Orange City

Like Orange soda, "Orange City" is something completely different. Move over Orwell. Move over Clockwork Orange. Move over Truman Show. Move over Timothy Leary. Orange city is the dystopian future where perhaps you get what you bargained for. Spend the rest of your life behind bars or in a purgatory on your way to paradise -- just doing a few odd jobs for the Man, who lives up in the Eye tower and wants his pilgrims guided to his secret island city. And on the way to paradise all it will cost is your immortal soul and perhaps more.

Moral dilemmas and Hobson's choices are not the end of it all. Because the heart of the book is about free will and manipulation and the choices that are slowly taken away from us. Madison Avenue can convince us to want anything, to buy anything, to become anything. It's almost like we can't stop ourselves.

At what point are we being manipulated and at what point are we knowingly choosing to conform to what's required by the corporation, by the twitter mob, by the dictates of those who dictate what's allowed to be said and what's allowed to be felt and experienced.

Orange City is an unusual book and it will take a little bit before you, the reader, get a feel for where things are going. Just remember the main character is probably even more lost and disoriented than you. In the end, Orange City is a rather satisfying read.

Orange City is imagination on each and every page, and an enjoyable dystopian story for those that enjoy the genre (like me). I enjoyed the pulp novel nature of the book, and would readily read another book by this author.

Lee Matthew Goldberg delivers great suspense and mystery in this new Sci-Fi thriller Orange City. Set in a dystopian future on an island ran by a mysterious multi-armed individual known only as "The Man". The island is mainly composed of those who have done wrong or committed crimes in the "Other-World" (or all life outside of their city island state). The Man sends his scouts to take them in after making them sign a contract to avoid years to sometimes life in prison.

Graham, our main character, encounters a run in with the law after committing a crime. He is approached in his waiting room by a few of The Man's scouts and the offer Graham his "four-leaf clover moment". He signs his contract and is on his way to his new life on thee island. Getting a decent job, he lives on the Island, early passing by, for 10 years. He is summoned into his bosses office and offered a last ditch proposal to maintain his position. All he has to do is taste some sodas, how hard can that be?

Well, these aren't just regular sodas, and Graham is sent onto a journey to uncover what is really going on on the Island, and just what sinister plans are in place, and just who may be pulling the strings.

A great thriller that I read all in one sitting. If you are a fan of dystopian futures and sci-fi, you will love "Orange City". Needless to say, I am extremely excited for "Lemonworld" to come out!

We are told in the blurb to expect a mash up of Lost and 1984 but I’d go further, I’d bring in more contemporary comparisons such as Jeff Noons Vurt, William S Burroughs naked lunch (less contemporary but more apt I’d say) and the TV series The prisoner.

The author builds a dystopian world that is all to easy to believe, in this era of Trump and the pandemic it could be said that we are living in a dystopian future already and in Orange City we find a world we can recognise.

I found the book easy to read, compelling (we are supposed to say page turner...) it delights in its inventiveness and entertains as we share in the main characters spiral into madness and back again...maybe...

I’m very much looking forward to the sequel!

Orange City is a nightmare. The Man, a one-eyed, many-limbed tyrant, imposes his myopic vision of the society on a population of wholly dependents, casting those unable to perform into a half-life of misery and worse. Those who do perform might rise or fall depending on personal determination and achievement or on The Man's absolute whim. Add the newly-reformulated POW! sodas into this horrific cocktail, and you have a recipe for a novel about addiction (chemical, emotional, of media), about how societies organize themselves to retain power with the powerful, and about how those without power participate in their own enslavement. Which flavor would be your favorite? What justifications would allow it? What debasement would you permit? What would victory over these forces look like? Could you ever be sure you won?

It’s been a wee bit since I delved in the world of urban dystopian fare, but Orange City delivers it in spades. Imagine Man in the High Tower (with a Stalin slant) mixed with Terry Gilliam’s Brazil and Max Barry’s Syrup. That’s pretty much what Mr. Goldberg deftly delivers in Orange City.

The basic premise of the book is that there is a huge secret city ruled by “The Man,” a seemingly monstrous oligarch who leads over the corporations and keeps the citizens working and cowering in fear of being cast out into the Empty Zones of the Outside World.

