2017 reading challenge: an allegory

[baronessekat]

The Girl Who Dared to Think by Bella Forrest

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


1984 meets Logan's Run meets Wool meets the Matrix with a splash of Divergent.

300 years after a nuclear exchange, the only known humans to still be alive live in "The Tower". The Tower is everything and without it no one would survive. In order for the Tower to work, it is run by an all controlling A.I. call Scipio and the only way for things to succeed is for complete devotion and service to Scipio.

All humans are implanted with a neural link and receive a indicator that links them to Scipio and monitors their vital signs, emotional states and job performance - which is indicated by a displayed number for all to see. The best of the best are 10's. They are the ones who are in complete emotional control and have unwavering faith in the system. The more independant of thought you are, the more creative for the sake of creativity rather than the "greater good", the more you question the wisdom of Scipio, the lower your ranking drops. If you are a 4 you are encouraged to get medical assistance to help you regulate your emotions and thinking. 3's are mandated to get medication. 2's are removed from the common population for compulsory retraining and 1's are completely removed, never to return to society as they are considered lost.

Liana is a 4, much to her level 10 parents' consternation. But after a particularly bad day, she drops to a 3. She is forced onto the medication to help regulate her emotions. But somehow she is able to break free of the medicated state and begins to see things for what they really are, the Tower is not what it seems to be, the illusion is just that and she takes it upon herself, with the help of some trusted others to find a way to fix things before what is left of humanity stops being what is means to be human.

I enjoyed this book and will look to continue the series as I can. It did cause some deep thinks, which I think good dystopian fiction should do. What makes us "human"? What are the ramifications to unquestioning faith? Where is the line between self-serving and society-serving and what do each of those mean?

If you liked Divergent or Wool, I think you would like this series.







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