Book Review: The Ferryman by Justin Cronin

 

Title: The Ferryman

By: Justin Cronin

Genre: Scifi

Pages: 560

Release Date: May 2nd, 2023

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Rating: ★★★★☆

 

Summary from Goodreads:

Founded by the mysterious genius known as the Designer, the archipelago of Prospera lies hidden from the horrors of a deteriorating outside world. In this island paradise, Prospera's lucky citizens enjoy long, fulfilling lives until the monitors embedded in their forearms, meant to measure their physical health and psychological well-being, fall below 10 percent. Then they retire themselves, embarking on a ferry ride to the island known as the Nursery, where their failing bodies are renewed, their memories are wiped clean, and they are readied to restart life afresh.

Proctor Bennett, of the Department of Social Contracts, has a satisfying career as a ferryman, gently shepherding people through the retirement process--and, when necessary, enforcing it. But all is not well with Proctor. For one thing, he's been dreaming--which is supposed to be impossible in Prospera. For another, his monitor percentage has begun to drop alarmingly fast. And then comes the day he is summoned to retire his own father, who gives him a disturbing and cryptic message before being wrestled onto the ferry.

Meanwhile, something is stirring. The Support Staff, ordinary men and women who provide the labor to keep Prospera running, have begun to question their place in the social order. Unrest is building, and there are rumors spreading of a resistance group--known as "Arrivalists"--who may be fomenting revolution.

Soon Proctor finds himself questioning everything he once believed, entangled with a much bigger cause than he realized--and on a desperate mission to uncover the truth.

 

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Review:

I don't know what I was excepting with this book, but it wasn't that.

Justin Cronin has a wonderful way of weaving a tale where you think you are doing one thing, but by the end its completely different, but in a good way. Although I found the first half of the book to be a bit slow, the second half of the story kicked into gear and blew my mind. 

Although this story has a dystopian feel, the actual story is played out in a scifi setting. An odd combination that works wonderfully together. Proctor, the main character that drives the story, is wonderfully conscious of the plights in his life. His doubt is what brings about changes. 

I loved this read and can't wait to see what this author comes up with next. 

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. 

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