The Revolving Boy

Set in the unimaginably different, advanced, supercool world of 2002, this YA novel pretty much did nothing for me. Awkward and stilted, bizarrely pessimistic yet so deeply sure of Humanity's ability to do better and better, the tone was problem one. Problem two was the exceptionalism...one person saves us from ourselves!...that I find so deeply troubling and destructive in superhero stuff. Religion and its "saviors" ring the same alarm bells in my head.

I gave it an extra half-star because the thing trapping us on the planet was of our own making, and while it's not radiation, we are in fact about to suffer that fate.

I don't think the author has written any other SF or perhaps much of anything at all, given the construction and development here. It seems a bit awkward to me, and only parts of it will stick in my memory.

Mostly what is sticking atm is the lack of development of the character of the girl Prin, and Hailtree's habit of giggling which made it feel like he was a psychopath, or at least a troublemaker, and though it turned out he's neither, I still feel like there's something wrong with how he communicated with the young Derv.

Still, I can see why some youngsters have liked it, and to them I advise, go ahead and reread it as an adult; you'll still enjoy it. To those coming at it for the first time, don't bother. There is no What If, no show more Sense of Wonder, nothing rich or resonant.

There are a few interesting takes on predicting the future. In re' paparazzi for the teevy, "the Twenty-Eighth Amendment established freedom from the press." Disposable clothing. No mobile phones.

2.5 stars rounded up because back when I was wearing out a copy of [b:The Forgotten Door|409320|The Forgotten Door|Alexander Key|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1429431914l/409320._SX50_.jpg|2006907] this might have given me an option, that is to say, I would have enjoyed it a few times. show less

A real "sense of wonder" book.