no stranger to Charles Soule, whose name has appeared in the writing credits on some of Marvel and DC’s most popular titles. The Oracle Year is his debut novel, however—one that’s unexpectedly clever and sophisticated. The premise is also refreshingly original, even if it does require a lot to make it convincing. Still, those who can overlook some of the book’s plot holes will undoubtedly appreciate its entertainment value as a kind of “what-if scenario” novel. I always find those to be a lot of fun, and to my delight, this one did not disappoint.
Soule might even have dodged a bullet by staying away from lengthy explanations and giving readers too much detail, as I suspect that would have only hurt the pacing and bog down the narrative. Instead, he makes it clear from the start that it’s better to just go with the flow. Besides, in the whole scheme of things, it hardly matters to the reader how those 108 predictions came to Will in his dreams, or why he was given this gift. What does matter is what our protagonist decides to do with those predictions, and how he chooses to exercise the power that has unexpectedly fallen in his lap. As a person, Will is nobody special—just your average city-dwelling twenty-something millennial trying to make ends meet. His initial response (i.e. setting up a website, cashing in on his predictions) is arguably predictable, but it’s when Will’s life as the Oracle starts spiraling out of control, that’s when the plot matures into something more complex and interesting.
I also think most readers will be able to relate to Will. As the saying goes, “With great power comes great responsibility,” and in many ways, Soule’s protagonist isn’t too far off from the comic book heroes he’s had plenty of experience writing. Will is very much like a Peter Parker-type character, especially since his true identity must be kept a secret in order to protect those he cares about. Like Spider-Man, he also goes through a brief phase where the fame and money go to his head, until he realizes he can use his website and predictions to bring about positive change instead. At the end of the day, Will is a good guy with a good heart, and the story unfolds in such a way that ensures readers will be firmly in his corner when our protagonist’s life inevitably devolves into utter chaos. The author throws in some cool twists at the end too, saving the most suspenseful surprises for the final act.
All told, The Oracle Year is a captivating novel featuring a quirky premise and a likeable “everyman” protagonist, but be careful not to let those elements fool you into thinking this is a straightforward tale. Sure, the story may utilize some familiar tropes, but author Charles Soule also plays with different ideas to keep readers on their toes and guessing, especially in the second half of the book where the ending could lie in any number of directions. Ultimately, I’m glad I took a chance on this thrilling and fast-paced adventurous debut.
What a fascinating novel. And to think I almost passed this one up, but every now and then I like to step out of my comfort zone to read something “outside my box”, and books like The Oracle Year make me glad that I do.
The story follows a struggling bassist named Will Dando who wakes up one morning from a dream, his head filled with 108 predictions about the future. Enlisting the help of his friend Hamza, Will proceeds to set up a heavily secured and untraceable website where he begins to release his predictions to the world anonymously, calling himself the Oracle. Pretty soon, he becomes a world-wide sensation when every single one of his prophecies come true. Now everyone wants their future told by the Oracle, from those who think he is some kind of savior to global corporations willing to pay big bucks for any information he can give them.
But not everyone is so enamored with the Oracle. There are those who believe he has too much influence, and that makes him dangerous. From inside the US government, powerful entities are working hard to uncover the real identity of the Oracle, not only to stop him from putting out his predictions, but also to dispatch an unconventional assassin on his tail to silence him forever. Will knows that history has not been kind to its prophets, and that so long his website remains up, his life and those of his friends will always be in danger. It’s only a matter of time before his enemies catch up to him, so in the meantime, the Oracle might as well try to do some good.
Comics fans will be no stranger to Charles Soule, whose name has appeared in the writing credits on some of Marvel and DC’s most popular titles. The Oracle Year is his debut novel, however—one that’s unexpectedly clever and sophisticated. The premise is also refreshingly original, even if it does require a lot to make it convincing. Still, those who can overlook some of the book’s plot holes will undoubtedly appreciate its entertainment value as a kind of “what-if scenario” novel. I always find those to be a lot of fun, and to my delight, this one did not disappoint.
Soule might even have dodged a bullet by staying away from lengthy explanations and giving readers too much detail, as I suspect that would have only hurt the pacing and bog down the narrative. Instead, he makes it clear from the start that it’s better to just go with the flow. Besides, in the whole scheme of things, it hardly matters to the reader how those 108 predictions came to Will in his dreams, or why he was given this gift. What does matter is what our protagonist decides to do with those predictions, and how he chooses to exercise the power that has unexpectedly fallen in his lap. As a person, Will is nobody special—just your average city-dwelling twenty-something millennial trying to make ends meet. His initial response (i.e. setting up a website, cashing in on his predictions) is arguably predictable, but it’s when Will’s life as the Oracle starts spiraling out of control, that’s when the plot matures into something more complex and interesting.
I also think most readers will be able to relate to Will. As the saying goes, “With great power comes great responsibility,” and in many ways, Soule’s protagonist isn’t too far off from the comic book heroes he’s had plenty of experience writing. Will is very much like a Peter Parker-type character, especially since his true identity must be kept a secret in order to protect those he cares about. Like Spider-Man, he also goes through a brief phase where the fame and money go to his head, until he realizes he can use his website and predictions to bring about positive change instead. At the end of the day, Will is a good guy with a good heart, and the story unfolds in such a way that ensures readers will be firmly in his corner when our protagonist’s life inevitably devolves into utter chaos. The author throws in some cool twists at the end too, saving the most suspenseful surprises for the final act.
All told, The Oracle Year is a captivating novel featuring a quirky premise and a likeable “everyman” protagonist, but be careful not to let those elements fool you into thinking this is a straightforward tale. Sure, the story may utilize some familiar tropes, but author Charles Soule also plays with different ideas to keep readers on their toes and guessing, especially in the second half of the book where the ending could lie in any number of directions. Ultimately, I’m glad I took a chance on this thrilling and fast-paced adventurous debut.
November 21, 2018
This was a fun ride. It falls in a category I like to call a Blockbuster Hit. Light tone, exciting premise, great pacing... but above all, a great trigger novel. It has everything we like in mainstream SF hits. A little wish-fulfillment, a little naughty action, a point where the character decides to change, and the point where the S*** hits the fan.
From there, it's all action and thriller.
Yeah, yeah, but what is it ABOUT?
Will is a modern-day oracle.
108 prophesies, a little dark-web anonymity, a little greed, a lot of action, and a little saving the world.
Cool, right? And it is cool. I had a great time.
It's much better than the other things I've read by Charles Soule. :) She-Hulk was okay and Swamp Thing was kinda a mess, but his bonafide novel was as sharp as a tack. :)
From there, it's all action and thriller.
Yeah, yeah, but what is it ABOUT?
Will is a modern-day oracle.
108 prophesies, a little dark-web anonymity, a little greed, a lot of action, and a little saving the world.
Cool, right? And it is cool. I had a great time.
