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In America-Five, there is no suffering, hunger, or inequality. Its citizens inhabit a high-tech Utopia established after a global catastrophe known as the Storm radically altered the planet. Twenty-four-year-old Natasha Wiley works in the Office of Mercy, tasked with humanely terminating—or sweeping”—the nomadic Storm survivors who live Outside. But after she joins a select team and ventures Outside for the first time, Natasha slowly unravels the mysteries surrounding the Storm—and the secretive elders who run America-Five.
My thoughts:
Do not go in waiting for a non stop action book where someone fights the big bad and comes out victorious, because good always wins. No, this book was different, more thinking, more slow, more grey.
It's the perfect society, everyone is happy. The oldest people, The Alphas are over 300 years old. You can live forever as they grow new organs there. Babies are grown, not made. Sex is better had in "The Pretend". Everything is very logical, and clean. People are content.
Does this make it better, no. They live in their bubble ever since the world ended. Some people survived on the outside but those are being killed tribe by tribe. The people of america 5 are so caught up in the philosophy and logical thinking that they do think their way is right. Their way of killing the tribes because they are suffering, they are hungry, always on the move, what kind of life is that? Not to mention they die fast. I did get this whole concept, yes everything is better in the safe haven, killing others is merciful. But also truly evil, just go out and invite them in and give them meds and be happy. But that would not be logical, that would mean less for those inside. There is where the conflict is. Natasha the lead character comes in contact with the tribes after a sweep and starts to think that this does seem pretty messed up.
I liked it because I understood their way of thinking, and I hated their way of thinking. It was an interesting world. It's not the whole oh we are right (and therefore not evil), no because they truly wanted to do good. They wanted to be merciful.
Conclusion:
A different kind of dystopia.
Cover
meh
Paperback, 320 pages
Published January 28th 2014 by Penguin Books (first published February 21st 2013)
Dystopia / post apocalyptic
For review
Looks like something smarter than the typical by the numbers Dystopia that are being churned out. A throwback to the days of Brave New World or Logan's Run perhaps?
ReplyDeletePerhaps.
DeleteAnd I did like that it was different. I know that those who love Huger Games and those endless love triangle dystopias where love is more important than the zombies behind ya...well those might find this one hard
I've been reading more of these kinds of books where it's lees about the action than about the moral questions these societies raise. I kind of like that too. Makes you think.
ReplyDeleteI liked that, less action and..love triangles! And more about the impact on the world
DeleteSometimes I do like a cerebral kind of book. I can see where the dystopian comes in. Humans are built for adversity. Hm... might have to check this one out.
ReplyDeleteRead it :)
DeleteA different kind of dystopia just may be what I need after a few conclusion books that were disappointing last year.
ReplyDeleteI know where you are coming from
DeleteFriday!!
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend!
ReplyDeleteHmm that's different. I haven't read too many dystopians.
ReplyDeleteIt was different from the YA ones I have read, those tend to be alike
DeleteMade babies huh, I remember I read something like this a few years go and didn't like it. It felt too "cold" and uber dystopian so I'll probably skip this one.
ReplyDeleteI know, fetus outside the womb, very cold and sterile
DeleteSounds like interesting dystopia.
ReplyDeleteIt sure was
DeleteThis sounds like a morally complex dystopia, and those are always my favorite sorts to read. Must check this out! :-)
ReplyDeleteI agree, I want to question things, and I want things to be done well
DeleteOh it's nice to have something different. I'm usually not for slow books but it seems like it's well done so I'm curious.
ReplyDeleteIt was not sloooooooow, just slower
DeleteSo no more birthing babies? I guess there wouldn't be labor pains in a utopia. ;-)
ReplyDeleteNo labor pains, so that is a good thing, but then no one had children to care for either. Those were raised and put in school, they did not have families
DeleteWhere did my comment go for this?
ReplyDeleteUgh.
Oh well. *hands over cookie*
*nom nom*
DeleteHmm, now this sounds more suspenseful and interesting than action. Sounds good though.
ReplyDeleteThat it was, and who needs action then
Delete