Das neue Buch Genesis

Von Bernard Beckett

Philosophie trifft auf Hightech und Robotik: "Das neue Buch Genesis" ist ein fesselnder Science Fiction-Roman über die Frage, ob nur der Mensch eine Seele haben kann.

"Dies ist unsere Geschichte, wie man sie uns gelehrt hat. Das ist unsere Genesis."

Ein Land, abgeschottet vom Rest der Welt, am Ende des 21. Jahrhunderts:Anax steht vor der Prüfungskommission der Akademie. Fünf Stunden hat sie Zeit, um zu beweisen, dass sie würdig ist, in diese mächtige Institution aufgenommen zu werden. Ihr Prüfungsthema kennt sie so gut wie ihre eigene Geschichte: Adam Forde ist der Held ihrer Kindheit, der Mann, dessen Rebellion die Geschichte ihres Landes für immer prägte. Doch Anax weiß längst nicht alles über die Rolle, die Adam gespielt hat. Sie muss einsehen, dass die Geschichte, wie sie sie kennt, eine Lüge ist. Und dass die Akademie nicht ist, was sie scheint.

• Sprache: Deutsch
• Herausgeber: script5
• Erscheinungsdatum: 11. Aug. 2014
• ISBN: 9783732003099

Buchvorschau

Titelseite

FÜR RENÉ , IMMANUEL, LUDWIG UND ALAN

IST EINE SEELE MEHR ALS DAS SUMMEN IHRER TEILE?

DOUGLAS HOFSTADTER, EINSICHT INS ICH

Anax ging den langen Korridor hinunter. Es war vollkommen still bis auf das leise Zischen der Luftfilter über ihr. Die Lampen verströmten gedämpftes Licht, so wie es die neuen Bestimmungen vorschrieben. Sie erinnerte sich an hellere Tage, aber sie sprach nie darüber. Helligkeit als Vorzug der Vergangenheit zu betrachten, galt als einer der Großen Fehler.

Am Ende des Korridors bog Anax nach links ab. Sie überprüfte die Uhrzeit. Sie würden sie auf dem Weg zu ihnen beobachten, zumindest erzählte man sich das. Die Tür glitt auf, sanft und geräuschlos wie alles innerhalb der Räume der Akademie.

»Anaximander?«

Anax nickte.

Das Gremium bestand aus drei Prüfern, genau wie es in den Bestimmungen gestanden hatte. Anax war erleichtert. Die Einzelheiten der Prüfung waren streng geheim und unter den Bewerbern kursierten viele Gerüchte. »Fantasie ist das Mischlingskind von Zeit und Unwissenheit«, pflegte ihr Tutor Perikles zu sagen. Und dann fügte er jedes Mal hinzu: »Nicht dass ich etwas gegen Mischlinge hätte.«

Anax liebte ihren Tutor. Sie würde ihn nicht enttäuschen. Die Tür schloss sich hinter ihr.

Die Prüfer saßen hinter einem hohen Pult, dessen dunkle Holzoberfläche matt schimmerte.

»Bitte nehmen Sie Platz.« Der mittlere Prüfer sprach. Er war der größte von ihnen, größer und kräftiger als jeder, den Anax je gesehen hatte. Daneben sahen die beiden anderen alt und schwach aus, doch spürte sie ihren scharfen und stechenden Blick. Heute würde sie keine Vermutungen anstellen. Noch standen alle Türen offen. Alles war möglich. Anax wusste, dass das Gespräch aufgezeichnet wurde.

PRÜFER: Für Ihre Prüfung sind fünf Stunden vorgesehen. Sollten Sie eine Frage nicht richtig verstehen, können Sie nachfragen. Allerdings werden wir dies bei unserem Gesamturteil berücksichtigen. Haben Sie mich verstanden?

ANAXIMANDER: Ja.

PRÜFER: Gibt es noch etwas, das Sie wissen möchten, ehe wir mit der Prüfung beginnen?

ANAXIMANDER: Ich möchte gerne die Antworten wissen.

PRÜFER: Ich fürchte, ich verstehe nicht recht …

ANAXIMANDER: Das war nur ein Scherz.

PRÜFER: Oh. Ah ja.

Keine gute Idee. Keiner von ihnen zeigte auch nur den Anflug eines Lächelns. Anax fragte sich, ob sie sich entschuldigen sollte, doch der unbehagliche Moment war schon vorüber.

