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We See Everything
Alan ist passionierter Gamer. Sein Talent im Computerspielen hat ihm den Job seiner Träume eingebracht: Auf einer Militärbasis an einem geheimen Ort wird er als Drohnenpilot ausgebildet.
Lex lebt im Streifen – im übervölkerten, von Bomben zerstörten und abgeriegelten Außenbezirk Londons. An die wachsamen, feindlichen Drohnen, die in der Luft über ihm sirren, hat Lex sich längst gewöhnt ...
Diese beiden jungen Männer werden sich nie treffen, doch ihre Leben werden sich auf dramatische Weise kreuzen: Weil Alan gerade ein hochrangiges Ziel zum Abschuss zugewiesen wurde. Für Alan ist es #K622. Doch für Lex ist es sein Vater ...
Lex lebt im Streifen – im übervölkerten, von Bomben zerstörten und abgeriegelten Außenbezirk Londons. An die wachsamen, feindlichen Drohnen, die in der Luft über ihm sirren, hat Lex sich längst gewöhnt ...
Diese beiden jungen Männer werden sich nie treffen, doch ihre Leben werden sich auf dramatische Weise kreuzen: Weil Alan gerade ein hochrangiges Ziel zum Abschuss zugewiesen wurde. Für Alan ist es #K622. Doch für Lex ist es sein Vater ...
257 pages, Paperback
First published September 21, 2017
14 people are currently reading
523 people want to read
About the author
William Sutcliffe
48 books108 followersWilliam Sutcliffe was born in 1971 in London. He is the author of eight novels, New Boy, Are You Experienced?, The Love Hexagon, Bad Influence, Whatever Makes You Happy, The Wall, Concentr8 and We See Everything, which have been translated into twenty-six languages.
The Wall was shortlisted for the 2014 CILIP Carnegie Medal. Are You Experienced? has been reissued on the prestigious Penguin Essentials list.
He has also written a series of books for children: Circus of Thieves and the Raffle of Doom, Circus of Thieves on the Rampage and Circus of Thieves and the Comeback Caper.
He lives in Edinburgh with his wife, three children, two cats and a tortoise.
The Wall was shortlisted for the 2014 CILIP Carnegie Medal. Are You Experienced? has been reissued on the prestigious Penguin Essentials list.
He has also written a series of books for children: Circus of Thieves and the Raffle of Doom, Circus of Thieves on the Rampage and Circus of Thieves and the Comeback Caper.
He lives in Edinburgh with his wife, three children, two cats and a tortoise.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
August 20, 2017
This is compelling dystopian fiction set in a future with a divided London in conflict. Within The Strip are a desperate, poverty stricken people under 24 hour government and military surveillance, through drones. They are constantly being bombed by aircraft and missiles. There are many refugees and homeless, with people suffering from PTSD, in catatonic states, and struggling to barely survive. The landscape is one of bombed out homes and ruins. We are given no information as to how this situation arose. Lex is a young 16 year old boy with a father in The Corps, a rebel group endeavouring to fight back against the oppression they face on The Strip and are the highest value targets for the military. The book begins where the father barely escapes a bombing that wipes out the entire leadership of The Corps. Alan is a gifted gamer recruited by the military, his task is to carry out drone surveillance of target K622 who he knows will be killed, its just a question of when. His target is Lex's father. The narrative is delivered through the perspective of Lex and Alan.
Alan is a proud patriot, seeing himself as a soldier, doing a vital job in defending his nation, playing war games, although the job he does involves no risk to him whatsoever. He has never known his father, and feeling a gaping hole in his life because of this. He has a disconnect with his mother who thinks he has blood on his hands because of what he does. As he carries out his surveillance, he begins to connect with the family as human beings, particularly Lex whom he begins to identify with. Lex finds himself in the throes of an intense and all encompassing first love affair with Zoe. Zoe is emotionally damaged by the killing of her father in the bombing of their home. At the same time, Lex finds himself invited to and wanting to play a vital role in The Corps. This puts him under heavy pressure, stress and conflict as he makes decisions that endanger him and his family. Alan is climbing the promotional ladder, celebrating his first kill, and playing a critical role in the bombardment of The Strip when doubts begin to enter his mind.
