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Extras (Uglies #4)

3.59 of 5 stars 3.59 · rating details · 50,177 ratings · 3,549 reviews

Extras, the final book in the Uglies series, is set a couple of years after the “mind-rain,” a few earth-shattering months in which the whole world woke up. The cure has spread from city to city, and the pretty regime that kept humanity in a state of bubbleheadedness has ended. Boundless human creativity, new technologies, and old dangers have been unleashed upon the world...more

Paperback, Reprint Edition, 416 pages

Published May 3rd 2011 by Simon Pulse (first published October 2nd 2007)

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Feb 18, 2012 Emma rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Extras is the fourth book in Scott Westerfeld's critically acclaimed, New York Times bestselling series (originally it was a trilogy). The first three books Uglies, Pretties, and Specials follow Tally Youngblood, a fifteen-year-old girl living in a futuristic world so dominated by plastic surgery that anyone who looks normal is ugly. Extras is set three years after the events of the trilogy unfold, in a different city, with different main characters. The trilogy, however, sets the framework for...more Extras is the fourth book in Scott Westerfeld's critically acclaimed, New York Times bestselling series (originally it was a trilogy). The first three books Uglies, Pretties, and Specials follow Tally Youngblood, a fifteen-year-old girl living in a futuristic world so dominated by plastic surgery that anyone who looks normal is ugly. Extras is set three years after the events of the trilogy unfold, in a different city, with different main characters. The trilogy, however, sets the framework for everything that happens in Extras so while the book is great on its own it definitely assumes you know the story of the trilogy.

In this new world, where everything is changing, being pretty isn't enough to get by. Now it's fame that matters. The more famous you are, the higher your face rank is. A higher rank means more currency in a world where celebrity is everything.

Everyone is trying to get more attention somehow: "tech-heads" are obsessed with gadgets, "surge monkeys" are hooked on the newest trends in plastic surgery, and "kickers" use feeds (think blogs but techier and cooler because it's a Westerfeld idea) to spread the word on all the gossip and trends worth mentioning. But staying famous is a lot easier than getting famous. Just ask Aya Fuse. Fifteen-year-old Aya has had her own feed for a year, but her rank is still 451,369--so low that she's a definite nobody, someone her city calls an extra.

Aya has a plan to up her rank though. All she needs is a really big story to kick. Aya finds the perfect story when she meets the Sly Girls, a clique pulling crazy tricks in utter obscurity. As Aya follows her story she realizes it's much bigger than one clique: maybe the biggest story since Tally Youngblood changed everything.

Some sequels that bring in all new characters are annoying. Not this one. All of the "new" characters are original and, equally important, likable. The story is also utterly original covering very different territory than the rest of the series. It doesn't pick up right where the trilogy left off, but a lot of questions are answered by the end of this book.

Like the other books in the series, this one moves fast. The story has a lot of action and several twists and surprises (some old characters even turn up). The plot is never overly-confusing though. Westerfeld does a great job of creating (and explaining) the futuristic world he has created in these pages so that it truly comes to life on the page.

At the same time, Extras is a very timely book. In a world where everyone seems to have some kind of website and is trying to be more popular or more famous, it's fascinating to read about a city where everything literally depends on your reputation. Westerfeld raises a lot of interesting questions as Aya deals with the ethics of kicking her new story and tries to decide if honesty really is more important than fame.(less)

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Jan 01, 2008 Abby rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sf, teen, dystopia

Like the other books in the Uglies trilogy, Extras is fun and a very fast read. I read this book in about 2 and 1/2 hours, pretty much non-stop.

However, Extras raised the same prickly issues for me that the other books in the series did. My years as a student steeped in cultural studies and gender theory make it pretty much impossible for me to read works of popular fiction without subjecting them to critical analysis, and Westerfeld's books certainly lend themselves to this sort of critique. E...more Like the other books in the Uglies trilogy, Extras is fun and a very fast read. I read this book in about 2 and 1/2 hours, pretty much non-stop.

