Imagine a world where people are forced to accept implants that control every word they speak. VeracityLaura Bynum’s post-apocalyptic novel is the chilling story of a pandemic that results in a dystopian state reminiscent of “1984.” The first person in the present tense gives an air of immediacy that puts readers in the middle of the action. Well-drawn characters show the best and worst of humanity in this thought-provoking look at an all too plausible future.
In 2012, a plague swept through much of the country. A new government is formed to maintain order. The totalitarian regime, called the Confederation of Volunteers, controls everything, including the use of language. Words are erased from the vocabulary and those who use them are punished. The population is implanted with monitoring devices and controlled by a brutal and sadistic police force known as the Blue Coats. Harper Adams was six years old when the plague struck. She always had special talents and the ability to see inside people. Now she is a sensitive monitor who reads people’s emotions for the government. One day, the resistance recruits her and becomes their secret weapon. Forced to give up her daughter and live underground, she trains for a confrontation that could result in the deaths of all who depend on her.
Many post-apocalyptic books have been written and some of Veracity’s ideas have been seen before, but in this debut, Laura Bynum puts her own unique spin on the story of a world gone mad. Harper Adams is a likeable character and we watch her grow up to be a strong hero. Bynum does a credible job of creating a chilling future that is easy to imagine. This is a thought-provoking book with a universal message that is well worth reading.
Publisher: Pocket (January 5, 2010)
ISBN: 978-1439123348
Hardcover: 384 pages
Price: $ 25.00