PRÜFER: Anaximander, ab jetzt läuft Ihre Zeit. Fünf Stunden über das Thema Ihrer Wahl. Das Leben und die Zeit von Adam Forde, 2058 bis 2077. Adam Forde wurde sieben Jahre nach Gründung von Platons Republik geboren. Können Sie uns die politischen Umstände erläutern, die zur Entstehung der Republik geführt haben?

War das ein Trick? Anax’ Spezialgebiet bezog sich ausdrücklich auf die Zeit, in der Adam gelebt hatte. Der Ausschuss hatte den Antrag ohne Änderung angenommen. Natürlich wusste sie einige Dinge über den politischen Hintergrund, die wusste jeder, aber es war nicht ihr Spezialgebiet. Alles, was sie dazu sagen konnte, waren ein paar Sätze, die sie in der Schule gelernt hatte und die jeder Schüler auswendig kannte. Damit konnte sie unmöglich beginnen. Sollte sie den Prüfern widersprechen? War es das, was sie von ihr erwarteten? Forschend betrachtete sie die Gesichter, doch die Mienen der Prüfer waren wie versteinert. Das half ihr nicht weiter.

PRÜFER: Anaximander, haben Sie meine Frage verstanden?

ANAXIMANDER: Natürlich. Bitte entschuldigen Sie, es war nur … Es ist nicht so wichtig …

Anax versuchte, ihre Bedenken zu verdrängen. Fünf Stunden. Genug Zeit, um zu zeigen, wie viel sie wusste.

ANAXIMANDER: Die Geschichte beginnt am Ende des dritten Jahrzehnts des neuen Jahrtausends. Wie in jedem Zeitalter mangelte es auch damals nicht an Weltuntergangspropheten. Erste gentechnische Versuche hatten große Teile der Bevölkerung in Angst und Schrecken versetzt. Die internationale Wirtschaft stützte sich noch auf Erdöl, doch man war sich einig, dass die Ölvorkommen bald zur Neige gehen würden.

Die Region, die damals als Naher Osten bezeichnet wurde, war politisch instabil und die Vereinigten Staaten – ich benutze der Einfachheit halber die damals üblichen Bezeichnungen – hatten sich in den Augen vieler in einen Krieg verstrickt, den sie nicht gewinnen konnten, gegen eine Kultur, die sie nicht verstanden. Sie gaben vor, die Demokratie zu verteidigen, doch ihre Definition war engstirnig und auf ihr System zugeschnitten, sodass sie sich schlecht übertragen ließ.

So nahm der Fundamentalismus auf beiden Seiten dieser Kluft zu, und als es im Jahr 2032 in Saudi-Arabien die ersten unmissverständlichen Anzeichen für westlichen Terrorismus gab, war dies in den Augen vieler der zündende Funke für ein Feuer, das nicht mehr gelöscht werden konnte. Europa wurde vorgeworfen, es habe seinen moralischen Kompass verloren, und die Unabhängigkeitskrawalle von 2047 galten als weiterer Beweis des säkularen Niedergangs. Die wachsende internationale Bedeutung Chinas und seine sogenannte »aktive Diplomatie« weckte bei vielen die Angst vor einem weiteren globalen Konflikt. Die wirtschaftliche Expansion bedrohte das ökologische Gleichgewicht der Erde, der Artenreichtum ging in nie da gewesenem Ausmaß zurück und die letzten Zweifler am Modell des Beschleunigten Klimawandels wurden durch die Sandstürme im Jahre 2041 eines Besseren belehrt. Mit anderen Worten: Die Welt stand vor vielen Herausforderungen und am Ende des fünften Jahrzehnts dieses Jahrhunderts war der öffentliche Diskurs von tiefem Pessimismus und einem Gefühl der Bedrohung geprägt.

Im Nachhinein ist man natürlich immer klüger. Von unserem jetzigen Standpunkt aus betrachtet steht jedenfalls fest, dass das Einzige, wovor sich die Bevölkerung wirklich fürchten musste, die Furcht selbst war. Die wahre Gefahr, die in jener Zeit für die Menschheit bestand, war das Schwinden ihrer Zuversicht.

PRÜFER: Definieren Sie Zuversicht.

Die Stimme des Prüfers hatte sich leicht verändert, so wie man es mit einem einfachen Filter bewerkstelligen konnte. Nur dass es keine Technologie war, die Anax hörte, sondern schlicht und einfach Beherrschung.

