I Town

by Timothy Koch

Shevi and Jackson are sixteen and live at opposite ends of a rapidly expanding social rift in a place where body weight determines social status and success. I Town produces electricity, not with steam or water or wind but with the renewable resource of human effort, people walking on treadwheels. Body weight is a vital commodity. Shevi is a big girl betrothed into one of the largest Ironclad families in I Town. Jackson is a skinny kid, a diminutive or Dim, whose only hope other than scavenge a living from crime is peddling heavy old novels to the wheel walkers. Both have good reason to ignore the attraction they feel for one another. But the attraction is there and it grows stronger each time they meet, threatening everyone from Shevi’s future in-laws to Mr. Myrtle, a little man determined to champion the status quo by keeping Dims in their place.

297 pages, ebook

First published January 16, 2014

About the author

Timothy Koch was born in Little Rock. He grew up in north central Arkansas where he got his first library card from the Independence County Library in Batesville and became a lover of books immediately. Although he didn't finish high school, he did manage to get a GED and graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Architecture with honors. After college he stayed in Fayetteville where he writes and does architectural drafting. He enjoys running, cooking, and playing cards and board games with his wife and three children.

Reviews

[Jeffrey Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting twist on the real world's obsession with weight and body size. In a futuristic society, electricity is generated using massive treadwheels. The wheels are so big that thousands of people can walk in them at the same time. Since heavier people contribute more to the overall effort, this has created a society in which heavy people are the elites and scrawny people are the underclass. As things go, a boy and a girl from opposite ends of the social spectrum fall in love, and this provides the general thrust of the story. Though the "Romeo and Juliet" style romance is a common theme in fiction, it's told in a refreshing way that I enjoyed.

Yes, as someone mentioned, there is quite a bit of information about the society to process in the early chapters of the book, but you do get to meet one of the main characters right away and get a sense of the ongoing tensions. In fact, I rather enjoyed the immediate danger presented by the opening scene. I would say definitely stick with it. It is worth the read for sure.

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book did a lot of telling and not showing. There was no chemistry between the two main characters; however, the author kept insisting they had this deep connection. I just didn't get that through the story. I was bored for most of the book.
Also, not sure what the deal was with the vegetable propaganda. I get why they were being pushed on people but the way they were talked about, made me think Timothy Koch secretly works for a vegetable producer. It was a bit much.

[Kevin McClain · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the very first book since I read Enders Game many years ago that made me feel that urge to keep reading. I read the entire book in no time at all. It is engaging, well written and the story was very deep!

[Shaun Thornhill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Koch weaves a story that keeps the pages turning. Giving hints to the past made me want to explore this world, to discover what happened and how it came to be this way. I always enjoy a good vs. evil theme, and I Town fulfills my expectations. Mr. Koch generates real sympathy for the protagonists. I knew I was hooked when I put myself into the story and when the pages were closed, I thought about how I would operate in this society. I also liked the first chapter of the sequel at the end. I am ready to get the next one!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was a whole different take on a dystopian type of world. This was really thought out. From the very first page I was drawn in to the book and did not want to put it down, I thought about it at work and could not wait to get home and have a few moments to indulge. I am not going to tell you about the book because you can read the description and see what it has to offer. I am just going to say that it is worth checking out.

[Rebecca · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF, couldn't get into it. Too much information to process at the beginning of the book. I want to be invested in the book before I get so much information thrown at me. It isn't compelling if I don't care about the characters yet. This was also a little too sci-fi for my taste.