It's much better than the other things I've read by Charles Soule. :) She-Hulk was okay and Swamp Thing was kinda a mess, but his bonafide novel was as sharp as a tack. :)
May 2, 2018
The Oracle Year by Charles Soule reminds me of a story told by a drunk frantically trying to hook up at closing time. Sure, everything sounds great on the surface—maybe this guy is the WBC boxing heavyweight champion of the world just hanging out at Applebee’s at 2A.M. on a Tuesday. And sure, maybe he does live in a decked-out fully computerized mansion that he is willing to drive us to in his slightly rusted Toyota Echo —but on closer inspection, all the details don’t exactly line up.
In The Oracle Year, Manhattan musician Will Dando awakes from the most peculiar dream. He now has 108 predictions about the future floating around inside his head. Weird. But even weirder, Will soon realizes that these predictions are actually coming true! Teaming up with a shrewd friend and some computer masterminds, Will puts up a website to share the prophecies with the world, and he names himself the Oracle. Big mistake! The government wants this information for their own devices, and organized religions want to stop the Oracle because they think he is a false prophet, or they think he is limiting their power by taking away their congregations, or they think he might be evil? Hmmm, this is one of those areas that doesn’t really hold water. Anyway, people are now chasing Will and his friends. Powerful, morally bankrupt, angry folks that are not averse to getting their hands dirty committing murder to get what they want. Oh-oh!
The plot certainly fails a close inspection—the actions of certain characters seem haphazard and many plot points rely on happenstance, but if you take your glasses off and squint a lot, you will find that this (now) blurry tale is a fun and breezy read. Author Soule is a big dog in the world of comic books, and The Oracle Year perhaps is missing a graphic element to add deeper dimensions to the story. The good guys are all really good without flaws, and the bad guys are all really bad (and probably way more interesting, particularly the character codenamed: The Coach). Everything reminds me of B-movie from the seventies or current Grisham novels. This undemanding tale wraps up neatly and is a good read for a long flight or a trip to the beach.
In The Oracle Year, Manhattan musician Will Dando awakes from the most peculiar dream. He now has 108 predictions about the future floating around inside his head. Weird. But even weirder, Will soon realizes that these predictions are actually coming true! Teaming up with a shrewd friend and some computer masterminds, Will puts up a website to share the prophecies with the world, and he names himself the Oracle. Big mistake! The government wants this information for their own devices, and organized religions want to stop the Oracle because they think he is a false prophet, or they think he is limiting their power by taking away their congregations, or they think he might be evil? Hmmm, this is one of those areas that doesn’t really hold water. Anyway, people are now chasing Will and his friends. Powerful, morally bankrupt, angry folks that are not averse to getting their hands dirty committing murder to get what they want. Oh-oh!
The plot certainly fails a close inspection—the actions of certain characters seem haphazard and many plot points rely on happenstance, but if you take your glasses off and squint a lot, you will find that this (now) blurry tale is a fun and breezy read. Author Soule is a big dog in the world of comic books, and The Oracle Year perhaps is missing a graphic element to add deeper dimensions to the story. The good guys are all really good without flaws, and the bad guys are all really bad (and probably way more interesting, particularly the character codenamed: The Coach). Everything reminds me of B-movie from the seventies or current Grisham novels. This undemanding tale wraps up neatly and is a good read for a long flight or a trip to the beach.
June 11, 2018
”And if he is not a fraud? What if he is, indeed, a messenger from God? What then?”
Will Dando is an out of work muso, a bassist getting the occasional gig. He’s very good, but not ”New York good.” For some reason, this description of him stuck in my mind. He struggles to make ends meet.
Then one night, he dreams of predictions. 108 of them to be exact. He decides to share them online with the world via the “Site”, and henceforth becomes known as the “Oracle”.
The premise of this story is good. Very good. But it reminded me of watching a James Bond movie. Enjoyable, but oftentimes I don’t have a clue what it was about.
Will (aka “Oracle) attracts the attention of the US Government, various religious groups and extremist type people. Will his identity be revealed? Why does he feel so much angst if it does? And why does he feel so responsible for posting the predictions online in the first place, if he was going to have such struggles with his conscience afterwards. Hmmmm….
Add into the mix a scary warlord hiding in the jungle with a nuclear missile called the “Shining Sword”.
Holy Toledo, Batman! The Apocalypse is nigh! Can Will/Oracle save the world from annihilation?
”The screens along walls displayed fifteen different versions of the next twenty-four hours – twelve of which resulted in the end of the world.”
Having said this, I did enjoy this book. It’s just that I found I had to suspend my disbelief, stretch my imagination quite a bit, and just go with the flow.
”Fate, destiny – they’re myths. We’re the sum of our choices. Choose well.”
*** Shout out to my reading buddy Jus (Super-Exclusive-Bookclub)***
Will Dando is an out of work muso, a bassist getting the occasional gig. He’s very good, but not ”New York good.” For some reason, this description of him stuck in my mind. He struggles to make ends meet.
Then one night, he dreams of predictions. 108 of them to be exact. He decides to share them online with the world via the “Site”, and henceforth becomes known as the “Oracle”.
The premise of this story is good. Very good. But it reminded me of watching a James Bond movie. Enjoyable, but oftentimes I don’t have a clue what it was about.
Will (aka “Oracle) attracts the attention of the US Government, various religious groups and extremist type people. Will his identity be revealed? Why does he feel so much angst if it does? And why does he feel so responsible for posting the predictions online in the first place, if he was going to have such struggles with his conscience afterwards. Hmmmm….
Add into the mix a scary warlord hiding in the jungle with a nuclear missile called the “Shining Sword”.
Holy Toledo, Batman! The Apocalypse is nigh! Can Will/Oracle save the world from annihilation?
”The screens along walls displayed fifteen different versions of the next twenty-four hours – twelve of which resulted in the end of the world.”
Having said this, I did enjoy this book. It’s just that I found I had to suspend my disbelief, stretch my imagination quite a bit, and just go with the flow.
”Fate, destiny – they’re myths. We’re the sum of our choices. Choose well.”
*** Shout out to my reading buddy Jus (Super-Exclusive-Bookclub)***
November 27, 2018
I was surprised by how much I liked this. Charles Soule is a former lawyer turned comic book writer. His books have been very hit or miss for me. He's written Daredevil for a while now and I haven't been impressed while Curse Words and Letter 44 have been quite good. So I wasn't quite sure what to expect.
What would you do if you woke up one morning with 108 predictions in your head? After you verified they are real, you and your Wall Street buddy set up a secure website to make millions under the guise of The Oracle if you're Will Dando. But at a certain point, you realize something more is going on. And at this point you've made enemies of the President of the United States, televangelists, and much more.
The book starts off a bit slow, introducing us to various characters that will make waves through the book. Once the book shifts focus to Will and his friends, it really gets going. Soule does a great job of making you want to continue to read what happens next. It spirals off in different directions than you might expect all while rooting for this normal Joe trapped in a web of his own making. He segways into quandaries of power and religion as Will is drawn into both. All in all, this was the best book I've read in a while.
What would you do if you woke up one morning with 108 predictions in your head? After you verified they are real, you and your Wall Street buddy set up a secure website to make millions under the guise of The Oracle if you're Will Dando. But at a certain point, you realize something more is going on. And at this point you've made enemies of the President of the United States, televangelists, and much more.
