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The Man #2
Man: The Slave
In this sequel to Man: The Animal, imagine a world where men exist only as slaves. Their only function is to serve their mistresses however they are instructed. Jamie DeWinter, a kind, open-minded woman adverse to the slavery system, feels compelled to buy the worst category of male in order to save him from government extermination. Then, she faces the worst dilemma of her life.
This second book of the futuristic Man series challenges women to examine their own conscience, given the slavery issue at hand. Norms of subjugation have been established, and naturally the power involved is intoxicating. What would you do if you acquired a male slave that is totally uncooperative? Peter is a virile, handsome specimen that has good reason to hate all women. He is sly and manipulative. Jamie is a well-educated woman, who is accustomed to her writer’s need for solitude. Under the spell of her closest friend’s sadistic attitude toward men, will she find a way to solve her problems with Peter?
This second book of the futuristic Man series challenges women to examine their own conscience, given the slavery issue at hand. Norms of subjugation have been established, and naturally the power involved is intoxicating. What would you do if you acquired a male slave that is totally uncooperative? Peter is a virile, handsome specimen that has good reason to hate all women. He is sly and manipulative. Jamie is a well-educated woman, who is accustomed to her writer’s need for solitude. Under the spell of her closest friend’s sadistic attitude toward men, will she find a way to solve her problems with Peter?
245 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 27, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 17, 2014
I highly recommend reading the first book in this short series, "Man: The Animal," though it isn't necessary in order to enjoy this installment. I was interested to see what effect (if any) the actions of the first couple in two hundred years would have on society... One hundred years after the discovery of men by the general female population, the answer to that is male submission via slavery. I feel these hapless males may have been better off as primates in the dark as they were in the first book... That said, I feel the author challenges us to think in these books and to consider what social mores may prevail under similar circumstances. I suppose if you accept a war between the sexes occurred, and you then accept that women won said war, then the rest is quite believable.
The only other reviewer to devote time to reviewing this book commented that the black color for the worst of the slaves was clichéd as was green for one of the best. I don't agree. I did initially, yes. It seemed offensive to me actually - like an underhanded racial slur perhaps. As I read, however, I realIzed the author chose the colors for the same reason she alternated descriptions of the characters (from man to the black to the slave for example). The clichés and descriptions are placed there to be challenged, examined, undone, and then reestablished correctly. The undesirable, "worthless" black slave (denoting the color of dress, which corresponds to the personality and record of the slave, rather than having ANYTHING to do with race or skin tone) proves to be the most intelligent human of all 4 main characters and the one with the most honor, though that latter quality is tied with the heroine I believe. The "oh so valuable" green slave is pitiable in the beginning. He has been abused severely, and there's a desire to protect him up until the very end. Until the end, I can understand his motivation to do almost anything to spare himself the fate that awaits him should he fail. I don't want to say too much to spoil the plot, however, so I'll leave it by saying he proved to be more capable of control and therefore less helpless than he seemed to be, and what he did with the control is what defined him more than his mistresses or his green status ever did.
This whole thing is a test of character. Both men were treated abominably, but one emerged with honor and the other did not. The woman has always had the most benign of intentions, but is insufferably naïve, which is frustrating. When she finally "wakes up and smells the coffee," however, I can respect her again, and I thought it showed strength of character for her to admit to her own failings and shortsightedness.
The issue of slavery, though quite real in a literal sense both in the past and present, seems to be symbolic for the issue of power and the corrupting effect it has on people. "Absolute power corrupts absolutely" after all... There will always be those in life greater than and lesser than ourselves in terms of power. Most of us answer to someone at work, who, in turn answers to someone else. Abuses can be handed down from one person to the next without fear of reprisal if they're done subtlety enough and if those on the receiving end feel they have too much at stake to fight back. True power comes from choosing not to wield it and from taking the more challenging path of morality when an easier path lined with people presents itself so temptingly. This is a constant truth, and I appreciated the clever method for delivering such a moral message (or parable if you will).
I thought the story was decent on its own too. Not worth all of the stars by itself perhaps, but still decent. Life and death conflicts, a love triangle (of sorts), a sadist in human clothing, and, of course, the classic star-crossed lovers, who find love in a time and place when it is completely unacceptable. It was a quick read, and I was genuinely entertained. At times, I was amused, worried, and frustrated too. Not a short list of emotions for such a "simple" tale.
Whether you read it for the deeper meaning that doesn't require a shovel to unearth (just a little bit of reflection) or for the mostly fluffy, but somewhat emotional story on the surface (or both), I think it's a worthy sequel and/or standalone piece. My only disappointment is that the book didn't indicate the original couple the way I'd hoped it would. There is a "rebel" base off-planet where men and women live as equals, and I'd hoped to catch an inference that Max and Julie from the first book had something to do with that (by way of great-grandchildren perhaps)!! Oh well... Can't have everything I suppose.
