Genesis by Bernard Beckett

 

Genesis by Bernard Beckett manages to express an idea of what the future could be like. Set in the late 21st century, protagonist Anaximander is being extensively examined on The Life and Times of her hero Adam Forde. Through the course of the lengthy exam the reader finds out about the events that shaped the future and despite her dedicated knowledge on her subject matter Anax is exposed to previously unknown information. Yes - the text is imaginative, but not so original, as the ideas that emerge have already been presented to us in action packed sci-fi movies. There's that war where the robots fight the humans...and that threat of robots taking over the world. In spite of this Beckett masterminds a thought-provoking text which raises philosophical questions about evolution and the human body. Genesis is short, subsequently fast-paced and easy to read. This means that the questions raised come across effectively, create impact, and make the book a page-turner. If you're thirsty for an insightful story with meaning, yet one filled with uncertainty go for Genesis. You'll undoubtedly continue to think about the questions raised once you've read the final sentence of the final page over and over again. [Tina Koenig]