Take a photo of a barcode or cover
readingwhilemommying 's review for:
The Mars House
by Natasha Pulley
4.5/5
Compelling and clever, this dystopian novel/sci-fi love story explores themes relevant to today's world. As bit too long, in my opinion, at over 450 pages, I was still immersed in the fascinating world-building and love story. January is a character who you'll be drawn to from the start. Also, the world created by author Pulley is, sadly, not too hard to imagine as a future of today's reality.
A dancer for the Royal Academy in London, January Sterling is displaced from his country by flooding, civil unrest, and a war between Russia and America. To pursue a life where he's not threatened at every turn, he travels to Mars as a refugee.
"Earthstrongers" are people on Mars who've come from Earth. They're as strong as polar bears and need to wear metal cages, so they don't unintentionally harm native Mars residents, who are taller and more delicate. Mars is an interesting place. Gender has been outlawed, residents' appearances can be altered based on the internet-capable contacts people wear, and the Martian government is intent on forcing every refugee to "naturalize." This intensely physical process guarantees that the subject will be permanently disabled from the change. Yet, if the refugee undergoes the procedure, they're guaranteed universal income, free healthcare, and unlimited electric and water. If you choose not to be naturalized, you must work a menial job with little pay, most of which January uses for sparse electric and food.
All this political and societal intrigue revolves around an effecting love story. After an accident at a protest, January becomes involved with the powerful, naturalization-proponent Senator Aubrey Gale. To mitigate the damage, January enters into a fake marriage with Gale. As these two grow closer and start to "see" the realities of each's life, preconceptions, beliefs, and emotions are altered. I loved how Pulley grounded the futuristic and sci-fi aspects of this story with this very real romance. It was a wonderful way to show how, as with all political and societal constructs, love is the agent of understanding, true meaning, and the possibility for positive change.
I did lose interest at certain parts and felt that the book was absolutely too long. Yet the story still stuck with me, especially the stellar world-building and romance.
If you're into science fiction/dystopian novels--especially those that are, at heart, a love story--give this novel a try. It's one I won't soon forget.
Compelling and clever, this dystopian novel/sci-fi love story explores themes relevant to today's world. As bit too long, in my opinion, at over 450 pages, I was still immersed in the fascinating world-building and love story. January is a character who you'll be drawn to from the start. Also, the world created by author Pulley is, sadly, not too hard to imagine as a future of today's reality.
A dancer for the Royal Academy in London, January Sterling is displaced from his country by flooding, civil unrest, and a war between Russia and America. To pursue a life where he's not threatened at every turn, he travels to Mars as a refugee.
"Earthstrongers" are people on Mars who've come from Earth. They're as strong as polar bears and need to wear metal cages, so they don't unintentionally harm native Mars residents, who are taller and more delicate. Mars is an interesting place. Gender has been outlawed, residents' appearances can be altered based on the internet-capable contacts people wear, and the Martian government is intent on forcing every refugee to "naturalize." This intensely physical process guarantees that the subject will be permanently disabled from the change. Yet, if the refugee undergoes the procedure, they're guaranteed universal income, free healthcare, and unlimited electric and water. If you choose not to be naturalized, you must work a menial job with little pay, most of which January uses for sparse electric and food.
All this political and societal intrigue revolves around an effecting love story. After an accident at a protest, January becomes involved with the powerful, naturalization-proponent Senator Aubrey Gale. To mitigate the damage, January enters into a fake marriage with Gale. As these two grow closer and start to "see" the realities of each's life, preconceptions, beliefs, and emotions are altered. I loved how Pulley grounded the futuristic and sci-fi aspects of this story with this very real romance. It was a wonderful way to show how, as with all political and societal constructs, love is the agent of understanding, true meaning, and the possibility for positive change.
I did lose interest at certain parts and felt that the book was absolutely too long. Yet the story still stuck with me, especially the stellar world-building and romance.
If you're into science fiction/dystopian novels--especially those that are, at heart, a love story--give this novel a try. It's one I won't soon forget.