Review: In a World Where Productivity Reigns is There Any Room for Humanity?
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 22, 2014
I received this as a gift via NetGalleyIn a world consumed by the meticulous drive towards production in order to survive in a post-Famine reality, the Creators, the saviors of mankind are all-powerful and must be obeyed. Ever since her birth, Dara has been told to work towards being a productive, Contributor to society, that everyone has their place in the clockwork precision of their area. Dara has thirsted for prestige ever since, because failure would mean an unsavory job and as a result of that, a dissatisfied, wasteful life. Dara is a budding professional engineer will the kind of skillful attention to detail that earns her a spot in an elite apprenticeship that would seal her fate as one of the most valued members of society, a prime Contributor. It would be her job to ensure the safety of their world, eliminating risks, and making predictions that would prevent catastrophe. The competition is cutthroat, full of manipulation and sabotage that leaves Dara second guessing the nature of humanity. Her handler, a cold woman, determined to be harsh and speak her mind, seems to hate her. Dara knows that as a woman in a competition against men, in a largely male field, she needs to work her hardest to make sure she triumphs and her mentor could be the ticket to that spot.As the stress of the apprenticeship heats up, Dara’s perfect life starts to crumble and she can’t figure out how to fix it. The boy she thought she loved for years is no longer appealing to her, there’s tension at work, and it’s like she can’t escape the pressure to succeed. When Dara’s mother suffers a horrible accident, she gets an authentic taste of just how little human life means to the Creators. If you’re no longer useful, all of your past goods are dismissed and forgotten. There’s no fighting, no appreciation, just a quiet divorce from the reign of Contributors.Teaming up with the unlikeliest of allies, Cara must learn to master the system, to infiltrate and dominate from the inside or lose everything she loves to the whims of a merciless and cruel society of productivity.PROS:Contributor deals with the grief, frustration, and heartbreak over a severe and debilitating injury. The struggle to push forward and cope with a changed loved one after a tragic accident is captured in an emotionally raw and potent way, that will leave you feeling sympathetic, at a loss, and with such admiration for Dara and her father. Their hope is amazing, their belief in the strength of their loved one, and the will to overcome unexpected and life-altering trials is a lesson in perseverance and love. The sacrifices they make for safety and out of love is incredible and really attests to their courage.What happens when society is so focused on progress that the human element is completely eliminated or judged by usefulness? This is the question Contributor tries to answer and it’s a bleak picture. The Contributor world is plain, lifeless, full of endless goals and projects that offer no true satisfaction. Friendships are scare, even relationships between parents and children are stilted and based on task completion. Hobbies, dreams, beauty, are all leached from this world and only Dara seems to realize this. Her need to breathe, to walk in the park and admire the one open space showcases just what’s missing.The underground revolution, the missing members of society, the rejects, the non-Contributors are all a unique force of change, smartly working their way to revolution on the outskirts of society. They have a voice that’s real and just, their vehement rally against the Creators is one of slow and steady persistence.Dara is blind to her indoctrination, she’s never questioned or thought about the motives of the Creators. When hit with the truth, it’s like a slap to the face, a shock that leaves her dazed and angry. Dara is independent, fierce, and tenacious, her skill as an engineer is wickedly cool. The fact that she doesn’t let it bring her down that she’s fighting for survival in a man’s world made strides for feminism and the plight of a confident protagonist.Letizia is a complex, intense character. The faade she puts on everyday to face a world she loathes is compelling, her acting is superb and every moment of her life is dictated by the need to protect herself from discovery. She must play the part to forward the cause. Underneath the hard exterior is a woman who has loved, who knows beauty, and wants others to experience those joys. Letizia is hard to love but she’s the kind of slow building personality that grows on you and as the plot thickens, she stands out as a role model and leader in the face of society’s evils.CONS:Dara’s relationship with Jonathan is borderline platonic and awkward. They barely speak past pleasantries and when they do it’s like Dara’s a head case. The chemistry just isn’t there and her continuance in a lackluster relationship is rather bland.The plot is a little slow to take off, there’s great periods of lag time when it feels as though nothing is happening, then all of the sudden it’s extreme drama or chaos.Raj is a passionate, intriguing character but there’s just so little of him. Even in the few scenes he’s in, the tension between Dara and Raj is heated, suggesting a kindling of something more but it’s unexplored and open-ended.