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A review by plexippa
Glitch by Heather Anastasiu
2.0
In Anastasiu's dystopian vision of the future, humanity has been forced underground by nuclear war. Humanity has also embraced a cybernetic implant known as the "v-chip" (presumably unrelated to the device used in televisions), as well as other biotechnological tools. All citizens receive a constant stream of information directly to their brains from the Link, acting in numb conformity as they get up, eat their food rations, go to their assigned jobs, and return to their assigned dwellings.
Everyone, that is, except 16-year-old Zoe. She has been "glitching", experiencing periods of time when she is disconnected from the Link and able to feel emotions, the very thing the Link and Chip suppress. She is on the verge of turning herself in to be "fixed" when she learns that there might be another way.
There are twists and turns to the plot, most of which are so clearly foreshadowed, they don't come as much of a surprise. Much of the story also feels recycled from other dystopian sci-fi titles, particularly Lowry's Newbery-winning The Giver. I came away with the feeling that I had seen all this done before, and done better.
Everyone, that is, except 16-year-old Zoe. She has been "glitching", experiencing periods of time when she is disconnected from the Link and able to feel emotions, the very thing the Link and Chip suppress. She is on the verge of turning herself in to be "fixed" when she learns that there might be another way.
There are twists and turns to the plot, most of which are so clearly foreshadowed, they don't come as much of a surprise. Much of the story also feels recycled from other dystopian sci-fi titles, particularly Lowry's Newbery-winning The Giver. I came away with the feeling that I had seen all this done before, and done better.