|
DiDonovan
, August 28, 2015
(view all comments by DiDonovan)
Haw's very title doesn't give much warning about its contents, much less about its futuristic society setting and a father's struggle to save his son from corruption - and that's just one intriguing facet in a genre replete with dystopian writings, here: one just doesn't anticipate the events coming, in Haw.
Bioengineer Lucas and his son live in a city on the edge of disaster, and so they flee to a rural farming community, where his son falls in love with one of the sons of a family.
There are a lot of contrasts in this story: the gritty urban world versus rural struggles, the different facets of love in a time of disaster, and the choices involved in a commitment to personal and community survival. Against this backdrop, the rough world is deftly portrayed.
A nuclear reactor's possible collapse with its wide-ranging social and political ramifications that go beyond radiation, choices made while navigating one's way through the ranks to survive socially and politically, and the collapse of individuals, institutions and communities all prove compelling when accompanied by solid observations and protagonists.
With a title such as Haw, it's hard to predict the nature of the yarn to be spun and the stories played out. Ultimately, it's about love, death, and finding peace in a stormy, changing world. Deliciously dark and compelling insights interspersed with moments of enlightenment and hope are the driving force of a novel that focuses on the course of survival and what is lost in that process. Very highly recommended: a powerful read that's hard to put down!
|