Genesis: A Novel
By Bernard Bestett
The Short Take:
This slim novel packs a pretty strong punch. Yes, it is set in the future and has robots and holograms, but I wouldn’t call it sci-fi any more than I would Orwell’s 1984. Genesis gives you a lot to chew on. And it’s a pretty tasty meal.
Why?
You think you’re getting the retelling of a crucial event in the history of the self-isolated Republic. But in fact, this book examines what “thinking’ and self-awareness really are. Plus it includes intriguing observations on the evolutionary existence of ideas.
Twice the dust cover comments refer to Genesis as a thriller. The pages keep turning for sure, but my mind was just as engaged as my curiosity. I thought I knew what the surprise ending would be. But this novel is more subtle than that. My foresight encompassed a fraction of the ultimate revelations.
A Little Plot:
The entire book consists of the four hour, oral examination of a young girl who hopes to enter The Academy, a prestigious group that basically rules the Republic. Her subject matter is Adam Forde, a figure of legendary proportions who altered the community’s future. This examination reveals Adam’s story along with her own unconventional insights and opinions.
Doesn’t sound fascinating? Guess again.
For more information on Genesis and Kiwi author Bernard Beckett, click here.
