SOLVED. dystopian story where some humans are only herd [s]

[Shaelyn]

I read a sample of two books that were set in a dystopian agricultural future, where some 'humans' are considered as being soulless and are called herd by the other humans. It focused on a young boy, his parents, and younger sister.

I have tried to find it again to no avail. If I am remembering correctly, one of the books had the name Darwin in the title.

Thanks for the help.

[Justanotherbiblophile]

Hmmm, I read a (short?) story like that - was set after the bomb, and there were not many other animals out there - so humans raised meat... Horses were starting to be introduced, and there was war on-going. One kid eventually gets away, and finds some snakes and rabbits, and discovers the true horror of his society....

[Shaelyn]

That sounds right.

[Justanotherbiblophile]

So, the story I've read (which I can't find in my bought-index, but will take a look for later if this sounds right) starts with kid, younger sis, dad and mom leaving the estate, going down-river taking some cattle with them, and going to fair.

Various fair things.

There's a parade with the brand-new mounted troops (and rifles!), led by General who lost out to dad for mom's hand. Buy a few things (nice knife for boy) for the plantation, then head home. The government (based out of FL) is fighting other survivor/government based out of Colorado.

(view spoiler)[
FL government decides to start taxation, and General and his troops come demanding stuff from Dad. Things end badly for Dad and Mom (sis has already been selected to go to the 'blessed island' which has all the amenities, etc - but from which nobody comes back from). After massacre and theft, kid manages to sneak into General's camp and captures and cuts him the hell up for raping and killing his mom and torturing and killing his dad, and then is on the run with rifles (and horses?) he stole from the troopers. He eventually loses the horses, since he barely knows how to ride, and the troopers are better trackers, etc.

He eventually ends up running across some mercs, who're working (kinda) for the CO government, and are harassing / capturing a herd of human-cattle which are being driven up to the front to feed the FL troops.

He then joins a group based in a town which is in the frontier area, where both governments operate. Treachery and betrayal everywhere.

Eventually he's in a CO city, which is overrun by the general who captures him, and tortures him in retribution. He escapes with help of girl gunsmith that he'd met/protected in the frontier-town. They escape as human-cattle (never done! total anathema!) during the siege/crushing of the CO town. He then wanders into the SW, where he eventually meets another guy, and sees the snake and rabbit.

Guy has someone who has escaped the 'blessed isle'. Who has had his tongue cut out? (main difference between cattle and humans is smarts and ability to talk). Turns out that kids selected for the blessed island are just being used to improve the cattle-breed - since that's been failing.
(hide spoiler)]

[Lisa]

Through Darkest America (Isaac Asimov Presents)Through Darkest America Extended VersionDawn's Uncertain Light

[Justanotherbiblophile]

Yup, that's the one I was thinking of. But, I REALLY didn't need to know that there's an extended version :P

[Shaelyn]

Thanks for the help, now I won't have to wrack my brain like I did yesterday.

[Lisa]

Shaelyn wrote: "Thanks for the help, now I won't have to wrack my brain like I did yesterday."
You're welcome. I had the extended version on my want to read list.