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A review by inkheart10
The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm by Nancy Farmer
2.0
As a fan of Nancy Farmer, I was disappointed while reading her Newberry Honor book, The Ear, the Eye and the Arm. While a unique novel, its jumble of events and characters proved far too confusing and disorienting to make it the amazing science fiction novel I expected. The main characters of the book, Rita, Tendai and Kuda are three very sheltered children living in Zimbabwe in the year 2194. Their father, General Matsika, has seen horrors on the streets of the city Harare, usually inflicted by gangs; he will hardly let his children out of the house because of his fear over what might happen to them. Rita, Tendai, and Kuda do not like this arrangement; they want to see and explore the outside world, and, eventually, with the help of their friend the Mellower, they find a way to escape into the dazzling city. They plan their escapade to be one day, but the children are not prepared for the many surprises the city has in store for them. Meanwhile, General Matsika and his wife call in The Ear, the Eye and the Arm Detective Agency, hoping that they will have the skills to find their children
Because it is a novel set in the future, The Ear, the Eye and the Arm demonstrates some technological advancements that could be considered part of a science fiction novel. However, these elements often seemed random; like the robot maid or the skyscraper that was actually a mile high. The existence of these things is even more off-putting next to the historical elements that Farmer incorporates into her novel, like African tribal spirits, kings, and witchcraft. Perhaps, Ms. Farmer is trying to make a more realistic future with a coexistent past and present, but it simply does not fall into place. The result is creating comical characters and outlandish settings.
The book takes some time to assess the social problem that occurs in Tendia's family, of overprotecting your children. We see the affects of this abuse when Rita, Tendai, and Kuda step out into the cit unchaperoned for the first time and are immediately lured into a kidnapping.. After the children’s little adventure, the General and his wife reassess their parenting and make some changes for the better. The book also approaches gang problems that many large communities have, but in this book the gang actually tries to sacrifice the children to their deity, and in this way the author satirizes the gang situation.
The title of this book refers to the three detectives on the children’s case: Ear, Eye and Arm. They are called so because the characteristic they are each named after is especially enhanced in them. Ear can hear very well; Eye can see further and with more focus than anyone, and Arm has a special emotional ability than enables him to read minds. To the society at large they are very unusual and don’t often come into contact with people other than themselves. Their abilities can also be very traumatizing; at one point Arm becomes very sick, and in the end loses all his powers of mind-reading forever. This shows the physical effect of futuristic ideas, ideas that we consider even now. However, at the complete other side of the spectrum is the isolated society the children visit, called Resthaven. Resthaven is kept apart from the real world, and most of it inhabitants have no knowledge of the modern world. They live like a tribe of Africa, allowing the reader to see what the world might have been like without futuristic ideas or change. The world the children see seems beautiful at first, but, in reality, is barbaric and even crude.
At one point, this book allows the reader to ponder the ethics of physical enhancement. Ear, Eye and Arm are good people, but one can’t help but wonder if their enhancements have done them more harm than good. The Blue Monkey is another example of a scientific practice gone wrong; the Monkey was enhanced to be blue and talk, but it is diabolical and evil. We are forced to question if we should continue down the scientific path of medical enhancement if it is only to be used for human vanity, not practical purposes.
A typical science fiction novel is imaginative and unbelievable at times, but this one went to the point of nonsensical. Its storyline is repetitive and bizarre; I would recommend it to no one unless he or she is looking for a good laugh. The various elements are intriguing, but they detract from one another as cultures and time periods overlap. Ironically, the book seems based off some fantastical dream the author had, in which she went to Africa, met a very fat lady who lives in mud, a blue monkey, a man who speaks gibberish and an English lady who fed her almond tarts.
Because it is a novel set in the future, The Ear, the Eye and the Arm demonstrates some technological advancements that could be considered part of a science fiction novel. However, these elements often seemed random; like the robot maid or the skyscraper that was actually a mile high. The existence of these things is even more off-putting next to the historical elements that Farmer incorporates into her novel, like African tribal spirits, kings, and witchcraft. Perhaps, Ms. Farmer is trying to make a more realistic future with a coexistent past and present, but it simply does not fall into place. The result is creating comical characters and outlandish settings.
The book takes some time to assess the social problem that occurs in Tendia's family, of overprotecting your children. We see the affects of this abuse when Rita, Tendai, and Kuda step out into the cit unchaperoned for the first time and are immediately lured into a kidnapping.. After the children’s little adventure, the General and his wife reassess their parenting and make some changes for the better. The book also approaches gang problems that many large communities have, but in this book the gang actually tries to sacrifice the children to their deity, and in this way the author satirizes the gang situation.
The title of this book refers to the three detectives on the children’s case: Ear, Eye and Arm. They are called so because the characteristic they are each named after is especially enhanced in them. Ear can hear very well; Eye can see further and with more focus than anyone, and Arm has a special emotional ability than enables him to read minds. To the society at large they are very unusual and don’t often come into contact with people other than themselves. Their abilities can also be very traumatizing; at one point Arm becomes very sick, and in the end loses all his powers of mind-reading forever. This shows the physical effect of futuristic ideas, ideas that we consider even now. However, at the complete other side of the spectrum is the isolated society the children visit, called Resthaven. Resthaven is kept apart from the real world, and most of it inhabitants have no knowledge of the modern world. They live like a tribe of Africa, allowing the reader to see what the world might have been like without futuristic ideas or change. The world the children see seems beautiful at first, but, in reality, is barbaric and even crude.
At one point, this book allows the reader to ponder the ethics of physical enhancement. Ear, Eye and Arm are good people, but one can’t help but wonder if their enhancements have done them more harm than good. The Blue Monkey is another example of a scientific practice gone wrong; the Monkey was enhanced to be blue and talk, but it is diabolical and evil. We are forced to question if we should continue down the scientific path of medical enhancement if it is only to be used for human vanity, not practical purposes.
A typical science fiction novel is imaginative and unbelievable at times, but this one went to the point of nonsensical. Its storyline is repetitive and bizarre; I would recommend it to no one unless he or she is looking for a good laugh. The various elements are intriguing, but they detract from one another as cultures and time periods overlap. Ironically, the book seems based off some fantastical dream the author had, in which she went to Africa, met a very fat lady who lives in mud, a blue monkey, a man who speaks gibberish and an English lady who fed her almond tarts.