Comments for Across the Universe

Across the Universe: 08/07/14

Across the Universe by Beth Revis is a parallel narrative about life and death on a slow ship. Amy is one of the founding members, placed into cryosleep. Elder, is the ship's next generation of leader, generations after Amy but when she's unexpectedly awakened, he has to become her mentor and protector.

Places, even enclosed environments, evolve over time. Cultures change. Language too. Through Amy's chapters we experience the change and the disorientation that goes with it. Society on the ship has evolved into mix of Stranger in a Strange Land, Logan's Run and Soylent Green (the film, having a different message than Harry Harrison's Make Room, Make Room)

Though it takes Across the Universe time to settle down, it eventually becomes a murder mystery. Someone is turning on the cryochambers and letting people die. People close to Amy are dying and she against all odds has to protect them.

Elder, bored out of his gourd, and well aware that his mentor, Eldest, is keeping stuff from, uses Amy as his excuse to finally learn the truth behind the ship.

So — while the plot is predictable to anyone who is an active consumer of science fiction, it's still a satisfying plot. My only complaint is that the explanation behind dystopian shift in the Godspeed's society, is one that at face value doesn't physically work. But given how many other lies were being told, I'm willing to believe that the "explanation" is just one more lie.

Four stars

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