However, Extras raised the same prickly issues for me that the other books in the series did. My years as a student steeped in cultural studies and gender theory make it pretty much impossible for me to read works of popular fiction without subjecting them to critical analysis, and Westerfeld's books certainly lend themselves to this sort of critique. Especially if you are like me.

Like most dystopian science fiction, Westerfeld's books cast a critical eye on disturbing aspects of our present-day society -- obsession with looks, fame, etc -- by taking those aspects to extremes and weaving them into the very fabric of the future society. In Uglies & Pretties, everyone is "cured" of ugliness through a mandatory operation that takes place when individuals turn 16. In Extras, people earn money, respect, and privilege through the "reputation-based" economy, which rewards those who can make a name for themselves by publicizing and popularizing their thoughts, exploits, etc through the "feeds" (read: Internet). (If you think this is an interesting idea, you might want to check out Cory Doctorow's book "Down & Out in the Magic Kingdom" which explores the same conceit but with more skill and humor). In all of these books, the main (female) character desperately wants to be pretty, special, popular, famous or whatever, but ends up questioning the values of her society when she meets outsiders who don't subscribe to those norms.

The problem I have with Westerfeld's books is that these critiques, which are intriguing and thought-provoking, don't actually go far enough. Although the main character openly questions and in some cases initially resists the societal mandate to become pretty, special, famous, etc, she ALWAYS eventually ends up becoming pretty or famous even if it is against her will. Unlike all the other unenlightened pretty or famous folks who have never questioned their society's structure, however, she is well-aware of the pitfalls. She is now in fact doubly privileged -- as a pretty/special/famous person she has all the privileges that go along with being high-status in her society, AND she also has a sophisticated understanding of the "dark side" of her society that others can't see, through ignorance or fear or whatever other blinders they have on.

So although Westerfeld is clearly trying to show the reader how screwed up the dystopian society's norms (and by implication our own) are, in the end, he simply reinforces them. In Westerfeld's world, you can be hip to the ways in which our society's obsession with looks and celebrity oppress others and rail against the system, but you can still benefit from them at the same time. There's no sacrifice to make. And I guess that's why, as much as I enjoy Westerfeld's books, I can't help thinking that ultimately they're as shallow as the cultural norms they purport to critique. (less)

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Feb 19, 2012 Bridget rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, audio-books

I can't believe that I am finished with this series. (What to start on next, hmmm.)

This was my least favorite of the series. I really liked it for the first half. I liked Aya Fuse (cool name) and her brother, Hiro, and his friend, Ren. I liked the whole premise of popularity and fame being a commodity for living.

I can't believe that I am saying this, but I didn't really like Tally in this book! Once, she came on the scene, I thought the writing became very sloppy. The whole second half of the st...more

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Feb 07, 2009 Paige [eastIndies.] rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own

Honestly, this book was kind of a disappointment. I liked how it was all accumulated around the Japanese society, but other than that, I was expecting much more of this book. In my opinion, Aya is a very whiny, self-absorbed suck up. I don't like the way Scott Westerfeld portrays Tally in this either because he renders her as a know-it-all b word, to say the least. Which, I don't think Tally has ever been. Her character is not put to justice in this book.

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Mar 02, 2009 Christina rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really struggled to finish this book, and I thought it was significantly worse than the others in the series. A lot of the dialogue was agonizingly stilted. The characters actually said things like "Not good!" and "uh, oh!" to react to approaching falling objects and other imminent bumps-on-the-head. AAAAAARGH. Those lines drive me crazy enough in movies. I was horrified to find them in a book.
At one point, characters from two different countries meet and have some communication difficulties....more

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May 02, 2008 Izlinda rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: utopian-dystopian, teen-angst-growing-up, science-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Set in the same "Uglies" universe as the previous three books, but set three years after Tally caused the "mind-rain" (when bubbleheads were given the choice to have their lesions repaired so they weren't empty-mindedly happy), this book takes place in Japan.