Jedes Zögern, jedes Aufflackern von Unsicherheit – nichts entging den Prüfern. Gewiss gab dies den Ausschlag für ihre Entscheidung. Anax fühlte sich plötzlich schwerfällig und unscheinbar. Sie hatte noch immer Perikles’ letzte Worte im Ohr. »Sie wollen sehen, wie du auf die Herausforderung reagierst. Zögere nicht. Finde mit deinen Worten den Weg zum Verständnis. Vertraue den Worten.« Es hatte sich so einfach angehört. Nun spürte sie, wie sich ihre Gesichtsmuskeln anspannten, und sie musste sich einen Weg zu den Worten bahnen, so wie man im Gedränge nach einem Freund sucht, die Panik im Nacken.

ANAXIMANDER: Mit Zuversicht beziehe ich mich auf die vorherrschende Stimmung jener Zeit. Zuversicht ist die menschliche Fähigkeit, einer ungewissen Zukunft mit Neugier und Optimismus zu begegnen. Sie ist der Glaube daran, dass Probleme und Differenzen gelöst werden können. Sie ist eine Art Vertrauen. Und sie ist ein sehr zerbrechliches Gefühl. Furcht und Aberglaube können es leicht überschatten. Als der Konflikt im Jahr 2050 begann, war die Welt von Furcht und Aberglauben geprägt.

PRÜFER: Erzählen Sie uns mehr über diesen Aberglauben.

ANAXIMANDER: Aberglaube ist das Bedürfnis, die Welt in einfachen Zusammenhängen von Ursache und Wirkung zu sehen. Wie ich bereits erwähnt habe, nahm der religiöse Fundamentalismus stark zu, aber das ist es nicht, was ich mit Aberglaube meine. Der Aberglaube, der zu jener Zeit die Welt beherrschte, war der Glaube an einfache Ursachen.

Selbst das banalste Ereignis beruht auf einem Geflecht unzähliger Möglichkeiten und Verknüpfungen, doch diese Komplexität überfordert den menschlichen Verstand. Wenn in schwierigen Zeiten der Glaube an einfache Götter zerbricht, haben Verschwörungstheorien ein leichtes Spiel. So war es auch damals. Da die Menschen weder imstande waren, Unglücksfälle dem Zufall zuzuschreiben, noch dazu, ihre eigene Bedeutungslosigkeit im großen Ganzen zu akzeptieren, suchten sie nach Monstern in ihrer Mitte.

Je mehr die Medien die Angst anfachten, desto mehr verloren die Menschen die Fähigkeit, aneinander zu glauben. Für jedes neue Übel, das sie heimsuchte, fanden die Medien eine Erklärung und die Erklärung hatte immer ein Gesicht und einen Namen. Schließlich begannen die Menschen sich sogar vor ihren eigenen Nachbarn zu fürchten. Überall suchten sie nach Anzeichen für die Bosheit der anderen: beim Einzelnen, in der Gruppe und innerhalb des Landes. Und wohin sie auch blickten, immer entdeckten sie solche Anzeichen, denn wenn man sucht, dann findet man.

Darin bestand die wahre Herausforderung für die Menschen jener Zeit. Die Herausforderung, sich gegenseitig zu vertrauen. Und sie scheiterten. Das meinte ich vorhin, als ich sagte, dass die Zuversicht der Menschen schwand.

PRÜFER: Ich danke Ihnen für die Ausführungen. Kommen wir nun zurück zur Beschreibung der damaligen Zeit. Wie kam es zur Entstehung der Republik?

Es war genau, wie Perikles gesagt hatte. Der Klang ihrer eigenen Stimme trug Anax weiter. Deshalb war sie eine so gute Bewerberin. Ihre Gedanken folgten ihren Worten, jedenfalls sagte er das. »Jeder ist anders und das ist dein Talent.« Die Geschichte, die sie erzählte, kannte jeder. Zu oft schon war sie erzählt worden. Doch Anax hüllte sie in neue Worte und mit jeder neuen Schicht wuchs ihr Selbstvertrauen.

