Anax thinks she knows history. Her grueling all-day Examination has just begun, and if she passes, she’ll be admitted into the Academy—...
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reviews
Feb 08, 2012
Lyndsey
rated it: 
Kindle edition is on sale for about $5 HERE!!
This is what I call an "experience" book.
You may not find yourself inside the world like in an "escapism" story, instead you feel as if your viewing it from the outside. It's intent is to help you reflect upon and experience your own life, not necessarily that of the characters. Another more well-known example of this type of book would be 1984.
You breath on your own instead of with the characters. Yo More...
This is what I call an "experience" book.
You may not find yourself inside the world like in an "escapism" story, instead you feel as if your viewing it from the outside. It's intent is to help you reflect upon and experience your own life, not necessarily that of the characters. Another more well-known example of this type of book would be 1984.
You breath on your own instead of with the characters. Yo More...
49 comments
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(69 people liked it)
May 19, 2011
Stephen
rated it:
5.0 stars. Okay folks, this is a must read alert. I was expecting this to be decent but I was blown away by how excellent it turned out to be. Focused, powerful and imaginative. This one is a keeper.
As many others have said (but it is certainly worth repeating) this should not be considered a YA novel. Yes, the protagonist is a teenage girl, but that is the only YA connection to this story. This has much more in common with 1984 than Harry Potter.
This is a More...
34 comments
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(57 people liked it)
Jan 10, 2012
Regina
rated it: 
Dystopia is the new cool kid on the block of young adult genre literature. Readers of this genre are familiar with the storylines and themes: teenagers struggling to survive in a scary society that sets kids against each other for entertainment; a creepy society sets kids against each other in order to determine the characters' roles and jobs in the world; the collapse of society by disease, zombies, or natural disaster and the survival during the anarchy of the collapsed society. Genesis is
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7 comments
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(19 people liked it)
Mar 29, 2011
Jillian -always aspiring-
rated it:
The founders of The Republic sought to deny the individual, and in doing so they ignored a simple truth.
The only thing binding individuals is ideas. Ideas mutate, and spread; they change their hosts as much as their hosts change them.
Ideas. Thought. Choice. Meaning. Humanity claims to have a monopoly on all these things, but is that really true? What, at the core, makes any individual human? And, even if that element can be narrowed down and captured, can it be rep More...
The only thing binding individuals is ideas. Ideas mutate, and spread; they change their hosts as much as their hosts change them.
Ideas. Thought. Choice. Meaning. Humanity claims to have a monopoly on all these things, but is that really true? What, at the core, makes any individual human? And, even if that element can be narrowed down and captured, can it be rep More...
10 comments
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(22 people liked it)
Jul 20, 2011
Emily
rated it:
EDIT: Read again and loved it even more, upping my rating to 4 stars.
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Old Review
Ok, so 3.5 stars actually. Maybe 4 but I've decided to be picky.
I was greatly torn as to my opinion on this book, it's a very confusing and weird read at times and not even remotely what I expected when I read the description.
The novel consis More...
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Old Review
Ok, so 3.5 stars actually. Maybe 4 but I've decided to be picky.
I was greatly torn as to my opinion on this book, it's a very confusing and weird read at times and not even remotely what I expected when I read the description.
The novel consis More...
5 comments
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(14 people liked it)
Mar 24, 2011
Tatiana
rated it:
I agree with my fellow Goodreader, Genesis has no business being marketed as a YA dystopia. It should have been published by Subterranean Press or Night Shade along with Ted Chiang's and Paolo Bacigalupi's works to find its most welcoming audience.
The setting of the novel is indeed dystopian and the main character is a teen, but other than that Genesis has little to do with YA dystopian genre. It is a novel of ideas, philosophical even. Its main focus is the genesis of consciousness More...
The setting of the novel is indeed dystopian and the main character is a teen, but other than that Genesis has little to do with YA dystopian genre. It is a novel of ideas, philosophical even. Its main focus is the genesis of consciousness More...
16 comments
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(29 people liked it)
Apr 21, 2009
Amy
rated it:
This is the best post-apocalyptic novel I've read since The Road. I started reading it the moment it arrived in my mailbox and was not able to put it down until I'd finished it. It's an intensely cerebral and philosophical read for a young adult novel. And just when I thought I'd discovered the secret of the book, I was completely caught off-guard by the true secret.
A girl named Anax has been given the chance to take a 4-hour oral exam to interview for entrance into The Academy. The More...
A girl named Anax has been given the chance to take a 4-hour oral exam to interview for entrance into The Academy. The More...
2 comments
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(12 people liked it)
May 03, 2011
Stephanie
rated it:
I don't even know how to begin reviewing this book. I fear that anything I describe about the book has the potential to ruin it for anyone reading this reviews. And to do that would be a huge disservice to this book. Because believe me when I say it was truly remarkable.
There are three things I believe I am safe to say. (1) The main character's name is Anax. (2) The book is basically her interview with a panel for acceptance into The Academy. (3) It is a dystopian type book. (4) I More...
