The Bethesda Library on Arlington Road, in conjunction with the Politics and Prose bookstore, has been hosting some very interesting author events for fans of Young Adult dystopian science fiction. In other words, if you finished the Hunger Games trilogy long ago, you may find something new-yet-familiar at these events.
This Thursday, January 31, at 5:00 PM, YA author Rachel Cohn will discuss her new novel, Beta.
Beta is the story of a 16-year-old clone named Elysia, sold as a "companion" to a wealthy family on the island of Demesne. (If you paid attention in Classics 101, you're going to figure out there's something symbolic about these names). Everyone on Demesne is rich, and is intoxicated by a narcotic-like element placed into the air by the government.
Elysia was cloned from a girl who supposedly died in the cloning process. But now Elysia is starting to remember things she shouldn't be able to remember. And isn't an emotionless drone like the other clones. Sounds like there's going to be trouble there. And a love triangle. And a surprise ending. Which sets up a - you guessed it - future trilogy.
Hmm. Clones. An island. Clones with partial memories they shouldn't be having. Clones who start getting wise to the raw deal they've been dealt by The Man.
This sounds like one of my favorite movies, The Island (2005). Yes, I know I am one of maybe 3 people in the world who enjoyed The Island. Ewan McGregor, Scarlett Johansson, a gull-wing Cadillac Cien supercar, a pre-Game of Thrones Sean Bean, Pete from Benson, Djimon Hounsou, and directed by Michael Bay - now that's a movie.
If you like this novel a lot, I think you'll like The Island. I'm still waiting for an ultimate super-duper edition to be released on Blu-ray, because there's just a single-disc with no extras on it available right now.
"I'm Tom Lincoln!!"
