2nd Gen Synthetics

by Carmel Ilustrisimo

Neo Manila, 2087. Years have passed since the Synthetic Revolution, and the oldest second generation Synthetics are well into their twenties, having grown up as free individuals on paper. But not everything is well. Naturals still rule the country and the world. For many of them, Synthetics just aren't human enough to live, to feel... and to create.

Meet five young 2nd Gen Synthetics who are determined to change all that - writer Nelson, pop superstar Chris, ballerina, Madelyn, violinist Chloe, and artist, Jonathan. Together, they resolve to overcome a beautiful world that built them to use them, and make beautiful, lasting things from their unheard pain.

153 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2023

Reviews

[Just Villanueva · Rating 4 out of 5]

FIVE FACTOR REVIEW:

1. Premise
Neo Manila, 2087. Years have passed since the Synthetic Revolution and the oldest second generation Synthetics are well into their twenties. But the Naturals still rule the country and still feel Synthetics are not human enough.

The premise gave me a Martial Law Babies meets Blade Runner 2049 vibe, so I was intrigued.
3.5 / 5

2. Prose
Third Person Limited is very well done. No head-hopping unlike a LOT of self-published works these days. The sensory details are very vivid, notably the descriptions of the city, the rain, and the neon lights outside the aircars, buses, and trains as the POV character observes from behind the glass. It gives a very "Blade Runner / Cyberpunk" appeal with a blurred "bokeh" imagery found in photography.
I just needed more sensory input from the other senses to give this factor a perfect score.
4.5 / 5

3. Plot
The story follows five 2nd Gen Synthetics all suffering from some sort of discrimination or abuse, and linking them all together is the memory of a murdered ten-year-old Synthetic named Katherine Hilario. Overall, the structure of the book is unique to me. While it can be considered a short story anthology, the individual stories themselves share a universe and several minor characters do crossover, so at times it feels more like a multi-POV novel, but the book never returns to any previous POV once it's done.

So while the stories can be appreciated by themselves, the whole book needs to be finished to give any justified response. This is because the whole book sort of forms an arc, with the stakes getting higher as we proceed to the next POV. It starts slow with the first three stories, hits a climax with the Jonathan story, then forms a denouement (although still intense) with the Nelson story.

Sadly, some readers might already have tagged this as DNF (Did Not Finish) before they reach Jonathan, since the first three stories, while beautifully written, offers too little stakes.
3 / 5

4. Characters
Below are the POVs from my least liked to my favorite:
1. Chris the Superstar- I just didn't like his story, sorry.
2. Chloe the Violinist- I love the descriptions here, and understand her pain, but her story was just dragged for TOO long.
3. Madelyn the Ballerina- Hers was short and sweet.
4. Nelson the Writer - I love it! The tone, the tension, the social commentary - it wraps up the book satisfyingly while staying relevant to the times.
5. Jonathan the Artist - This story just came out of nowhere. It hit me like, where has this author been hiding all this time? It's THAT good, almost like a different author wrote the last two stories.

4 / 5

5. Worldbuilding
I love how terms like handheld, flatdesk, aircars, and such aren't really explained but you get what they mean via context, in true Philip K. Dick fashion. Neo Manila here is explored beautifully, mostly in the first three stories, which I guess is why they offer little in conflict - they are there to help you immerse in this neon world, so by the time you get to Jonathan and Nelson, it's all about the ugly side of that world.

At least that's how I see it.

If the last two stories are any indication of the quality of Carmel's next book, then count me in!
5 / 5

Total Points = 20
Final Rating = 4 Stars (5 points = 1 star)

[Magic Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 2nd half of this short book was so much better than the first half, it felt like a different authot wrote it. Overall very imaginative and good!

[Gibson Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

What scares me in reading science fiction is that it may be too cerebral. Highly technical terms makes my reading a chore. But in “2nd Gen Synthetics” the five stories does not estrange the readers who are diving in the genre for the first time. Aside from the Synthetics, the level of technology in Illustrisimo’s world is still recognizable in the modern times—it’s too ahead for the Philippines, but not as flashy as the cyberpunk movies.

The book established that Synthetics (or we can wash them down to robots that are sentient and have human emotions) live among us. In fact, the stories take place after a revolution for Synthetic’s equality with Naturals (natural-born humans), meaning prejudice and discrimination have not died down completely. And the book details this kind of life for Synthetics like Madelyn, Chris, Chloe, Jonathan and Nelson.

It is worth noting that all the main characters per story are artists. Art is humanizing, and it’s a great tool for Synthetics to show their capability to feel emotions, passion, and life. On top of that, the characters are flawed, in character, in physical appearance, despite seen by Naturals as “programmed.” Despite each story had different POVs, these were interrelated, and it’s amazing how a side character, Katherine Hilario, whether directly or tangentially, lurked in the narratives. After all, she was a representation of all Synthetics in a world that was still partial to Naturals.

The author’s prose is tight, less of romanticization, and that maintains the bleakness of the book. I have to say that the stories were arranged from less serious (but not funny) to more severe tone. It’s a slow-burn depiction of reality, so close to the current world you would forget this was a science fiction.

