Scythe (Arc of a Scythe, #1)

by Neal Shusterman

When I wrote SCYTHE, I wanted it to be a study of the human condition, and pose important questions about the future of humanity. While an author always hopes that their work gains an audience, I never imagined it would strike such a chord, and become as popular as it has. The book was inspired by two things. First, I wanted to flip the idea of “dystopia” by telling a story about what happens to our world when things go right, instead of wrong. What happens when we manage to succeed in achieving all of our highest goals? Because even our dreams have consequences when they become realities. Secondly, I was grappling with the emotional toll of the deaths of my parents, who passed within three months of each other. With my mother, I was left in the unenviable position of making the choice to turn off the machines that were keeping her alive, and allow her to pass naturally, with dignity. The idea of compassion guiding how we face the end of life infuses the book—particularly in the character of Scythe Faraday. I hope you enjoy Scythe, and the author annotations you’ll find throughout this edition.