Aya Fuse's city decides to award resources to people based on their reputation/fame. This is done by everybody being given their own feed (Internet) once of age and their own hovercam. The more often someone's feed is watched, or name is men...more Set in the same "Uglies" universe as the previous three books, but set three years after Tally caused the "mind-rain" (when bubbleheads were given the choice to have their lesions repaired so they weren't empty-mindedly happy), this book takes place in Japan.

Aya Fuse's city decides to award resources to people based on their reputation/fame. This is done by everybody being given their own feed (Internet) once of age and their own hovercam. The more often someone's feed is watched, or name is mentioned, the higher their rank, and the more luxuries they are allowed. For example, the higher rank you have, the more luxurious your house can be, or clothes given to you. This is called "face." People can also gain "merits" by doing good deeds, like finish homework on time, working hard, volunteering to babysit, etc.

Aya is pretty desperate to raise her rank so when she finds a secret clique of girls who do tricks with their hoverboards (such as riding the mag-lev train), she decides to join them and secretly spy on them so she can "kick" their story. This leads to a discovery of hidden steel cylinders in a mountain which starts this avalanche of events that inevitably brings in Tally Youngblood and her group of Cutters.

I admire the premise, but I do wish Westerfeld had gone more in depth about the type of fame-obsessed, notice-me society Aya lives in and the negative impact of it. While he does a good job of how relationships can be screwed due to the difference of ranks (called "difference of ambition" in her world, which is a reason people can break up their relationships, much like our "irreconcilable differences") or make things awkward, it doesn't go much further than that.

Also, I found it a little eye-rolling that the heroine does attain a very very high rank in the end, after all, which kind of deflates the purpose of the book, or a purpose. This purpose being a look at the impact of such a society. I mean, seriously, it's like Aya rolls out through perfectly, despite the lies and hardships on the way. And she does "truth-slant" a lot. It doesn't seem like there's enough of a difference shown in her personality by the end of the book, so while she does understand truth-slanting to get ahead for something as shallow and frivolous as fame, she doesn't seem to fully get it.

Tally's inclusion in the book as a peripheral character is an interesting difference from the past three books (two I've read). She seemed harsher and more violent seen from a third-person's viewpoint than when we're inside her head and see her struggles to rewire herself. Kind of brings into mind how we view ourselves is sometimes completely different from how others view us.

Overall a good book, but not really one I would recommend buying, but only checking out.(less)

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Apr 19, 2013 Kat (Le Pauvre Cœur) rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: stupid-heroine

Ugh. Finally done.

This is how this book made me feel;

description

because it was such a disappointment.

and maybe a bit of this;

description

because it was so boring.

and also;

description

because...well, it fucking sucked.

I've noticed that I've been rating these 'Uglies' books in a pattern:

Uglies: 5 Stars
Pretties: 4 Stars
Specials: 3 Stars
Extras: 2 Stars

Too bad they don't have a fifth one. If that had sucked as bad as this one, I would have loved to give that a one star, then the pattern would be complete.

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Dec 11, 2011 ★ Jess rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, read-in-2011, 2-stars-average

I would give this 2.5
It was no where near as good as Uglies-though it was just as enjoyable as 'Specials'.
If you're a fan of the original three books, I strongly recommend reading this one as well!
If you thought the first three were just so-so, then give this one a miss.

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Jan 30, 2009 Kelly rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: worst-books, ya-sci-fi

You know this book started out okay but it quickly went down hill. I was actually annoyed to see Tally in this one and her attitude. I mean this book was not about her so I don't understand why she HAD to be in it. I didn't like how she was portrayed at all. I also quickly got annoyed at Aya.