[The Pacific Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maihahalintulad ko ang aking paglalakbay sa mga kwentong nakapaloob sa “2nd Gen Synthetics” ni Carmel Ilustrisimo sa isang batang paslit na walang muwang sa mundong ibabaw. Baguhan pa kasi ako sa ganitong klase ng genre at naninibago pa sa makabagong mundo. Pinag aaralan ko pang humakbang upang mas makapaglakbay pa sa ibang mga akdang may kinalaman sa ganitong paksa. Natatakot kasi akong bumasa ng may kinalaman sa “Science Fiction” ngunit pinatunayan ng akda na wala akong dapat ikatakot dahil ginabayan ako nito upang makilala ang sistema ng kanyang mundo-upang mas mapalawak pa ang aking imahinasyon habang binabasa ko ang akdang ito.

Ang buong pag aakala ko’y isa itong nobela ngunit nagkamali ako. Lupon pala ito ng maikling kwentong tumatalakay sa mga suliraning kinakaharap ng mga synthetics sa Neo Manila. Isang napakalakas at napakatapang na kwento ang “The Long Way Home” upang simulan ang akda. Sa unang pahina pa lamang ay ipinamalas na agad sa atin ang kaba, takot, pangamba, at galit sa hindi makataong sistemang naghahari dito. Sa una ay kalmado pa lamang ang lahat hanggang sa ginulat tayo sa hindi makataong pagtrato sa mga synthetics. Sinundan ito ng “The Reunion” na nagbigay ng ibang klase ng istorya. Ipinakita rito na hindi nagkakalayo ang puso at kaluluwa ng synthetics sa naturals. Pareho silang kayang magmahal at magsakripisyo para isalba ang mga importanteng tao sa buhay nila. Pareho silang kayang manindigan, at lumaban para sa pagmamahal na pinanghahawakan nila. Sinundan naman ito ng ikatlong kwento na “Electric Youth” na nagpapakita ng kaibahan ng nabubuhay sa pagiging buhay lamang. Ipinakita rin dito ang tapang at pag asa upang kaharapin ang anumang hamon ng buhay maging ang kamatayan. Sinundan naman ito ng ikaapat na kwento na “Her Last Drawing” at naniniwala ako na ito ang puso at kaluluwa ng buong akda. Buong-buo ang mga emosyon, ang mensaheng gustong ihayag ng kwento. Ika nga nila, “Walang tulak kabigin!” at lalong walang tapon! Ramdam na ramdam ko ang bawat sakit, ang bawat pait na pumiga sa aking puso. Ito ang pinakanagustuhan ko sa lahat ng mga kwento at ito ang kwentong tunay na nagpaluha sa akin. Ang huli at ikalimang kwento naman na “Imperfect Lives” ang hindi ko masyadong nagustuhan. Hindi dahil sa pangit ang pagkakasulat kung hindi dahil hindi ito ang kwentong inaasahan kong tatapos sa akdang ito. Ang karakter kasi ni Katherine Hilario ang halos nagdudugtong sa mga karakter sa kwento kung kaya’t inaasahan ko na itutuon ang mga natitirang pahina upang bigyan ng hustisya ang kanyang kwento. Gayunpaman pinakita sa “Imperfect Lives” ang pag asa na hindi mananakaw nino man.

Nang mabasa ko ang unang kwento, ang nasabi ko na lamang ay, “Isa pa!”, sa pangalawang kwento? “Isa pa!”, sa pangatlo, pang apat? Ganoon rin at sa pang lima? “Bitin! Kailangan ko pa ng isa!” Para bang isa akong musmos na nakatikim ng kendi sa unang pagkakataon. Ninamnam ang bawat salita at ang bawat aral na dala ngunit kahit ganoon, hindi parin sapat. Kailangan ko pa ng isa! Ang kendi dito ay hindi matamis bagkus mapait, kasing pait ng mga nararanasan ng ilan sa atin sa ating lipunan dahil gaya rin ang ilan sa atin ng mga tauhan sa akda; inaabuso, o di kaya’y nang aabuso sa mga naiiba, inaapakan, o di kaya’y nang aapak sa mga walang laban, at nasasaktan o di kaya’y nagdudulot ng sakit sa kapwa. Hindi ko alam kung may mas mabigat pang rason sa likod ng akdang ito ngunit tila ba sinasalamin nito ang problemang kinakaharap ng ating mundo. Nakakabahala at nakakatakot man ay sana’y hindi mawala sa atin ang pag-asa sa bawat bagong bukas na ating kinakaharap. Maaari tayo laging mag umpisa, ang mahalaga’y sa sarili dapat natin ito magsimula.

Nais kong balikan ang katanungan sa libro, maaari nga bang ituring na totoong tao ang mga synthetics? Kung ako ang inyong tatanungin, maituturing ko na tao ang mga synthetics na nangangailangan ng respeto at pagkilala dahil may mga damdamin silang kayang maghayag ng nadarama, isip na marunong ipaglaban ang tama, at pusong marunong magmahal.