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The Awakening Water
After the devastation of 1997, 13-year-old Watford Nine John accidentally breaks out of the regimen, imposed by the Party with the surreptitious use of drugs, and decides not to return.
Hardcover
First published October 1, 1977
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 25, 2015
Thirteen year old Watford Nine John knows no other life than his House, where he lives and works, in placid ponderous labour with all the other residents. But a chance encounter one day with one of the Lost Ones changes his life. His escape to freedom becomes just the first step in unravelling the secrets of the Houses and the reason why everyone is being drugged.
Written under the pseudonym of GR Kesteven this dystopia is typical of my reading way back in the 80s when I was a teenager. I was fortunate enough to find a copy of this one, but I'm still searching for the lost titles of many others. If only I'd kept a list!
Written under the pseudonym of GR Kesteven this dystopia is typical of my reading way back in the 80s when I was a teenager. I was fortunate enough to find a copy of this one, but I'm still searching for the lost titles of many others. If only I'd kept a list!
November 2, 2014
I read this one at junior school when I was about 10. It left quite an impression. A dystopian future where the population is routinely drugged to keep them docile, till one boy tastes pure water and begins to unravel what's going on and why. I'd love to read it again.
January 25, 2020
I read this as a 12 year old in 1989 and I can't stop thinking about it now.
The dystopian future outlined in the book has become a reality in my eyes, water in many parts of the world has chemicals added by governments which are clearly affecting people and dumbing them down.
I recently started using a water distiller as I have been suffering from an enlarged spleen, after cutting out all vitamins and other supplements while changing my diet the symptom improved but did not disappear. Once I started to distill my water within days I was back to normal and resuming supplementation. The amount of deposits in the undistilled water left in the chamber is so great that it doesn't settle after hours and you cannot see through the glass.
Bottled water appears to have roughly a 3rd of whatever contaminants are in standard UK tap water.
For the past 3 years people have struggled to perform basic maneuvers while driving, the standards on the roads have become so bad that I no longer ride a motorcycle or bicycle and I always have the lights on my car turned on. They can't even stay on their side of the road on a straight with no bumps or obstacles and the emails I receive in the office at work would have been embarrassing for me to have composed as a 12 year old let alone an adult.
Something is happening to people on a large scale and it is not good!!
Outrage at climate change while regularly flying and running their kids around in gas guzzling SUV's is the norm. Logical, critical thinking is a thing of the past.
We have governments that want congratulations for increasing their deficits by smaller amounts when they should be paying the debt off!! This is an unsustainable clown world!
Things are going to get ugly, luckily I haven't lived the past 40 years with my eyes closed and have been preparing for what is coming down the pipe.
Had the world not began to descend to hell the past few years this book would have been consigned to the shelf and forgotten, now I can't help thinking this author knew something and put it out there.
The dystopian future outlined in the book has become a reality in my eyes, water in many parts of the world has chemicals added by governments which are clearly affecting people and dumbing them down.
I recently started using a water distiller as I have been suffering from an enlarged spleen, after cutting out all vitamins and other supplements while changing my diet the symptom improved but did not disappear. Once I started to distill my water within days I was back to normal and resuming supplementation. The amount of deposits in the undistilled water left in the chamber is so great that it doesn't settle after hours and you cannot see through the glass.
Bottled water appears to have roughly a 3rd of whatever contaminants are in standard UK tap water.
For the past 3 years people have struggled to perform basic maneuvers while driving, the standards on the roads have become so bad that I no longer ride a motorcycle or bicycle and I always have the lights on my car turned on. They can't even stay on their side of the road on a straight with no bumps or obstacles and the emails I receive in the office at work would have been embarrassing for me to have composed as a 12 year old let alone an adult.
Something is happening to people on a large scale and it is not good!!
Outrage at climate change while regularly flying and running their kids around in gas guzzling SUV's is the norm. Logical, critical thinking is a thing of the past.
We have governments that want congratulations for increasing their deficits by smaller amounts when they should be paying the debt off!! This is an unsustainable clown world!
Things are going to get ugly, luckily I haven't lived the past 40 years with my eyes closed and have been preparing for what is coming down the pipe.
Had the world not began to descend to hell the past few years this book would have been consigned to the shelf and forgotten, now I can't help thinking this author knew something and put it out there.
January 18, 2025
This book is very special to me, so my review may be a little biased.
In elementary school, during the 1980s, my librarian (who was someone very influential in my life and that I admired) recommended this book to me when I felt like I outgrew a lot of the books in the school library.
