Title: Legacy—A World Apart
Author: Raymond L. Cox
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 1984510800
Pages: 380
Genre: Science Fiction
Reviewed by: Thomas Macolino

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Science Fiction has long been understood by critics to be one of the most underestimated forms of literature. While it can often be portrayed as nothing more than a vehicle for spaceships and lasers, science fiction allows authors and readers to explore unique problems though a different filter. Just as more mundane stories try to delve into the psyche of an individual, science fiction can delve into the psyche of a culture. The technology and worlds we imagine reveal a great deal about our own hopes, our fears, our philosophies. It is primarily these aspects Legacy—A World Apart, by Raymond L. Cox, focuses on.

A World Apart concerns the life of Mike, a boy from rural Iowa. Mike is also Myzaar, an alien general sent back in time to eliminate humanity before they become intergalactic terrorists and warmongers. Unfortunately, Mike/Myzaar and his team have all lost their memories, and believe themselves to be human until Mike slowly begins to regain his memories.

The philosophy in Cox’s novel is weighted and pointed. The story is told in the first person, and Mike’s story reads as half autobiography, half manifesto. There is an unwavering consistency of personality in the character of Mike; Cox manages to bring this character to life in a way that is truly a testament to his writing ability. This can be contrasted against the plot, which diverts from its expected sci-fi trajectory in the early portion of the novel, and at times almost reads like magical realism instead of sci-fi. Mike’s life begins full of promise, a chosen hero for the galaxy. Yet the novel quickly declines into the story of an everyday boy, albeit one who gains superpowers when he’s eaten enough. Throughout all of this, Mike drifts off into tangents, discussing everything from morality, to religion, to the value of life. In this move, Cox pushes toward the boundaries of the sci-fi genre, straddling the fence between it and literary fiction.

Cox also makes a bold decision to narrate this novel through the eyes of perhaps the most singularly unlikable and unsympathetic protagonist I’ve ever encountered. Sensitive readers might wish to be forewarned of the blunt use of the N-word, as well as revenge fantasies against animal abusers that would make the Punisher flinch. Surrounding these moments, like the dough around the chocolate chips in a cookie, is the unrelenting entitlement of a protagonist with the hormones and empathic capacity of a fourteen-year old boy. This unreliable narrator’s actions and moralizing create an interesting dichotomy that could perhaps be of interest to academics and literary scholars. A final side note: This book does contain some mature themes and adult scenes.