Saturday, June 21, 2003
Title: Feed
Author: M.T. Anderson
Publisher: Walker Books
It bemuses me that Feed - by M.T. Anderson - is listed in some places as being for children, or probably more accurately "young adults". What does "young adult" mean anyway - sounds a bit like a condescending euphemism to me. But hey, I digress, Feed is filled with swearing, not something I particularly associate with novels given that kind of categorization - though, who knows, maybe things have changed since I was that age?
Anyway, the point is, it would be a pity if Feed were dismissed as a "kids" book. M.T. Anderson's writing is too on the ball to be missed. The characters are all young adults themselves, and that is reflected in their speech patterns, with Anderson taking it a step further. The dialogue is very loose, which has a very natural flow, at least initially - progressing to a point where you become conscious of the dumbed down vocabulary, the constant stumbling conversations of even adults in this future America.
The feed is the ultimate media device, plugs straight into the body at an early age. Takes over some major biological roles and generally monitors everything for the purposes of profiling. Which is used to help target you with product 24-7, while also narrowing you towards an easier niche, so that there are fewer niches and more sales. You walk into a shop and get bannered - ads, specs, special offers. You get your music and "TV" from the feed; they've calculated which chord structures will make 13-year-old girls scream.
It is the spring break. Titus and his friends have gone to the moon. It kind of um, sucks. But it changes his life when two things happen. The first event is when Titus met Violet. Violet is different from everyone he has ever met, but the two of them hit it off. The second event happens when Titus and Violet are in a club; they are hacked and end up in hospital.
These two events combine to provide a different view of the world. A world past the ideal of the feed. A world where not everyone approves. Where America has annexed the moon and the rest of the world is pointing some big guns in their direction. The world is dying, riots are breaking out, everyone is ill, but its okay cause the soaps say it's all hip.
Feed is layered with a caustic subtlety, enough critique of the things that are wrong with contemporary Western culture to give the reader a nosebleed. Filled with humour and a strong eye for detail that is combined in an entirely readable narrative.
RVWR: PTR
June 2003