ANAXIMANDER: Der erste Schuss des Letzten Krieges wurde aufgrund eines Missverständnisses abgefeuert. Das war am 7. August 2050. Achtzehn Monate lang hatte die japanisch-chinesische Allianz versucht, ein Bündnis zur Bekämpfung der Erderwärmung zu schmieden. Durch die Emission von kühlenden Schwefelpartikeln sollte der Treibhauseffekt umgekehrt werden. Dass die Zusammenarbeit keine Fortschritte machte, lag an dem Misstrauen, das ich bereits erwähnt habe. Die USA blockierten die Initiative in dem Glauben, sie sei lediglich Teil eines größeren Plans mit dem Ziel, eine neue internationale Ordnung herbeizuführen. China wiederum glaubte, die USA trieben den Klimawandel absichtlich voran, um die chinesische Wirtschaft zu zerschlagen. Schließlich stellte China einen Plan für eine geheime unilaterale Maßnahme auf.

Das Flugzeug, das im Pazifik in amerikanischem Luftraum abgeschossen wurde, befand sich auf dem ersten Testflug zur Ausschüttung von Schwefelpartikeln, obwohl die USA, wie wir alle wissen, nie von ihrer offiziellen Erklärung abwichen, es habe sich um ein Militärflugzeug mit feindlichen Absichten gehandelt.

PRÜFER: Sie gehen besser davon aus, dass wir nichts wissen.

Anax senkte entschuldigend den Kopf und spürte, wie ihr die Schamesröte ins Gesicht stieg. Sie wartete auf ein Zeichen, fortzufahren, aber nichts geschah. In jeder anderen Situation hätte sie sich über ihre Unhöflichkeit beschwert.

ANAXIMANDER: Platons Machtposition gründete auf seinem globalen wirtschaftlichen Interesse. Sein erstes Vermögen machte er mit Wasserstofftechnologie. Das wiederum investierte er gewinnbringend in der Bio-Aufbereitungsindustrie. Durch seinen Reichtum und seine Beziehungen war Platon besser als die meisten in der Lage, den Ausgang eines eskalierenden Konflikts zwischen den Supermächten vorherzusehen. Da er schon immer ein vorsichtiger Mensch gewesen war, begann er, sein Geld auf eine Inselgruppe am Ende der Welt namens Aotearoa zu transferieren. Als der Krieg ausbrach,

Rezensionen für Das neue Buch Genesis

[devilwrites · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

The premise: Anaximander has spent the last four years of her life preparing for the grueling entrance exam to the Academy, the governing body of her land. She's chosen as her focus the life of Adam Forde, her long-dead hero; Adam was the driving force that broke down the standards of the Republic by simply saving the life of a young girl, and his actions inspired a nation. During Anax's exam, she realizes there's more to Adam's story than she ever knew, and learning these secrets inspires her to question who and what she is, and whether or not she truly wants to be a part of the Academy.My RatingBuy the Paperback: or find the hardcover really cheap, cause it's not worth the $20.00 price tag. However, this is a rare book that makes you think, and while other reviews have stated that there's nothing original about the ideas or world-building presented in this novel, I'd argue that's not the point. The point is the ultimate message and the journey that you as a reader has to take to get there. It's an intelligent book, and whether or not the final message leaves you with a sick feeling in your stomach like it did mine, I think the journey is worth it. Hell, I had to read it twice to really absorb what was going on. The premise might sound a little boring, and the structure of an oral exam reeks of telling over showing, but the author shows a little creativity in how knowledge is revealed within the story, and again, the book's going to make you think, even if you get angry that you're having to think it through so much. I don't recommend speed-reading this one, and if you're familiar with philosophy, you may have fun with this, even if you find the debates a little familiar and boring. In truth, it's not a boring book: it's a smooth read that has you constantly wondering what's going on, because nothing is as simple as it appears. I will say I'm not sure, despite the fact it was written for children/YA, that I'd recommend this book to that age group (which might explain why, in the US, it's marketed in the adult SF/F section) simply because the final message is disturbing and not one that I'd want my own child coming away with. But that's me.Review style: reverting back to my stream-of-conscious style, because sorting this book out in my head pretty much requires it. THERE ARE MASSIVE SPOILERS. If you don't want to be spoiled, then there's no need to click for the full review below.However, if you want the full review, you're more than welcome to it. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome, and I'm really looking for readers who are familiar with this text.REVIEW: Bernard Beckett's GENESISHappy Reading!