Everyone in the city has a role to play, and that is where our protagonist, Graham Weatherend comes into play. Graham was snatched to the city a decade ago to be put in the position of advertising executive. When his company gets the account for Pow! Sodas, everything starts to change for him: mostly chemically.

Mr. Goldberg finds a very unique voice and builds a terribly frightening world in Orange City, and I just could not get enough of it. The absurdity of this society under the fist of a potential madman combined with a seemingly endless supply of color themed entertainment venues with all of the decadent vices you can imagine really paints a fantastic picture of a “work, play, die” ethos.

This is a city where people go from the top floors of industry to being limblessly cast out onto the streets of the Zones in a matter of hours. A city where there is not even the precept of individual privacy.

I enjoyed Orange City because of the insanity of it. Page after page unveiled new facets of what I can only describe as mild terror. Much like Graham, I can’t wait for the next flavor.

Orange City is set in a dystopian future where the city and "The Man" provide criminals with a chance of redemption, as long as you do as your told! The citizens of Orange City are monitored 24/7 by cameras and sometimes other civilians. Graham is given his chance by becoming the new face of Pow! soda. Along the way discovering they are controlled by more than "The Man" and also his own life is/was not what it seems/seemed.

Goldberg’s novel depicts the ever-present modern issue of human need versus corporate need, the ever-pressing question of just how far one is willing to climb the next rung of the company ladder. The story takes place in a dystopian America, following Graham Weathered, a spineless employee in an advertising agency in a hidden city filled with criminals and outcasts. Graham is given an opportunity to product test for a new client and jumps at the chance to get ahead. As he drinks this soda, he experiences shifts in his mood based on the flavour he’s consuming and becomes more paranoid as the testing continues. Eventually, Graham snaps and finds the secret behind the sodas, and its source goes straight to the top of the City. Graham must decide whether it can look the other way and accept the comfortable life the ‘Man; gave him, or tackle the issue head-on and take the master of the City down.

The book portrays an exciting concept of a city developed for rehabilitation in a dystopian America. The real reason for this place appears to be human testing, and people who don’t comply or perform as expected are discarded to the fringes of society and barely survive.

The feeling I got from reading this novel was how far we are willing to keep our place in the corporate structure. There are parallels from America’s heavily influenced business culture and how many are eager to sell their lives to companies and live in the moment and beyond our means once the ‘9 to 5’ drain is completed. It’s an interesting concept, or possibly even an alarming awakening, and worth a read.

Wife murderers, liquor store robbers, and parents of deformed children can get a second chance from The Man in a secret dystopian hidden city. A Joseph Stalin meets 1984 wet dream. If chosen, you get a new identity and the works as long as you conform and stay loyal. If you are disloyal, you get sent to the zones where your limbs will mysteriously disappear and die of hunger or dehydration.

The zones are starting to fill up and The Man needs to find a way to better control the population so rebrands a soda that makes you feel different moods and heightens colors depending on what flavor you drink. Instead of becoming a Sunset Overdrive monster, one man decides to fight back and kill the Slender Man looking ruler and fight for freedom.

Full of creepy weirdness and fever dreams, this is definitely one of the more unique urban dystopian stories out there.

Thanks to Lee Matthew Goldberg, Atmosphere Press and NetGalley for giving me access to this book for review.

First of all, I was already intrigued by the cover, really, is stunning, but then the summary was the cherry on top. In this book we follow mainly Graham, who gets offered an opportunity like no other, go to live in The City, a place where the past doesn't matter and people get a second chance. The City is ruled by this mysterious figure (or should I say disfigured, please excuse this terrible pun) called The Man, extremely tall and with definitely spared arms. But, of course, not everything is as good as it seemed.

I'll keep everything vague so you don't get spoil, cause it really is worth a read!

The mystery was really well crafted from the beginning, I found myself thinking about the book while I was supposed to be studying for finals. The pace works also great maybe struggling a bit towards the end, when everything felt a little bit rushed.

Besides E and Graham I didn't really feel a lot for the characters, often finding myself feeling more sympathetic towards E than Marlena, but we may discover more in later installments.