The book starts off a bit slow, introducing us to various characters that will make waves through the book. Once the book shifts focus to Will and his friends, it really gets going. Soule does a great job of making you want to continue to read what happens next. It spirals off in different directions than you might expect all while rooting for this normal Joe trapped in a web of his own making. He segways into quandaries of power and religion as Will is drawn into both. All in all, this was the best book I've read in a while.
March 30, 2018
You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.
You know that conflicted mental state where you wonder if what is to come is a pleasant surprise or a complete disappointment? Just imagine when one of your favourite singer of all time decides to enter the movie business, or your favourite athlete wants to spice up his biography by fully actualizing themselves through music. It’s how I felt when I got my hands on Charles Soule’s The Oracle Year. Known as the best-selling comic book writer who gave us stories featuring She-Hulk, Daredevil, a classic story arc titled Death of Wolverine as well as many Star Wars comics from Marvel Comics, Charles Soule has now expanded his bibliography with a debut novel that is sure to keep readers hooked till the end.
What is The Oracle Year about? This is the story of Will Dando. Waking up one morning with exactly 108 predictions about the future, he decides to write them all down thinking that they somehow might be life-changing. He wasn’t wrong. With this newly-found knowledge, Will Dando emerges from the shadow and becomes the most powerful man in the world. Adopting the name Oracle for anonymity—I guess maybe the shadows might still be nice place to lurk around a little longer, and with the help of one of his close friends, he builds an impenetrable website through which he unveils his revelations slowly but surely. While some of his predictions seem harmless and mundane, Will Dando also holds some of the most staggering and powerful predictions that would, under the wrong hands, become lethal to the whole world’s survival. And we’re not just talking about surviving famine, we’re talking about everything imaginable that ranges from individual to societal spheres. So what does he do with it? Why, sale them, of course!
It was nice to see how Charles Soule venture into the literary world was fluid and painless. At least he does a nice job making it seem like it. His writing style is clean and straight-forward. This helped tremendously in delivering a fast-paced addictive story that kicked things off in the most mysterious fashion possible. Multiple characters are introduced at first, giving the story a tentacular grasp on the world. Every single point of view seemed random and seperate, but remained connected by one thing: an intense interest in the Oracle. While their thoughts and feelings towards this mysterious figure varies greatly (from those who hate him with every fiber of their body to those who are curious beyond their mind about the entity), it is the fact that they ultimately cross paths along the way that makes this so enthralling.
The Oracle Year isn’t however just a story about a man and his power to predict the future. Charles Soule uses this premise to explore modern society as it is today with much more depth, only if you wish to read between the lines. From the examination of religion and the concept of God to the meticulous analysis of the dilemma that comes with the knowledge of great power, Will Dando doesn’t have it easy throughout this story as he learns that the 108 predictions he woke up with one morning aren’t going to leave him alone until he fully understands their real purpose. If there is any. While the story is littered with secondary characters that are a tad bit cookie-cut, they serve their purpose and help in progressing the story in the direction that Charles Soule wanted. And honestly, I’ll give him a pass for that just because I had a nice time with this debut novel. Now the real question is: Are you going to read it? Maybe one of his 108 predictions has the answer to it. Go find out. 🙂
Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for sending me an copy for review!
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
You know that conflicted mental state where you wonder if what is to come is a pleasant surprise or a complete disappointment? Just imagine when one of your favourite singer of all time decides to enter the movie business, or your favourite athlete wants to spice up his biography by fully actualizing themselves through music. It’s how I felt when I got my hands on Charles Soule’s The Oracle Year. Known as the best-selling comic book writer who gave us stories featuring She-Hulk, Daredevil, a classic story arc titled Death of Wolverine as well as many Star Wars comics from Marvel Comics, Charles Soule has now expanded his bibliography with a debut novel that is sure to keep readers hooked till the end.
What is The Oracle Year about? This is the story of Will Dando. Waking up one morning with exactly 108 predictions about the future, he decides to write them all down thinking that they somehow might be life-changing. He wasn’t wrong. With this newly-found knowledge, Will Dando emerges from the shadow and becomes the most powerful man in the world. Adopting the name Oracle for anonymity—I guess maybe the shadows might still be nice place to lurk around a little longer, and with the help of one of his close friends, he builds an impenetrable website through which he unveils his revelations slowly but surely. While some of his predictions seem harmless and mundane, Will Dando also holds some of the most staggering and powerful predictions that would, under the wrong hands, become lethal to the whole world’s survival. And we’re not just talking about surviving famine, we’re talking about everything imaginable that ranges from individual to societal spheres. So what does he do with it? Why, sale them, of course!
It was nice to see how Charles Soule venture into the literary world was fluid and painless. At least he does a nice job making it seem like it. His writing style is clean and straight-forward. This helped tremendously in delivering a fast-paced addictive story that kicked things off in the most mysterious fashion possible. Multiple characters are introduced at first, giving the story a tentacular grasp on the world. Every single point of view seemed random and seperate, but remained connected by one thing: an intense interest in the Oracle. While their thoughts and feelings towards this mysterious figure varies greatly (from those who hate him with every fiber of their body to those who are curious beyond their mind about the entity), it is the fact that they ultimately cross paths along the way that makes this so enthralling.
The Oracle Year isn’t however just a story about a man and his power to predict the future. Charles Soule uses this premise to explore modern society as it is today with much more depth, only if you wish to read between the lines. From the examination of religion and the concept of God to the meticulous analysis of the dilemma that comes with the knowledge of great power, Will Dando doesn’t have it easy throughout this story as he learns that the 108 predictions he woke up with one morning aren’t going to leave him alone until he fully understands their real purpose. If there is any. While the story is littered with secondary characters that are a tad bit cookie-cut, they serve their purpose and help in progressing the story in the direction that Charles Soule wanted. And honestly, I’ll give him a pass for that just because I had a nice time with this debut novel. Now the real question is: Are you going to read it? Maybe one of his 108 predictions has the answer to it. Go find out. 🙂
Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for sending me an copy for review!
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
March 24, 2018
EXHILARATING
May 9, 2018
Sci-fi "thriller-lite" about a young man, Will, who wakes up one morning with 108 very specific predictions in his head, ranging from the ridiculous (on this date, this person will put pepper on their steak) to the catastrophic (on this date, this bridge will collapse). Quickly realizing his predictions are starting to come true, he and his trusted friend Hamza set up a secured website where he posts some of his predictions, using the alias "Oracle." The novel follows the fallout of Will's site and predictions over the course of one year and weaves in plausible threads involving corporate America, politics, religion and current societal events.
The author is a graphic novelist, and this is pretty much how this novel plays out. There is precious little character development and some of the characters ("The Coach" in particular) are pure comic book fantasy.
This is fun escapism in the vein of "Mr. Penumbra," "Sourdough," etc. If you didn't enjoy those, you probably won't like this. I enjoyed it, but honestly, it was a little bit silly.
The author is a graphic novelist, and this is pretty much how this novel plays out. There is precious little character development and some of the characters ("The Coach" in particular) are pure comic book fantasy.
This is fun escapism in the vein of "Mr. Penumbra," "Sourdough," etc. If you didn't enjoy those, you probably won't like this. I enjoyed it, but honestly, it was a little bit silly.
