Reviewed by: BigAl
Genre: Science Fiction / Dystopian
Approximate word count: 85-90,000 words
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Author:
A school
teacher in Michigan, this is Chanda Stafford’s first book.
Description:
“Seventeen-year-old
Mira works on a farm in the ruins of Texas, along with all of the other
descendants of the defeated rebels. Though she’s given her heart to Tanner,
their lives are not their own.
When
Socrates, a powerful First, chooses Mira as his Second, she is thrust into the
bewildering world of the rich and influential. Will, a servant assigned to
assist her, whispers of rebellion, love, and of a darker fate than she’s ever
imagined.
With time
running out, Mira must decide whether to run to the boy she left behind, to the
boy who wants her to live, or to the man who wants her dead.”
Appraisal:
First is a dystopian novel set in the
distant future. When the Patriot Act of 2297 was passed, Texans rebelled. The
eventual fallout was Texans and their ancestors being punished, treated much
like slaves for the rest of the US, with many restraints on their actions,
choices, and opportunities.
Mira, the
protagonist, was born in Texas and, through the luck (or lack thereof) of
birth, has limited opportunity. At least until she is chosen by one of the
anointed ones for something special. What that is and what the repercussions
for Mira are isn’t clear at first, but become more so as the book goes on.
First is an entertaining read, with an
interesting premise, unique story world, and a conflict central to the tale
that will keep the reader interested. One of the signs of a dystopian novel is
there an underlying political statement, typically taking some aspect of
contemporary society and projecting the eventual negative outcome if those
pulling in that direction drag everyone down the slippery slope. While the point
First
seemed to be making was obvious, it seemed more applicable to times past (think
pre-Civil War or Japanese internment camps) than present. Then I started
pondering some of the stories getting play in the news recently, and
reconsidered.
FYI:
The first
of a planned trilogy.
Format/Typo Issues:
No
significant issues
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