Description
THE SUPREME LUCK
Book Summary
Mariano Antolín Rato returns with a realistic speculative fiction work that blends the technological thriller with climate dystopia. The story follows Rafael Lobo, a writer trapped in a world without digital connections following a global blackout. As he attempts to resume his virtual relationship with an explosive muse, he must survive in a present devastated by fires, shortages, and social chaos. A work that resonates with the everyday apocalypses of J. G. Ballard and offers a scathing reflection on human vulnerability in the digital age.
What is it about?
The novel takes place over the course of a week in a present plunged into chaos after a global blackout has eliminated all digital connections. The protagonist, writer Rafael Lobo, tries to resume his telematic relationship with Helwna Troyano, a virtual muse whose absence blocks his ability to advance the novel he was commissioned to write by a major publishing group. However, his search becomes an odyssey through a devastated landscape: ruined cities, fires, food shortages, robberies, computer tricks, terrorism, and mass exoduses. Along the way, Lobo encounters dangerous characters, from marginal criminals and cannibals to terrorists and killer robots, while climate change advances relentlessly. The plot combines technological suspense with a critique of digital dependency and the fragility of modern civilization.
Main Themes
- Technological apocalypse and digital collapse: the consequences of a world without connections or networks.
- Human vulnerability and survival in a hostile and degraded environment.
- Devastating climate change and its immediate effects on society.
- Literary creation and emotional dependency: the virtual muse as a creative engine and obstacle.
- Social chaos, violence, and urban decomposition in a realistic dystopian setting.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers of contemporary and speculative fiction who enjoy plots with psychological tension and social criticism. It is ideal for those who appreciate realistic dystopias in the style of J. G. Ballard, technological thrillers with a philosophical background, and narratives that explore the fragility of modern civilization. It will also interest fans of Mariano Antolín Rato and those seeking an intense, visual, and atmospheric read.
What this book offers
- A deep reflection on technological dependency and the void left by its absence.
- A fast-paced plot that combines suspense, adventure, and social criticism in a post-apocalyptic setting.
- A lucid and disturbing vision of climate disasters and their immediate consequences.
- A vulnerable and complex protagonist who invites empathy and introspection.
- A visual and cinematic narrative that maintains tension from beginning to end.
Technical Details
- Author: Antolín Rato, Mariano
- Publisher: Editorial Pez de Plata, S.L
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: Modern and contemporary fiction, Motril local history
- Collection: Narrativa Pez de Plata
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: February 2022
- Number of pages: 280
- Weight: 499 g
Editorial Review
"The Supreme Luck" is a solid and coherent proposal within contemporary speculative fiction. Mariano Antolín Rato builds an oppressive and believable atmosphere where technological and climate chaos intertwine with the psychology of a writer on the edge. The work stands out for its ability to generate tension and reflection without sacrificing careful and evocative prose. Recommended for readers looking for an intelligent dystopia with a social backdrop and a narrative pace that hooks from the first page.