[jonfaith · Bewertung: 3 von 5 Sternen]

Jokes have always fascinated me, the origins of such especially. My delivery of such has been fine, but i enjoy the embroidery most all, the dusting of detail that deepens both the poetry and the joke's release. Mr. Beckett had a sound premise: a manifesto exhibited in the form of a dialogue with futuristic trappings about a utopian/dystopian outcome and the role of artifical intelligence to either facilitate or condemn. Fine, I accept that - as apremise. The arc unfolds with a Rod Serling twist and I was rather pissed, just like when I viewed Source Code.

[stbalbach_1 · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

Genesis is New Zealand author Bernard Beckett's breakout novel and probably the biggest novel out of New Zealand at the moment. Originally published in his country of origin in 2006 - where it went on to win a number of awards - in 2008 Genesis made New Zealand publishing history when it was offered the largest advance ever put forward for a young adult novel. The novel was released in the UK as two separate editions: adult and young adult, and went into bidding wars in over 20 other countries, including the US. One of the blurbs says it is destined to be "a modern classic."It's very short, readable in 3 hours or so, but it is philosophically and symbolically dense that rewards reflection and slowing down. Although set in a post-apocalyptic world with science fiction trappings (ie. a giant metal "sea fence" around an island), it really is a novel about philosophically age old questions and ideas. It's been compared to Philip K. Dick with its emphasis on asking what it means to be human; the nature of consciousness and artificial intelligence; the nature of a soul and what makes humans unique. At its core it is an essentially humanistic story, relevant to the here and now, as the best fiction is.If one is reading for the plot and wondering what happens, it will not disappoint, it "gripped me like a vice" said Jonathan Stroud, but the novel brings up a whole host of questions and ideas that are really at the core of the book. This is a thinking persons story. Is it a classic? I don't think so, at least not on the level of 1984 or Brave New World, but it is very good international fiction from New Zealand, a good story, and thought provoking ideas about man and machine.

[j3745 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

Compelling. Thought provoking.

[delta351 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

I think it is pretty dense, structured reading, but very well done. Don't see why this isn't more popular. Chilling tale of a dystopian society that leave no stone unturned to keep their society pure. Spectacular

[bensdad00 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

Direct, simple yet surprisingly thoughtful, uncluttered and enjoyable.

[lycomayflower · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

Set in a post-apocalyptic world, this story is told through the main character's oral exam for entrance into an exclusive academy. We learn the history of her society as she explains her interpretation of a key event in their history to her examiners. Has a twist (which I figured mostly out beforehand), which I am a little "Hmmm" about, but the most interesting part about the story to me was the way Beckett got it on the page, the way he slowly revealed information about the society he'd created. Recommended.

[silvernfire · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

At first glance, this is another YA dystopian novel. Reading it, I realized it's more of a philosophical exploration of what (if anything) distinguishes humans from artificial intelligence, and it's a YA novel only in the sense that the protagonist, Anaximander, is a young student. At about 160 pages long, the book is a good size for its story: long enough to do its ideas some justice, yet short enough that its constraints—the whole novel takes place over about 5 hours, in two rooms—don't weigh the story down. It's a quick read that leaves you something to ponder afterwards: not bad!

[akikorye · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

First let me say, I picked this book up by chance, didn't read the synopsis, but began reading the book.

I very much enjoyed the book, but do have one complaint (and though I'll spend most of my time in this review on the complaint, it does not effect my overall rating). My complaint is that it was a sort of bait and switch. The first two chapters which detail Adam's early life have no bearing on the rest of the book. I saw the book going in a completely different way, which I'm sure is what they author wanted.

Spoilers:

I get why there was no more mention of Eve or the impact of the trial beyond aggravation among the people. These things meant nothing to the tellers of the story. The plight of the humans and their viruses. I, however was drawn in and compelled by this post-apocalyptic world and feel like he could have written the book on that. I really feel like it was two separate books and that the first two 'hours' were unnecessary means to the end of was Adam meeting Art. Well, it served as a 'red herring' but this is why I don't read mystery novels.

Having said that, I loved this book. Granted, I decided this before he met Art, I decided I would find other books by this author because it was just a gem. Even after he met Art and I realized I wasn't going to learn anything else about that which the first two hours alluded to, I still enjoyed the book.

It was engaging and well written, and now I finally understand why there's red hair on the cover! I find that short reads like this sometimes prove to be the most rewarding. Their is something special about being concise.

[drachenbraut23 · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

Well, considering that this is an extremely short book with only 190 pages this was an unexpected treat. Maybe although, I ought to add that the book itself didn’t work for me, so I listened to the unabridged audiobook version. The story is set about 100 years in the future, where most of the world is destroyed by plaque and disease. We are in Plato’s Republic an Island founded by a rich man, exceptionally well secured against the outside world. The founders of The Republic sought to deny the individual, and in doing so they ignored a simple truth.Here, we meet Anaximander who is being examined on her historical knowledge of the world and the history of the Republic, in order to gain entrance to the Academy. The entire exam takes place over five hours and is presented in the form of a philosophical dialogue and a discussion on Anax own perspective and her opinions on the events in the past. I was immensely surprised that I got sucked in so easily into this story. The dialogues are overflowing with concepts, theories and enthralling ideologies about ethics, humanity, the meaning of freedom, what is consciousness and about trust and betrayal. Bernard Beckett managed to explore a multitude of critical themes in a brilliant and intensely enjoyable style. If you don’t mind pages filled with dense philosophical themes this is certainly the book for you. The ending of the story was most disturbing of all because I didn’t expect it at all. I felt like someone beat me with a sledge hammer on my head, that’s how surprised I was by it.“Human spirit is the ability to face the uncertainty of the future with curiosity and optimism. It is the belief that problems can be solved, differences resolved. It is a type of confidence. And it is fragile. It can be blackened by fear, and superstition.““Which came first, the mind or the idea of the mind? Have you never wondered? They arrived together. The mind is an idea.”

[emleemay · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

EDIT: Read again and loved it even more, upping my rating to 4 stars.

.......................................................................................................................
Old Review


Ok, so 3.5 stars actually. Maybe 4 but I've decided to be picky.

I was greatly torn as to my opinion on this book, it's a very confusing and weird read at times and not even remotely what I expected when I read the description.

The novel consists entirely of a 4-hour oral exam on a specialist subject of the individual's choice, set in a society that is built up through the dialogue in the examination as the protagonist narrates the history of it's development. You can tell from the start that Beckett knows a thing or too about both philosophy and science, particularly genetics, and even those who feel their minds automatically shriveling up at the thought of any of those will still find themselves impressed by the originality of this literary idea.

A lot of the time I found myself thinking "Eh?" I had picked the book up expecting to find the story of yet another dystopian society but it was quite unlike anything else I have ever read. Plus, the ending is a shocker, almost laughable in some respects but definitely enough to surprise even the greatest mystery-mind. Trust me, if you see it coming then you're one of those who reads the last few pages first.

The book made me think. A lot. It made me question some of my greatest beliefs regarding life and what it is to be 'human' or 'real'. I do want people to read this book, don't be put off by my 3 star rating. My warped reasoning is that, even though it shocked me and raised some interesting questions, I found the style not quite up to the 'really liked it' marker.

[jen6e6moore · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

I felt it leaned just a little bit too heavily on the surprise!reveal at the end, but overall a very interesting discussion of consciousness and intelligence and the way to create a perfect society.

[suzemo · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

So there's been a huge run on dystopian (young adult) stuff for the last few years. As a huge fan of dystopian works, I'm both thrilled (at the push for my favorite sub-genre) and disappointed (at how many of them suck). This book is not only awesome, but manages awesome in just 150 pages.

It's written in a different format than most books, as a history lesson as the main character is being tested. Young Anax wants to earn entry into the Academy, which is some sort of think-tank philosophical governing body. The future is a beautiful place, where all of the problems of society have been solved after a long era of war, plague and general horror. She's undergoing an all-day oral exam by members of this group.

That exam, Anax explains how the world came to be through her studies of a pivotal character in her society's history. We also get glimpses of her thoughts, her feelings, and her memories. Using this format is unconventional and allows us to learn a whole lot, very quickly. It's dense, but not overly thinky, which is nice.

In the end, she learns more than she ever thought she would about her society, its true history, and what price it pays to keep its utopia.

It's very well done, it's original, it's unexpected. I highly recommend it, and at 150 pages, there's no reason not to read it.

[librarybrandy · Bewertung: 3 von 5 Sternen]

Anax is standing before a panel of examiners, the three people who will decide her fate: will she be admitted to the Academy? Is her knowledge and understanding of her topic--Adam Forde, the historical figure whose actions may have changed the course of their utopian Republic--enough to prove herself worthy?

