If you are a fan of famous masterpieces, such as The Terminator, Hunger Games, Maze Runner and Star Wars, I believe you would find Kenneth Thomas’ sci-fi sequel right up your alley. VanWest: The Past is a well-executed dystopian novel, which takes us to the year 3000 and skilfully paints a future that humanity could be highly likely to face.

So, make yourself comfortable in your seat, buckle up and prepare to have your mind blown away! The Prologue reveals a creative, yet scary believable futuristic world, sets the tone of the book and unlocks your imagination. From the very beginning you will find yourself holding your breath while turning the pages and your heart – beating with excitement while jumping the lines.

The protagonist – Captain VanWest, an Enforcer for the Universal Council, is introduced as soon as you dive into the story. As he is battling impossible odds to win the Universal Red and Blue Games, his qualities to be a strong protagonist, who is capable of driving the story further, emerge - loyal, honest, duty focused, able to think fast on his feet and incredibly brave. Those insights of VanWest’s personality that you will soon encounter effortlessly create the image of a worthy character to be the main star of this exciting show.

Therefore, it doesn’t come as a surprise when VanWest overcomes the third challenge against all odd and wins the Universal Red and Blue Games. I dare say this is only the beginning! Just when you think you could slow down and catch your breath, VanWest grabs your wrist and drags you through a series of action-based events that happen one after another, faster than I can snap my fingers.

You will have the honours to join him on an exciting time travel adventure back to 1951 in Paris – a world and a time he is completely unfamiliar with. You will witness his undeniable ability to blend in with the crowd and you will be amazed by his arsenal of skills that help him execute a mission, assigned to him by the Universal Council. His task is to stop Utopian agents, who go back in time in order to stop the development of CERN and thus hoping to change the course of the next ten centuries

The action and the details that are soaking the pages make Kenneth Thompson’s sci-fi work highly compelling, however, I personally wouldn’t have found it that enjoyable if it wasn’t for the emotional involvement that the plot presents later on. Throughout his adventure, VanWest’s character undergoes a significant development – his loyalty shifts 180° (from the Universal Council to the rebels and the Utopian leader Prof. VonHelman, AKA "Mad Newton" and his cause) and he shares mutual feelings of love and devotion with his childhood friend Iris VonHelmann, Mad Newton’s daughter.

Living up to all expectations of the sci-fi genre VanWest: The Past will keep you on your toes, guessing, anticipating, anxious to find out what happens 2-3 chapters down the line and before you know it, you will find yourself reading the last page over and over again, impatient to dive into volume two and re-join VanWest on his exciting quest.

As somebody, who doesn’t usually enjoy the sci-fi genre I was pleasantly surprised by the in-depth complex plot and the details that Kennet Thomas described (weapons, armour, vehicles, technology, etc.). While reading I couldn’t help but think that the plot has an undeniable potential to be transformed into a TV adaptation! Wouldn’t it be great to watch VanWest and his newly formed allies on the big screen as they rebels against the system while fighting to stay alive?