The very essence of the fallible human is the soul. In the not-so-distant future, the Korporation will save the Earth from humans’ folly by creating a perfect, synthetic world, eliminating human strayers and outliers, and unwittingly destroying the human soul it so desperately needs to survive. C.G. Fewston has created a philosophical utopian fiction that becomes horrifyingly clear once the story is told and the secrets are revealed. 

It is 2183, and Jerome Conquergood is destitute in Old York City and in search of his twin brother, Vincent. His only recourse is to join the authoritarian Korporation, which thrives on conformity and loyalty to the Kause. He must assimilate to find the answers that he seeks, but will he lose himself, his humanity, in the process? 

Fewston’s carefully crafted and unique dystopian tale leads the reader down multiple complex corridors as Conquergood yields to the Korporation. His job is Turnkey Specialist, and by definition, a turnkey is a keeper of keys or a jailer. Conquergood is the key or the lynchpin in this story; he is the protagonist, after all, but what is his purpose? Who is he? What is he? 

While this story can be confusing at times, several overarching themes are crystal clear: altruism at the expense of humanity, love, the veracity of memories, purpose, names, and salvation. The Korporation’s primary goal has been to save, to do good, but utopias are unsustainable and destined to implode. To save humanity, is Conquergood the key to conquering such Korporate good? 

“We have touched the God Gene, and we have been made glorious.” 

“We want the soul and everything in between.” 

The letter K is clearly important here. Depending on the source, K can be a symbol of strength and perhaps the eleventh hour as it is the eleventh letter in the alphabet. Where there is a C, there is now a K within the Korporation’s speech, propaganda, and teachings. This letter replacement can be symbolic and could be satirical, so what does that mean for Conquergood’s name? So many possible interpretations for the reader to explore. 

C.G. Fewston’s writing style is literary at its foundation and symbolic throughout. Memories are passed down, and humanoids are almost human in their form and feelings. Navigating such a mosaic is difficult at times yet still entertaining as the reader follows the protagonist on his unique journey. The story’s pieces scatter early on and fall into place when and where necessary, creating a masterful portrait of the human condition and of the danger and beauty of free will. At its core, Conquergood & the Center of the Intelligible Mystery of Being is a cautionary tale with many layers and forebodings.  

As our current tumultuous world shifts with climate, political, and humanitarian upheaval, this dystopian tale feels eerily realistic and a stark possibility.