Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

Reviewed by Ambrea

Ten years ago, when Calamity arrived in the night sky, ordinary people were given extraordinary powers—and they became Epics.  But with incredible gifts came incredible challenges and a desire to rule over humanity.

Now, in what was once Chicago, a powerful Epic named Steelheart has taken over and turned everything to solid steel.  Gifted with super strength, invulnerability, elemental powers, and an uncanny ability to turn whatever he touches into steel, Steelheart is a powerful Epic that no one and nothing can touch.  The Reckoners, however, are a group of ordinary humans who spend their days studying and assassinating Epics—and David, a young man who grew up in the steel-riddled world of Newcago, wants in.

Steelheart killed his father; now, he wants revenge.

I loved reading Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson.  It’s action-packed, it’s interesting, and it takes everything I know about superheroes/supervillains and completely turns it on its head.  Part science fiction, part fantasy, Steelheart is a wonderfully crafted dystopian world full of detail, depth, and intrigue.

It was also a lot of fun to read.

I was particularly fascinated by the main characters, specifically the Reckoners.  David, as the narrator, is incredibly resourceful.  Although the sometimes feels like a caricature—that is, not quite real, not quite genuine—he’s surprisingly astute in his observations and he’s wildly intelligent.  I’m always surprised by what he does and what he remembers.  He’s daring, he’s unexpected, which I found made Steelheart that much more interesting.

After learning that Steelheart has a weakness, I puzzled over what that might be.  Reading the prologue again, I couldn’t imagine how Steelheart was harmed in the first place; however, when David discovers how Steelheart can be harmed, when that moment of recognition and discovery blossomed in his mind and mine, I was absolutely thrilled.  I loved the conclusion.  It surprised me, yes, but I found the irony of the situation to be very satisfying.

Although I was a little put off by the gore, I really enjoyed Steelheart as a whole and I’m intrigued to see where Sanderson’s series will go.  I will definitely be visiting the other books in the trilogy.  Firefight is up next, followed by Calamity—and I can’t wait to dive back in.

Hazards of Time Travel by Joyce Carol Oates

Reviewed by Kristin

Adriane Strohl is an idealistic seventeen year old who makes the mistake of voicing her thoughts in a near-future world where the government suppresses all individuality.  Selected as valedictorian of her graduating class, Adriane prepares her speech with a series of questions.  Shockingly, she is immediately arrested on account of Treason-Speech and Questioning of Authority.

Since Adriane is still young and therefore has the possibility of rehabilitation, she is not instantly “Deleted.”  Instead, she is “Exiled” to Zone Nine, a change in space and time that transports her back to Wainscotia, Wisconsin in 1960, where she is to attend college for four years and prepare herself to be a productive member of the modern society to which she hopes to be returned.

In Zone Nine, Adriane becomes Mary Ellen Enright.  Fearful that she is being observed, she keeps to herself and faithfully attends classes.  Mary Ellen wonders if there are other Exiles like herself there in Wainscotia but she dares not become close to anyone, as The Instructions demand.  She is not to go beyond her ten mile limit of the campus and she must never behave as anything but a normal co-ed.  And what is more normal than something strictly prohibited, but to fall in love?

Joyce Carol Oates has created a world in which powerful people hold onto their power by suppressing others with extreme consequences.  Fear and intimidation keep most of the citizens quietly subservient and punish all independent thought.  The scenarios are somehow plausible, although fortunately not where the world is in 2019.

A few discrepancies, perhaps intentionally included, kept me wondering whether Adriane/Mary Ellen had truly been transported back in time, whether or not she was actually being observed, and whether or not there was a chance that her punishment could be instantly vaporized/Deleted.  As most futuristic dystopian novels do, this one made twists and turns that I did not anticipate.  Some of the unexpected directions required a serious suspension of disbelief.  A co-worker happened to read the book at the same time that I did, and was not as satisfied with the story resolution.

This is the first Oates novel I have read but it probably won’t be the last.  Now if I can just fit some of her other titles into my Book Bingo sheet….

The Forgetting by Sharon Cameron

Reviewed by Rita

We are made of our memories. This is what seventeen year old Nadia and others in the city of Canaan are taught. That’s why everyone in Canaan has a book tied to their body: they must write down everything they want to remember or else all will be lost in the Forgetting. Every twelve years, there is a night of violence in which all memories are lost: memories of family, of friends, even one’s own identity. The only way to preserve one’s self is to write what one wants to remember in the book. Anyone who loses their book after the Forgetting becomes one of the Lost. They are given a new identity but live a life of servitude.

Books are supposed to contain the truth, but not everyone writes the truth-- and Nadia knows because she is the only one who has never forgotten. She believes that they have not been told the truth about the Forgetting and that the true answers lie beyond the city walls. She will need the help of Gray, the handsome young glass blower who is the only one who knows she has been going over the city wall seeking answers. What causes the Forgetting and can it be stopped? Nadia needs to find the answers before the next Forgetting comes and the people of Canaan forget everything-- before Gray forgets her.

While I feel that the story could have flowed better, I really enjoyed learning the secrets of Canaan along with Nadia. There were plenty of unexpected discoveries about the city and the large, white stone walls that surround it. I found the premise of the story intriguing but was left wishing it was a little easier to follow. There are excerpts from Nadia’s books of memories throughout the story that seem to be somewhat random in their placement. It tended to throw me off a little as I read. The characters were well developed and grabbed my attention quickly. I found myself wondering if I would always write the truth in my book or if I would leave out the things that brought me pain, disappointment, or shame. Would I let the Forgetting give me a new start or would I seek the truth and try to put an end to it?