August 2, 2018
4.75/5stars
I am BLOWN AWAY. I have so many questions, so many theories, and my head legit hurts from thinking about this book for too long. I am seriously in awe by this book. Like woww.
I stand by that this totally could have been a manga/comic book but that just proves that Mr. Soule is a genius with these kinds of stories.
I am BLOWN AWAY. I have so many questions, so many theories, and my head legit hurts from thinking about this book for too long. I am seriously in awe by this book. Like woww.
I stand by that this totally could have been a manga/comic book but that just proves that Mr. Soule is a genius with these kinds of stories.
January 1, 2019
Fate, destiny—they’re myths. We are the sum of our choices. Choose well.
I haven't written a proper review in forever, so once again (i'm sure I've said this before) forgive me if I ramble on mindlessly as I try to write an acceptable review of this novel.
Due to time constraint/med school, I have very limited free time. I have a social life, I've been called a gym rat, I play games, I occasionally play football, and lastly- read for the remaining time that I have. Considering this lifestyle, I am very particular as to which novels to read. Unlike before, where time seemed indefinite, I put down books that haven't really caught my interest 20% in. I almost didn't pick this novel up because of the mediocre reviews from my friends and the goodreads community in general. I was really intrigued by the premise though. I'm a sucker for almost anything SciFi though so I decided to get the sample kindle version and after reading the first 3 chapters, I decided to buy the kindle version, for the full price. I don't normally do that because I personally believe that one shouldn't be forced to pay a full hardback/paperback price for a kindle version but I was in Hong Kong on vacation and only brought my kindle with me plus the fact that I couldn't find a good book in the few bookstores that i could find made me just buy the kindle version in full price. One of the best reading decisions I've ever made.
This novel features Will Dando, the bassist who one day woke up with 108 predictions in which he got from a dream. He has no idea why he was chosen to have the predictions, or how the whole thing was possible to begin with. This summary actually forebodes cliche SciFi but I decided to give the novel the benefit of the doubt. This in turn turned out to be not just a simple story of a man who has predictions and what he decides to do with them... wait actually that's what this novel is, but the author managed to catch my interest for the entirety of the novel. It was an amazing ride, going through what Will Dando did. As per any review of mine, this review will contain no spoiler. This I remember is the hardest part of writing a review. I'm so limited to saying anything that I end up rambling about random stuff.
I really can't talk much about the plot without spoiling and while the plot is the best feature of this novel, I can thankfully talk about other great aspects of this novel. The characters are actually well developed and didn't end up sounding stupid and shallow. Believe me I've read a bunch of SciFi novels wherein the characters ruined my whole experience of the novel because they all sound batshit stupid. Will, Leigh, Miko, Hamza, even The Coach are all interesting and memorable characters. I usually end up loving the novel more if the characters are great (hence Stephen King being my favorite author) but like I said, this novel has the plot as its main star, with great characters as the support.
I have to admit that the writing isn't perfect. There are a bunch of dialogues that made me scratch my head but this aspect I can forgive because of the terrific plot and characters. The ending is not the best out there but boy am I glad that it wasn't cliche. I was leaning towards giving this novel 4-4.5 around 80% in, and a bad ending would've made me go down to a 3 but I actually really liked it and well, I've decided to give this a 5 star rating.
5/5 stars! Very first novel I've finished this 2019 and it's already a 5-star read. I'm really hoping i'd get to read more books this year and that most would end up being 5 star reads. Lately I've been giving out the 5 star rating more often but it's also because I've put down so much bad novels. I usually don't even get to finish 3-star reads anymore but some really great ones end up having bad endings. Don't hesitate to read this if you want a great SciFi read!
I haven't written a proper review in forever, so once again (i'm sure I've said this before) forgive me if I ramble on mindlessly as I try to write an acceptable review of this novel.
Due to time constraint/med school, I have very limited free time. I have a social life, I've been called a gym rat, I play games, I occasionally play football, and lastly- read for the remaining time that I have. Considering this lifestyle, I am very particular as to which novels to read. Unlike before, where time seemed indefinite, I put down books that haven't really caught my interest 20% in. I almost didn't pick this novel up because of the mediocre reviews from my friends and the goodreads community in general. I was really intrigued by the premise though. I'm a sucker for almost anything SciFi though so I decided to get the sample kindle version and after reading the first 3 chapters, I decided to buy the kindle version, for the full price. I don't normally do that because I personally believe that one shouldn't be forced to pay a full hardback/paperback price for a kindle version but I was in Hong Kong on vacation and only brought my kindle with me plus the fact that I couldn't find a good book in the few bookstores that i could find made me just buy the kindle version in full price. One of the best reading decisions I've ever made.
This novel features Will Dando, the bassist who one day woke up with 108 predictions in which he got from a dream. He has no idea why he was chosen to have the predictions, or how the whole thing was possible to begin with. This summary actually forebodes cliche SciFi but I decided to give the novel the benefit of the doubt. This in turn turned out to be not just a simple story of a man who has predictions and what he decides to do with them... wait actually that's what this novel is, but the author managed to catch my interest for the entirety of the novel. It was an amazing ride, going through what Will Dando did. As per any review of mine, this review will contain no spoiler. This I remember is the hardest part of writing a review. I'm so limited to saying anything that I end up rambling about random stuff.
I really can't talk much about the plot without spoiling and while the plot is the best feature of this novel, I can thankfully talk about other great aspects of this novel. The characters are actually well developed and didn't end up sounding stupid and shallow. Believe me I've read a bunch of SciFi novels wherein the characters ruined my whole experience of the novel because they all sound batshit stupid. Will, Leigh, Miko, Hamza, even The Coach are all interesting and memorable characters. I usually end up loving the novel more if the characters are great (hence Stephen King being my favorite author) but like I said, this novel has the plot as its main star, with great characters as the support.
I have to admit that the writing isn't perfect. There are a bunch of dialogues that made me scratch my head but this aspect I can forgive because of the terrific plot and characters. The ending is not the best out there but boy am I glad that it wasn't cliche. I was leaning towards giving this novel 4-4.5 around 80% in, and a bad ending would've made me go down to a 3 but I actually really liked it and well, I've decided to give this a 5 star rating.
5/5 stars! Very first novel I've finished this 2019 and it's already a 5-star read. I'm really hoping i'd get to read more books this year and that most would end up being 5 star reads. Lately I've been giving out the 5 star rating more often but it's also because I've put down so much bad novels. I usually don't even get to finish 3-star reads anymore but some really great ones end up having bad endings. Don't hesitate to read this if you want a great SciFi read!
July 31, 2018
DNF
So boring. A book with a plot that should have been interesting...
If you like multiple view points and a long drawn out story then this is your book. Wanted a book that had less reality in it versus the political and religious back and forth that I got. What killed it for me was the lack of empathy I felt for any of the characters. This was not a compelling read for me and I pulled the plug when I stopped caring what happened.
So boring. A book with a plot that should have been interesting...
