I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Ferryman by Justin CroninPublished by Doubleday Canada on May 2, 2023
Genres: Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Fiction, Science Fiction, Suspense, Thrillers
Pages: 500
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: Netgalley
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Passage comes a riveting standalone novel about a group of survivors on a hidden island utopia--where the truth isn't what it seems.
Founded by a mysterious genius, the archipelago of Prospera lies hidden from the horrors of a deteriorating outside world. In this island paradise, Prospera's lucky citizens enjoy long, fulfilling lives until the monitors embedded in their forearms, meant to measure their physical health and psychological well-being, fall below 10 percent. Then they retire themselves, embarking on a ferry ride to the island known as the Nursery, where their failing bodies are renewed, their memories are wiped clean, and they are readied to restart life afresh.
Proctor Bennett, of the Department of Social Contracts, has a satisfying career as a ferryman, gently shepherding people through the retirement process--and, when necessary, enforcing it. But all is not well with Proctor. For one thing, he's been dreaming--which is supposed to be impossible in Prospera. For another, his monitor percentage has begun to drop alarmingly fast. And then comes the day he is summoned to retire his own father, who gives him a disturbing and cryptic message before being wrestled onto the ferry.
Meanwhile, something is stirring. The support staff, ordinary men and women who provide the labor to keep Prospera running, have begun to question their place in the social order. Unrest is building, and there are rumors spreading of a resistance group--known as Arrivalists--who may be fomenting revolution.
Soon Proctor finds himself questioning everything he once believed, entangled with a much bigger cause than he realized--and on a desperate mission to uncover the truth.
This review is going to be super unfair of me, because I didn’t finish this book. I didn’t even get close to finishing this book. I would normally never do this, except considering the success of The Passage, I think the author can probably handle my uncharitable opinion, if he were to ever even run across it (which is doubtful).
This book gave me the sense that the author had something Really Important to Say about something. You can tell this just by the voice and tone of the book, right from the beginning. The landscape of the island and how it works is painted in excruciating and beautifully rendered detail.
The book begins with a Mysterious Death. Why would someone want to throw themselves in the ocean tied to an anchor from a small boat when everyone on their island is effectively immortal? We don’t know. What we do know is that once someone has lived out their “life” on the island, they are sent to a Mysterious Place where they are effectively recycled and sent forth to live another life.
How does this happen? Why does this happen? How long has this been going on? Sorry, but I can’t answer those questions. I’m sure they’re in the book, but again… I didn’t finish it. Much like The Passage, this book is epically large. Comically large. Brandon Sanderson large. Honestly, the only reason why I got through The Passage at all was because I had it on audio book and had nothing better to do at work then. That was a beautifully written story that could have made a wonderful 90 minute movie (and maybe it did? I have no idea) and would have saved me 40 hours of my life.
Let me be utterly honest: this concept is unique and intriguing, but the mechanics of reading this book is a grueling slog that made me want to read something, anything else. On the other hand, I desperately want to know how the story ends. It’s a conundrum, and something that isn’t unique to this author for me, but does appear to be a theme.
At some point, on that mythical Someday when I have read everything else on my list and have nothing better to do, I might return to this story and try again. Until then, someone please come and spoil the ending for me.
The Ferryman by Justin Cronin is available today if you’d like to read it and disagree with me on the internet.
