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A review by jbolwerk8
Stronger, Faster, and More Beautiful by Arwen Elys Dayton
4.0
Stronger, Faster, and More Beautiful (SFMB) consists of six separate yet connected short stories. Each one explores in a dramatic fashion what science has evolved to and what that could mean in the future in terms of genetic modification, organ harvesting, and disease curing. The stories progress from “a few years from now” to “they have left us far behind,” with each getting longer and including more storytelling elements.
Overall, I very much enjoyed SFMB. I was very intrigued by the concept, as I think many people grapple with how far science and technology will be able to go in improving human life and at what cost. The science concepts were novel, ranging from creating a “superheart” to a dolphin boy to slaves whose bones were reconstructed to metal. The connection between each story is very small, but it is present, and I was always waiting for the reference to be made in each story. One thing I wish would have been explored a little bit more is the ethical dilemmas that people face with scientific advancements. The contrast in this story was science to religion, and while that is valid, I was looking for more. I do highly praise the author on her voice, though. Each character was distinctly unique, and some had a sass and broke the fourth wall that I appreciated.
I would recommend SMFB to many different types of people, but especially those interested in science, dystopian worlds, and curious about what the future could potentially hold. Though this is definitely a work of fiction, it’s fun to decide where to draw the line of possibility. Booktalking this would be easy to draw readers in I feel because of the out-there topics it covers that sparks curiosity.
Overall, I very much enjoyed SFMB. I was very intrigued by the concept, as I think many people grapple with how far science and technology will be able to go in improving human life and at what cost. The science concepts were novel, ranging from creating a “superheart” to a dolphin boy to slaves whose bones were reconstructed to metal. The connection between each story is very small, but it is present, and I was always waiting for the reference to be made in each story. One thing I wish would have been explored a little bit more is the ethical dilemmas that people face with scientific advancements. The contrast in this story was science to religion, and while that is valid, I was looking for more. I do highly praise the author on her voice, though. Each character was distinctly unique, and some had a sass and broke the fourth wall that I appreciated.
I would recommend SMFB to many different types of people, but especially those interested in science, dystopian worlds, and curious about what the future could potentially hold. Though this is definitely a work of fiction, it’s fun to decide where to draw the line of possibility. Booktalking this would be easy to draw readers in I feel because of the out-there topics it covers that sparks curiosity.