On p. 245 of the novel _Horizons_, Ahni Huang declares: "The only way to keep them safe is to be separate. A nation with the power to protect its own." Do you agree with her? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary "Horizon" refers to the line where the earth seems to meet the sky. Also, the word can be used to describe the range of perception or experience of a person. The book written by Mary Rosenblum relies heavily on the limited horizons people can have when they enter the conversation on a simple "us" vs "them" mentality.
The story introduces the reader into a complicated world set in the distant future. In this post-apocalyptic world the earth is divided into states that participate as members of a central forum called the World Council while orbiting platforms act as colonies. The Council is where all the decisions about the Earth and the orbiting platforms are made, enforced by the Council Security Forces (CSF). It is important to mention the little say members of the orbiting colonies have over the matters disputed on the World Council. The story revolves around Ahni Huang, member of the Huang family (although she is actually daughter of a Zhen), and Dane Nilsson, who lives in NYUp and seeks independence from Earth. Other secondary characters such as Koi (the evolved kid), Laif, Li Zhen and Noah support the main characters on their quest to unravel complex political intrigues and ultimately gain peaceful independence for the orbiting colony. A radical group named Gaiists attempts to cause an open conflict between Earth and the platform by dropping a massive rock on the World Council Island. These environmentalist group desires a clean Earth and to stop the "stealing" of resources by the Upsiders. In addition, Ahni's Mother crafts a carefully planned web of levers to regain power from her husband, further complicating the political intrigues. In the end, NYUp gains independence through peaceful means while keeping trade and tourism between Upsiders and Downsiders alive. The direct context involving the quote said by Ahni on page 245 takes us back to the beginning, when she meets Dane for the first time. There she is surprised by the weirdness of the genetically manipulated boy named Koi. Later, Dane explains to her that he is not a "creature" made in some lab, but a result of low-gravity and evolution. Back to page 245, Ahni is talking with Li Zhen, after Aliya has already been killed, in order to get him to join her. Li Zhen also has a son who has evolved due to the low-gravity conditions, and is afraid his son will be seen as a monster and killed by the CSF. This leaves Li Zhen with no other option than to join Dane, Laif and Ahni in their movement for independence. The most important "us" vs "them" conflict is present between the opinion of Upsiders and Downsiders with regards to the evolved humans. On page 44 Dane tells Koi that Downsiders are afraid of him because he is different. He also mentions that while Upsiders will get used to weird humans, Downsiders would never accept them. This statement is confirmed later on when Aliya is killed by CSF forces and the media is not made aware of it. Judging from history, colonizers are not open-minded when they encounter "different" humans. Instead, they regard them as "creatures" and either subjigate them or eliminate them. Before his trail Dane feels the same when he thinks of the "millennia of xenophobia and genocide" that weighed on Earth. Downsiders lacked the ability to realize that the evolved kids were still human despite their differences in language and appearance. This behavior resonates with Todorov's interpretation of the Spaniards reaction to the Indigenous populations. There is a tendency of "Othering" the different to the point were it is no longer human. These is what happened back in the Conquest, and its the exact same phenomenon described by Rosenblum. Therefore, I agree with Ahni's statement that the only way to keep the evolved safe was by forming the sovereign platform of New York Up. Even though it is not part of my answer, I do want to make an honorable mention to Rosenblum's inclusion of "Fake News" and mainstream social-media (named Con in the book). Con, used to spread false information on Laif among other political intrigues, greatly resembles modern-day interaction between politics and media. This book was written in 2006, when Twitter was just beginning and concepts such as "fake news" where not as colloquially used as today. So, I find it amazing that the author was able to elaborate a political world that is still relevant twelve years later. Also, I think that speaks not only about the author, but to the unchanging, common themes of world politics and domestic affairs.
6 Comments
Halle
12/5/2018 06:08:58 pm
Hi Alonso,
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Alonso Pliego
12/10/2018 02:02:57 am
I appreciate you taking the time to read my post!
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12/6/2018 09:41:24 am
The concepts in this book are so similar to Truth About Awiti. Evolved humans are considered the other and the book explores how they can fit into society without having to assimilate, while others see them as failed experiements who need to be exterminated. What interests me is the plot elements that are so similar to our current world. The World Council, is much like the UN, and the Gaiists, are a terrorist organization hat could easily have sway in world affairs. These institutions drive a lot of the events in the book. This also reminded me of District 9, because sci-fi as a genre seems futuristic and fictional until you realize how closely it mirrors our own world.
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Alonso Pliego
12/10/2018 02:05:15 am
I can definitely see the similarities to real-life drawn upon by the author. In a way they make sense, considering that there is no work of science fiction that is influenced by the real world. District 9, Star Wars, Star Trek, they all contain very clear elements of the real world politics in them. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment my post!
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Corwin Dark
12/9/2018 06:03:19 pm
Alonso,
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Alonso Pliego
12/10/2018 02:02:23 am
I totally agree with your position. While I personally do not consider total segregation a solution, I tried to put myself in the shoes of the characters of the book. If in order to prevent killings, and eventual genocides, of the 'evolved" it is necessary to implement total segregation, so be it. In the end, while multiculturalism on paper sounds great, the preservation of life and peace was the goal in the context of this book.
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AlonsoI'm from Mexico City. I love cooking and eating Mexican food. Archives
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