The new book of Genesis
The new book Genesis (original title: Genesis ) is a science fiction novel by the New Zealand writer Bernard Beckett . It tells the story of the young Anaximander, who plunges into a dark story and the secrets of her totalitarian world through a lecture about her childhood hero Adam Forde. Topics such as philosophy, society, consciousness and technology are dealt with, as well as the question of whether only humans alone can have a soul and what it actually means to be "human".
The new book Genesis was published in 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in English and in 2009 by Loewe Verlag in German translation. It was translated into German by Christine Gallus. The new book Genesis has been published in 22 countries around the world.
The book has won the Esther Glen Award (2007), the New Zealand Post Book Award for Children and Young Adults (2007) and the Prix Sorcières (2010) , among others . In the press the book was described as an “extraordinary novel for young adults” ( The Guardian ), which “captivates with philosophical, socially critical and almost Nostradamian features” (Booknerds) and overall “is a real pleasure to read” ( Neue Zürcher Zeitung ).
content
The story takes place around 2070 in the "Republic", a completely isolated island in the Pacific Ocean that is sealed off from the outside world. The young Anaximander is about to take the “Akademie” entrance exam. The academy is the highest elite government institution that greatly influences the country and the lives of its residents.
Now it has to prove itself to the commission in a five-hour test. For three years she and her tutor Perikles studied her exam subject: The Life of Adam Forde. This is not only Anaximander's childhood hero, but also the man whose rebellion had shaped the history of the republic.
Due to the ever-growing world powers and the demand for democracy, the 3rd World War broke out in 2050, which only the republic could escape alone. For fear of the plague that has broken out around the world, the republic rejects all troublemakers and foreigners and forcibly prevents them from entering the island. The totalitarian regime of the republic is based on Plato's theory of ideas. According to its philosophy, mankind's uncritical striving for development and change is responsible for the global catastrophe, which is why the prevention of any change and individuality has been elevated to state doctrine.
Adam Forde was a border guard on the republic who, despite the strict ban, one day rescued a strange woman from the sea. After he hid and tended her in a cave, the government learned of the violation and sentenced Adam Forde to life imprisonment. This was locked in together with the robot "Art", an artificial intelligence that learns from interactions with its environment alone and thus continues to program itself.
At first, Adam Forde was very skeptical of Art. In many interactions and discussions, Art tries to convince him that as a robot he has his own consciousness and is a self-thinking being. In their conversations, they particularly discuss what it means to think and exist.
In conversation with the examiners, Anaximander specialized in the dialogues between Adam Forde and Art and argues that Adam Forde saved the strange woman out of compassion. As the exam continues, Anaximander is revealed to the true history of the republic and what role Adam Forde and Art played in it.
In the end, Anaximander and the reviewers learn through a never-before-seen hologram that the artificial intelligence acts of its own free will, with the aim of duplicating itself as often as possible. In this free will, Art not only replicates himself, but also kills Adam Forde. The hologram also reveals that Anaximander, Perikles, as well as the commission auditors are all replicas of Art. The examiners then declare that the academy never accepts candidates. Instead, testing is a government control over the Virus of Art. This virus is found in all Replications of Art and is reflected in a particular interest in Adam Forde. The virus, which Anaximander, Pericles and the examiners also carry, makes it possible to understand the extent of free will.
In the final section, Pericles rushes into the exam room with the intention of gaining control of the virus and breaks Anaximander's neck in an attempt to rid her of the virus.
characters
main characters
Anaximander
Anaximander had been interested in Adam Forde since childhood. For some reason unknown to her, she always felt a certain sympathy for Adam Forde and had the feeling that there is more behind the story than she was aware. She is very ambitious, intelligent and highly motivated to become a member of the academy. She expresses herself consciously and carefully. During the exam, she is as neutral as possible and tries not to reveal her personal opinion.
Adam Forde
In 2058 Adam Forde was born into the philosopher class. At school he stood out for his outstanding achievements, especially in mathematics and logic. He was light blond and handsome, and also very muscular because of his passion for wrestling. After he was warned several times during his training for illegal sexual contact, he was used as a guard on the south coast of the North Island. He always assumes his own superiority and treats others with little respect.
Art
The artificial intelligence Art is a knee-high robot that was created by the philosopher William. As the third version of its kind, it is made of metal, has three fingers, tubes for arms, red hair and the face of an orangutan. Art is very careful to talk to Adam as much as possible, as this allows him to develop further. He is characterized by a very annoying, intrusive, know-it-all and provocative manner that Adam has to struggle with.
Minor characters
Pericles
Perikles is five years older than Anaximander and a tutor at the academy who prepared her for the entrance exam. He has long hair, is handsome, and looks very thoughtful.
Main auditor
Nothing can be said about the character of the main examiner. During the exam, he is neutral and cool, but questions Anaximander's statements in a provocative way.
Literary criticism
The new book Genesis received an overall positive response from the press. ( The Guardian ) praised the "cool and neutral narrative style" (The Guardian). ( Publishers Weekly ) liked the "overwhelming and unexpected ending, which is a welcome change from the family situation" (Publishers Weekly). (Kirkus Reviews) noted that the book was "weighted more with philosophical content than actual plot, with the idea of a ruined world and the role technology plays in the novel being very compelling" (Kirkus Reviews).
Nominations and Awards
| date | Nomination / award |
|---|---|
| 2007 | Esther Glen Award |
| 2007 | New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults |
| 2010 | Prix Sorcières |
Web links
- Reading sample of the original and German versions of the book
- Original language and German language publisher website for the book
- Author's website
Individual evidence
- ↑ Book data , loewe-verlag.de, accessed on May 21, 2019
- ↑ Bernard Beckett Life and Works (January 1, 2017) (accessed April 16, 2019)
- ↑ The Guardian reviews Genesis The Guardian, May 8, 2009 (accessed April 17, 2019)
- ↑ The new book Genesis Review Booknerds, January 10, 2013 (accessed April 17, 2019)
- ↑ Neue Zürcher Zeitung Review The new book Genesis Neue Zürcher Zeitung, February 3, 2010 (accessed April 17, 2019)
- ↑ The Guardian Review on Genesis by Bernard Beckett The Guardian, May 8, 2009 (accessed April 24, 2019)
- ↑ Fiction Book review: Genesis by Bernhard Beckett Publishers Weekly, February 9, 2009 (accessed April 24, 2019)
- ↑ Kirkus Reviews on Bernard Beckett's Genesis Kirkus Reviews, June 24, 2010 (accessed April 24, 2019)