Servitude

Servitude by Costi Gurgu presents a dystopian, near-future world already destroyed by war, and characterized by economic collapse and the rise of a brutal culture of servitude. Blake Frye is a New York cop who has worked hard to dismantle illegal slave trade sponsored by political elites and big corporations, navigating treacherous terrains, facing the ruthlessness of an authoritarian regime, and underground camps that look worse than the Nazi death camps. He is framed for treason, and his pregnant wife is kidnapped. Blake must clear his name and save his wife, Isa, but the stakes are just too high, and time is running out.

Costi Gurgu’s novel tells a story filled with pathos, introducing a conflict and a setting that are strangely familiar. Those who follow contemporary politics and the rise of modern authoritarianism will enjoy Servitude. This precautionary tale warns about what our world could become if those in power are not held accountable. It was hard for me to read this novel without thinking about the vision of the current US President for his country and the world. The setting is a world that is becoming real for most people, and the scenes of urban decay in London, secret meetings, and harrowing encounters with victims and perpetrators reveal a world where human rights are eroded and debt-driven slavery is normalized.

From the fully drawn characters to the imaginative setting, this dystopian tale features elements that enrich fantasy and science fiction. The conflict is expertly handled, exploring questions of freedom, human dignity, and abuse of power in a world on the brink of moral collapse. The setting in London is intelligently rendered, and images of a city scarred by war, oppressed by surveillance, and plagued by poverty will arrest the attention of readers, especially in places like Oxford Street and Leicester Square. I enjoyed the atmospheric writing, the sophistication in character development, and finely rendered social commentaries. This one is a huge winner.