The Planetary Tribunal

With a multiverse of worlds as backdrop, D.K. Locke’s speculative fiction masterwork follows a group of seemingly immortal inspectors who, after centuries of investigation, must pass judgment on the continued existence of humankind on Earth.

Hagar is a planetary auditor for Earth. When she realizes that most of her army of analysts are inexplicably missing, she sets out to investigate — but is trapped in a stasis box that keeps her frozen in time for decades, until she’s freed by a friend.

With a tribunal of commissioners set to decide on the viability of humans on Earth, Hagar and a small group of auditors vow to share their centuries of wisdom and insight. This intelligence includes a diversity of data, including topics such as the impact of religion on cultures (“Christianity is an afterlife salvation scheme”), the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, oikophobia (the contempt for one’s home culture, which can manifest as excessive political correctness), food production systems, consumerism, big pharma, government hypocrisy, etc. As the tribunal continues, Hagar begins to see humankind—and its millennia of callousness and carnage—in a much different light

The beauty of this novel isn’t just the thought-provoking premise; it’s the meticulous depth of research behind it—and conclusions drawn—that intelligently explore and analyze the myriad topics. So many lines deliver crystal clear truths. For example: “Earth people have come to accept that, when it comes to it, their economic system is decoupled from morality and from any over-arching goal of enhancing societal welfare.” And: “On Earth, businesses aim to get ahead of the pack; they don’t aim to elevate humanity. It’s a race for favorable attention, not an expedition to heighten the quality of life.”

Disturbing, depressing, and spot-on in its assessment of the human race’s fatal flaws, Locke’s narrative will force readers to collectively look at themselves in the mirror—and they won’t like what they see. This is a (much needed) literary slap to the face of humanity.

Also available in hardcover and ebook.