I'm used to dystopias being quite dark but I wasn't expecting this one to be so brutal, especially with its treatment of the main characters. The use of colors and Pow! was magnificent and probably my favorite part of the story along with The Man. I play a lot of video games and for some reason this part kept reminding me of the reboot of Devil May Cry and the demon in the soda factory.

Overall I really enjoyed the ride though I have to sadly say that the end didn't really click with me, especially the reveal about Graham, still I really would love to get back to another City!

The final rating is 3.5 stars rounded up to a 4.

Great dystopian fiction, I was already familiar with the author's crime fiction and always love to see good writers try to work in new genres. Great characters. interesting plot. A solid read!

Imagine you are sentenced to a long prison term for committing a horrible crime, and then you were offered the chance to live in a secret location, be given a job, get paid for it, have a private apartment, but with only one catch - you can never leave.

Would you take that chance?

This is only a taste of what you'll experience in "Orange City," by Lee Matthew Goldberg; a well-written dystopian novel about a man named Graham who takes that chance to live in The City and be a functioning member of society.

Of course, not all is what it seems.

When Graham is asked to test out a new product for the ad agency he works for, the layers of The City begin to peel away, and Graham sees the truth behind the apparent facade.

Or, is it all in his imagination? Can he even trust his own eyes and ears? Is he going insane?

The book was a page-turner for me. It's the fastest I've read a book in ages, and that's saying something. There are echoes of 1984, The Matrix, Brave New World, and The Hunger Games in this story, but it has a freshness all its own.

The author keeps the pacing quick and never lingers before the next complication hits. It's a smooth read. A fun read. That is, if you like reading about worlds turned upside down, like I do.

If you like sci-fi with a bit of an oppressive twist to it, "Orange City" will be your jam. It held me in its grip throughout, and I think you'll like it, as well.

You read the blurb and you imagine what this book is going to be about... You may be right on the mark, but there is so much more. Goldberg is a clever writer. He writes with excellent pacing, giving us pearls of information to fill in the picture of this city, how it is run and the characters in it.

This book certainly makes you think about choices and what you would do to keep the status quo.

I would recommend this book as I got to the 80% mark and had to go out, and I really didn’t want to put it down. I certainly wanted to find out how this story was going to end.

This book would be a fantastic book to use in the classroom for older/adult students. I believe the amount of discussion that would be produced would be enormous.

Trigger Warning: Mention of past child abuse, to set the scene for the character in the present time.

Links to Amazon and other social media added closer to/on release date.

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for giving me access to this book for review.
In orange city, we get to follow the perspective of Graham as he is offered to love in The City, where people get a second chance to live and their past doesn't matter. The City is ruled by The Man who has various arms. I liked this book. The character of "The Man" was really interesting. I somewhat liked the character of Graham and E, but there were some things that didn't go well for me. The pacing was a little weird for my liking. I get that it was dystopian world, but the way females were viewed, it sometimes took me out of the story. Will definitely continue on with the series.

Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “Orange City” by Lee Matthew Goldberg, Atmosphere Press, March 16, 2021, On Tour With Suzy Approved Book Tours

Lee Matthew Goldberg, the author of “Orange City” has written a unique and powerful novel about a dystopian world. (shown within a city) The genres are Science Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, and Fiction. Many people who have committed crimes in the outside world are sent to this unusual city. They get a job, a place to live, but they can’t leave. The author describes his characters as quirky, strange, complex, and complicated. If anyone distrusts the leader, known as “The Man” they can be ousted to Empty Zones.

Graham Weatherend is given a special job to promote a new client. This client has canned beverages and calls them Pow Sodas. Graham first tastes the orange flavor, and his world is a “passion” of orange. Graham notices strange things and people. Graham is soon to start on other flavors. There seems to be a mystery of what the ingredients are. Each colored flavored drink causes Graham to become extremely moody and filled with questions. He realizes that he is trapped in a prison of sorts. Does he want to escape? Can he escape? This is an edgy and thought-provoking novel, which is the first in the series. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy unusual stories.

