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Genesis

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About this listen

 Anax thinks she knows her history. She'd better. She's sat facing three Examiners and her gruelling four-hour examination has just begun.

After the Great War in 2077, her island Republic emerged from a ruined world. Its citizens were safe - but never free. They lived in complete isolation from the outside. Until one man rescued a girl from the sea, and shook the very foundations on which the Republic was built. It was a time where ancient philosophical questions had collided dramatically with the march of technology, and where just what it means to be human was up for debate.

Anax is sure she has the answers. But she is about to discover that for all her learning, what she's been taught is not the whole story....

©2007 Bernard Beckett (P)2009 Quercus Fantasy Science Fiction Science Fiction & Fantasy

Critic reviews

"(A)... daring formal experiment... has a palate-cleansing purity unusual in most young adult fiction ...Beckett has written a very different young adult novel � assured, cool, almost cold � that will make smart teenagers feel very respected."(The Guardian)
"A riveting story... we are immediately intrigued by Anax, her interest in history and motives for wanting to join the Academy... By the end, you will be completely hooked."(sfcrowsnest.co.uk)
"The rigorous narrative and crushing final twist bring a welcome freshness to a familiar setup."(Publishers' Weekly)
"The climax of the novel is not in the place you think, and the event you thought ends the story is really just the beginning... Beckett is every fiction fan�s ideal philosopher, the type of writer who entertains as much as he questions... Genesis is a must read."(tor.com)
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I nearly didnt buy this book because it is a short novel. However, it is a rich story exploring intelligence and consciousness. Very surprising ending. Well worth buying.

Thought provoking - thoroughly enjoyable -

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Like all good science fiction, Genesis is based on a central core idea. I won't say which one as that would ruin the book. But the idea is there from the start, but the way that the book is structured is the real beauty of the book. The twist is, also, fascinating. Enjoy!

Based on a fascinating idea

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Despite being short this is highly entertaining and thought provoking and genuinely a must read (or must listen) novel for anyone interested in computers, robots or artificial intelligence. It contains a long conversation between a person and a robot that is quite the best I have encountered. The author keeps surprising us with moral and intellectual dilemmas right to the end.

Fascinating right to the end

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This was a very enjoyable listen. It is under 4 hours, but contains a well-rounded, thought-provoking story. It is beautifully read and well produced. Would recommend this to people who like intelligent sci-fi.

Excellent, highly-recommended read

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Slow burning, intelligent, chilling. Echoes of 1984. I did not guess the ending. Highly recommended.

Shortish but memorable

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