Paradigm Lost: Jamari and The Manhood Rites, Part 1

In Paradigm Lost: Jamari and The Manhood Rites Part 1 conventional U.S. societal norms and rules have crumbled, and some areas in the west have formed tribes that follow the teachings of founder Justin Knight. These new communities’ fundamental ideologies are different than that of the past. Tribes are run with male and female groups raised separately. There is a strong tribal government and an individual must complete rites to become an official citizen and have a vote. Homosexuality is the norm, and heterosexual interactions are only used within the tribe as a means of continuing the population. Jamari has finally reached the age where he can begin “The Manhood Rites” to become a full citizen of the tribe. He is excited to have reached this stage in his life, and looks forward to learning more about the tribe as well as how to become closer the men in his tribe who are training him, both about the workings of the tribe and physically. Showing great interest and potential with both, Jamari moves through the rites and gets closer to becoming a citizen. When he is finally tasked with mating with a female, it turns out to be a girl named Sophie he met as a child, who specifically asked that he be the one to impregnate her. Having enjoyed his intimate time with his male companions, he begins to question all that he has known and believed so strongly in after being with Sophie. Will he continue to hold tight to all that he has learned about the tribe and why it runs as it does, or will this change everything?

Author, R. Roderick Rowe, essentially takes current day society taboos and makes them the norm in the dystopian society in Paradigm Lost: Jamari and The Manhood Rites Part 1 as far as governing bodies, family make up and sexual preference. He does a great job of integrating events that have happened in our lifetime (i.e. September 11th, ISIS, use of natural gases, etc.) and adds them to the story as history for this society. As far as the role of government and how society is run, readers are allowed to see another, albeit fictional, possibility. The acceptance of homosexuality as a norm in this society and heterosexuality as merely a means to an end is a clever way to address how taboo and unaccepted homosexuality is now. Rowe’s approach does not try to force it as the right or wrong way, rather he puts it out there and readers can take it as it is. Some may find this uncomfortable when reading, however some may find that if they look at the story of Jamari’s journey as a whole, they will see that the changes in this society and how they got where they are makes Paradigm Lost: Jamari and The Manhood Rites Part 1 an interesting read.