'Specials' by Scott Westerfeld is the last in his trilogy, but not the last set in his post-apocalyptic world. There is a fourth novel - 'Extras'- which is set in the same universe but in a different city, with a very different plot premise to the Ugly series. I reviewed the first two books , 'Uglies' and 'Pretties' in previous posts. There will be spoilers for the first books within this review, so if you haven't read the first two books, you may not want to read on.
What's it about?
It is set in a world which has been destroyed by the a bacterium that de-stablises petroleum, and the human race has rebuilt society in a very different manner. It is place where every one is 'ugly' until they reach the age of sixteen. The Uglies are ordinary human faces, but when they turn sixteeen everyone undergoes a transformation into a 'Pretty'. The operation is to make everyone equal in terms of looks, and it makes everyone 'bubbly'. Once 'Pretty' the teenagers are allowed to cross the bridge and move into Pretty Town, where their only purpose it have a good time.
The novel begins after Tally and Zane have been captured by the Special Circumstance in the Smokies camp. She is turned into a 'Special' - an operation that gives super human powers, a terrifying appearance, and heightened feelings of superiority, rage and euphoria. Tally is not just any 'Special', she is part of an elite group called 'The Cutters', led by her old friend Shay. Zane is too sick from the brain lesion cure issue in the previous book to undergo the operation. After crashing an Ugly party they realise a girl is attempting to deliver the pills that cure the brain lesions to Zane. as well as recruiting the Crims to join the Smokies in a city called the New Smoke (or Diego). Tally and Shay, eager to have Zane join them, help him escape in order for to help them find the New Smoke and be heralded as a hero to the Special Circumstances, who would then have to turn him 'Special'. The Cutters begin to track Zane and the Crims on their journey to the New Smoke, and Tally must decide what side she truly supports.
What did I think of it?
I really wasn't as keen on this instalment. There were a two major things that I thought were disappointing. Let's start with The Cutters! The Cutters get their kicks from cutting themselves in a ritual, which makes them 'bubbly' and gives a heightened sense of clarity. I thought this was a very irresponsible plot device in a novel of this type, especially as it is a novel aimed at teenagers. The idea, in the novel, that cutting makes them feel better and helps them deal with issues they may be having, I think is quite inappropriate, and there should be a warning on the book as a possible trigger for those who struggle with cutting. Tally does stop cutting eventually, but I still wasn't keen on this plot idea.
My second dislike was the character of Tally. In each book it feels like she has a different personality due to the being Ugly, Pretty and Special. Sadly, her Special personality is not likeable. It was hard to identify with her, and she just irritated me thorough out the book. I find that an unlikeable character really puts me off a book. eg. 'The Catcher In The Rye' by J. D. Salinger. In the 'Bartimaeus' series by Jonathan Stroud, the lead character Nathaniel is not a particularly pleasant human being, but you still like him enough to root for his cause. Tally in 'Specials' just doesn't make you like her enough to care and I found myself hoping she'd either be cured a.s.a.p or be killed off.
This book does make you think about government, humanity, the human race's effect on the planet, society and freedom of speech. So it has interesting concepts to mull over once you've finished the book, or even whilst still reading and experiencing Diego. I found that the plot of the book was slightly less gripping than the previous books, but it was interesting to see how the whole plot of the three novels was resolved, and that keeps you reading. Learning about the world of the New Smoke was something I particularly enjoyed. Seeing what happens when a whole city is set free and brought to the Smokies way of life, and the effect that had on resources for instance. I was left severely disappointed by 'Specials'. I expected more, and it was a shame for the series to end with a less satisfying book! Thankfully 'Extras' is much better and I shall be reviewing that shortly.
Rating
I think perhaps this is more of a two and half star occasion, as I felt it was between 'It was ok' and 'I liked it' as I did enjoy the resolving of the plot. Sadly, I don't have a graphic for 2.5 stars yet.
Goodreads Reading Challenge
This book is number 5 out of 50
The fourth book I read for the Goodreads challenge was 'Pretties' by Scott Westerfeld. This is the second book in the series, and I reviewed the first book - 'Uglies'- here. This review will contain a few spoilers from the first book, I do try to avoid spoilers but it's impossible to discuss 'Pretties' without revealing some plot points from 'Uglies'. I won't be spoiling anything from 'Pretties' though, so as long as you've read the first book, feel free to read on!
What's it about?
It is set in a world which has been destroyed by the human race, and has had to rebuild society. It is place where every one is 'ugly' until they reach the age of sixteen. The Uglies are ordinary human faces, but when they turn sixteeen everyone undergoes a transformation into a 'Pretty'. The operation is to make everyone equal in terms of looks, and it makes everyone 'bubbly'. Once 'Pretty' the teenagers are allowed to cross the bridge and move into Pretty Town, where their only purpose it have a good time.
The novel begins after Tally has been captured by the specials and has finally been turned Pretty. She fully embraces the Pretty lifestyle - non stop parties, high-tech gadgets and becoming a Crim. Underneath all the fun and bubbly activities, she has a nagging feeling that there is something wrong. that she's forgotten something important. She then receives a message from her past that reminds her what is wrong with her Pretty life, and her she's soon fighting for her life.
What did I think of it?
I enjoyed 'Pretties' a little less than 'Uglies' for a few reasons that I'll detail below. I found this book to be a just as addictive as the first, and read it in once sitting again. The writing style, as expected, is much like the first book, easy to read and fast paced.