If you like multiple view points and a long drawn out story then this is your book. Wanted a book that had less reality in it versus the political and religious back and forth that I got. What killed it for me was the lack of empathy I felt for any of the characters. This was not a compelling read for me and I pulled the plug when I stopped caring what happened.
September 26, 2019
4.5 stars.
I was sent this book by Wunderkind PR in exchange for an honest review.
YOU GUYS. I just finished this book and I am SHOOK. This is a stunning sci-fi similar to Dark Matter but with political relevance instead of romance! (Yes please). The first half of this book I was like “yeah this is good but like meh” but then I hit the second half and BAM! I kept thinking Soule was writing himself into a corner and he kept finding totally unexpected and believable ways out of that corner. There were so many twists and turns I was constantly on my toes. This comes out in April 3rd and I would HIGHLY recommend checking it out.
I was sent this book by Wunderkind PR in exchange for an honest review.
YOU GUYS. I just finished this book and I am SHOOK. This is a stunning sci-fi similar to Dark Matter but with political relevance instead of romance! (Yes please). The first half of this book I was like “yeah this is good but like meh” but then I hit the second half and BAM! I kept thinking Soule was writing himself into a corner and he kept finding totally unexpected and believable ways out of that corner. There were so many twists and turns I was constantly on my toes. This comes out in April 3rd and I would HIGHLY recommend checking it out.
December 30, 2018
3- The strangest part of The Oracle Year is the pacing. When I began reading, I felt like someone had dropped me into the middle of an ongoing story. I thought this would be an origin tale, as Will figured out what the premonitions were and what to do with them. Instead, it's about how he made money off of them and fought off enemies. A lot of strange decisions here, in my opinion. Soule is a graphic novelist, and I think this could have done better in that format. Although this was an easy and light read, I never really got into the story and just felt like I was going through the motions.
March 19, 2020
Um dia acordas e tens na tua mente 108 profecias e acabas por descobrir que tudo é verdade e não apenas um sonho estranho. O que fazes?
É esta a questão que Will Dando se vê a enfrentar e a sua decisão é a de criar um website e um alias, O Oráculo, onde partilha estas profecias. Religiões e governos querem apanha-lo pois acreditam que ele não passe de uma fraude ou que seja uma forte arma que poderão usar para controlar o que irá acontecer no futuro.
Eu comprei este livro porque gosto muito do autor, que trabalhou na área das comics e porque o plot parecia ser bastante interessante e intrigante.
O problema do livro? Talvez seja um pouco confuso e por vezes centrado em personagens que tem demasiado "tempo de antena" quando não fazia falta alguma à história perderem esse mesmo "tempo".
Contudo, eu fiquei presa e esperava sempre mais e mais, queria acompanhar cada decisão e pensamento que nos era dado e é uma aventura que mexeu com a minha imaginação e moldou um pouco a minha criatividade momentânea.
É esta a questão que Will Dando se vê a enfrentar e a sua decisão é a de criar um website e um alias, O Oráculo, onde partilha estas profecias. Religiões e governos querem apanha-lo pois acreditam que ele não passe de uma fraude ou que seja uma forte arma que poderão usar para controlar o que irá acontecer no futuro.
Eu comprei este livro porque gosto muito do autor, que trabalhou na área das comics e porque o plot parecia ser bastante interessante e intrigante.
O problema do livro? Talvez seja um pouco confuso e por vezes centrado em personagens que tem demasiado "tempo de antena" quando não fazia falta alguma à história perderem esse mesmo "tempo".
Contudo, eu fiquei presa e esperava sempre mais e mais, queria acompanhar cada decisão e pensamento que nos era dado e é uma aventura que mexeu com a minha imaginação e moldou um pouco a minha criatividade momentânea.
December 31, 2018
3.5-3.75 stars. an interesting premise well plotted. Soule being a comic creator has a very visual storytelling style. the characters could have been a little better rounded. overall entertaining enough
January 27, 2022
Це книга, про яку я нічого не чув, але коли побачив обкладинку, то відразу захотів її придбати. Розумію, що слова звучать відверто тупо. Але ви бачили це всевидяче око? Я теж його побачив і воно мене заманило. Ще й анотація досить така інтригуюча, а ще автор, Чарльз Соул, трохи крутиться у світі коміксів, що вже встигли стати бестселерами в США. Думаю про «Зірвиголову» багато хто чув, а ще в його доробку є «Жінка-Галк» та «Смерть Росомахи», які були придумані для студії Marvel. А для DC Comics працював над такими серіями, як «Корпус Червоних Ліхтарів», «Супермен та Диво-жінка» та ін. Ще й до всього переліченого він має власну серію під назвою «Слова прокляття», яку випускає разом із Image Comics. Ось такий собі хлопець із Брукліна вирішив написати свою першу книгу «Рік Оракула».
Ідея книги не те щоби сильно відрізняється оригінальністю, але заждіть трішки і просто уявіть. Головному герою, Віллу Дандо, під час сну приходять рівно 108 передбачень майбутнього, а після того, як він прокинувся, вони всі збереглися в його голові. Виглядає інтригуюче. Він не знає, що це все означає і бажає перевірити хоча б одне. Зрозумівши, що вони правдиві, він по черзі викладає їх в інтернеті, на власний Сайт (то така трішки смішна назва веб-сайту). Тримати це все в собі дуже важко, тому гріх не поділитися цією інформацією із найкращим другом, після чого приготувати план, який завдяки передбаченням принесе їм сотні мільйонів доларів. Їх же можна продавати великим компаніям та бізнесменам, а вони точно готові заплатити великі суми за те, щоб у майбутньому ще більше розбагатіти. Чи дійсно все так легко? У таких ситуаціях ніколи такого не буває.
«Стосунки із власним віддзеркаленням поступово псувалися з наближенням 30 років»
Спочатку те як рухалась оповідь узагалі не подобалося, але ближче до середини книги все дуже пожвавилося. Після того події почали набувати великих масштабів, з’явилися нові незвичні герої, додався екшн, що й дало той потрібний ефект. Й уже до кінця книги не можна було відірватися. Хоча кінцівка є банальною з певних аспектів, але залишає багато відкритих питань, на які б хотілося отримати відповіді.
Основними персонажами роману є Вілл та його товариш Гамза. Обидвоє є занадто простими і прямолінійними; ніяких неочікуваностей, легковажні дії та банальні бажання. Хоча до Вілла виникає менше запитань, бо не так легко усвідомлювати, що ти можеш якимось чином врятувати людей від поганих передбачень або навпаки, порадувати їх чимось хорошим. Тому зробити правильні кроки не так просто, бо результат може виявитися дуже тяжким та болісним. А ось Гамза, то простак, який хоче нажитися і використати гроші на якісь божевільні ідеї. Вони, справді, божевільні. Ви зрозумієте про що я, коли прочитаєте книжку. Він ніби хоче захистити дружину та свого товариша, але воно аж занадто суперечить із його іншими бажаннями.
«Це було схоже на шахову партію в темній кімнаті, де ви маєте здогадуватися про ходи супротивника лише за допомогою запаху. І у вас нежить. А ваш супротивник — Бог.»