The Uglies series was my first exposure to Westerfeld and though I really liked Uglies and liked Pretties and pretty much liked Specials I gotta say i'm noticing a pattern with his characters. They all want...more

11 likes · like · see review

Jan 05, 2010 Violet rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction

COUNT AS TWO BOOKS!The one reason Aya Fuse lives is for the hope of becoming famous.So does every other person in Japan's future.People do anything they can to have a story of there's recognized.Aya follows a group of teens to make a video that will give her the glitz and glamour of the celebrity life, who are unlike the majority of the population in several ways.During this time she discovers something more important than her story.
At the beginning of this story, the very little actions the c...more

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Sep 26, 2008 Christina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, science-fiction, 2008-reads

Finishing a series always makes me feel like I'm losing a friend. I've spent a good week or so reading these four books, absorbed in the pages and the characters and their lives, and now I just feel lonely.

Extras is set a few years after the huge finale of Specials, or the "mind-rain" as they now call it. It's also a bunch of new characters (although Tally, Shay, David and Fausto make a reappearance which I'm extremely happy about!), a new city, and a spanking new economy known as the "reputati...more

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Dec 13, 2007 Caryn rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: youngreaderandteen, scifi

There is an interesting arc to my appreciation of Extras.

I wasn't so sure at first. The girl on the front is obviously not Tally Youngblood, and so I was rather nervous about starting a Westerfeld book that wasn't about Tally Youngblood. But start it I did, and for the first half or so I was in young adult fiction bliss.

Extras does it all right when it comes to futuristic fiction with a bit of a social commentary. Insert Aya Fuse, a fifteen-year-old in post-mind-rain (see Specials) Japan, where...more

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Oct 09, 2007 Joe rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of the Uglies trilogy

This is a bit of a return to form for Westerfield, as compared to the last book in the series. Not that I think any of them is bad, but I liked Pretties a little less than Uglies, and Specials a little less than Pretties. I'm happy to say that Extras is the best book in the series since Uglies.

It definitely helps that Tally is not the main character here, and that the setting has moved from California to Japan. The protagonist is a 15 year old Japanese girl named Aya, living in an unnamed city i...more

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May 28, 2008 Trin rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi, ya, american-lit

The fourth, surprise volume in the Uglies no-longer-a-trilogy. I liked this way more than Specials, the last book in the series (which I actually kind of hated). This novel doesn't center around Tally, the protagonist of the previous three books, but around a new character, Aya Fuse, who's growing up in a post-Pretties world. The Important Teen Topic Westerfeld is tackling this time is fame, not beauty, as following Tally's act of liberation, the world has evolved into one where wealth and soc...more The fourth, surprise volume in the Uglies no-longer-a-trilogy. I liked this way more than Specials, the last book in the series (which I actually kind of hated). This novel doesn't center around Tally, the protagonist of the previous three books, but around a new character, Aya Fuse, who's growing up in a post-Pretties world. The Important Teen Topic Westerfeld is tackling this time is fame, not beauty, as following Tally's act of liberation, the world has evolved into one where wealth and social merit are derived purely from notoriety. In other words, Paris Hilton would still be in our faces all the time, dammit.

Like a lot of Westerfeld's work, this book is the most enjoyable if you don't think about it too much. There's a fun, exciting action plot to be had here, but the whole world kind of falls apart if you ponder it for more than five seconds. How is it that Aya's city—which is clearly not the same one as Tally's, as much is made of the language barrier later—was set up in exactly the same way as Tally's? Especially when Uglies made each community seem so wonderfully isolated? And I really don't see the logic of the post-Pretty world, as it's left at the end of Specials, evolving so soon into the world Aya introduces us to. And—but no. Let's go back to nothing thinking about this too hard, okay?

