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Vera works for the Department of Information where her job is to research verifiable claims, not necessarily truthful, that can be part of a two-minute news blurb for the public. She is finding that her work and her life feel hollow. Still, she knows she needs to be careful about what she might search on her implanted internet chip because everything is recorded, and if a person strays too far from reality television programs and product endorsements, one might be given an early upgrade.
However, things change when Vera meets Chase. He seems to know ways around the system and places one can go to be off the grid for a few hours at a time. They begin a physical relationship, and Vera begins searching for more ways to beat the system. She even begins looking into an extremist Luddite group, eventually getting her hand on an inflammatory book. Also, she learns she is pregnant. Vera begins to wonder if there is a way she and Chase can escape, but Big Mother is always watching.
The author’s novel is a linear reimagining of George Orwell’s dystopian classic, 1984. Cressman reshapes that novel into a vision that is more nuanced with today’s world and the influence of brand significance, social media, and reality television. Although this is Cressman’s first fiction title, his writing is crisp and clear, and he does a solid job of moving the narrative forward at a steady pace. Readers unfamiliar with Orwell’s classic will likely find this book particularly engaging, while fans of the original may be interested in seeing a different take on the classic. This book should easily capture the attention of readers who love seeing how what seems normal and everyday can easily transform into a terrifying and recognizable future.