COST ISSUE: Again, as with "Man: The Animal," I appreciated this diversion from my normal literary fare. I agree with the other reviewer that $7.99 is too steep a price for this eBook. I say that mostly because it's more than I spend on even the most popular bestsellers. I don't expect these books to get the notoriety I think they deserve with a price so high and advertising so low. I am the only person to have reviewed the other book, and only the third to review this one. Even as the third reviewer here, I am only the second to devote any significant amount of time to the review. I may view some things differently than the other main reviewer, but I'm glad someone else at least took the time to post something substantial about this book. I assume it hasn't had enough readers to incite many reviews, so even a negative review is probably helpful at this point! What I'm getting at here is that I REALLY do agree about the cost. I don't feel I wasted my money, but I do feel the author may end up having wasted her time on this wonderfully thought-provoking book if she doesn't lower that price in order to draw more people in to buy it... IMHO...
The only other reviewer to devote time to reviewing this book commented that the black color for the worst of the slaves was clichéd as was green for one of the best. I don't agree. I did initially, yes. It seemed offensive to me actually - like an underhanded racial slur perhaps. As I read, however, I realIzed the author chose the colors for the same reason she alternated descriptions of the characters (from man to the black to the slave for example). The clichés and descriptions are placed there to be challenged, examined, undone, and then reestablished correctly. The undesirable, "worthless" black slave (denoting the color of dress, which corresponds to the personality and record of the slave, rather than having ANYTHING to do with race or skin tone) proves to be the most intelligent human of all 4 main characters and the one with the most honor, though that latter quality is tied with the heroine I believe. The "oh so valuable" green slave is pitiable in the beginning. He has been abused severely, and there's a desire to protect him up until the very end. Until the end, I can understand his motivation to do almost anything to spare himself the fate that awaits him should he fail. I don't want to say too much to spoil the plot, however, so I'll leave it by saying he proved to be more capable of control and therefore less helpless than he seemed to be, and what he did with the control is what defined him more than his mistresses or his green status ever did.
This whole thing is a test of character. Both men were treated abominably, but one emerged with honor and the other did not. The woman has always had the most benign of intentions, but is insufferably naïve, which is frustrating. When she finally "wakes up and smells the coffee," however, I can respect her again, and I thought it showed strength of character for her to admit to her own failings and shortsightedness.
The issue of slavery, though quite real in a literal sense both in the past and present, seems to be symbolic for the issue of power and the corrupting effect it has on people. "Absolute power corrupts absolutely" after all... There will always be those in life greater than and lesser than ourselves in terms of power. Most of us answer to someone at work, who, in turn answers to someone else. Abuses can be handed down from one person to the next without fear of reprisal if they're done subtlety enough and if those on the receiving end feel they have too much at stake to fight back. True power comes from choosing not to wield it and from taking the more challenging path of morality when an easier path lined with people presents itself so temptingly. This is a constant truth, and I appreciated the clever method for delivering such a moral message (or parable if you will).
I thought the story was decent on its own too. Not worth all of the stars by itself perhaps, but still decent. Life and death conflicts, a love triangle (of sorts), a sadist in human clothing, and, of course, the classic star-crossed lovers, who find love in a time and place when it is completely unacceptable. It was a quick read, and I was genuinely entertained. At times, I was amused, worried, and frustrated too. Not a short list of emotions for such a "simple" tale.
Whether you read it for the deeper meaning that doesn't require a shovel to unearth (just a little bit of reflection) or for the mostly fluffy, but somewhat emotional story on the surface (or both), I think it's a worthy sequel and/or standalone piece. My only disappointment is that the book didn't indicate the original couple the way I'd hoped it would. There is a "rebel" base off-planet where men and women live as equals, and I'd hoped to catch an inference that Max and Julie from the first book had something to do with that (by way of great-grandchildren perhaps)!! Oh well... Can't have everything I suppose.
COST ISSUE: Again, as with "Man: The Animal," I appreciated this diversion from my normal literary fare. I agree with the other reviewer that $7.99 is too steep a price for this eBook. I say that mostly because it's more than I spend on even the most popular bestsellers. I don't expect these books to get the notoriety I think they deserve with a price so high and advertising so low. I am the only person to have reviewed the other book, and only the third to review this one. Even as the third reviewer here, I am only the second to devote any significant amount of time to the review. I may view some things differently than the other main reviewer, but I'm glad someone else at least took the time to post something substantial about this book. I assume it hasn't had enough readers to incite many reviews, so even a negative review is probably helpful at this point! What I'm getting at here is that I REALLY do agree about the cost. I don't feel I wasted my money, but I do feel the author may end up having wasted her time on this wonderfully thought-provoking book if she doesn't lower that price in order to draw more people in to buy it... IMHO...
September 30, 2019
I absolutely love this book! As soon as I started reading I simply couldn’t put it down! I pretty much read it in one day it’s very well written and tons of detail in the book it was like watching a movie. I really hope she writes a 3rd book!
June 14, 2014
My take on the world 200 years after man was reintroduced to society.
June 14, 2014
My Smashwords edition of this e-book
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews