In the year 2075, on the island Republic (once New Zealand Aotearoa), we witness young Anaximander before exacting examiners, seeking admission to the extremely elite Academy. Her subject for presentation and examination is Adam Ford, whose controversial actions some decades earlier affected the development of the Republic in ways that are only fully revealed in the novel’s horrifying conclusion. This New Zealandauthored novel received that nation’s highest award for YA fiction, the NZ Post Award. Brilliantly executed, the novel covers classic science-fiction themes such as apocalyptic events, a dystopian society, the nature of consciousness, and artificial intelligence as possible threat to humankind. It also delves into archetypical concerns of YA fiction, including identity, being different to one’s peers, and the limits of acceptable thinking and behaviour in society. The book is very suited to audio adaptation, and is the first audio book by British actress Becky Wright. She has an appealing and appropriate voice for the role of Anaximander, but I would have preferred more vocal variation for the other characters. The reading is presented on three CDs, with a running time just under four hours. A contemporary classic of YA science-fiction.

Kevin Mark is Australasian data analyst for Global Books in Print

Tags: bernard beckett