That's pretty much the whole story: the reader (or in my case, listener) gets the history of this culture as Anax understands it, without a lot of time spent on explaining the current culture. It's an interesting approach in its own right; the reader doesn't learn much about the society as it currently stands until the very end, when the truth about Adam's final decisions is revealed, along with what that means for Anax.

It's not the most engrossing plot, bogged down as it is in discussions of philosophy and ethics as they relate to the explosion of technology and AI. (This isn't set all that far off--2075, in a world both post-apocalyptic and plague-ridden.) There were elements of the ending I liked and elements that didn't quite fit, but overall this tied together very well. I enjoyed it but didn't love it, though I can think of a few people who would absolutely go bonkers for this academic utopian novel.

[alwright1_1 · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

Anax is a young scholar taking the entrance examination for The Academy, but she's about to learn things she never knew about the subject of her study who helped shape her society.I was surprised at how short this book was, but I was also surprised that it managed to suck me in so quickly since it's in a transcript format. I read it in a single sitting. I was able to figure out some of the surprises in store but not all of them. Fun to think about and very rewarding.

[eidzior_1 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

I literally found this book through chance. I was trying to refill a display at my library and I saw this book and thought "hey, it's a quick read and I need to branch out of my usual reading territory."

LOVED IT.

I am going to by this so I can read it again.

A great read but it made me wish I had read it while I was in my philosophy class and that I had read Isaac Asimov's "I am Robot" first. The topic of "what is humanity" and the difference between Androids and Humans is scarcely unique but the twist at the end of the book is delightful.

In bookclub we read "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" and "This Perfect Day" I wish that we had read these three all in a row to talk about the topic of reality and perceived reality as well as humanity vs. perceived humanity. So great. Would be great to also read this alongside Asimov, of course.

[publiusdb-1 · Bewertung: 3 von 5 Sternen]

Written in the tradition of "The Giver," I enjoyed this futuristic, post-apocalypse look at the soul and the consciousness...until the end. I listened to a couple writers talk about the frustration with a well written story that ends with a gimmick-twist. In this case, I think the twist was ok, but I was still frustrated with the ending.

"Genesis" is short, and I think it could be read in a single sitting of a couple hours. It is thought provoking and well written, and I recommend it.

[cheriereads · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

I really loved this book. It's a mix of dystopia and philosophy that got my mind working but still entertained. At only 86 pages (on my Nook) it was a very quick but powerful read. The twist was surprising and the ending was abrupt but appropriately so. Highly recommended.

[lovinglit · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

When I started reading, I didnt realise this was a New Zealand author, and even when the book talked of Aotearoa, I just though, oh cool, someone is thinking globally. Duh. But yes, this book is set in future New Zealand. And the world has gone to the dogs.Plagues have wiped out everyone bar the lot inside the safe sea walls surrounding Aotearoa/New Zealand. Sentries guard the coast and shoot any stray survivor refugees on sight. Society is pleasant. Everyone behaves and accepts the place they are assigned and the duties that go with it. Until Adam Forde starts to question things.This book is set at various points in the future. So Adam Fordes actions and their consequences are being discussed as past events by our hero, Anax. She is delivering a spoken assignment on her take on Fordes life and the event that is to shape all their lives. It raises, and discusses, a lot of existential issues. Consciousness, societal roles, philosophy all play a big part in the dialogue. All intertwined with artificial intelligence and its role in this new world. All this and a cracker ending. A pretty good, short read overall.

[phredfrancis · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

This is a rather cerebral bit of sci-fi. It's a dystopian futuristic tale with a few surprises, including the form of the book itself. If you're looking for something action-packed, then you can look elsewhere. The novel is structured around a student's presentation and defense of her project while being considered for admission to a prestigious and mysterious Academy.

It helps immensely if you enjoy Socratic philosophical discussions on the nature of the mind, the individual, and what makes one human. It's not as dry as it might sound. The arguments are easily followed and serve a dramatic plot, but argument and the notions that are presented are at the heart of the story.

As I read, I did find myself at times wishing that I could enter the story more fully, because the form definitely keeps one at a distance. But if the author had allowed the central arguments to recede behind action and description, the story would not work as it does, and the ideas would not linger as they do. In the end, this is really a story about ideas, both beneficial and dangerous.

[eclecticdodo · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

Post apocalypse book with an interesting structure. Anax is taking an exam to enter the academy that leads her society. Her chosen subject is the man who kickstarted the revolution leading to life as she knows it. I very much enjoyed this book and the ending is excellent, totally unexpected so I won't spoil it.

