I just left Simon & Schuster, but wanted to let you know about this teen novel they published last year that I just read -- and I know you would love.
UNWIND by Neal Shusterman. Technically, it's a teen novel (so if you're in a bookstore, you'll have to go to the teen section) but believe me -- it
will shock you and keep you reading as much as any adult novel. It has a premise that on paper sounds somewhat like SPARES, but is actually much closer to
Robert Cormier writing in a dystopian futuristic vein (with a hint of Ira Levin's "Stepford Wives.")
The basic premise is this -- and there's no spoilers since this is all spelled out on the first page of the novel. In the future, in an effort to please both pro-choice and pro-life segments of the population, the government establishes that life is precious from the moment of conception and must be preserved. However, from the age of 13 to 18, parents can opt to have their kids "unwound" -- retroactively aborted. The idea being that if every part of the teen is used for a transplant for someone, the teen is still technically "alive" in some way.
It's a truly horrifying scenario and the book is brilliant in its realistic depiction of the setup and its refusal to provide easy answers. It also smartly takes the structure of books like "Blood Crazy" and "Day of the Triffids" in playing off the idea that the greatest threats can sometimes come from within.
A must read. Anyone who would want to review it for a publication drop me a note at spinmatt@aol.com and I'll hook you up with someone at S&S who can get you a review copy. I honestly think anyone who enjoys SF/horror will love this book.
The basic premise is this -- and there's no spoilers since this is all spelled out on the first page of the novel. In the future, in an effort to please both pro-choice and pro-life segments of the population, the government establishes that life is precious from the moment of conception and must be preserved. However, from the age of 13 to 18, parents can opt to have their kids "unwound" -- retroactively aborted. The idea being that if every part of the teen is used for a transplant for someone, the teen is still technically "alive" in some way.
It's a truly horrifying scenario and the book is brilliant in its realistic depiction of the setup and its refusal to provide easy answers. It also smartly takes the structure of books like "Blood Crazy" and "Day of the Triffids" in playing off the idea that the greatest threats can sometimes come from within.
A must read. Anyone who would want to review it for a publication drop me a note at spinmatt@aol.com and I'll hook you up with someone at S&S who can get you a review copy. I honestly think anyone who enjoys SF/horror will love this book.
