Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

Communist Tyrant: The Rise of a Warmonger by Count Fathom follows Flatt’s rise to absolute power within the Party’s brutal, corrupt hierarchy. Starting as an obedient underperformer overshadowed by Gun and Bo, Flatt manipulates ideological enforcement, purges rivals, and exploits patronage networks to climb the ranks. Key events include Flatt sabotaging Weaver, collaborating with corrupt officials like Stubborn and Planet, and navigating factional rivalries involving Bo, the Toad, and Weaver. Flatt manages the Olympic Games as a political proving ground, suppresses dissent violently, and outmaneuvers Bo, whose authority collapses through betrayal and criminal scandal. Flatt consolidates control by eliminating opposition through purges and political trials, reshaping Party structures under his personalist rule. His ascent culminates in a confrontation with Bo, who warns of the regime’s unsustainable path. Flatt dismisses dissent, asserting centralized authoritarianism as essential for national greatness, as he tries to cement his dictatorship.

Communist Tyrant: The Rise of a Warmonger by Count Fathom is a sharply written and meticulously detailed fictional deep dive into what the steps of authoritarian power consolidation look like for Flatt. The prose is punchy and not all readers are going to love that, but Fathom uses this style effectively to show the pure delusion of his main character, and in the horror of it all, it is impossible not to chuckle as Flatt brands himself as “big daddy Flatt.” Perhaps the best testament of Fathom's skill as a writer is that he can elicit a chuckle as mayhem rattles around the story as a whole. I like that we get a portrayal of previous leaders, namely Deng and The Cat, which shows a more calculated nature in his decisions and his alliances, particularly with the academic Prophet. The pacing is deliberate, and we are not pushed forward at whip speed. Instead, the unfurling of each character is laser-focused on political roles, family, and influence. Overall, this is a solid story on the mechanisms behind authoritarian rule, and readers who appreciate books like Sartre's The Childhood of a Leader will be pleased.