There are three things I believe I am safe to say. (1) The main character's name is Anax. (2) The book is basically her interview with a panel for acceptance into The Academy. (3) It is a dystopian type book. (4) I More...
4 comments
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(17 people liked it)
Jun 23, 2011
Katya
rated it:
This is one of those books that I can never make my mind up for. Do I like it or do I not? Does it deserve three stars or four? And in the end, does it even matter?
I finished this book one or two years ago, so the little details are a little foggy, but from the lasting impressions I got from it, I would say that it definitely sent me into the Zone for a while. No, I didn't have any great epiphanies about the meaning of Life (that topic is on permanent hiatus) or our Society (we'll be More...
I finished this book one or two years ago, so the little details are a little foggy, but from the lasting impressions I got from it, I would say that it definitely sent me into the Zone for a while. No, I didn't have any great epiphanies about the meaning of Life (that topic is on permanent hiatus) or our Society (we'll be More...
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(2 people liked it)
Jan 10, 2012
Nely
rated it:
Anaximander, with the help of a tutor, has been studying in order to take the four-hour exam she must pass in order to become a member of The Academy. This book is mostly a transcript to her oral exam before a three judge panel.
I found Mr. Beckett's writing style unique as the whole story is told mostly through Anax's interview with The Academy elders and through several flashbacks. Through this interview we learn what has become of the world after wars and a deadly plague have ravag More...
I found Mr. Beckett's writing style unique as the whole story is told mostly through Anax's interview with The Academy elders and through several flashbacks. Through this interview we learn what has become of the world after wars and a deadly plague have ravag More...
0 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Feb 02, 2012
Meghan
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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0 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Dec 23, 2011
Sparrow
rated it: 
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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4 comments
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(8 people liked it)
Apr 24, 2011
TheDuchess
rated it:
SOS PLEASE! SOMEONE HELP ME! ITS NOT HEALTHY, I HAVE BEEN READING CRAP. BUT THEN I FOUND THIS BOOK.
Dystopia lovers this is a must. Its told strangely but it is awesome. Just wish they didnt charge me the price of a novel since this is a novella though.
Going to read this very slowly because I dont want to finish it.
Dystopia lovers this is a must. Its told strangely but it is awesome. Just wish they didnt charge me the price of a novel since this is a novella though.
Going to read this very slowly because I dont want to finish it.
8 comments
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(3 people liked it)
Mar 24, 2011
oliviasbooks
rated it:
I can't breathe. Reading "Genesis" has been an absolutely shocking experience. It is a good book, designed to make its reader think, wonder and freeze. I only distribute four and five stars, when I thoroughly enjoyed reading a book. "Genesis" did not entertain me at all, but it fulfilled its purpose.
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(2 people liked it)
Oct 07, 2010
This is a one-of-a-kind gem I can't recommend highly enough. Imagine an isolated island preserved from world plague by its remote location. Now imagine the inhabitants creating a community based on Plato's Republic. Whatever you expect this book will be, it will surprise you.
2 comments
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(4 people liked it)
Feb 07, 2009
Alissa
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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(4 people liked it)
Jan 21, 2012
♥ Sarah ♥
rated it:
This is the third time I'm trying to write this review. Not for lack of things to say, but for fear of 1) giving away too much and ruining this book for other people, and 2) not doing the book justice. In this version of my review I hope to not do either of those things. One review I read after reading the book said it perfectly. Basically this is a book that is best to go into as blindly as possible. If you know too much about it before going into it, it could potentially ruin the book for you.
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4 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Apr 02, 2011
Jex
rated it:
Anaximander has spent countless hours preparing for the test that may change her life. If she performs well, then she will enter the Academy, the most prestigious institution in her society. Through her examination, the story of Adam Forde unfolds showing exactly what happened to create this post-apocalyptic world that they now live in.
This book was much more than I thought it would be. In the beginning, I was put off by the setting of a test panel as I thought that the book would n More...
This book was much more than I thought it would be. In the beginning, I was put off by the setting of a test panel as I thought that the book would n More...
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(1 person liked it)
Sep 11, 2011
Anna
rated it: 
Anex has awaited this day for the last three years. She has studied and toiled with her tutor in order to even ge qualified for this interview. The interview in which only a handful of prestigious students can get, and even fewer can pass. The interview for the Academy. The Academy, the people who make all the decisions and govern the people. The Academy can do no wrong.
When Anex goes in, her only weapon will be her knowledge. Her knowledge of Adam Forde. Even a kindergartner knows t More...
When Anex goes in, her only weapon will be her knowledge. Her knowledge of Adam Forde. Even a kindergartner knows t More...
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(1 person liked it)
Sep 05, 2009
Sarah
rated it:
First of all, let me just say how excited I was to read this book. The book description sounded so interesting and right up my alley. Was I ever wrong- this book completely disappointed.
The book description (a post-apocalyptic, plague ridden world, an elite Academy who interviews young applicants to maintain a crime-free society) is simple fodder for a short book that is simply packed with philosophical debate about consciousness and individuality.
