Title: Our Dried Voices
Author: Greg Hickey
Published: 2014
Publisher: Scribe Publishing Company
A brief synopsis; (via Goodreads)
In 2153, cancer was cured. In 2189, AIDS. And in 2235, the last members of the human race traveled to a far distant planet called Pearl to begin the next chapter of humanity.
Several hundred years after their arrival, the remainder of humanity lives in a utopian colony in which every want is satisfied automatically, and there is no need for human labor, struggle or thought. But when the machines that regulate the colony begin to malfunction, the colonists are faced with a test for the first time in their existence.
With the lives of the colonists at stake, it is left to a young man named Samuel to repair these breakdowns and save the colony. Aided by his friend Penny, Samuel rises to meet each challenge. But he soon discovers a mysterious group of people behind each of these problems, and he must somehow find and defeat these saboteurs in order to rescue his colony.
About the Author;
Greg Hickey was born in Evanston, Illinois in 1985. After graduating from Pomona College in 2008, he played and coached baseball in Sweden and South Africa. He is now a forensic scientist, endurance athlete and award-winning writer. He lives in Chicago with his wife, Lindsay.
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My Review;
This book starts off with a chronology. It feels like I'm reading a prediction! Maybe it's because I like science- though I actually think it's because everything Hickey writes down on that list, up until the 'present day', seems absolutely plausible- and even in that time span he set out, which, to be honest, isn't too far away for us (even though there's no chance we'll still be alive then- I'll be, like, over 130 years old and I do not wish to get that wrinkly).
Honestly, I felt like such a little detective whilst reading this! It was very entertaining. If I could post the notes page from my kindle, believe me, I would- it is full of all my questions. Hickey, you better hope I don't get your email, because I guarantee I won't stop until I know every last answer.
So, honestly, when I sign up to review books like this (relatively unknown author, small amount of fanfare about the book, etc) I go in expecting not very much. This case was no different. But boy, am I ashamed of that. I loved it, seriously.
Sometimes, the sentences were simplistic, but I actually think that worked extremely well- the characters in this book are very animalistic. Which, is, to be honest, expected when they live in a large colony that pretty much serves no other purpose than simply surviving- they don't have jobs, or anything, and they don't even communicate- and when they do, their speech isn't proper. It's all rushed into one word, with letters changed- Chinese whispers, is what it is explained to be like, wherein each person just responds to a question with a phrase that they've heard someone else respond to the same question with, only it's a little changed each time. It was a little amusing, and nice to make the connection to what they were really saying. (Or, you know, not saying.)
When the First Hero arrived, it wasn't said outright that they were different. There were little clues, relating to her actions, how she was set apart from the crowd, her physical appearance that had just a slight difference, and I didn't at first realise, until her eyes were revealed to be just too light. And then I was curious, and then I was a little shocked, and then kind of outraged because all that kept running through my mind was "Intruder!!!!!" (Yes, with that many exclamation points)
What I loved, though, was what I immediately thought of once Penny deemed Samuel 'like them', and that he had to carry on fixing things... Holes! It was so much like Sam from Holes! (Was that your inspiration Hickey?) I loved that, so much, and it was all I could think of, and even this version was just as said, because their communication skills were so limited and no one else seemed to understand.
Over all, Our Dried Voices was, for me, a fantastic read. I'm going to really encourage you all to give it ago, at the very least.
Star Rating: 5/5
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Tour Schedule;
November 24th
Coffee, Books, & Art, http://sarityahalomi.blogspot.
November 25th
Mythical Books, http://www.mythicalbooks.
November 26th
The Book Carousel, www.thebookcarousel.blogspot.
Kelly P's Blog, http://kellyatx.blogspot.com/ | Promotional
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WS Momma Readers Nook, http://wsmommareadersnook.
November 28th
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