Epic by Conor Kostick

As a self proclaimed player of MMORPGs (Massively multiplayer online role-playing games), I was understandably interested in the premise of this book. It is another one of the post apocalyptic books that are so popular right now, except the twist here is that the new government is based on a computer game. It is a nonviolent world where violence is punished by exile. Instead of warfare or fighting, all disputes are supposed to be worked out within the medium of the game, thereby preventing actual violence.

The writing itself was definitely enjoyable. Although Kostick’s writing is not take-your-breath-away good, it’s certainly not bad. I really enjoyed the “game” aspect of the book. The author was very proficient at keeping the reader firmly set in realty, while allowing them to satisfy their imaginative cravings created by the game. I got my fill of warlocks, druids, and vampires without feeling like I was a complete nerd. (Just sort of a nerd.)

What I really loved about this book was the message that Kostick presents through the plot. I don’t want to give any details away, but ultimately the characters are frustrated that so much time and effort is spent in an imaginary world. The average person gets their money through the game performing tasks that are completely fruitless in the real world. Political disputes are handled within the game, in which the officials are ultimately powerful. Consequently, the average person does not have sufficient resources for their needs in the actual, physical world.

At first, I just thought it was an entertaining story. The more I thought about it, however, the more I wondered if the author was trying to make a statement about our governments today. I mean, when you think it, isn’t our political system just one big game? So much of a politician’s time is concentrated on accomplishing personal agendas, getting reelected, and strengthening their positions of power that their actual responsibility of representing the people is lost by the wayside. Do the people have any real chance of getting their needs and opinions heard? Think about our monetary system! Our currency consists of numbers on a screen representing wealth that doesn’t actually exist! I consider all of the resources spent on campaigns and it makes me absolutely sick! What if the resources spent on campaigns, political networking, and lobbying was spent in a constructive way instead of being dumped into the bottomless pit that is the game of politics. How much better would our world be? I’m not saying that all of politics are corrupt. I recognize that there are some very good people in government. Nor am I saying that our system of government is bad. The system set up in the constitution is good; it is the game of politics that is repulsive.