William Sutcliffe superimposes on a future London a scenario that is reality in many parts of the world today. For example, we know that gamers have been recruited to perform Alan's role in the US military, finding it easy to kill 'terrorist' enemies, accepting civilian collateral damage, as they have no emotional connection to and have ceased to see them as human. It is much more difficult to kill when you have developed a connection and a person becomes real. Vital issues such as the lack of human rights in The Strip are raised, tragedies are inevitable and the dubious morality behind such flawed government and military strategies emerges. Sutcliffe brillliantly creates and enters the minds of two young males on separate sides of the conflict, making both of them come alive and feel authentic to the reader. He impressively captures the young male psyche, the emotional uncertainties, raging hormones, intimacy issues, the pull of family and the passion of first love, in a thoughtful and beautiful way. A brilliant novel which I highly recommend. Many thanks to Bloomsbury for an ARC.
Alan is a proud patriot, seeing himself as a soldier, doing a vital job in defending his nation, playing war games, although the job he does involves no risk to him whatsoever. He has never known his father, and feeling a gaping hole in his life because of this. He has a disconnect with his mother who thinks he has blood on his hands because of what he does. As he carries out his surveillance, he begins to connect with the family as human beings, particularly Lex whom he begins to identify with. Lex finds himself in the throes of an intense and all encompassing first love affair with Zoe. Zoe is emotionally damaged by the killing of her father in the bombing of their home. At the same time, Lex finds himself invited to and wanting to play a vital role in The Corps. This puts him under heavy pressure, stress and conflict as he makes decisions that endanger him and his family. Alan is climbing the promotional ladder, celebrating his first kill, and playing a critical role in the bombardment of The Strip when doubts begin to enter his mind.
William Sutcliffe superimposes on a future London a scenario that is reality in many parts of the world today. For example, we know that gamers have been recruited to perform Alan's role in the US military, finding it easy to kill 'terrorist' enemies, accepting civilian collateral damage, as they have no emotional connection to and have ceased to see them as human. It is much more difficult to kill when you have developed a connection and a person becomes real. Vital issues such as the lack of human rights in The Strip are raised, tragedies are inevitable and the dubious morality behind such flawed government and military strategies emerges. Sutcliffe brillliantly creates and enters the minds of two young males on separate sides of the conflict, making both of them come alive and feel authentic to the reader. He impressively captures the young male psyche, the emotional uncertainties, raging hormones, intimacy issues, the pull of family and the passion of first love, in a thoughtful and beautiful way. A brilliant novel which I highly recommend. Many thanks to Bloomsbury for an ARC.
August 30, 2017
My full review can be found at United by Pop.
Near future London is war-ravaged and bombed-out. It's skyscrapers are nothing more than twisted chunks of metal that scratch at a sky filled with drones. It's parks are lined with the make-shift houses of the homeless. It's inhabitants are the starving, hopeless shells of the people they once were.
Through the split perspective of both Alan and Lex, the reader is invited to view this world from two very alternative perspectives. Their dreams for the future drastically oppose and without being provided with why exactly that came to be, it is left for the reader to decide which side they abide with. The good and bad of this novel are confused, and arguments for both the government's control of the citizens and the terrorist's opposition to this can supported.
It is not until the novel's final terrifying ordeal that I realised where my own feelings lay. Being allowed the time to come to this decision myself gave me a deeper empathy for the characters on the opposing side as well as a more heartfelt response to the actions that led to my decision.
This fictional Big Brother state of 'We See Everything' is set in a recognisable landscape to fully explore the reader's opinions on the matter of human rights and the seemingly all-seeing eyes of authority. The fascinating terrain exposed both sides of this complex coin and allowed the reader's own emotions to cleverly influence their interpretation over the ending of this explosive dystopian novel.
Near future London is war-ravaged and bombed-out. It's skyscrapers are nothing more than twisted chunks of metal that scratch at a sky filled with drones. It's parks are lined with the make-shift houses of the homeless. It's inhabitants are the starving, hopeless shells of the people they once were.
Through the split perspective of both Alan and Lex, the reader is invited to view this world from two very alternative perspectives. Their dreams for the future drastically oppose and without being provided with why exactly that came to be, it is left for the reader to decide which side they abide with. The good and bad of this novel are confused, and arguments for both the government's control of the citizens and the terrorist's opposition to this can supported.
It is not until the novel's final terrifying ordeal that I realised where my own feelings lay. Being allowed the time to come to this decision myself gave me a deeper empathy for the characters on the opposing side as well as a more heartfelt response to the actions that led to my decision.
This fictional Big Brother state of 'We See Everything' is set in a recognisable landscape to fully explore the reader's opinions on the matter of human rights and the seemingly all-seeing eyes of authority. The fascinating terrain exposed both sides of this complex coin and allowed the reader's own emotions to cleverly influence their interpretation over the ending of this explosive dystopian novel.