Overall, it was a good book.  I would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the Hunger Games. While it lacked the intensity of the Hunger Games, there is a similar feel to the characters.  

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

Reviewed by Christy H.

            I’m not sure what can be said about Margaret Atwood’s dystopian classic that hasn’t already been said plenty of times before. But as a first time reader of this book (and Atwood in general) I’ll try anyway.

            In Gilead women are quite literally separated into distinct categories: Wives, Handmaids, Marthas, and, for less affluent men, Econowives. Wives are married to the Husbands and take care of the children. Marthas cook, clean, and serve the Wives and Handmaids. Handmaids bear the Husbands’ children. Econowives must do all of the above. When a Handmaid is assigned to a husband she takes on his name. Our narrator is Offred (Literally Of-Fred). While we don’t know for certain how long life has been this way Offred still remembers the time before. Her husband. Her child. Her real name. Before she and all her female coworkers were fired. Before her bank account was frozen. Before she and her family obtained fake passports and tried to escape.

            In Gilead women aren’t allowed to read. Even the shop signs do not have words, only pictures. They are not allowed outside by themselves. When Offred goes to the market she must be joined by her walking partner Ofglen. When they pass The Wall, they check to see if there are any new bodies hanging from it – the fate of dissenters. It’s a bleak existence. Not even pleasant small talk seems to be allowed, at least for the Handmaids.

            It takes a little while to get used to the setting and the new words and what everything means. But Atwood takes her time and treats her readers with respect. She knows they’ll come to understand eventually so there’s no point in rushing or talking down to them. The world she’s created with Gilead is stark but the imagery of the color-coded dress for women (Red for Handmaids, blue for Wives, green for Marthas) gives it a pop of vitality – even if the strength in that vitality is an illusion.

I really liked Offred as well. She’s a pragmatic, self-aware woman who feels that she should believe and conform even though she doesn’t really feel any of it deep down inside. The narration jumps back and forth in time so we see glimpses of her former life. How much she loved her husband. How he was unfortunately married when they first met. How she struggles to understand his almost indifferent reaction to her losing her job and all of her money just for being a woman. He wants to tell her they still have each other but she notes that nothing has been taken away from him.

It’s not exactly a feel-good read but it is not without hope. The ending, though abrupt and slightly incongruous with the rest of the novel, is fairly ambiguous. Because of that I’d like to imagine the best possible outcome for that situation. I really enjoyed this book, despite its depressing topic, and I can see why it’s a classic. It’s written in an interesting way and contains themes that are very much still relevant. 

Note:  a TV mini-series adaptation is in the works and should air in 2017.  Read it before you see it!

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Reviewed by Meygan

After the future “war” takes place, the people who are left are divided up into factions. There is Amity, those who believe in happiness and peace; Candor, an honest and trustworthy group; Erudite, the most intelligent group, who believe in brains over brawn; Dauntless, for those who are risk takers and brave; and Abnegation, the selfless who take care of others before themselves, including those who are factionless. Because they are sixteen years old, Beatrice  and her brother Caleb will soon have to decide what faction they will join. 

 Even though everyone must take a “test” for faction suggestions, everyone has free will. However, once a decision is made then that is the final answer. There is no going back. Those who do not wish to reside in their faction choice will become factionless, basically homeless. Also, every faction believes “Faction before blood” meaning that if someone chooses to leave their family and enter into another faction, then that faction is their new family. Caleb is selfless and goes above and beyond to take care of others. Beatrice is not selfless and yearns for something different, a more exciting life. This is why Beatrice feels that Caleb was made for Abnegation but she is not. 

The day has arrived for Beatrice to take her test. The test is a simulation that places Beatrice in certain scenarios to see how she would react. Her actions will determine the faction she is best suited for. However, when the simulation is over, the test administrator, Tori, tells Beatrice that she is suited for Abnegation, Erudite, and Dauntless. She tells Beatrice that because she is suited for all three factions, she is Divergent but to never, ever let anyone know that information. Beatrice is full of question (What it means to be Divergent is one of the questions), but Tori won’t answer anything else and she puts Beatrice’s test results as Abnegation.  

On the day of the ceremony, Beatrice must make a decision. She has always admired those who are dauntless—fearless, robust, and full of life. However, leaving Abnegation means that she no longer gets to be with her family. Can she handle the guilt of leaving behind her family for a new life? Is she brave enough for Dauntless? Should she make a choice to pursue a different kind of happiness, a happiness that doesn’t only revolve around her family? These are the questions that enter her mind as she is about to make the most important decision of her life.  

I mentioned to a co-worker that I hadn’t read Divergent yet. It had been on my “To Read” list for quite some time, but it became one of those books that kept getting shoved to the side. The tone of her voice when she asked, “You haven’t read Divergent yet?” made me realize I needed to read it NOW. Plus, we tend to like some of the same books so I knew that I could trust her insight. I love this book! I can’t think of one thing that I didn’t care for. I found the characters, the plot, the descriptions, the setting, and the dialogue to be fascinating. Yes, this is not the first dystopian novel to exist, but I thought it was so well written that I didn’t feel as if I were reading a rip-off of The Hunger Games or another piece of dystopian literature. 

However, I have been warned that the series becomes shoddier by each book and I have had several people (including patrons) tell me that the last book is almost unbearable. I believe that is why I was so reluctant to begin this series. It’s kind of like when a friend warns you about someone that you like but shouldn’t and even though you know the relationship will end badly, you just have to find out for yourself. Oh well. At least this reader is prepared for the expected heartache.