Але в романі є персонаж, який мене сильно захопив та заінтригував. Така собі Тренерка, або краще бабуся. Вона дуже колоритна, жива та яскрава жіночка, що має чоловіка, улюблених внуків, хороший будинок та сад, де вона порається із задоволенням. А ще, час від часу, до неї звертаються із секретними та важливими проханнями, які часто завершуються для багатьох летальними випадками. А ще, здається, чи не пів світу заборгувало їй «дрібні» послуги. Я б сказав, що в неї таке хобі, ставити перед собою нереальні завдання та виконувати їх. Вона точно не залишить вас байдужим.
Релігія… Думаю в книжці про Оракула ніяк не можна обійти цю тематику, хоча вона тут подається з досить таки незвичного кута. Автор піднімає п��тання віри та поведінки людей, коли з’являється така надлюдина, що вміє передбачити майбутнє. Також розказує про американську протестантську церкву (то там де багато співів і часто показують церковні шоу-служби по телебаченню) зі сторони, яку я собі й уявляв. Більшість «святих» проповідників релігії просто висмоктують зі своєї пастви грошенята для загального благополуччя, хоча, насправді, тільки для власного збагачення.
Цей роман читається досить швидко і є непоганим трилером, який зачепить багато моментів сучасності, у якій живе людина. А масштабність деяких ситуацій може довести до безумства, якщо подумати, що це може статися в сучасному світі. Не потрібно довго роздумувати чи купувати книгу, бо загадкова Тренерка, чи краще бабуся, допоможе вам. А тоді вже послуга за вами і хто зна, що вона попросить…
Більше різного у блозі.
Ідея книги не те щоби сильно відрізняється оригінальністю, але заждіть трішки і просто уявіть. Головному герою, Віллу Дандо, під час сну приходять рівно 108 передбачень майбутнього, а після того, як він прокинувся, вони всі збереглися в його голові. Виглядає інтригуюче. Він не знає, що це все означає і бажає перевірити хоча б одне. Зрозумівши, що вони правдиві, він по черзі викладає їх в інтернеті, на власний Сайт (то така трішки смішна назва веб-сайту). Тримати це все в собі дуже важко, тому гріх не поділитися цією інформацією із найкращим другом, після чого приготувати план, який завдяки передбаченням принесе їм сотні мільйонів доларів. Їх же можна продавати великим компаніям та бізнесменам, а вони точно готові заплатити великі суми за те, щоб у майбутньому ще більше розбагатіти. Чи дійсно все так легко? У таких ситуаціях ніколи такого не буває.
«Стосунки із власним віддзеркаленням поступово псувалися з наближенням 30 років»
Спочатку те як рухалась оповідь узагалі не подобалося, але ближче до середини книги все дуже пожвавилося. Після того події почали набувати великих масштабів, з’явилися нові незвичні герої, додався екшн, що й дало той потрібний ефект. Й уже до кінця книги не можна було відірватися. Хоча кінцівка є банальною з певних аспектів, але залишає багато відкритих питань, на які б хотілося отримати відповіді.
Основними персонажами роману є Вілл та його товариш Гамза. Обидвоє є занадто простими і прямолінійними; ніяких неочікуваностей, легковажні дії та банальні бажання. Хоча до Вілла виникає менше запитань, бо не так легко усвідомлювати, що ти можеш якимось чином врятувати людей від поганих передбачень або навпаки, порадувати їх чимось хорошим. Тому зробити правильні кроки не так просто, бо результат може виявитися дуже тяжким та болісним. А ось Гамза, то простак, який хоче нажитися і використати гроші на якісь божевільні ідеї. Вони, справді, божевільні. Ви зрозумієте про що я, коли прочитаєте книжку. Він ніби хоче захистити дружину та свого товариша, але воно аж занадто суперечить із його іншими бажаннями.
«Це було схоже на шахову партію в темній кімнаті, де ви маєте здогадуватися про ходи супротивника лише за допомогою запаху. І у вас нежить. А ваш супротивник — Бог.»
Але в романі є персонаж, який мене сильно захопив та заінтригував. Така собі Тренерка, або краще бабуся. Вона дуже колоритна, жива та яскрава жіночка, що має чоловіка, улюблених внуків, хороший будинок та сад, де вона порається із задоволенням. А ще, час від часу, до неї звертаються із секретними та важливими проханнями, які часто завершуються для багатьох летальними випадками. А ще, здається, чи не пів світу заборгувало їй «дрібні» послуги. Я б сказав, що в неї таке хобі, ставити перед собою нереальні завдання та виконувати їх. Вона точно не залишить вас байдужим.
Релігія… Думаю в книжці про Оракула ніяк не можна обійти цю тематику, хоча вона тут подається з досить таки незвичного кута. Автор піднімає п��тання віри та поведінки людей, коли з’являється така надлюдина, що вміє передбачити майбутнє. Також розказує про американську протестантську церкву (то там де багато співів і часто показують церковні шоу-служби по телебаченню) зі сторони, яку я собі й уявляв. Більшість «святих» проповідників релігії просто висмоктують зі своєї пастви грошенята для загального благополуччя, хоча, насправді, тільки для власного збагачення.
Цей роман читається досить швидко і є непоганим трилером, який зачепить багато моментів сучасності, у якій живе людина. А масштабність деяких ситуацій може довести до безумства, якщо подумати, що це може статися в сучасному світі. Не потрібно довго роздумувати чи купувати книгу, бо загадкова Тренерка, чи краще бабуся, допоможе вам. А тоді вже послуга за вами і хто зна, що вона попросить…
Більше різного у блозі.
April 9, 2019
Based on what I have read in the past, my Goodreads feed recommended that I give The Oracle Year a shot. So when I came across its illusory cover in the local library, of course I had to check it out.
Will Dando went to bed an unassuming Manhattan musician and woke up as the most powerful man in the world thanks to the 108 predictions about the future teeming in his brain. Will, with the help of his intelligent best friend, sets up the Site. A website that broadcasts to the world a selective few of the predictions planted in Will’s head. Will protects his anonymity by calling himself the Oracle, and once his predictions come to fruition, the Oracle is all anybody is talking about. Global corporations are seeking out the Oracle so that they can get their hands on his prophecies, resulting in Will having more money than he knows what to do with. With his rapid fame comes a slew of high-powered enemies. Cyber spies are consistently trying to break into the Site and reveal the Oracle’s true identity. The president of the United States is even after him. So how is Will going to deal with the mayhem that is now his life?
I have to hand it to the author of this book, Charles Soule. So much detail went into this story. So much.
But all things considered, I’m pretty disappointed with this book. I was expecting an action-packed, exhilarating, totally awesome novel. But instead I was delivered an unexciting, slow-paced novel with one-dimensional characters. And the dialogue was quite dull, but that’s probably because of the lack of likableness in the characters.
I’m struggling to think of things that I did enjoy about this book. It took me a long time to get through, mainly because I rarely had the desire to pick it up. And in hindsight I think that its 400 pages could have easily been chopped down to 200 pages. It’s just one of those books that if I had the chance to go back in time and not read it, I would do just that.