Where to begin with Orange City? I'm not entirely sure. It's a book that took me by surprise more than once, a story where I thought I knew what it was going to be about, where I thought I knew what was going to happen next; yet it kept surprising me with more twists and turns than I was expecting. It ended up being a book that really intrigued me, one that I found hard to put down.

The story begins before our lead character has even been introduced, as we meet E, an agent of The City. E is not a very nice man. We learn that from the start. In fact, we learn that most of the people in Orange City aren't going to be nice people. We're introduced to The City, a huge, advanced place hidden away from the outside world where criminals and castaways are given a second chance at life. At the centre of the city lies the Eye Tower, a monolithic structure that houses The Man, the being who made all of this a reality.

E works for The Man, and it's his job to head back to the outside world, an America still reeling from the War To End All Wars, where he finds those selected by The Man and offers them a chance to come and join The City. It's on one of these assignments that we meet our hero for the book, Graham. Graham is a young man who's had a really rough life, his parents killed when he was a child, brutally beaten by his foster parent every day, and now facing a prison sentence. So when E turns up offering him a fresh start, a way out, Graham grabs it with both hands.

Skipping forward a decade we find Graham as an over worked and under appreciated advertising executive for one of the biggest PR firms in The City. He puts in his work, even at weekends, doesn't go out to bars or parties, and lives the same dull routine day after day. However, he's broken out of his rut when his boss, E, gives him a new assignment, testing out the upcoming flavours for their new client Pow! soda. Thus begins a series of events that will push Graham to breaking point.

The book is described as being a dystopia, a word that gets thrown around a lot in publishing, so I was expecting to see a story with some of the familiar trappings of the genre, but was pleasantly surprised at just how dark and twisted this book was. The City is an absolutely horrific place to live. This isn't one of those dystopia books where a small group of people are raging against an establishment that benefits a certain group, this is a place where everyone suffers, everyone is a pawn, and it's all for the enjoyment of one individual, The Man.

Very quickly into the narrative we see that The City might be held up as a second chance, a place where people can build a new life for themselves and find meaning, but it's really not. Nothing that happens in the city is free. People are constantly watched by The Man and his millions of cameras. Every conversation is listened to. And anyone who doesn't do what they're told, who doesn't act a certain way or says the right things is banished to awful slums, where the inhabitants are fed a cocktail of drugs to keep them quiet and compliant, and they're used for horrific experimentation.

The City isn't a saviour from prison and the horrors of the outside world, it's a prison with a shiny exterior. It's a living hell for most of the people that live there. Now, there could be some arguments that most of the people there deserve to suffer, the majority of them are criminals and killers, but you soon come to care about what happens to these people, even the ones you know aren't good people, because of the greater evil of The Man.

I'm not going to talk about the greater mysteries at play, or what happens in the plot beyond what's outlined in the blurb, as going into the book without any further knowledge really is the best way to experience this. When you don't know whether to expect a mystery, action, or even romance, every part of this story comes as a surprise because it will change from time to time, take your expectations and subvert them in delightful ways. Just be careful though, because much like Graham and his new soda's, you could end up hooked.

Many thanks to the publisher for giving me a free copy of this to review!

If you've ever played the game We Happy Few (for the record, I love We Happy Few), this book is the closest thing I've encountered to that in terms of mood and world-building.

I actually was drawn to it because of its bright orange cover and what I thought was an image of a superhero/supervillain standing on top of a building, buuuut there are no superheroes or supervillains in this book. It's actually a dystopian sci-fi novel about prison rehab program hell. Allow me to explain!

The main character, Graham, has been arrested for committing a minor crime, and as a result, he gets sent to this city whose inhabitants are all former criminals and/or people with no other options, desperate for a second chance in exchange for the work they'll presumably put in to help the city expand and flourish. Just like most cities, this one is divided into different sections, with the wealthy, successful finance/businesspeople living uptown in nice new apartments, and the entry-level arrivals and those who have not managed to accomplish much in the name of the city being relegated to ugly, cramped living quarters.

