The United States. 2030. John McDean executive produces “Vigilance,” a reality game show designed to make sure American citizens stay alert to foreign and domestic threats. Shooters are introduced into a “game environment,” and the survivors get a cash prize.

The TV audience is not the only one that’s watching though, and McDean soon finds out what it’s like to be on the other side of the camera.

There’s a quote that runs through my head sometimes. Well…a lot, actually. It’s from the movie Slither, and while the movie has basically nothing in common with Robert Jackson Bennett’s upcoming novella, Vigilance, the quote describes my feelings rather accurately:

“Well, now that is some fucked up shit.”

–Bill Pardy

Vigilance is fucking DEMENTED & scary & feels entirely (and sadly) too real. This is a very powerful book, expertly written, and deeply upsetting.

John McDean works for Our Nation’s Truth, where he produces a show called Vigilance. It’s a reality show, meticulously orchestrated, and wildly popular. It airs irregularly. No one knows exactly when it will be on. Or where the next Vigilance will take place. That uncertainty only drives the hype & hunger for this show. The show runners use social media to drop hints about the next episode, ensuring maximum viewership.

The contestants are vetted, analyzed, and selected based on how close they are to McDean’s “Ideal Person”. A location is determined for the show, the contestants are dropped off, and the cameras roll.

And then the killing starts.

Vigilance is a televised, live, mass shooting. There are rules, prizes, “winners”, and dead people. It’s utterly horrifying. What’s even more shocking than the show itself, is the fact that in this not-too-distant future America, citizens are eager participants in this madness. People *want* to be involved in a mass shooting, to see if they can survive. They’re incentivized to enter public spaces where a Vigilance may occur, because if they manage to kill one of the three shooters, they could win a big cash prize.

There are two main POVs in Vigilance, McDean, who is all swagger & machismo, and Delyna, a bartender who has fucking had it with Vigilance. She is the voice of reason in this world seemingly gone mad.

Honestly, this book fucking shook me. I would be lying if I said there isn’t some seriously dark humor in this…sort of whistling past the graveyard, in a way. You feel conflicted finding the humor in any of this, but I don’t think this book would be as successful without it. It’s just a brutally grim satire. This reads like something Philip K. Dick would’ve written if he were alive to see how commonplace mass shootings are in America.

This is the first Robert Jackson Bennett book I’ve read, but I’ve got quite a few I’m hoping to get to soon! He’s an incredible writer, and while the subject matter of this book is deeply disturbing, this book feels important. The number of mass shootings in America continues to rise, there doesn’t seem to be any real meaningful gun reform happening anytime soon, and to that end, Vigilance reads like a dark & twisted cautionary tale.

Big thanks to TOR.COM Publishing for sending me a copy! Vigilance releases on January 29th!