November 1, 2023
I liked the idea, but the book itself was a bit meh. Not terrible (I'll get to the bad things though) but not great either.
The writing was good and it was easy to read; I liked how the two alternating perspectives clashed. They were really two sides of the same coin.
But, and that's a huge but, there were too many things off for me to enjoy it more.
First, what was even happening? There's a war going on, but why? What's up with the resistance? What are they even doing? The whole world didn't seem well constructed and made little to no sense.
Then, the characters. I liked Lex enough, he was a typical teenager with typical problems, but growing up in a war torn world.
Then there's Alan, and I couldn't stand him. Gods, he made me so angry!! He thought he was a hero and was fighting for his country (what country?) but all he did was fly a drone. There was nothing heroic or glorious about him or his job. And then that scene where he That's when I really started to hate him, and even how he changed in the end couldn't redeem his character for me.
Ahh, the end. It seemed all too fast, too much like a forced attempt to bring everything to a somewhat happy conclusion, and it didn't work for me.
So yeah, this book was an easy read, mostly well written and entertaining at parts, but I still wouldn't recommend it.
The writing was good and it was easy to read; I liked how the two alternating perspectives clashed. They were really two sides of the same coin.
But, and that's a huge but, there were too many things off for me to enjoy it more.
First, what was even happening? There's a war going on, but why? What's up with the resistance? What are they even doing? The whole world didn't seem well constructed and made little to no sense.
Then, the characters. I liked Lex enough, he was a typical teenager with typical problems, but growing up in a war torn world.
Then there's Alan, and I couldn't stand him. Gods, he made me so angry!! He thought he was a hero and was fighting for his country (what country?) but all he did was fly a drone. There was nothing heroic or glorious about him or his job. And then that scene where he That's when I really started to hate him, and even how he changed in the end couldn't redeem his character for me.
Ahh, the end. It seemed all too fast, too much like a forced attempt to bring everything to a somewhat happy conclusion, and it didn't work for me.
So yeah, this book was an easy read, mostly well written and entertaining at parts, but I still wouldn't recommend it.
September 9, 2017
This was a chilling look at a near future dystopian London, a war zone policed by drones. The story is told from two points of view by two teenaged boys, one on each side of the war. Within it is a poignant tale of first love, a Resistance movement and a thought provoking look at what it means to be a drone pilot.
I found the descriptions of the training drone pilot kind of awful. Recruited as one of the most promising gamers of his age, there really is no difference for him between playing a simulation and striking in actuality.
"When they look almost identical, how am I supposed to find a response to the shift from zapping pixels to ripping apart skin and bone?"
Recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
I found the descriptions of the training drone pilot kind of awful. Recruited as one of the most promising gamers of his age, there really is no difference for him between playing a simulation and striking in actuality.
"When they look almost identical, how am I supposed to find a response to the shift from zapping pixels to ripping apart skin and bone?"
Recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
June 13, 2019
This is a cracking good read. And so topical. There are parallel stories. Firstly Lex who is the son of one of the major movers and shakers in an underground movement in the resistance movement. Plotting against the power of the American Army who patrol their section of London stalking the perceived troublemakers with drones. Drones watch everyone and everything. A section which has been separated off from the rest of the city. It is surrounded by fences, there is a no go area between the houses and the fence and in the opening chapter of the book Lex is in this area, risking death to pick some berries which he wants to sell to get some cash. Should he get spotted by a drone he will be shot on sight.
Watching Lex is a young American soldier, his job is to watch, to follow and to pass on anything he thinks is suspicious to his superior officers. He is a young man full of conflicting thoughts, his Mum hates what he does, she thinks it is immoral. He is proud to work for his country, to protect the American ideals to enforce the rules. But as he spends time following his target he becomes even more conflicted. This reaches a peak when he is required to make the decision to kill his target.
This book tackles huge issues. Drones and their ability to kill remotely. The guilt that soldiers feel, how it feels to be spied on, to have your every move documented. Privacy and power and control. Love, family and consent. There is plenty to think about in this book. I was talking about it to one of the staff at school and he, as a member of the Army Reserves was telling me about experiences he had heard about which concerned drone pilots. I think this book is a fantastic and sharp novel and I will be recommending it often.
Watching Lex is a young American soldier, his job is to watch, to follow and to pass on anything he thinks is suspicious to his superior officers. He is a young man full of conflicting thoughts, his Mum hates what he does, she thinks it is immoral. He is proud to work for his country, to protect the American ideals to enforce the rules. But as he spends time following his target he becomes even more conflicted. This reaches a peak when he is required to make the decision to kill his target.
