Paradigm Lost
Stephen J. Schrader

Reviewed by Abner Goodwin

Paradigm Lost is about two reporters who are brought aboard a submarine, which is captained by a mysterious man named Brinn. Captain Brinn has learned of and frontiered amazing technologies, such as clean, abundant, nearly endless energy sources, and anti-gravity. Using these technologies, he has invented several devices, vehicles, and weapons.

When he first attempted to share these technologies with the world, various governments tried to quiet him. In an attempt to cover up his discoveries, a terrorist cell from a middle eastern government murdered his parents. Now he and his crew are determined to force the governments of the world to release information about these new technologies, pushing humanity into a new era and effectively shifting the paradigm of who has the power and control.

This book would have made a great graphic novel. Its characters and their reactions are usually over the top and melodramatic. However the concept behind the book is interesting and the story is well paced. I wasn't ever bored when reading it and in fact there were a few times that I had a hard time putting it down.

I feel that I should give the author props for the name of the book which, refers to Milton's Paradise Lost in which Satan is viewed to be the protagonist. After waging war in heaven, Satan is cast down to hell where he crosses the Abyss in order to reach the Earth so that he can tempt Adam and Eve, and bring about the world's first paradigm shift. In a way, Satan is similar to Captain Brinn, who also goes to extreme measures to bring about a change.