This book introduces a whole new set of characters who belong to a gang called the Crims. The Crims are a group of Pretties who enjoy feeling bubbly and pursue bubble-making behaviour, usually in the form of reckless, but since its Pretty Town, perfectly safe, activities. The leader of the Crims is Zane, who is with Tally when she receives the message from her past explaining what is wrong with Pretty. They are a double act in the book, working together and helping each out in their pursuit of escaping their brain control, and leaving Pretty Town. Zane, although incredibly likeable, just didn't match up to David from the first book for me, and that took a bit of the enjoyment away but only a tiny amount. I have read plenty of reviews that prefer Zane, so it seems to divide the readers 50:50 to whether you are a David or a Zane person, but the book never tries to make it a Team Edward vs Team Jacob scenario. Both David and Zane have parts to play, and different merits, but they aren't the focus of the book. The love story isn't the important part! The main focus of this time is trying to cure the brain of the mind control chip and return to the Smokies.
I enjoyed seeing the effect the brain chip had on Tally, after knowing her in the original book as an Ugly, it was a very different Tally you meet in the second book. The focus of the Pretties is to have as much fun as possible and never worry about anything, which is a fantastic way to control a population, as they have no need to question or complain, as they live very enjoyable lives.
I found with this book that the plot wasn't quite as intriguing as the first one, since you know about the brain washing and you know the truth about the Smokies lifestyle and where they came from. This all causes the plot of the second book not have the same mystery and intrigue as the first one. I think that can often be the case with a second book as a lot of the world has been explained to the reader, but it didn't stop the book from being an enjoyable. I found that the plot of the book, although less mysterious, was still interesting and exciting. I wanted to know how Tally would clear her head and escape Special Circumstances to reunite in the wastelands with the Smokies, and that kept me turning page after page. It was great to see the Pretty side of life, and what concerns filled a Pretty mind. The world was just as wonderful and immersive as the first book, and it was a joy to have another book in this world Westerfeld has created. I was certainly left desperate for the third book!
Rating
Goodreads Reading Challenge
This book is number 4 out of 50
The second book I read for the Goodreads challenge was 'Uglies' by Scott Westerfeld. It is the first book in a trilogy (Uglies, Pretties, Specials), though there is a fourth book set in the same world but it is a different city and protagonist (Extras). I've read all four this year, so I shall be reviewing them all over time.
I had heard a lot about this book before I read it. It was one that I saw repeatedly mentioned across the interwebs, especially in recommendations for dystopian books. I've been really enjoying dystopian lately, so I thought it was time to read 'Uglies'.
What's it about?
It is set in a world which has been destroyed by the human race, and has had to rebuild society. It is place where every one is 'ugly' until they reach the age of sixteen. The Uglies are ordinary human faces, but when they turn sixteeen everyone undergoes a transformation into a 'Pretty'. The operation is to make everyone equal in terms of looks, and it makes everyone 'bubbly'. Once 'Pretty' the teenagers are allowed to cross the bridge and move into New Pretty Town, where they're only purpose it have a good time.
The protagonist in 'Uglies' is a fifteen year old girl called Tally. Tally can't wait to be Pretty and join her friends in New Pretty Town. However Tally meets a new friend, Shay, who doesn't want to be Pretty, and would rather risk the world outside their town. Shay longs to join the mysterious Smokies in The Smoke, which are a group of Uglies who refused to turn pretty. The authorities fear the Smokies, so when Shay runs away, Tally learns that not all is as it seems, and there is a not very pretty side to being Pretty. She is given an ultimatum by the authorities who are desperate to find Shay and the Smokies - find Shay and hand her to the authorities, or never turn Pretty.
What did I think of it?
I found this book to be a very addictive read. I was hooked from page one and I read the book in one sitting, which at 425 pages of large font, doesn't take too long. The writing style is not high brow literature- unusual words and detailed descriptions aren't commonplace in this novel- but it is written in a fluent and easy to read style. The plot is well thought out, and believable, which is I think is important in a dystopian novel, as often the main dystopian plot device can be a little too science fiction, and difficult to fully believe. The technology in this book wasn't too hard to swallow and the explanation of how the world fell into it's current state was interesting and logical. The characters are fairly well developed and Westerfeld weaves the plot together very well.
I really enjoyed the concept of this book, and the idea of brainwashing people into a certain view of what is pretty was interesting. At one point in the book Tally meets a character who hasn't had the operation and she is disgusted by his ugliness - he's only 40! She is also revolted when she sees a magazine from our current time, and the the models in it do not meet her idea of pretty. A funny thought when in today's society, they are what is considered 'pretty'. She is also very surprised when she realises that looks are hereditary- she notices a son looks like his father. It seems so crazy to not know that, but in this world, the characters are are completely brainwashed from birth into believing being Pretty is everything. Westerfeld gives a great insight into a world which allows Pretty to be valued over personality and skills. It acts almost like a warning to society, to remember that Pretty is not everything, in a world where the idea that Pretty is best is constantly reinforced by glossy magazines, television and film. This book also raises the questions- how much control should those in power have? How much should you question the world around you? Should so few be allowed to make decisions for so many?
I found with this book that although I did like Tally as a main character in this book (not so much in the later books- more on those in a separate post), and I did care about her fate, and the fate of the other major characters, it wasn't so much the characters that kept me reading. It was more learning about the world they live in, and unravelling the conspiracies that hooked me.
Rating
Goodreads Reading Challenge
This book is number 2 out of 50