Then there are the Zones, where you get sent for insubordination or for not contributing enough (you'll see how they decide this as you go along). The entire place is ruled over by this many-armed entity known as The Man. The Man has built something here and has no interest in letting anyone fuck it up, so people are encouraged to work work work, then spend their hard-earned stipends in the raunchy Downtown area, and meanwhile, all kinds of drugs and other addicting substances are steadily funneled through the city to keep everyone "happy"/under control.

Like I said, I love this premise. The world-building? *Chef's kiss!* That uneasy feeling I got while reading? Well-done! My main complaint with this book was that [MINOR SPOILERS] Goldberg did such a good job building up to the climax, and then....... it didn't live up to my expectations? I didn't like how rushed the final 10% felt. Why do both of the female characters keep offering themselves up to Graham? Is Graham really in love with this girl he barely knows? I understand it's a dystopia and asking for true love might be pushing it, but I was very confused by this. I am hoping that all of my complaints will be addressed in the sequel, which, yes, I am actually very excited for. This world is compelling, and Goldberg must have done SOMETHING right, 'cause I kept craving soda and wanting to wear orange while reading this (you'll get what I mean when you read it. And you SHOULD read it).

Orange City is a dystopian read that has an interesting premise. There is a secret world where criminals get a second chance. They are also at the mercy of the Man, who is trying to replicate the vison of Stalin. He rules over the world and controls everything that goes on. Graham has been working tirelessly for the Man for many years. Suddenly, he finds himself at the forefront of the Man's game. He has developed a new drink that alters moods based on the color of the drink. The more Graham consumes the more he wants to destroy the Man.

I did think this book was a little slow to start, but it picked up midway through. I can't wait to see what happens in book 2.

Thank you to Blackthorn Book Tours, Atmosphere Press, and NetGalley for the #gifted copy of the book.

Dystopia never tasted so good.

As far as management goes, the man, is pretty high up. To match his height, he is also a Grade A Sociopath.

Trying to run a Statuesque city, he toys with its citizens as the whim passes over him.

He got his kicks drugging and amputating at free will.

His greatest feet, hadn't even been released and there was massive demand for it. What was it? Simplicity, soda pop.

Different flavours, different moods, always thirsty for them.

One man's journey, against tyranny.

Status: Completed

Rating: 4.2/5.0

I was granted complimentary access to Orange City via NetGalley and also as part of my participation in the blog tour for this title with Silver Dagger Book Tours. Thank you to all involved in granting me this opportunity. My thoughts are my own and my review is honest.

So, you know how when you get a group of people with varying political leanings to talk about criminal punishment someone eventually suggests an isolated city to put all the criminals and undesirables and leave them to their own devices? This is that city. It's a gritty, dark urban landscape run by sociopaths at the top and drug-addicted victims at the bottom.

Graham is one of those victims. A meek man suffering from intense untreated PTSD, Graham is plucked up by his boss as the soda company to serve as taste tester for their new line. What Graham isn't told as he's sent home with hundreds of cans of colourful fizzy drinks is that he's about to become hopelessly addicted to a new drug that quite literally colours his world.

The way prosthetics work in this world, being almost indistinguishable from the live limbs and other body parts they replace, is fascinating. I kind of wish Graham had observed these more while sober because he's always questioning what he sees and I want to know what was and wasn't true about this technology. (I suppose you could say Graham is a classic "unreliable narrator" in his sections.)

Goldberg writes broken and respectable people extremely well, and this is both what I loved about this book and what I didn't. Obviously based on the concept presented in the synopsis I wasn't expecting angels but I was not prepared for how much I would hate these people. We're supposed to, most of them are not written to be sympathetic or redeamble, but wow! I'm so glad that Graham at least was pitiable or I might not have may have been tempted to put these characters down and not pick them back up again. I know that sounds rather negative, but I want to emphasize that this is exactly how the characters are supposed to be because that's what this city was built on. I underestimated my ability to hang out in those heads for 300 pages given the tight timeframe I left myself to get this tour read done in between other tour reads. I think I would have had a better time with these characters if this were one of my in between reads books that I pick my way through in between other things, taking in the characters and plot in small doses.

This is a very dark, very fresh Sci-Fi dystopian that is absolutely not for kids. I recommend this to adult fans of the genre who are prepared to spend a lot of time with a cast of characters who, for the most part, deserve all the worst possible outcomes of their actions and more.

Frankly put, this work is as addictive as a bottle of soda! I bet everyone's gonna crave more (of the writing & the soda) as this is only the first installment of the series! An excellent cover picture, aptly depicting the plot & the basic idea, is so eye-catchy. One glance at the blurb & you get this dystopian touch. Any further reasons required to start the unusual plot-driven novel?!

Like the orange soda that leaves a tingling sensation on one's palate, this dystopian futuristic story has that precise identical feel once finished reading it. I loved the author's work amidst various colors to explain the varying moods in different situations. Ain't it valid in our present world as well; we use diverse hues in our everyday activities to emulate our emotions.

The narrative was developed very strongly up to the climax & suddenly, the actual finale saddened me a bit. I presumed a lot more to befall, but it got cut off rather abruptly. Still, I relished the author's novel-writing technique & the captivating storyline, which will have the readers' nose immersed into this book. Lee's works are invariably a joy to read & I am so happy I could get an opportunity to read this one.

I got an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley, Author Lee Matthew Goldberg & Publishers Atmosphere Press.

Graham's life has not been easy. His parents died when he was young, then Graham was placed with an abusive foster parent. Now, Graham has found himself in jail.  However, he has been offered a deal to live in The City, hidden away from the outside world, given a job and a home, but bound forever to The City.  The City is ruled by The Man, a monstrous figure with many robotic arms.  The Man wants Graham to have a job in advertising and eventually becomes a tester for the new Pow! sodas.  With one sip of the orange Pow! soda Graham feels intense emotion and addiction.  With each new flavor he tries, Graham's emotional world is opened up as well as the reality of The City and the lives of the people imprisoned there. 

Orange City is an emotional journey through a dystopian future.  The City itself drew me in and is created as a grim reminder of how humanity could end up- constantly monitored, fearing an unseen leader and enslaved by consumerism and drugs. I had so many questions about The City, The Man and the Grand Plan.  Graham's story was intriguing as he discovered that he was not just another cog in the wheel. The idea of the Pow! sodas controlling emotions was fascinating as Graham was led down a rabbit hole of emotion and color with each corresponding flavor.  The flavors and colors almost seemed to go along with the sins; however, it is only through these sins that Graham realizes the truth behind The City.  Orange City ended a little abruptly and a little too easily; however, with Graham's discovery it seems that the power of POW! isn't going to stop at The City.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

Sci-fi thriller, set in a dystopian future on an island ran by a mysterious multi-armed individual known only as "The Man". What more could we want?

The island is mainly composed of those who have done crimes in the "Other-World" - i.e., all life outside the city island state. The Man sends his scouts to take them in after making them sign a contract to avoid years to sometimes life in prison.

More in the book...

Read it :)

i really enjoyed reading this book, it was a great scifi novel. It made me excited to read the sequel when it comes out.

As a fan of dystopias, as soon as I saw the cover and synopsis of this book, I knew I had to read it, and what a good decision I made.

Control, surveillance, suppression and censored freedoms. You are going to be entertained.

The dystopian City in which this novel is based is very well thought-out, and feels well developed, which is no mean feat. The structure that the inhabitants of this City live under, and have to adhere to, is presented clearly, and the reader can get quite a good grasp of it from quite early on. I particularly appreciate this, as some dystopian novels take a while to fully explain the situation, and it can cause a loss of interest.
We are almost immediately introduced to the Man, the dictator of the City, and immediately get a sense of the gruesome, gritty nature of the novel as we learn about his added appendages and his habit of collecting the eyes of his subordinates.
I enjoy the motif of the unreliable narrator. As the majority of the novel is presented through Graham’s perspective and he himself does not have an understanding of what is happening to him, we have to learn the truth along with him and experience his sense of confusion and potential psychosis.
Elements of the novel feel slightly child-like - some of the writing is a bit clumsy in places, and the repetition of the way Graham experiences colour, while essential to the plot, could have benefitted from a more subtle presentation. But on the whole the novel is well-developed, and is a really interesting and unique take on the dystopian genre.