It was my first introduction to dystopian novels. This book became one of the favorite novels of my childhood.
Written in the 70s, it is no longer in circulation. But I was able to find an old copy at a used online book store. It was so interesting to finally read it through an adult lens.
It seems a little simplistic to me now compared to dystopian novels of the current era. Yet this is still a very, interesting, well told story. It was also written during a time when dystopian novels were not as commonplace for youth as they are today. It was really thought-provoking to me as a child. The story stayed with me all this time, and I was surprised at how much of the story I remembered when re-reading.
This book really gave me a passion for these types of novels. I am really thankful for Mr. Geise recommending this book to me all those years ago.
In elementary school, during the 1980s, my librarian (who was someone very influential in my life and that I admired) recommended this book to me when I felt like I outgrew a lot of the books in the school library.
It was my first introduction to dystopian novels. This book became one of the favorite novels of my childhood.
Written in the 70s, it is no longer in circulation. But I was able to find an old copy at a used online book store. It was so interesting to finally read it through an adult lens.
It seems a little simplistic to me now compared to dystopian novels of the current era. Yet this is still a very, interesting, well told story. It was also written during a time when dystopian novels were not as commonplace for youth as they are today. It was really thought-provoking to me as a child. The story stayed with me all this time, and I was surprised at how much of the story I remembered when re-reading.
This book really gave me a passion for these types of novels. I am really thankful for Mr. Geise recommending this book to me all those years ago.
August 11, 2018
I first read this book when I was in upper primary, and it intrigued me. It was probably my first experience of science fiction, and definitely my introduction to dystopian novels. When I caught sight of a copy of this book at a second-hand sale I just had to grab it - not because I was dying to read it again, but simply that it was a strong childhood memory. Indeed, the book has been sitting on my bookshelf for about 20 years, untouched, and I suddenly decided that now was the time to read it again. I found it a fast-moving, interesting read, and it relentlessly pulled me along. No, it will never be classed as a children's classic, but it is worth the read nevertheless. I thought the ending, which I had completely forgotten, was quite clever, and as I read I found myself, like Janet and John, coming to a slow realisation of what had really been happening all along, sharing in their surprise and wonder.
(If possible I would have given the book 3 1/2 stars, and have opted for 3 as I feel it is definitely not good enough for 4.)
(If possible I would have given the book 3 1/2 stars, and have opted for 3 as I feel it is definitely not good enough for 4.)
March 18, 2023
When we were children, our mum used to take us off to choose a summer reading book to take on holiday with us (and a bumper comic, of course!) and this was one of my choices. I loved it so much - I still have my original copy and re-read it from time to time.
Much as I hate the 'set in a dystopian future...' tag, it is and it is a really great piece of writing. Aimed at the YA audience, I think it is still relevant and accessible to an adult audience.
The theme is a familiar one now, a mysterious event has taken place in an unknown time which means children seem to be living and working in communes, under the influence of some mind numbing substance.
So follows the awakening of Watford 9 John...
Much as I hate the 'set in a dystopian future...' tag, it is and it is a really great piece of writing. Aimed at the YA audience, I think it is still relevant and accessible to an adult audience.
The theme is a familiar one now, a mysterious event has taken place in an unknown time which means children seem to be living and working in communes, under the influence of some mind numbing substance.
So follows the awakening of Watford 9 John...
December 12, 2022
Like most reviewers here I read this as a teenager in the early 1980s and it profoundly affected me for some reason. I managed to track down an affordable copy and re-read it. I think I enjoyed it almost as much as the first time. The writing is beautiful, the drama tense, and the story intriguing. I was mesmerised by this world of The Lost Ones and their genuine fears of recapture. I maintain my belief that this is one of the great dystopian YA novels, a forgotten classic. I was saddened to read the author died in 1990 - I would love to tell him how much I enjoyed this book.
November 18, 2016
I read this as a 11 year old kid - think I imprinted on the genre as a result! first time I'd seen any thing like this -back in 1981 there were not nearly as many YA dystopian books to choose from as there are now. still interesting given how long ago it was written, but compared to many current books it's a little simplistic. file next to "girl who owned a city".
December 12, 2012
Read when I was about 12. One of my all time faves. Dystopian, Kids in charge of their own destiny. Fantastic escapism.
January 17, 2015
Quite good. Not as good as other dystopianish books I've read, but then, it was written in the 90's
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews