Book Review: Wildwood by Tim Castano

Reviewed by Audrey Davis

An intriguing account of humanity and expectations in the near future

 2035 has seen some terrain-altering hurricanes. It has almost leveled entire cities along America’s eastern coastline; in this book, we focus on an impacted Wildwood, New Jersey. 

As fate would have it, not many want to move back into the once-bustling seaside town, except those seeking the assistance of the Elea Clinic, created in the wake of catastrophe—a clinic for medically-assisted deaths. 

When 22-year-old Maya Valencia finds herself with a ticket there and a scheduled time, she can’t stop herself from connecting with those who find themselves in comparable situations as they all grapple with their own goals. 

“‘We all know why we’re here. Let’s just tell it like it is.’”

Wildwood by Tim Castano brings this eerily similar dystopian world to life through vibrant descriptions of settings, characters, and feelings. The characterization is what really shines in this novel. People of different ages, creeds, and backgrounds, having their own personal lives and motivations, all find themselves in Wildwood. Everyone has different views surrounding the Elea Clinic and its funding parties, ranging from cynicism to acceptance. But they all are aware that they have ended up in the same place, together, for the same ultimate reason. There is no judgement between them, and they make it a point to keep it that way. 

The characters’ use of dry and occasionally dark humor is fitting and self-aware, adding an extra serving of light-heartedness that the story and characters all benefit from. Each character mentioned is important to the story at some point and given their own backstory and motivations when it becomes relevant. 

As each person wishing to use the clinic’s services must verbally affirm twice that they agree to participate, each person gets their moment of introspection, of reflection upon what actually brought them to Wildwood, not just what they’ve decided to tell strangers. I’m glad each character is given the spotlight at some point, no matter how small of a role. Just as we might feel insignificant in the grand scheme of things, there is a duty we must do to ourselves, to stay truthful to our own desires.

“The year-after-year slashes to Social Security had frayed the so-called safety net into a pile of worthless string.”

Another feature that makes this novel stand out is its unnerving plausibility. Several characters comment on the ethics of the new medical assistance laws, capitalism, and share their outlook on the world. These attitudes are tailor-made to communicate with our real-life society as well: past, present, and future. Logically, if capitalism is allowed to run somewhat unchecked as it is here (or at least, checked by those whose interests it serves), this service could very well be offered in our society in the future. 

“‘Any other questions?’ Todd said.

  ‘Just one, but I don’t think either of us can answer it.’”

I would have loved to keep reading about these ideas and characters beyond the last page. The concepts and parts of the material, such as the “Death District,” are rife with new worldbuilding opportunities or chances to liken it to (or distance it further from) our own present society. However, the story’s progression, the pacing, and even the ending put such a nice, clean bow on the narrative that it truly does not need anything more. 

Despite its shorter length, Wildwood packs in a lot of full-bodied elements that leave readers pondering an incredibly interesting, futuristic-yet-realistic concept and thinking about how those around us, including those in power, will react to the future when it arrives. 

“‘Capitalism is resilient as hell, that’s the lesson around here. They’ll find a way to make money off us after we’re gone, too. Just look out there.’”

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