Will Dando went to bed an unassuming Manhattan musician and woke up as the most powerful man in the world thanks to the 108 predictions about the future teeming in his brain. Will, with the help of his intelligent best friend, sets up the Site. A website that broadcasts to the world a selective few of the predictions planted in Will’s head. Will protects his anonymity by calling himself the Oracle, and once his predictions come to fruition, the Oracle is all anybody is talking about. Global corporations are seeking out the Oracle so that they can get their hands on his prophecies, resulting in Will having more money than he knows what to do with. With his rapid fame comes a slew of high-powered enemies. Cyber spies are consistently trying to break into the Site and reveal the Oracle’s true identity. The president of the United States is even after him. So how is Will going to deal with the mayhem that is now his life?
I have to hand it to the author of this book, Charles Soule. So much detail went into this story. So much.
But all things considered, I’m pretty disappointed with this book. I was expecting an action-packed, exhilarating, totally awesome novel. But instead I was delivered an unexciting, slow-paced novel with one-dimensional characters. And the dialogue was quite dull, but that’s probably because of the lack of likableness in the characters.
I’m struggling to think of things that I did enjoy about this book. It took me a long time to get through, mainly because I rarely had the desire to pick it up. And in hindsight I think that its 400 pages could have easily been chopped down to 200 pages. It’s just one of those books that if I had the chance to go back in time and not read it, I would do just that.
July 5, 2018
Eh. Not horrible, but at page 268 approximately, the book action went into “unbelievable”.
I once had an author at a book signing say that authors get ONE pass. One concept that the reader is expected to believe. As long as that concept meshes well with the world created and neither the concept nor the world violate the rules put into place for them, then the reader will follow the author as they craft their story.
The one concept of this book is the MC has 108 predictions all due to come true. The world is present day world. No magic, no futuristic science. The here, the now.
But name me ANY Christian religious leader who can stir a world-worth of hatred and fear against one person that they will try to hunt that person down as the anti-Christ? That was stretching it for me.
Then the character of The Coach. Seriously? A little over the top.
This author writes comic books, a fantastic medium, but also one where over the top isn’t blinked at. It can be expected. So his roots are showing in this book. Not a bad thing, but I wasn’t able to accept the multiple concepts I was being asked to follow. Suspension of disbelief only goes so far.
Not a bad book, written engagingly and I didn’t see the anti-female sentiment that some reviewers saw, but I may not have read far enough to get to it.
3, not horrible, but didn’t ring my bells, stars.
I once had an author at a book signing say that authors get ONE pass. One concept that the reader is expected to believe. As long as that concept meshes well with the world created and neither the concept nor the world violate the rules put into place for them, then the reader will follow the author as they craft their story.
The one concept of this book is the MC has 108 predictions all due to come true. The world is present day world. No magic, no futuristic science. The here, the now.
But name me ANY Christian religious leader who can stir a world-worth of hatred and fear against one person that they will try to hunt that person down as the anti-Christ? That was stretching it for me.
Then the character of The Coach. Seriously? A little over the top.
This author writes comic books, a fantastic medium, but also one where over the top isn’t blinked at. It can be expected. So his roots are showing in this book. Not a bad thing, but I wasn’t able to accept the multiple concepts I was being asked to follow. Suspension of disbelief only goes so far.
Not a bad book, written engagingly and I didn’t see the anti-female sentiment that some reviewers saw, but I may not have read far enough to get to it.
3, not horrible, but didn’t ring my bells, stars.
June 20, 2018
4.5 rating for this sci-fi thriller that I couldn't seem to turn the pages fast enough.
Will Dando receives 108 predictions one night while sleeping, with no idea where they came from. He woke up with the list in his head. And without fail, every single one comes true no matter what is done to try to prevent the outcome. Will and his best friend start a website called The Site and an anonymous Will becomes The Oracle.
I really enjoyed the premise of the book along with loving the MC. He was just an ordinary good guy who becomes one of the most famous people in the world. Everyone wants to know their future. Everyone wants a piece of him. Including our own government.
I'll most definitely be on the lookout for any future books that Charles Soule writes!
Will Dando receives 108 predictions one night while sleeping, with no idea where they came from. He woke up with the list in his head. And without fail, every single one comes true no matter what is done to try to prevent the outcome. Will and his best friend start a website called The Site and an anonymous Will becomes The Oracle.
I really enjoyed the premise of the book along with loving the MC. He was just an ordinary good guy who becomes one of the most famous people in the world. Everyone wants to know their future. Everyone wants a piece of him. Including our own government.
I'll most definitely be on the lookout for any future books that Charles Soule writes!
June 6, 2018
Video book review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWOj9...
A solid 3-star read. The premise of this book was so promising. Will Dando is a young man struggling to make ends meet in New York City. One day he wakes up from a dream that revealed 108 predictions that could change the world.
Unfortunately this type of premise can only succeed if it's executed well. I kept waiting for the pieces to come together in an elegant way, and it just didn't happen. While the last 60 pages were fast-paced and action-packed, I was left with more questions than answers, and not in a good way. The various characters that shape the plot felt shallow, and I felt that the main character Will had a split personality--his motives and actions morphed to help the plot move along, and it took me out of the story.
But overall it was a good story--a unique one, at least. I just wish it lived up to its promise.
A solid 3-star read. The premise of this book was so promising. Will Dando is a young man struggling to make ends meet in New York City. One day he wakes up from a dream that revealed 108 predictions that could change the world.
Unfortunately this type of premise can only succeed if it's executed well. I kept waiting for the pieces to come together in an elegant way, and it just didn't happen. While the last 60 pages were fast-paced and action-packed, I was left with more questions than answers, and not in a good way. The various characters that shape the plot felt shallow, and I felt that the main character Will had a split personality--his motives and actions morphed to help the plot move along, and it took me out of the story.
But overall it was a good story--a unique one, at least. I just wish it lived up to its promise.
July 2, 2018
This is one of the worst books I've ever read. For the love of God, it's about about free will and the main character's name is Will. Let that sink in for just a moment.
Among this book's other sins: racism (in addition to racist phrases, like "off the reservation," all of the POC in the book were either supporting Will [ugh] or villains), fat shaming, ableism, anti-religious, and, of course, misogyny.
Though the idea for this book was interesting, the execution was abysmal. The writing was bad. The editing was bad. The plot didn't wrap up at all.
Basically, this book reads like Reddit wrote it. Go read literally anything else.
Among this book's other sins: racism (in addition to racist phrases, like "off the reservation," all of the POC in the book were either supporting Will [ugh] or villains), fat shaming, ableism, anti-religious, and, of course, misogyny.
Though the idea for this book was interesting, the execution was abysmal. The writing was bad. The editing was bad. The plot didn't wrap up at all.
Basically, this book reads like Reddit wrote it. Go read literally anything else.
January 2, 2019
3
I had big expectations for this book, but sadly I didn't enjoy it like so many others. I kept having issues with the overall choices of the story, and the characters didn't feel real with their choices. I will admit there were moments I thought this book was heading in the right direction, but they were far between. Charles Soule has creativity oozing throughout the pages, but I just couldn't get into the feel of the book, it just lacked depth for me.
