Review: Twinmaker by Sean Williams

Publisher: Electric Monkey (Egmont)

Genre: Science-fiction/thriller

Age Group: YA/14+

Proof copy from the publisher for a review (thank you Electric Monkey!).

You can change anything,

Change everything,

If you want to.

 

In a futuristic world of heightened technology, Improvement is the newest trend. You can make yourself stronger, prettier, better- but does this come at a price? When Clair tries to discover what happened to her friend who used Improvement, she sets off a chain of events that take her on a dangerous journey and lead her to question the principles of the society she lives in. Her journey puts her in league with the Abstainers, who shun the technological advances that are the very basis of Clair’s everyday life, and opens her eyes to a different way of life. Her world, and the technology it is based on, may not be as perfect as it seems.

 

This is a gripping high-tech thriller, packed with surprises. The plot is complex and clever, and Clair is a powerful protagonist. Not only is she a likeable character, but she grows immensely throughout the novel, discovering a new strength within herself. The technology is very advanced – for example,with d-mat you can be transported to anywhere in the world within seconds – yet at the same time much of it is familiar. The Air, with its statuses, conversations and photos, is not unlike modern social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. This level of familiarity gives the technology of Twinmaker credibility. There are some issues with the writing, particularly with over-description of the characters’ appearances, however the excitement and momentum that was built up as the novel progressed had me hooked. Twinmaker is the first in a trilogy, and it ends on an open note, leaving many questions unanswered. I haven’t read much sci-fi before this, but I loved this book, and am very excited to see where this series goes next.