A good author has the ability to pull the reader into their world; they can keep them engaged and always coming back for more. They can immerse the reader into their world and their work. Many seasoned writers have concluded that the mark of an exceptional writer is their skill with world-building. Yet, achieving that in this day and age which is full of instant entertainment of short videos on social media and billion-dollar movies has become increasingly difficult. Nevertheless, some writers have managed to not only immerse the readers in their books but have also been able to keep them coming back for more. One such writer is Zach Beard, the author of books such as “The Spaceship,” “The Invasion of Heaven,” and “The Awakened State,” all of which have been cited as some of the best fictional books. He truly does write page turners. An engineer by education, Mr. Beard has always loved storytelling and mastered the art of doing so. From the first turn of the page, his books pull the reader in, immersing them into his brilliantly extensive world which is an amalgamation of the familiar and unfamiliar.
A true astrophile, his book “The Spaceship” explores the ever-fascinating world of interstellar travel and combines it with the familiarity of the dark side of humanity as well as the apprehensiveness a lot of us feel about artificial intelligence and the existential threats that come attached with it. He has masterfully changed the usual narrative of the corrupt A.I. into something never seen or done before in the sci-fi world. Written meticulously, anyone well-versed in artificial intelligence and sci-fi can see that Mr. Beard conducted in-depth research into the topic before starting his masterpiece. Hence, for those who are not well-versed in such matters, it can not only expand their horizons but can also be an intriguing and fun read. His knowledge and experience as an engineer can be seen in the way he talks about the technicality of technology. Even in “The Invasion of Heaven,” Mr. Beard has taken a unique tone to the world-building, our relationship with the heavens above, and the things that reside there. He very eloquently explores the concept of servitude and what can happen when those who worship get frustrated with the ones being venerated. It also takes a creative approach to militarism and explores the detriments of war in a manner not done before. The same is true about “The Awakened State” which takes an entirely distinctive approach pertaining to the supernatural. Mr. Beard’s creativity is on full display in this book as well, it pulls the reader into his world and experiences, making it impossible to put the book down even for a second. It is the same case in “The Weapon,” which delves into the world of self-discovery and revenge and wrestles with the idea of being an omnipotent being unsure of himself. Mr. Beard has mastered the art of storytelling, which is all his own.
For those looking to lose themselves in an immaculately and detailed fictional world, Mr. Beard’s books are the way to go. Not only has the way he has written the book pull the reader in but his work tends to immerse the reader into this brilliant fictional universe.
