Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gladiator meets Free Market Authoritarianism, with a rather massive side dish of social critique.

Frankly, I can't argue against the conclusion. Massive incarceration build-up doesn't do a damn thing to improve the lots of ANYONE. Not the people who are afraid, not the people who get locked away, not anyone except those who profit on the big, grinding machine.

When you start turning it into a reality show with bloodsports as a way to get out of a sentence or two, it just dehumanizes everyone further and further until we all just have to sit back and say that cruelty was the entire point.

To couch this in a novel of attempted redemption, of survival in the ring, of love in despair, of feeling that grand, disgusting disquiet that will quease your stomach during the entire read, is just an artistic choice.


Honestly, it's a pretty decent novel the way that goes. I can also absolutely see us all going this horrible route as all other opportunities dry up and survival at ANY cost becomes the only road forward--and that is the main reason why this novel made me want to hovel in a corner.

I would hate to see this become our reality. And yet, when cruelty is the purpose, the novel might be a blueprint.

It certainly wouldn't be the first.



Personal note:
If anyone reading my reviews is be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.

Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.

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