This book tackles huge issues. Drones and their ability to kill remotely. The guilt that soldiers feel, how it feels to be spied on, to have your every move documented. Privacy and power and control. Love, family and consent. There is plenty to think about in this book. I was talking about it to one of the staff at school and he, as a member of the Army Reserves was telling me about experiences he had heard about which concerned drone pilots. I think this book is a fantastic and sharp novel and I will be recommending it often.
August 26, 2018
I fancied reading something from a dystopian genre and found this book set in a divided post-apocalyptic London. When you think about all the security cameras in our present society, this really makes the blurb of this book not such a fantastical idea. I mean camera’s watching your every move, monitoring everything you do, who you speak to, where you do your shopping, what you buy etc.
I have seen two different covers for this book so far. I have pictured them both below and commented on each cover, it would be interesting to see who prefers which one. Both of the covers feature an eye prominently on them.
The palest cover is in a cream colour and everything within the eye is orange as if the sky is on fire! There is also a figure caught within the eye on what seems to be a background of ruined buildings. There is also an aircraft of some sort in the orange sky. All of this makes perfect sense when you read the book.
The other cover which I initially said I preferred has the main colour of orange, and is more simplistic to the other cover and seems to make more of the eye symbol. The cover still features the eye and the person within it being watched.
After reading the book, I do like both covers. I think they are both eye catching and would stand out on a bookstore shelf well. Though I should admit after reading the book my favourite cover is the one with the white background. It represents the book and its contents down to the little details featured on the cover.
The genres I have seen listed for this book are Sci-Fi, Literary fiction, Teens, YA and Dystopian which all fit well. I would also add that it has post-apocalyptic elements too.
The city is a very dangerous place to live and the government have divided London. On one side there is Lex whose dad is suddenly becoming more important to the rebels who are planning some sort of revolt. Lex being trained as a messenger for The Corp. His job is to deliver messages from one Corp member to another, he doesn’t ask questions and he has to quick on his feet. He must learn all about different routes to take to throw those who are watching off his trail. and he should never ask questions about the messages. Messengers should not speak about the messages they deliver, or whom they deliver them rom and to. They are also not supposed to speak to other messengers. Though in one part of the book, an older, more experienced messenger talks to Lex and gives him tips to make money by selling contraband goods. It’s whilst selling these goods, which happen to be highly sought after cigarettes that Lex meets Zoe whom he feels immediately drawn to. Zoe is working on the patch Lex begins to sell his cigarettes. It’s a busy section of road, with traffic lights, so when vehicles stop the “vendors” literally pounce attempting to sell various items to them. From the cigarettes Lex sells, to Zoe’s Lollipops, there is even a guy washing windscreens trying to make some money to live on. Lex should have permission for the man who runs this patch but because he is a Messenger for The Corp, so to an extent he is “untouchable” and so permitted to sell wherever he wishes.
On the other side of London and “life” is Alan who works at The Base. He operates the drones. Alan still lives at home with his mother who doesn’t seem to approve of where he works anymore. His mother doesn’t want her son operating a drone, observing people. When she learns that he has been promoted and chosen to control an armed drone she begs him to stay at home, to not go to work, to change his job. However, Alan is all caught up in the camaraderie within the Base. He also has his eyes set on a female he has seen at the base who he would like to impress. You can safely say that Alan is somewhat carried away with the importance of his job and hasn’t really thought through that whenever he presses that button he will kill real people, its not just a video game, or a boring people watching, observation job. He may press that button and could not only kill his target, there could be collateral damage and deaths. Alan becomes quite attached to the man’s family whom he has been watching and reporting on. Alan knows the man whom he only refers to as a number in his reports is a member of The Corp, who wish to revolt against the government. It is part of Alan’s job to gather evidence of where the rebel meetings are held, as well as how the individual rebels communicate with each other. Alan accepts that he may be the one who presses the button and kills the man, but he hasn’t fully thought out the fact that when he is ordered to press the button that delivers the bomb that kills the man he may also be killing this man’s family whom he has become so attached to. This man has a son, who looks around Alan’s age, he also has a wife and daughter. Can Alan press the button that launches the bomb that will kill them and anyone around them too?
I enjoyed looking at the two differing views on the same city and what life is like for both Lex and Alan. Lex and Alan may be working for opposing sides but as you read more about them you are surprised to learn they have a lot of similarities such as inexperience and lack of confidence with girls. They both have jobs where they have to do as they are instructed no question asked. They perform duties without questioning, or knowing why or what the end result is and how it will affect everyone.
