Out of the Roons

by Isobel Raven, Ann Birch (Editor)

On her 75th birthday in July of 3015, Elve receives a letter from the Glorious New World Republic of Asia and the Americas. The government demands, but nicely, that she begin to plan for her Glorious Death which will be solemnized upon her eightieth birthday. Elve decides that she will not do it. Instead, she will devote her remaining years to disseminating her precious books, books which have miraculously survived a thousand years of cultural upheavals, political stupidity, and environmental devastation. Her book project is stillborn when five-year-old Hom comes to live with her. Caring for the boy, teaching him, and protecting him from government authorities consume all her energies. The Statesfield ruins (Hom's "Roons") across the road from Elve's condo are both an icon of peril and a place of sanctuary in the story.

340 pages, Paperback

Published September 5, 2019

Reviews

[Danielle Vuong · Rating 5 out of 5]

I normally read fiction that could be real right now and not fiction that takes place way in the future, but I loved Raven's book of short stories and decided to give this book a try and I am glad I did.

That said, the future imagined in this book is even more terrifying than the reality we are currently experiencing during the coronavirus pandemic, so make sure your mental health is intact before you read this as it is rather terrifying.

There were some characters that were very frustrating as they listened to everything the government was suggesting, even though much of it was extremely unethical. I think Raven may have gotten her inspiration from some current politicians and those who follow them...

The new language was interesting and so was the fact that everything we know now was completely outdated and much of it was banned.

I enjoyed the familiarity of some of the Toronto sites.

An extra chapter set where Hom was Elve's age would have been great.

[Isobel Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I wrote this book, it would be very naughty of me to give it five stars. So I'll just give it four, so as not to change the overall rating. But I do think it's a pretty good read. Several readers have said it would make a wonderful movie. So I think that means that they "see" the settings and action as they read.
Even better will be the sequel, "Weaving the Times" which is still in manuscript form but almost ready to seek a publisher. It takes our protagonist, Hom, on his journey from Tranna and the Roons to an island where power of the oppressive Reepublik uv Azhu and de Amerikez seems to be absent. But not for long.

[Ann Birch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though I don't normally enjoy speculative fiction, I loved Raven's latest book OUT OF THE ROONS. It's set in a world 1000 years from now, and that world offers all the horrors that we can imagine happening in a distant future: a cruel regime, food shortages, climate ruin, and--most of all--fear. But the book's main character, Elve, is a brave old woman who, with the assistance of her friends, her great grandson, and some lively kids, confronts the restrictions of the crazy authoritarian world in which they live. The reader will cheer them on in their fight, and out of the roons of that life, will arise a brave new world. Raven keeps the reader intrigued throughout.

[Barb Nobel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of the Roons kept me interested every page. If you want to be scared silly - not in a BOO way - but in the realization that this could happen in our world, read this book. You may recognize the tactics of dictators past and present. The characters, the heroes, are ordinary people trying to live their best lives in a difficult world, and sometimes succeeding. There is a lot of struggle by ordinary citizens, living in the city we now call Toronto, defying the odds, and their defiance leaves us with hope. This book is a great read.

[Joan Orr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed "Out of the Roons" A great read! I will definitely read it again, for enjoyment. I believe, as I am sure others who have read it would agree, that this story would make an awesome movie! Thank you Isobel Raven, for creating such a captivating and enjoyable novel.
Joan Orr

[Ben Telling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isobel Raven created a sci-fi series that fits in well with it's predecessors, while standing on it's own as a human interest story and thought experiment. If you like what-ifs and dystopian futures this book is for you.