Well, first: I also have to say that I find the idea of all these teenage characters—Aya is fifteen—doing and accomplishing all of this stuff on their own vaguely ridiculous, which officially makes me too old for these books. (Part of my brain can't stop thinking, Where are their PARENTS?) But, uh. If you set all that aside, this really is a fun book! Really! And it provides a slightly more upbeat ending for Tally and David, which I really appreciate. So if you like the other books in this series—or even just the first one—this is a worthy addition. I'm much, much happier having this, instead of Specials, as my final impression of the Uglies world and these characters, and that's worth a lot, I think.(less)

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Nov 14, 2007 Erin added it · review of another edition

I just finished this and while I didn't like it as much as Uglies (the best in the series) it was better than Specials. I think one of the things I liked the most about it was that it was set in Japan and the characters didn't speak English and they talked about the differences between the cities. It's been awhile since I've read the others but I kinda got the impression from those that the whole world was the same. I liked that there were still some of the Rusty countries. Speaking of that, whe...more

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Dec 29, 2008 Darbus rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 10, 2008 Hope rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

An entertaining afterthought to the Uglies trilogy, full of Westerfeld's trademark mid-air action sequences, with no small amount of social commentary layered into it. However, it's currently my least favorite of the series. I wonder if it is because Tally Youngblood is a more likeable protaganist than Aya Fuse, or maybe just because of the three book structure of the initial trilogy leaves more room for suspense-building (wider story arc?). Either way, a fun return to this totally bubbly world....more

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Mar 03, 2009 Tammy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I originally gave this book a five-star-rating because it's part of the Uglies series which I think is amazing. However, comparing it to other books I've rated that high, I decided to bump it to a four, which is more accurate to my initial response.
Why do I like it so much? Well, it's a well-written story, of course, but I really appreciate the way Westerfeld takes an excess or obsession of our society and exaggerates it. In this case he plays with the desire for fame and popularity. The "eyes...more

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Feb 27, 2009 Debbie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: eyes, dystopias

First off this isn’t really a 4th book in the Uglies trilogy although Tally and a couple other Cutters do make an appearance. Aya is the main character and the story focuses on her ambition to kick a story that will make her famous and boost her rank. It’s actually kind of sad that once the bubblehead surgery was stopped how some humans reverted back to allocating resources based on how famous a person is. Aya is especially feeling the pressure once her older brother, Hiro, becomes one of the mo...more

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Feb 20, 2009 Sam rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya

It has been three years since Tally Youngblood brought about the mind rain and ended the practice of surgery that turned humans into mindless "bubbleheads" incapable of fighting or really thinking for themselves. Aya Fuse is a 15 year old ugly living in a city whose inhabitants will do anything to raise their "face rank", a listing that shows who is the most popular in the city and confers upon them special benefits befitting the famous. In an effort to get out of the ranks of unnamed extras, Ay...more

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Jan 12, 2009 Jenni rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, sf

Enjoyed this, as I have the other books in the series. It's one of those trilogies-turned-longer things, but not badly self-indulgent with it; the choice of a different narrator and a new set of challenges helps. It zips along really well, and has some real depth to it too; the earlier books brought in questions of free will and self-determination, and this one tackles the Facebook-type culture of vapid self-promotion squarely.

Mind you, the thing I was particularly interested in was the fact tha...more

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Nov 29, 2008 Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It's a few years after rebel Tally Youngblood took down the uglies/pretties/specials regime. Without those strict roles and rules, the world is in a complete cultural renaissance.

"Tech-heads" flaunt their latest gadgets, "kickers" spread gossip and trends, and "surge monkeys" are hooked on extreme plastic surgery. And it's all monitored on a bazillion different cameras. The world is like a gigantic game of American Idol. Whoever is getting the most buzz gets the most votes. Popularity rules.

As...more

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Jun 10, 2013 Andrea rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I barely made it through this book... And then only for the principle of reading the whole series. This book should NOT have been published as far as I'm concerned. The 3rd book ended poorly and this one was just so disappointing.
Starting this book was disorienting! Context clues revealed it was a Japanese city but it irked me that I had to use them to figure out setting. And again, he did not describe a setting very well other than giving the smell of surroundings. In a fully created world I N...more

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May 29, 2013 Dominique rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I wasn't too impressed with this book, although I loved the idea behind it: Not exactly a fourth in the series, and yet incorporating the trilogy that preceded it. That being said, there were a few parts I loved, and others...not so much.

