Earth-Sim

By: Jade Kerrion

Narrated by: Jennifer Reilly

Was the super-continent of Pangaea split because of a management dispute? Is the biblical flood the earliest evidence of why "technology and water don't mix?" If you always suspected that mass extinctions, such as the Black Death, had an otherworldly reason, you just might be right.

Is there a real message hidden in the mysterious manuscripts that human sages and savants have created through the generations? Is there life out there, beyond our planet? And why has none of it shown up on Earth yet?

Earth-Sim is a unique spin on the history of Earth and the history of mankind. What if Earth and the entire universe were actually part of a simulation program? What if the most iconic and memorable events in Earth's history were decisions (or more frequently accidents) triggered by two college students, Jem Moran and Kir Davos, who are still sorting out the finer points of working together and more importantly, still arguing over the finer points of planetary management?

Bring your sense of humor. Earth-Sim is frequently whimsical and often irreverent. Either way, you finally have someone to blame for the state the world is in.

©2013 Jade Kerrion (P)2013 Jade Kerrion

Quirky Look at the History of Earth

Summary: Jem Moran and Kir Davos participate in the world simulation program which sets clueless college and grad students in charge of planets. (It’s like risk on the galactic scale.)

Additional Comments:
- Overall, I enjoyed the book. It’s got an interesting premise (ie. Every major disaster/event to touch Earth has an explanation in the incompetence and/or the moral decisions made by neophyte planetary managers or mishaps caused by letting a 5 year old boy near the planet.)
- It’s almost like two stories though. Earth-sim is 80% philosophical discussion between Jem and Kir and 20% other plot that I can’t talk about too much without giving spoilers.
- The philosophical discussion piece could have been a hilarious short story. Not being a particular fan of philosophy though, the length of those discussions was on the long side to me.
- The frequent Wikipedia quotes bothered me. Here you have a book about an advanced civilization and the inspirational and informational quotes at the beginning chapters come from arguably the weakest online source.
- I’m torn on the inclusion of the 20% other plot. Everything ties together nicely in the end, but I’m not sure it’s necessary unless it’s just there to warrant a sequel. There are enough openings to set up a sequel but I’m not sure how that would tie back to the Earth-sim project.
- What I enjoyed: There are enough references to history and geek stuff to keep it funny. Ie. origin of Superman, Atlantis, loch ness monster, tower of babel, the flood, etc.
- The narration was handled well.
- Content warnings: There are a few curse words scattered about.

Conclusion: A quirky look at planetary history wrapped in a scifi short story about a girl with a secret to protect. (not counted as a spoiler b/c that’s in the description)
*I received a free copy from the author. The choice to review as well as the rating and words are completely my own.