The Word by JL George (eBook)
£4.99
OVERALL WINNER, international RUBERY BOOK AWARD, 2022
One idea can jinx a whole country in less than a lifetime...
Rhydian is one of five teenagers born into his generation with the Word — a preternatural power that enables them to compel other people to obey. Along with his best friend Jonno, almost-grown-up Rachel, and Cadi, he is studied and experimented on in a facility called the Centre. When they learn that the Centre’s purpose is to turn them into weapons of war, the teens go on the run.
How did this brutal fortress Britain emerge? Here, babies are stolen from mothers whose identities are stripped away at will. Protesting crowds are mesmerised, and children who disobey are killed in cold blood.
Exploring themes of coercive control, disinformation and fundamentalism, The Word shows how kindness can emerge when we resist power, practise resistance, and show vulnerability. Combining speculative elements and emotional truths, it is essentially a coming-of-age story, in which brave young individuals fight to keep hold of who they are in a dehumanising world.
JL George is a writer who resides in south Wales.
"Five reasons why you should read The Word:
1. The heart-warming slow burn of a teenage queer love story
2. It’s a well-paced dystopian that reflects the issues post-referendum Britain faces
3. Shocking twists and turns
4. It features perspectives from adults and teenagers alike in a way that make it ready for a fantastic TV adaptation
5. Vivid prose and characters you’ll love to hate, to root for, and be outraged over the injustices they face." T, amazon.co.uk
"Well written and thought provoking….Explores themes of national identity, inequality and fear with sensitivity as [the author] reflects upon issues of the present day…. [JL George] is a skilled world builder, creating a highly visual world with [a] refreshingly light-touch." 2022 Rubery Book Award adjudication (Alex Morrall & Lynn Huggins-Cooper)
"Page-turning... highly visual, pacey writing... [an] honest and tender depiction of young LGBTQIA+ love." Wales Arts Review
"A book that doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of the world, exploring themes of coercive control, disinformation and fundamentalism." - The Big Issue
"Thrilling… a page turner… the strategies George describes to punish dissent… are all too recognisable… a clever, compassionate story." - Sarah Tanburn, Nation.Cymru
"An unsettling book that works beautifully on many levels... a great adventure story with survival and rebellion at its heart." - The Western Mail
“For readers of Margaret Atwood and Kazuo Ishiguro” - The Bookseller
"Has the vibe of a cult late 70s British sci-fi TV show – one of those clever, bleak, violent ones where you wonder how they slipped it past the higher ups. It explores its fantastical premise thoughtfully – ruminating on the ways in which language can be both a force for liberation and for oppression. Plus there is a charming will-they-won’t-they gay teen love triangle at the centre of it all anchoring its weighty themes." Lloyd Markham, author of Bad Ideas\Chemicals
“A pacey novella which balances big concepts such as ethics, language, propaganda and control with a human story of flight and finding love and trust where you can…” Gwen Davies
“This is a brutal environment, where children who disobey are killed in cold blood… a satire about the brutalities of war… a dystopia about a new religious cult… The Word is a fascinating read." Cathryn Summerhayes, literary agent at Curtis Brown
"I am reminded of Kathy Acker, Huxley and of course Atwood. The best dystopian fiction crisscrosses time and makes us reflect upon our present... Jessica George is a vital new voice in Welsh literature fusing flashes of poetic beauty with naturalistic dialogue set in a futuristic landscape that could be today... could well encapsulate the post truth world we find ourselves in 2021." - Patrick Jones, author of the plays Everything Must Go and Before I Leave
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