The Island is a futuristic novella by Jen Minkman that has the ability to borrow from several different predecessors yet be unique enough to create a world of its own. Minkman creates a world in the not too distant future where the bonds of family are broken by ritual and the gap between children and parents severed by the society they live in.
"...I go my own way," I say softly. The words that every child utters at age ten - the words my brother will say after me today - don't sound as if I'm sure of them. But I am, because I know this is right. I clear my throat and speak up. "I stand on my own two feet. No one takes care of me but me..."
With those words the children leave their homes and their family and travel to the Manor where they will be taught to stand on their own and depend on no one. It is a brutal place run by a young dictator named Saul. In this setting a very Lord of The Flies existence is prevalent. Separated from their parents the children learn that they alone can provide and care for themselves.
"...In front of me right now is a different kind of book that I've read many times as well. A book containing imaginative stories called 'fairytales'. Even in a fantasy world, parents are not to be trusted - the stories of Snow White and Cinderella make that perfectly clear. The mothers in those tales didn't love their children either..."
In this isolated world the children are taught from a book, a tale of a brother and sister who fight against the greatest evil represented by their father. Here the children are learning that perhaps a greater evil is coming from within.
The Island was slow in some parts but well paced. Do not be dissuaded by the Star Wars references, this is not about Star Wars. If anything Minkman has used the pop culture sensation of Star Wars to show how much the current media; entertainment and otherwise, has such a strong impact on the children of today.
If a ten year old was removed from his parents and isolated, what would he really know of the world? What would he retain most of his past? Would it not be the Television and Movie shows; video games as well, that they spend so much of their early lives with? And do not most of these tales teach children that adults are not to be trusted? Or at the least are to stupid and self-involved to be of any help at all?
The Island is a well written dystopian story and as the best of that genre does, has a very well crafted comment on the society of today.
A very good read.
No comments:
Post a Comment