I loved that we saw a glimpse of the person Tally has become, although I would have liked to read more about her mental reaction to the blossoming relationship between Aya and Frizz, rather than a distant comment about someone that she used to know.

The technol...more

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May 29, 2013 Peter Meredith rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Despite that Extras was written for an audience of teenage girls I rather enjoyed it. It was a quick, easy read that kept me interested as it moved splendidly along...until we came nigh of its conclusion and then the floor sort of just dropped out of the story.
*Here there be spoilers*
The story revolves around Aya Fuse, who at the tender age of fifteen is desperate for attention--fame being the only way to become rich in the city of the future's "Reputation Economy."
You heard that right.
I know...more

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May 03, 2013 Kenzie Jordann rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-and-futuristic, science-fiction, action-packed

The "Uglies" series have been a great success since their release, and I absolutely adore them; however, "Extras" is the exception. "Extras" is set a few years after the reign of Tally Youngblood, and Westerfeld introduces a new character as the lead. Aya, a 15 year old girl, is a whiny, annoying, superficial, backstabber who's obsession with fame is troubling. However, this futuristic society uses a ranking system in place of currency; the more famous you are the more wealthy you are (not too f...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Akira rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Extra disappointing.
Did you love the young adult science fiction novels written by Scott Westerfeld called Uglies, Pretties, and Specials that followed a heroine called Tally Youngblood? Well then you probably won't want to read this fourth book in the Uglies series.
One thing that bothered me in this book was the certain phrases the characters would say when they were talking such as "bubbly-making". Also, the nicknames they called each other like "Tally-wa" and "Aya-chan" annoyed me. What disa...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Lauren rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. It was defintley a good decision to step away from Tally and look at the aftermath of her actions in this book, but we just don't have as long to bond with Aya (I had to google her name, make of that what you will). Westerfeld's interest in modern digital culture really comes out to play here, even more so than in So Yesterday, and he has celebrity meet the youtube vlogger. Which makes a kind of sense. On the whole, the majority of this book is, fine. But in comparison to the addicting story up...more

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Jan 02, 2013 Gayle rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The fourth book in this series was a fun ride, tying all the threads in the trilogy into its own new weave. The new main character, Aya, was believable and engaging. This series is serie-ously top shelf. I would have taken off a half-star for some flagging momentum after our heros met the jungle, but have no problem rounding up the star for my sheer admiration at a well-imagined and well-wrought worldscape and exciting and meaningful story lines. Thought-provoking, the themes of a merit-based so...more The fourth book in this series was a fun ride, tying all the threads in the trilogy into its own new weave. The new main character, Aya, was believable and engaging. This series is serie-ously top shelf. I would have taken off a half-star for some flagging momentum after our heros met the jungle, but have no problem rounding up the star for my sheer admiration at a well-imagined and well-wrought worldscape and exciting and meaningful story lines. Thought-provoking, the themes of a merit-based social construct, a fame-ocracy/face-ocracy inspiring a population to rise to do its best for the overall good, and the setting with its modern (familiar technological/social habits) resonances was perfect.

I especially loved the concept of "rewiring," Tally's insistence to do for herself what surg could have wrought or wreaked: aren't we all trying to rewire, in so many aspects, things we don't want from our upbringings, experiences, cultural conditionings, traumas, etc? Tally in this novel was a bit distant (I'm fully appreciating that she has to be somewhat more in background)--I sense a lot of editing there, maybe, or just major surfing over what was so significant in previous novels: her relationship with David & co., but we're given enough to fill in our own blanks. I wonder how hard it was for the author to keep Tally restrained rather than have her take over the novel?

