Home and imprisonment are recurring themes in YA novels, and so are the concepts of feeling loved and valued. This novel is post-apocalyptic dystopian, set in a world with bizarre and hostile mutations that merge animals in obviously deliberate ways. The bion is a bison-lion combination, for example, a vicious meat-eating, bull-stubborn giant with a devil-red pelt and eyes. The snick is a winged bloodsucker formed from the genes of a snipe and a tick; it flies in flocks and can drain its victims dry. Chimpzelles, merging chimps with gazelles, hunt in tribal groups with primitive hand-weapons, and will devour humans as happily as any other prey.
Holding the hostile hordes at bay, Meritropolis itself is a walled city in which citizens have carefully-defined roles that rise from their measured merit: each citizen receives a periodically-reassessed Score that determines whether they will be permitted to stay in the city. Since it is accepted that being outside the wall at night is fatal, getting a low Score is a death sentence.
That's what happened to Charley's brother. Charley is stunned by the verdict, especially when his own Score turns out to be high. It has left him burning with anger against the city management, motivated to do well in warrior tests, and questioning the fairness of the whole Score assessment system. In short, he is messed up.
The way Charley fits himself into the system to discover its problems and its value to him is the only way his high Score is obvious; in every other way, his behavior and choices only reveal him as a disturbed adolescent. The flow of the story is not helped by the many other voices sharing its narration, none of which are clearly distinguishable from Charley's.
Nevertheless, the novel's unrelenting physical and philosphical action—and its high concept and creative world-building—serve to offset these minor issues of technique. It is a very enjoyable read.
Liner Note: This book's title was a tongue-twister until I recalled the Fritz Lang classic film, "Metropolis"
The Complete Metropolis
. Suddenly it began to fall more naturally on my reading ear.
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Reviews with images
Very Interesting to say the least! Love the animal drawings!
Almost done reading it, and it has kept my interest. Wasn't sure what to expect, First novel, Self Published, Normally don't read 'dystopia' type novels. Received 2nd book free so wanted to start from the beginning. Enjoyable and it has me wondering how it will end.
Top reviews from other countries
Sean
Good first book, looking forward to the sequel
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 25, 2015Florapocalypse
Massively disappointing
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 4, 2014Amazon Customer
Interesting concept
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 7, 2014Wras
A dystopia for people that live in Disneyland
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 27, 2014