A Complete Fiction
In R.L. Maizes’s novel A Complete Fiction, two authors are caught in a media frenzy when one accuses the other of plagiarism.
As P.J. receives rejection notices for her latest novel, she reads online that another author who’s an editor at a small press, George, landed a million-dollar book deal for a novel similar to hers, whose young protagonist is sexually assaulted by a superior while working in politics. Then P.J. remembers that her book was rejected by George. She accuses George on social media of plagiarizing her work. Her post goes viral, compromising George’s publishing opportunity and sparking interest in her own book.
The controversy around P.J.‘s and George’s books fuels online debate about who has the right to tell what kinds of stories. Several other hot-button issues are addressed in the book as well. George experiences the fallout of being canceled on social media when he loses his job and his book deal is postponed. P.J., an avid environmentalist, walks the line between living true to her beliefs and accepting the reality of what is in her control. These complexities are overwhelming in a fashion that’s representative of the modern era, and the characters struggle their way through.
The treatment of the authors’ rivalry is holistic, with chapters alternating between P.J.‘s and George’s perspectives. They both reveal their reasons for writing their books, and they accept some blame for their current situations, building empathy on both sides. The ordeal leads to growth for each in their personal lives; their families are impacted by their writing, too, and P.J. and George work to reconcile with their loved ones.
The multilayered challenges of publishing and living in the social media age are unearthed in the novel A Complete Fiction.
Reviewed by
Julia Dillman
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