Charles Soule has written a lot for Marvel and I must say I can feel the influence. Some writers can craft using one form, but attempting another medium can be hard to transcend. I will say he gets some of the work right and delivers on the promise of the concept. The issue I have with these easy consuming novels is the lack of depth provided, it would have been nice to learn more depth for some of the characters. The character has all this knowledge, but we never learn a lot about them and in the end he is conflicted? I get money isn't everything, but couldn't there be more death and interference? He was in essence playing a god of sorts. I think this would have worked better as a film and I can assure you, Hollywood needs to start finding some original projects like this book.
Why the 3?
I attempted to get into the book, but I couldn't hit that carefree interest that others can do. Charles Soule has written a solid and fast paced story that will serve a target audience well. The book is full of ideas and it is nice to see an author working outside of his normal medium. The problems I have with this book are very closely related to comic books, they also tend to skip over large parts of storyline, which is okay because they are graphic art so it can disguise this a little better. I like diving in head first and having the storyteller provide me the answers a long the way, that's not the problem either. The biggest issue I had was the simple character designs, they just aren't that interesting. The Oracle was a boring simpleton. I might be being too hard on the book, but disappointment is hard to disguise. I think having this as a darker thriller might have worked better, but that wouldn't service the core target audience. Not everything is going to fit me, but at least I read the whole book. I will read another work by Charles Soule, he definitely has creativity to offer.
I had big expectations for this book, but sadly I didn't enjoy it like so many others. I kept having issues with the overall choices of the story, and the characters didn't feel real with their choices. I will admit there were moments I thought this book was heading in the right direction, but they were far between. Charles Soule has creativity oozing throughout the pages, but I just couldn't get into the feel of the book, it just lacked depth for me.
Charles Soule has written a lot for Marvel and I must say I can feel the influence. Some writers can craft using one form, but attempting another medium can be hard to transcend. I will say he gets some of the work right and delivers on the promise of the concept. The issue I have with these easy consuming novels is the lack of depth provided, it would have been nice to learn more depth for some of the characters. The character has all this knowledge, but we never learn a lot about them and in the end he is conflicted? I get money isn't everything, but couldn't there be more death and interference? He was in essence playing a god of sorts. I think this would have worked better as a film and I can assure you, Hollywood needs to start finding some original projects like this book.
Why the 3?
I attempted to get into the book, but I couldn't hit that carefree interest that others can do. Charles Soule has written a solid and fast paced story that will serve a target audience well. The book is full of ideas and it is nice to see an author working outside of his normal medium. The problems I have with this book are very closely related to comic books, they also tend to skip over large parts of storyline, which is okay because they are graphic art so it can disguise this a little better. I like diving in head first and having the storyteller provide me the answers a long the way, that's not the problem either. The biggest issue I had was the simple character designs, they just aren't that interesting. The Oracle was a boring simpleton. I might be being too hard on the book, but disappointment is hard to disguise. I think having this as a darker thriller might have worked better, but that wouldn't service the core target audience. Not everything is going to fit me, but at least I read the whole book. I will read another work by Charles Soule, he definitely has creativity to offer.
April 11, 2018
*I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Combining the pace of a thriller with the epic, dare I say ridiculous and far fetched plot of a comic book (in the best way possible), Soule keeps it all together with approachable characters. In comic book fashion, readers are given a situation that quickly unfolds, however some readers may be irked that some of world-building or plot devices are not fully explained - you kind of just have to go with it. At one point in the book, Will explains that it doesn't matter where the predictions came from, it only matters what he does now that he has them. Again, this type of set up is pretty common in comic books but might throw off some readers that like to have everything clearly defined.
I think a strong part of the book was how small and large events were seemingly intertwined. Thus everything was important. Additionally, all of the characters were incredibly normal. Will is a musician trying to make ends meet, his best friend Hamza was an investment banker, and Hamza's wife, Miko, was a elementary school teacher. However, despite their ordinariness they're set on figuring out what to do with the predictions. Besides Will, Hamza, and Miko, the other side characters like televangelist Hosiah Branson and the President's right-hand man Anthony Leutchen were awful characters but felt so real!
I blew through the book in a couple days! I think fans of thrillers will love this! If you enjoyed Blake Crouch's Dark Matter (2016) I think you'd also enjoy this! Like Crouch's Dark Matter, Soule contemplates how our choices and 'free will' affect our lives and the world. As mentioned above, Will Dando is a pretty ordinary dude given the heavy burden of know good things and bad things that will happen. He has to decide how he'll wield that power. Will it be for his own monetary gain or will he try to help the world? So while it fits within the genre of thriller, I appreciated the smaller contemplative moments as well.
I'm looking forward to seeing what else Soule writes in the future whether it be comics or novels!
Combining the pace of a thriller with the epic, dare I say ridiculous and far fetched plot of a comic book (in the best way possible), Soule keeps it all together with approachable characters. In comic book fashion, readers are given a situation that quickly unfolds, however some readers may be irked that some of world-building or plot devices are not fully explained - you kind of just have to go with it. At one point in the book, Will explains that it doesn't matter where the predictions came from, it only matters what he does now that he has them. Again, this type of set up is pretty common in comic books but might throw off some readers that like to have everything clearly defined.
I think a strong part of the book was how small and large events were seemingly intertwined. Thus everything was important. Additionally, all of the characters were incredibly normal. Will is a musician trying to make ends meet, his best friend Hamza was an investment banker, and Hamza's wife, Miko, was a elementary school teacher. However, despite their ordinariness they're set on figuring out what to do with the predictions. Besides Will, Hamza, and Miko, the other side characters like televangelist Hosiah Branson and the President's right-hand man Anthony Leutchen were awful characters but felt so real!
I blew through the book in a couple days! I think fans of thrillers will love this! If you enjoyed Blake Crouch's Dark Matter (2016) I think you'd also enjoy this! Like Crouch's Dark Matter, Soule contemplates how our choices and 'free will' affect our lives and the world. As mentioned above, Will Dando is a pretty ordinary dude given the heavy burden of know good things and bad things that will happen. He has to decide how he'll wield that power. Will it be for his own monetary gain or will he try to help the world? So while it fits within the genre of thriller, I appreciated the smaller contemplative moments as well.
I'm looking forward to seeing what else Soule writes in the future whether it be comics or novels!
June 8, 2018
This book was good in theory, awful in execution. The dialogue was astonishingly cliche and clunky, and the most surprising part of the whole book was learning in the acknowledgements that Charles Soule is married, since he writes like he's never met a woman.
December 26, 2019
Ahoy there mateys! The cover kept making me look at this and I still wasn't sold as the blurb seemed a bit silly. I eventually gave in and I be glad I picked this up. The basic premise is that Will wakes up one morning with 108 prophecies in his noggin. He then sets up a scheme to make millions once he realizes these events come true. I have to admit that I didn't like Will or his best friend at first but the story grew on me. I needed to know why Will was given this information and how the world was gonna change because of it. Of course he has to save the world. I loved the Coach character. I loved how mundane some of the predictions were. The story does get a bit ridiculous but I had a very good time with it. Enough to have added the author's book, anyone, to me ports for plunder list. A very good popcorn sci-fi. Arrrr!
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