As the main character More...
The book description (a post-apocalyptic, plague ridden world, an elite Academy who interviews young applicants to maintain a crime-free society) is simple fodder for a short book that is simply packed with philosophical debate about consciousness and individuality.
As the main character More...
2 comments
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(10 people liked it)
Jul 24, 2011
Marcia
rated it:
This is a futuristic story of a student in the far future examines the life of an historical rebel (a man). She begins her tale standing before a panel of scholars. She discusses an interchange between a man and an android regarding the qualities that make one human. The man is imprisoned awaiting his punishment (speculated to be death). He is visited by an android who compares the worth and value of a human to an android. Dialogue is strained from the beginning but both "individuals"
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(1 person liked it)
Oct 25, 2011
"Estamos ante una obra extraña y difícil de catalogar. Una historia minimalista, con pocos personajes y una estructura aparentemente sencilla: una estudiante llamada Anaximandro se enfrenta al tribunal examinador de la prestigiosa Academia para valorar su ingreso en la misma. A lo largo de cinco horas, durante las cuales ella expondrá diferentes argumentos (desde hechos del pasado hasta las razones de su ingreso), el lector irá conociendo más detalles sobre la sociedad aparentemente perfect
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Feb 06, 2012
Suz
rated it:
So there's been a huge run on dystopian (young adult) stuff for the last few years. As a huge fan of dystopian works, I'm both thrilled (at the push for my favorite sub-genre) and disappointed (at how many of them suck). This book is not only awesome, but manages awesome in just 150 pages.
It's written in a different format than most books, as a history lesson as the main character is being tested. Young Anax wants to earn entry into the Academy, which is some sort of think-tank p More...
It's written in a different format than most books, as a history lesson as the main character is being tested. Young Anax wants to earn entry into the Academy, which is some sort of think-tank p More...
Jan 04, 2012
Jennie
rated it:
I was surprised that I liked this book this much. I saw someone review it on LiveJournal and put it on my To-Read list, grabbing it while I was at the library today. I was initially skeptical due to its length, but I figured something about it must have caught my eye if I had added it to my TRL.
There is a lot of symbolism in this book, from the names of the characters (of which there are only a handful), to the setting and even the characters themselves. This book was a mix betwee More...
There is a lot of symbolism in this book, from the names of the characters (of which there are only a handful), to the setting and even the characters themselves. This book was a mix betwee More...
Nov 07, 2011
Paradoxical
rated it:
I am uncertain as to how I really feel about this book. Make no mistake, I found this book rather good, but at the same time it veered wildly off from what (little) I was expecting. It's heavy on philosophical thought and discussion, and other readers may find the format, as well as the book itself, rather dry. As a basic summary, Anaximander is undertaking an intensive interview for The Academy--a place any would long to belong to, that influences and helps shape the Republic where Anax lives.
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Oct 30, 2011
Elf
rated it:
If you're looking for a detailed exposition of the state-of-the-art in thinking about manufactured conscious entities, and a way to explain it to a bright, nerdy 13-year-old, Genesis is the perfect book for that task. The setting is in a society of the far future; crime and disease and all the rest have been conquered, we are told, after the fall of The Last Republic. There are very few intellectuals, however, and those that exist are encouraged to try for entrance into The Academy, where the
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Jul 20, 2011
Candace
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
May 31, 2011
Nicola
rated it:
Reason for Reading: I love dystopian literature and will read pretty much anything I can get my hands on as long as it sounds interesting to me.
The year is 2075, an island society lives behind a Great Sea Fence and is modeled after Plato's Republic. The society is Utopian to all those within, but watching over society very carefully is The Academy where the Original Sin has been concealed very carefully from this Brave New World.
Written in a unique format, we meet Anaximander More...
The year is 2075, an island society lives behind a Great Sea Fence and is modeled after Plato's Republic. The society is Utopian to all those within, but watching over society very carefully is The Academy where the Original Sin has been concealed very carefully from this Brave New World.
Written in a unique format, we meet Anaximander More...
May 20, 2011
Larissa
rated it:
In 2075 one girls survival triggered events that were to change the course of history. But it is not the girl that history remembers, it is Adam Forde, the boy who defied society to save her. But there is more to this event then the famous actions of one afternoon in 2075, of the one life taken and another saved, it is the consequences of those actions and the choices made afterwards that have had the greatest impact on the world and on the future.
Anaximander has spent the last three y More...
Anaximander has spent the last three y More...
May 14, 2011
Rachel
rated it:
I'm rounding up to four stars because I think this book would have blown my tiny mind as a teenager. As it is, I've read most of his source material -- philosophy, evolutionary biology -- so none of the ideas here were actually NEW to me. The book structure was new, and I was surprised (sorry, it's the kind of book where you can spoil it just by breathing). He made a readable story out of what could have been very dry material.
I'm tempted to bust out the anecdote about the day I argued More...
I'm tempted to bust out the anecdote about the day I argued More...
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