Adam Boostrom

Can you imagine society 80 years from now, where a pandemic has killed all the men in the world and computers can control everything for human care from food preparation, clothing and housing all by 3 D printing and holograms? When this book started I wasn't too sure that I was going to manage to get through it, but amazingly, it hooked me and I literally couldn't put it down. I read it in one sitting.

The story has all the amazing technological aspects I've noted but also a great story of a show more young girl, Athena, who has been put into an unusual position by the Third Core (master computer) where she has to help try to find the thieves that have stolen the research for the Lazarus Genome, an effort to bring man back from oblivion by repopulating the male of the species.

TOTALLY FANTASTIC BOOK! show less

After the Y fever killed off all males, females continued to live on. However, many of them miss the presence of something they have never have. In the future, scientists are trying to reverse the Y-fever, to bring back males, but not everyone wants them to come back. So when Athena Vosh, a teenager in the year 2099, is contacted by the Third Core to help resolve the issue of the missing data, she finds herself in the middle of an interesting dilemma. The fate of mankind lies in her hands. show more Will she bring them back or let the world move on without them?

I absolutely loved this book. I thought the idea of it, the worldbuilding, and the characters were all phenomenally done. Not only did we get an awesome look of technology in the future, we get to ponder the idea of what would happen to the world if one gender was somehow eliminated. This story had everything that makes a great read—food for thought, suspense, romance, angst, and mystery.

Narration was done in a way that beautifully brought each character to life. Words were clearly enunciated and it was easy to lose myself listening.

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review. show less

This was an interesting YA sci-fi story. The characters are well-developed, and it’s interesting to think of a future without men. I would’ve like to see more of the world, and had different perspectives, although I didn’t mind following Athena. It was interesting to see how society was torn on the issue of whether men should be brought back, but at times it was a little uncomfortable with how men were referred to with such a broad (and negative) blanket. Overall, interesting, but not show more a book I’d read a second time. show less

It's been decades since I read feminist literature like, e.g., 'Egalia's Daughters' by Gerd Brantenberg. I haven't thought of the premise of a matriarchal society for a very long time, so this book came as quite a surprise.
Where in the books I read back then women and men only had switched roles, so to say, Adam Boostrom is taking it one step further: men don't exist any more on earth. The whole population is female, and they are doing well.
However, some females want to bring back males, show more because they have fond memories, because they're curious, or because they don't feel complete without a male counterpart.
A renowned scientist is tasked with creating a genome that is resistant to the virus which killed all males five decades ago.
The catch is: somebody stole the genome before its completion.

Enter our heroine: young Athena Vosh.
She is somehow connected to the theft, and gets summoned before the AI who knows everything, and who is responsible for the well-being of the population -- alas, the AI isn't allowed to make decisions regarding life or death, which is why she needs somebody who is allowed to do this.

Athena agrees to help finding the thief, hoping she'll at last find a purpose in life, and maybe even excel.

But things don't quite turn out the way Athena had hoped. She makes acquaintances, and her dreams lead her in a direction I wasn't sure was beneficial for 'womanity' -- would she open Pandora's box?

The characters are well formed out, and the world is fascinating and vividly described. I loved the occasional advertisements throughout the book, as well as the description of all the technical achievements this future holds.
I'm not sure I'd want any of that -- well, maybe the massage thing -- and I certainly don't know what choice I'd make were I in Athena's shoes.
From where I stand now, the choice would be simple, because I have two sons and a grandson (and I had a brother), but if I had grown up without ever knowing any males...

This books combines various subjects: a coming of age story, a utopia, a bit of dystopia, and a future which still seems like science fiction now, but is looming around the corner, what with all the scientific and technological advances humanity has made.
There are enough twists to keep you listening (or reading), and the outcome is totally unexpected.

It gives food for thought, and will certainly stay with me for some time to come.

The narrator does an excellent job, and I especially enjoyed the way she narrated the advertisements. Her enunciation was very good, so that even I, as a non-native speaker, had absolutely no trouble understanding every word.

I received a complimentary copy and I chose to willingly post an honest review. show less