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Moxyland

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In 'Moxyland' by Lauren Beukes, readers are introduced to a near future South Africa where a society heavily reliant on technology is controlled by a merging of the security state and corporate entities. The story follows four young individuals navigating this dystopian world where access to everything is linked to their phones, and disobedience can lead to severe legal consequences. As the characters deal with constant surveillance, extreme body modifications, and corporate sponsorship, they are forced to confront the harsh realities of their environment while attempting to pursue their own goals and ideals.

The narrative in 'Moxyland' is structured around the intertwining perspectives of the main characters, each with their own motivations and struggles against the oppressive system they live in. Lauren Beukes presents a chillingly realistic portrayal of a future where technology divides society into distinct classes, raising thought-provoking questions about power, privacy, and the impact of corporate control on individual lives. Through elements of cyberpunk storytelling and dystopian world-building, the novel explores themes of activism, rebellion, and the consequences of living in a tech-centric society.

Characters:

The characters are diverse yet deeply flawed, struggling with personal vices and societal pressures.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is engaging and modern, offering diverse perspectives through a first-person present tense narrative.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative unfolds in a dystopian Cape Town, showcasing four characters interlinked by their struggles within a corporatized police state.

Setting:

The setting is a near-future Cape Town where technology and corporate power dictate everyday life.

Pacing:

The pacing is brisk, promoting a gripping read that intertwines multiple character arcs effectively.
The corporate line shushes through the tunnels on a skin of seawater, overflow from the tide drives put to practical use in the clanking watery bowels of Cape Town – like all the effluent in this city...

Notes:

Moxyland is set in a dystopian future Cape Town around 2018.
The story follows four main characters: Kendra, Toby, Lerato, and Tendeka.
The plot explores themes of corporate control and personal freedom.
Characters are often dislikable, which is a point the author intended.
Kendra becomes a walking advertisement due to biotechnology enhancing her appearance.
Toby is a privileged vlogger whose lifestyle includes drugs and fame-seeking.
Lerato was raised in a corporate orphanage and works as a programmer.
Tendeka is an activist who wants to inspire civil disobedience.
The novel critiques how technology can control everyday life, especially through cell phones.
Disconnection from the phone means losing access to basic services, essentially becoming an outcast.
Beukes uses real South African slang and cultural references to create authenticity.
The narrative is told in first-person present tense from multiple viewpoints.
Moxyland has been compared to classic cyberpunk works like Neuromancer and Snow Crash.
The book incorporates ideas about surveillance, addiction, and corporate sponsorship.
Beukes is known for her world-building, creating a convincing near-future setting.
The novel can provoke discomfort with its dark themes and flawed characters.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The novel includes high content warnings for themes of violence, drug use, corporate exploitation, and mental health issues.

From The Publisher:

Look out for AFTERLAND, the new novel by Lauren Beukes

In a troubling, near-future Cape Town four broken people try to carve out a place for themselves before a brutal storm of change hits them . . .

******

'Beukes deals with slightly surreal things in very real ways. I'm all over it' Gillian Flynn

Kendra, an art-school dropout, brands herself for a nanotech marketing program. Lerato, an ambitious AIDS baby, plots to defect from her corporate employers. Tendeka, a hot-headed activist, is becoming increasingly rabid. Toby, a roguish blogger, discovers that the video games he plays for cash are much more than they seem.

Four hurt and damaged individuals trying to make lives for themselves in a broken, uncertain future. But as events send them on a collision course their worlds are about to change in unexpected - and explosive - ways.

*******

'You don't have to be an SF aficionado to love this novel that is fast, brimming with original ideas' Guardian

'A major, major talent' George R. R. Martin

Ratings (3)

Incredible (1)
Liked It (1)
It Was OK (1)

Reader Stats (6):

Read It (3)
Want To Read (3)

1 comment(s)

Incredible
3 months

I loved this book. It's very Doctorow-esque, yet original. I'm excited to read more by Lauren. Zoo City here I come!

 

About the Author:

Lauren Beukes is the award-winning and internationally best-selling South African author of The Shining Girls, Zoo City and Broken Monsters, among other works. Her novels have been published in 24 countries and are being adapted for film and TV. She's also a screenwriter, comics writer journalist and award-winning documentary maker. She lives in Cape Town, South Africa with her daughter and two troublesome cats.

 
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