FICTION

The Expert System's Brother

176p. Tor. Jul. 2018. pap. $14.99. ISBN 9781250197566.
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In this science fiction novella, a teenage boy suddenly finds himself an outcast in his own community and thrust on a journey to seek safety and answer life's questions. In the village of Aro, 13-year-old Handry attends the ceremony of Severance, where one of his friends is about to be sentenced for stealing. Yet before punishment is handed out, Handry accidentally stumbles upon the potion meant to stain the transgressor and inadvertently splashes it on himself. The liquid doesn't kill him, but it leaves him hungry and marked with a rash. After three years, Handry is virtually invisible to the community and vilified to all except for his beloved sister, Melory. Aro is governed by ancient traditions and ghosts, who use individuals as their mediums. The spirit overtaking Melory suggests Handry should be expelled from Aro. Instead, he flees on his own, embarking on a dangerous adventure through insect-infested territory to visit foreign communities, where he will recognize the good and evil of the world. Handry's narration reads as if told in an oral tradition, which can be off-putting at times. Readers might feel disconnected from the action and dialogue, but the author compensates for it with the wonderfully evocative setting—full of trees, wasps, and strange monsters. Teachers may consider using this story for class discussion on society, religion, and environmental concerns and for examples of foreshadowing.
VERDICT Give this fast-paced, coming-of-age novella to mature fans of dystopian literature. A worthy addition to high school science fiction collections.

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