PROXY
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Novel Rationale: Proxy by Alex London (Published by Penguin Group, 2013)
Summary: The novel takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where the elite live comfortably and the rest of humanity struggles to survive. Everyone lives on credit and debts are always paid—not always by those who create them. Rich “patrons” are free to commit crimes and buy the contracts of orphaned “proxys” who get punished in their place, a al The Whipping Boy. Knox, an Upper City troublemaker, crashes his car and accidentally kills a girl, Marie, which means a death sentence for his proxy, Syd. Syd escapes and in his rush to flee the city, runs into his patron who agrees to help him on the run. Knox, a skilled hacker, is more interested in angering his father than saving Syd but soon learns the value of loyalty. They team up with Marie, who pretended to die at Knox’s father’s request in order to save her own proxy. A Causegirl, Marie believes that Syd carries a virus in his blood that can reboot the city’s digital systems and cancel all debts. The three race across the desert to meet up the rebel group Rebooters who can use Syd’s virus to bring justice and hope back to an unbalanced world.
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Themes:
Homophobia
Gay
Friendship
Science Fiction
Dystopian
Death
Poverty
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Connection to the Curriculum: Syd is a great example a gay male lead in a Sci-Fi book, which is rare and much appreciated. His sexuality is mentioned several times, but does not take the spotlight; Syd’s got other things on his mind. Haivng a discussion about this aspect, of having sexuality as only one facet of a character's personality, is useful. The novel also has much to offer in teh way of characterization and exemplifying the dystopian novel.
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A Note on the Text: (The best way to evaluate and understand a novel is to personally read the book in its entirety)
As a dystopian novel, this book has many unpleasant elements that nonetheless illustrate the possibly future of humanity and warrent discussion. Among the themes are poverty, death, murder, medical illness, and graphic violence.
