Locked in the merciless confines of Meritropolis, the highest-scoring inhabitants get to stay and work, while the weakest get thrown out to unspeakable monsters beyond the city walls. When his brother is killed, Charley plots to overthrow the system in this mind-blowing young adult dystopian thriller.

Interview with the Author

Q – What or who was your inspiration to write about post-apocalyptic, dystopian, sci-fi?

I’ve read a lot in the YA dystopian genre so I would say it’s a mix of a lot of different things. I really just wanted to explore this question of, “What gives a person their worth?” Is it their usefulness to society? Is it because someone loves them? Is it because of how they look? Is it because of their health or ability? As a Christian, I believe that everyone has worth because they are made in the image of God so I wanted to explore some different takes on this question. I think that the post-apocalyptic/dystopian/scifi-ish genre was the best vehicle to tackle some of those deep philosophical questions in a fun and interesting way.

Q – Okay, so you’re a Christian… Well, I don’t like reading Christian fiction so interview’s over, I guess—

Not so fast. I am a Christian, but this is most definitely NOT Christian fiction, at least in the technical sense. There are certainly some Christian themes like courage in the face of evil, grace to love and forgive even when someone doesn’t deserve it, and the biggest themes of identity and worth, the value of a person, as mentioned above, and it’s a very CLEAN book, which a lot of parents have told me they really appreciate. That being said, this is very much a secular young adult dystopian fiction series, and one that I think hits a lot of the tropes and conventions in the genre, but in some new and interesting ways that might just surprise you. For those who care to look there are also some deeper philosophical underpinnings floating just below the surface of a book that is almost pure action. Just wait until you meet Charley, he’s more of an “act first, think later” type of person, if you know what I mean—in other words, your typical teenage boy…

Q – Are there any books that have inspired you at any time while you’ve been writing?

I read a LOT in many different genres so there are many different things that have shaped my writing over the years, but I wouldn’t say there was any one particular book, or books, that I was consciously looking to for inspiration while writing Meritropolis. Looking back though I can definitely see different threads of influence in almost everything I have read over the years that contribute to make Meritropolis what it is: the strong protagonist of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series, the philosophical bent of C.S. Lewis’ fiction where there are layers upon layers of meaning, the bleak dystopian setting of Hugh Howey’s WOOL series, and many more.

Q – Where can we learn more about you and your other books?

If you visit my website at JoelOhman.com, I’ve currently got some free Kindle eBooks that I’m giving away to everyone who subscribes to my newsletter. Honestly, I hardly ever send out emails unless it’s to give my readers free Kindle books, Amazon gift cards, and other prizes and giveaways so head to JoelOhman.com and subscribe for free!The novel is a clear attempt to join the wave of dystopia currently dominating the YA best-seller lists, and Ohman’s writing is a cut above.” – Kirkus Reviews

“The Hunger Games meets The Village with a young Jack Reacher as a protagonist.” – Donny Meader

“A fast-paced read… Charley’s motivation is brutal and heartbreaking, but the things he discovers as he works to undo the system from the inside are downright terrifying. The animal hybrids, and what they’re capable of, are the stuff of nightmares.” – Mom Read It

“Meritropolis is a a thrilling romp through a dystopian city governed by the greater good… a thrill-a-minute ride through an engaging science fiction world that touches on society, morality, and humanity. Meritropolis is a stellar dystopian adventure.” – IndieReader (4.5 starred review)