You will not be bored from start to finish with this one. It is jam-packed with futuristic, sci-fi/fantasy adventure! And, it’s a weird blend of dystopia and really cool technology that makes life better. So, it does your head in! But, as per usual, in a generally enjoyable way.
About the Book
Fast-paced near-future science fiction with a warning that our future is up for grabs
In a near-future, climate-flooded England divided into three countries, Beth and Naomi fight against Kai, the leader of the tech-elite Narcissists.
As part of Resist and Regain, they confront Kai’s experiments on children to turbo boost evolution and his use of cutting-edge technology to control governments and their willing citizens.
Can they stop Kai and his vision for a de-humanised tech-fuelled world? And can Beth live with the suffering her activism will cause her family?
My Thoughts
I do need to start with that there is a part in the book where one of the FMCs, Beth, ends up going somewhere and having a very visceral reaction to what she sees. We hear enough of the description that I, too, especially as a parent, was really disturbed. So, be prepared for some really messed-up stuff inside these pages. But there is a ton of social commentary – a staple of the genre – that surrounds the scenes. Did it need to be so graphic? I have a hard time judging that. Within the context of her world, yes, I believe it did. But I’m always on the side that the author could have erred on the side of caution – I’m a big advocate of closed door romance, too. So, I’m probably not the best judge. All I’m going to say is in my review, I warned you. I provided content warnings. You had ample warning from me to know that it might be a rough read.
All of that said, otherwise it was a really interesting read! And, I’ve read worse things, I think. Maybe not in the same wheelhouse. But I’m pretty sure, based on other reviews I’ve read, worse stuff exists. There are some gross books out there. Beyond all that, this is a really interesting sci-fi, thriller-type book. With essentially the future journalists (casters) of the day working to reveal some messed up things – hence the horrifying content warnings – to the regular people. As a former journalist, sometimes we have to see horrible things so y’all don’t have to.
Anyway, these journalists are working alongside a kind of Rebel Alliance type group and fighting against some really bad future people. And the bad people have all this “Big Brother” type “AI” technology. It’s all so terrifying in the context of everything going on in the world today, especially even in the book community we’ve been dealing with and fighting against the rise of “AI.” How scary!
The author has written such spunky, brilliant characters. Even down to the teens and children, who are teens and children, even with all their shiny new tech. Kids are gonna be kids. Because if you’ve ever listened to the stories from your grandparents, your parents, and such, while the toys and the tech change, so much stays the same!
I don’t want to say this story was scary in like a horror story sense, more in the way scifi stories like 1984, Animal Farm, and Big Brother still are today. This could be one of those we look back at one day and reference. The author absolutely has the chops of some of those greats.
And, I really appreciate the strong, capable women he wrote as his main characters. Science fiction has a lack of great female characters, and when they are there, they often play second fiddle or back up to men. While there are some great men in this as well – I absolutely adored Tam – Beth and Naomi were the shining stars, and that is stinking amazing! There is also good, casual LGBTQIA-plus rep – talked about as if it’s just normal and fine. However, there is some slight mocking of the asexual character, which is unfortunately something that continues to be a problem now, too. I hope it was done lightheartedly, but I wish it hadn’t been done at all. Acceptance would have gone so much further for the cause! But I’m thankful for the rep all the same.
I am so grateful to the author and Love Books Tours for including me in this tour, and I hope to see some more in this world one day, even as we all hope never to see most of this ever come to actual fruition in our world someday.
Who’s It For?
If you enjoy post-apocalyptic, dystopian, sci-fi stories, you will absolutely love this one. But the topics discussed in this one, like many dystopian futures, end up with children in horrible conditions. This is much more graphic than some of them, so keep that in mind. Though if we think too hard about all of the dystopian ones, they all put kids in pretty horrible conditions, and then distract us with pretty things. Still, check your triggers.
Content Warnings: This book contains topics that may disturb some readers, including, but not limited to, Graphic Medical/Body Descriptions, Teen Pregnancy, Pregnancy, Discussions of Abortion/Pregnancy Termination, Discussions of Teen Sex (and Allusions to Off-Page Teen/Child Sex), Child Abuse, Grooming, Drug/Alcohol Abuse and Addiction, Extreme Poverty and Depictions of Extreme Class Differences, Depictions of Extreme Post-Apocalyptic Conditions, Violence, Kidnapping, Sex Robots, Adult Language, Adult Situations, and More.
About the Author
STEPHEN ORAM writes social science fiction novels and short stories set in the near-future, exploring the intersection of messy humans and imperfect technology. He is also a leading proponent of applied science fiction, working with scientists and technologists to explore possible outcomes of their research through short stories. Stephen is based in the heart of central London and attributes much of the urban grittiness and the optimism about humanity in his writing to the noise, the bustle, and the diverse community of where he lives.
Links
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/We-Are-Not-Stephen-Oram/dp/1068576405/ref=sr_1_1
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/We-Are-Not-Stephen-Oram/dp/1068576405/ref=sr_1_1
Bookshop US: https://bookshop.org/a/25511/9781068576409
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/228567029-we-are-not-anonymous
Author’s Website: https://stephenoram.net/
Additional Reviews
Run Along the Shelves: https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2025/4/13/we-are-not-anonymous-by-stephen-oram
SF CrowsNest: https://www.sfcrowsnest.info/we-are-not-anonymous-by-stephen-oram-book-review/
Katie Luvs to Read: https://www.instagram.com/p/DIa9Jy0vCg5/
Charlotte’s Reading Realm: https://www.instagram.com/p/DIa6YE4qlGa/?img_index=1
As a Bookshop.org (US) Affiliate, I may earn on qualifying purchases. Bookshop.org purchases support local, independent bookshops. My chosen affiliate bookshop is Tubby & Coo’s Traveling Bookshop, a local, queer-owned bookshop in New Orleans.
Published by Amorina Carlton. Award-winning American author, Amorina Carlton, is currently working on her first novel. You can find more about her published work and works in progress on the home page. She also serves as the PR/Marketing Lead for Ravens and Roses Publishing, and reviews books, mostly by other indie authors, here and on Bookstagram.