I fully appreciated how Tally's flaw, planted in the third volume, came back with her in full battle in Extras. That made for some nice tension.

I was a little annoyed the author had to spell out the final connotation of "Extra," since that was obvious to me from the first 'sighting,' along with the other meanings, but this is a YA novel, after all, and better to spell some things out than have them blow past your audience. That's minor!

All good books change me in some way, causing me to think more about some things, see the world and people through a slightly shifted lens: Westerfelds' novels are right up there in accomplishing this. And it's been a really fun and entertaining trip, a vicarious thrill through all sorts of adventures I would never have the guts to come close to doing in real life.(less)

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Dec 24, 2012 Julie rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: finished-because-i-d-committed

The things that annoyed me in Specials got even worse in this one. Basically, people in this future world all value the "environment" over human life.

*Spoilers Ahead*

The hypocrisy drove me crazy! So the Extras secretly steal all the steel from the Earth so they can blast into orbit & live up THERE but still on the Earth's resources (um, how is that helping the Earth?)? Yet, don't the cities that exist on Earth need that steel? Oh, it's to keep them from expanding--so let me get this straigh...more The things that annoyed me in Specials got even worse in this one. Basically, people in this future world all value the "environment" over human life.

*Spoilers Ahead*

The hypocrisy drove me crazy! So the Extras secretly steal all the steel from the Earth so they can blast into orbit & live up THERE but still on the Earth's resources (um, how is that helping the Earth?)? Yet, don't the cities that exist on Earth need that steel? Oh, it's to keep them from expanding--so let me get this straight, you either have to become an alien & live in orbit to survive or live in a city that's falling into poverty & all kinds of problems because it's growing but doesn't have enough steel to keep up. So, what's next, ultrasounds to scan brain waves to keep alive only the smartest (or prettiest or most famous) babies? Gee, that makes perfect sense & has no ethical implications whatsoever. The people were nowhere NEAR getting close to hurting the Earth or being overpopulated (& frankly--we're nowhere NEAR being overpopulated NOW--sensationalize much, author?). Why now? Then, they think that going into orbit will keep people from war? How does that work? It's human NATURE that causes war. In fact, the cities on Earth might just start attacking each other for THEIR STEEL!

& the whole thing about face rank--don't even get me started--I understand what Westerfeld was doing there--the futility of chasing fame is a good lesson for teens to learn. BUT--then Aya gets everything she ever wanted and becomes famous & nothing changes about the shallow face-rank culture! I also got annoyed at how "ugly" people still aren't valued as much even though the "prettytime" is over. So, really, no one learned ANYTHING?

I had to force myself to finish this book. I won't go on about the bland character of Aya or the unrealistic love story with Frizz or the character assassination of Tally--others have done that pretty well. All I can say is, woe to Westerfeld's kids if they throw a soda can in the regular trash.(less)

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Who is a better main character?	27	71	6 hours, 34 min ago
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Aya Fuse or Tally Youngblood?	68	203	Jun 14, 2013 08:06pm
Why is this in the uglies trilogy	15	93	Apr 09, 2013 09:23pm
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The Page Turners: * Extras	2	6	Feb 03, 2013 07:19am
The Last Book...: Extras	3	6	Aug 25, 2012 12:30am

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About Scott Westerfeld

Scott Westerfeld is a New York Times bestselling American-born author of YA sci-fi literature. He was born in the Texas and now lives in Sydney and New York City. In 2001, Westerfeld married fellow author Justine Larbalestier.
His book Evolution's Darling was a New York Times Notable Book, and won a Special Citation for the 2000 Philip K. Dick Award. So Yesterday won a Victorian Premier's Award and...more

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Quotes from Extras

“You see, freedom has a way of destroying things.” — 1,016 people liked it

“Let me get this stright, Aya-Chan. You want me, a person who can't lie, to lie about the fact that I can't lie?"
-Frizz mizuno” — 126 people liked it

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Extras (Uglies #4)

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