P.D. James Resident Scholar Profiles TOP SCHOLAR: David Fletcher SCHOLARS:
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Review Summaries
"In the year 2021 humans are no longer conceived through sexual reproduction, as a worldwide epidemic has rendered mankind sterile. In fact no new humans are produced through any means, thus initiating the impending extinction of humans as a species on Earth. The world has fallen under repression and tyranny. Nowhere is it more despotic than in England under the reign of Warden Xan Lyppiatt. The novels middle-aged narrator Dr. Theodore (Theo) Faron, a former Oxford historian is cousin to Lyppiatt and grew up with the future ruler spending carefree summers at his Woolcombe estate. A troubling generation of humans called the Omegas, born in the last year of human conception 1995, raised spoiled and without discipline, have reached adulthood self-absorbed and now contribute little to the dying brotherhood of man, often roving in bands of painted marauders killing random victims. No solution to human infertility has been found despite dedicating tremendous resources to testing and research.
Faron's own life has been fraught with turmoil and pain. Many years earlier he accidentally ran over his 15-month old daughter leading to his already precarious marriage ending badly. He is approached by a pretty woman named Julian, who represents a group of radical reformers out to bring about change to many of the Warden and his Council's social policies. At one time Faron sat on the Council. The reformers call themselves the Five Fishes and are comprised of a former midwife called Miriam, a young religious man named Luke, a demolitions expert named Gascoigne, Julian, and her abrasive husband Rolf. Initially, they convince Faron to talk to the Warden before distributing a pamphlet making demands to the Warden for reform. When peaceful means lead nowhere, they begin the systematic destruction of the landings used for euthanasia ceremonies performed on the elderly called the Quietus. When Gascoigne is arrested, Faron is enlisted to aid the revolutionaries in their flight away from London, the Warden, and his secret police force. Their escape is complicated by the fact that Julian is now pregnant, soon to give birth to the world's first child in over 25 years and she and Faron have strong feelings for each other."
David Fletcher, Resident P.D. James Scholar
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Overall Review
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book Descript. of chases or violence - 20% planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30% Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30%
Tone of book
- depressing/sad
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- science fiction story
Romance
Yes
Romance plotlets:
- two lovers coping with tough mission
Repressive society story
Yes
Repressive because:
- strict rationing of freedoms/goods
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- teacher
Age:
- 40's-50's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Intelligence
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- dictator
Eccentric:
Yes
- deluded
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- throughout most of the book.
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Terrain
- Forests
Earth setting:
- near future (later in 21st century)
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- explicit references to deaths
scientific jargon? (SF only)
- some scientific explanation
How much dialogue?
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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