[timjones_1 · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

This philosophical YA science fiction novel by a New Zealand author has some interesting ideas and a killer conclusion, but I found the framing story irritating. I'm sure it would have appealed a lot to the teenage me, though.

[elizajane_1 · Bewertung: 3 von 5 Sternen]

Reason for Reading: I love dystopian literature and will read pretty much anything I can get my hands on as long as it sounds interesting to me.The year is 2075, an island society lives behind a Great Sea Fence and is modeled after Plato's Republic. The society is Utopian to all those within, but watching over society very carefully is The Academy where the Original Sin has been concealed very carefully from this Brave New World.Written in a unique format, we meet Anaximander as she begins her four hour oral exam to gain entry as an historian at The Academy. The book's chapters are divided into the four separate hours of Q & A followed by a stretch of break time between each where Anax is left to her thoughts. Anax's project is based on Adam Forde a great cultural hero who died before the Great War. Through her telling of his story and the questions asked of her we learn the history of this world: the global disasters, the Last War, the seclusion of The Republic behind the Great Sea Fence, the plague that destroyed much of mankind and The Republic's response to killing any who sought asylum with them, and finally, the beginning of the Great War which tore down the old Republic and established the New Platonic Republic. We are mostly exposed to Adam and his world, along with an Artificial Intelligence (AI) device that has been left with Adam after he ends up in jail, as all true great people's hero's eventually do. It is through Adam's and Art's relationship and lack of such that we really get to know this man and his society and eventually back to Anax's. The surprise reveal at the ending was a shock to me but now that I've thought about it I should have seen it coming, but I didn't. The book is unusual. It wasn't a page-turner for me and took longer for me to read 185 pages than it should have. But it was interesting and never did I consider putting the book away, or *not* continuing on with it. The story lingers with me. The ending is certainly what makes the book worth the read and leaves one to ponder on many levels. Readable.

[kenazari_1 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

Amaaaaaaazing book. Thrilling and unexpected.

[whitebalcony · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

Bloody brilliant!! Don't read any reviews. Just read the book.

[gayla.bassham · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

Really stunning. First, it made for a gripping read despite the fact that the whole thing is structured as (essentially) a conversation with a dissertation committee. Secondly, the ending twist was well-done and (to me, at least) truly surprising. Highly recommended.

[tigerbuns · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

Good, smart book for younger readers (and older readers, too) that manages to be a gripping read and a thought exercise at the same time. There are lots of nudges to explore ideas and possibilities, and the book touches on many different fields of the humanities like philosophy (and subsequently ethics), sociology, anthropology; also questions of state and goverment forms, chemistry, evolution - really, there is a lot of food for thought in here. And even though this may seem like that's too many ideas for this small volume, it's not, since the book introduces all of this without being too didactic about it or even requiring prior knowledge (kudos, really, this is quite perfect for YA literature - thoughtful, respectful and intelligent enough for smart kids who are already familiar with the subjects in here, but not requiring a certain level of education).

The core questions of consciousness/AI/being human have been posed before in films, books, and manga, but I appreciated that the author goes that extra step and actually works through possible answers and offers some detailed arguments for both sides and the possible entanglement and overlapping of those arguments, which I found quite interesting. Yup, liked the book. Recommended. *nods*

[cheryl_in_cc_nv · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

Ok I'm impressed. Short. Like a magazine story from the 50s, or a Twilight Zone episode, but, of course, richer. The Examination is all. The only 'plot' is in the very last bit. Try to forget everything you've heard about this when you get around to sitting down to read it. And read it closely, carefully. Especially recommended to YA and NA.

[karin7-11 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

While I argued with half the book, this is a very well crafted book that is well worth reading. It's written much like a Socratic dialogue, and is a literary, philosophical book that can be read even by people who normally avoid scfi. A good part of the book deals with what is consciousness. The characters are well done and the book not long. It was released as adult fiction in the US, but as Y/A in NZ.

[chrystal_1 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

Wow. The oral examinantion with small breaks and holograms to break up the four one hour sections made this book with intense ideas a quick read. I wish I could have read it in one sitting, it would have been even more powerful. At no point did I even thin Anaximander was not a human girl, and the realization leaves you asking so many questions... I will be thinking about this book for a long time and will read it again in the future.