At one point in the book Lex has to choose whether to listen to his father and stay close to home or to keep his date with Zoe. His decision over what you may think is a trivial choice ends up drastically changing what could/should have been.
I really liked both of the main characters, although Lex and Alan are on opposing sides of this “war” I feel in a different setting they could possibly have been very good friends. Both Lex and Alan are, in my opinion victims of circumstance and of which side of the divided London they live on.
At the end of the book there is an “after the event” catch up with the characters which I found quite interesting and enjoyed reading. I loved that this was a story of one place, London. It is a London divided and as the reader we hear the two sides to the story and the divided London through Lex and Alan.
I felt the book was a little stilted in places but perhaps it was meant to be that way. The book was certainly thought provoking and had me making possible similarities between the book and the possibilities of this actually occurring in our present day. I suppose I am trying to say this book is eerily realistic fiction!
I have seen two different covers for this book so far. I have pictured them both below and commented on each cover, it would be interesting to see who prefers which one. Both of the covers feature an eye prominently on them.
The palest cover is in a cream colour and everything within the eye is orange as if the sky is on fire! There is also a figure caught within the eye on what seems to be a background of ruined buildings. There is also an aircraft of some sort in the orange sky. All of this makes perfect sense when you read the book.
The other cover which I initially said I preferred has the main colour of orange, and is more simplistic to the other cover and seems to make more of the eye symbol. The cover still features the eye and the person within it being watched.
After reading the book, I do like both covers. I think they are both eye catching and would stand out on a bookstore shelf well. Though I should admit after reading the book my favourite cover is the one with the white background. It represents the book and its contents down to the little details featured on the cover.
The genres I have seen listed for this book are Sci-Fi, Literary fiction, Teens, YA and Dystopian which all fit well. I would also add that it has post-apocalyptic elements too.
The city is a very dangerous place to live and the government have divided London. On one side there is Lex whose dad is suddenly becoming more important to the rebels who are planning some sort of revolt. Lex being trained as a messenger for The Corp. His job is to deliver messages from one Corp member to another, he doesn’t ask questions and he has to quick on his feet. He must learn all about different routes to take to throw those who are watching off his trail. and he should never ask questions about the messages. Messengers should not speak about the messages they deliver, or whom they deliver them rom and to. They are also not supposed to speak to other messengers. Though in one part of the book, an older, more experienced messenger talks to Lex and gives him tips to make money by selling contraband goods. It’s whilst selling these goods, which happen to be highly sought after cigarettes that Lex meets Zoe whom he feels immediately drawn to. Zoe is working on the patch Lex begins to sell his cigarettes. It’s a busy section of road, with traffic lights, so when vehicles stop the “vendors” literally pounce attempting to sell various items to them. From the cigarettes Lex sells, to Zoe’s Lollipops, there is even a guy washing windscreens trying to make some money to live on. Lex should have permission for the man who runs this patch but because he is a Messenger for The Corp, so to an extent he is “untouchable” and so permitted to sell wherever he wishes.
On the other side of London and “life” is Alan who works at The Base. He operates the drones. Alan still lives at home with his mother who doesn’t seem to approve of where he works anymore. His mother doesn’t want her son operating a drone, observing people. When she learns that he has been promoted and chosen to control an armed drone she begs him to stay at home, to not go to work, to change his job. However, Alan is all caught up in the camaraderie within the Base. He also has his eyes set on a female he has seen at the base who he would like to impress. You can safely say that Alan is somewhat carried away with the importance of his job and hasn’t really thought through that whenever he presses that button he will kill real people, its not just a video game, or a boring people watching, observation job. He may press that button and could not only kill his target, there could be collateral damage and deaths. Alan becomes quite attached to the man’s family whom he has been watching and reporting on. Alan knows the man whom he only refers to as a number in his reports is a member of The Corp, who wish to revolt against the government. It is part of Alan’s job to gather evidence of where the rebel meetings are held, as well as how the individual rebels communicate with each other. Alan accepts that he may be the one who presses the button and kills the man, but he hasn’t fully thought out the fact that when he is ordered to press the button that delivers the bomb that kills the man he may also be killing this man’s family whom he has become so attached to. This man has a son, who looks around Alan’s age, he also has a wife and daughter. Can Alan press the button that launches the bomb that will kill them and anyone around them too?
I enjoyed looking at the two differing views on the same city and what life is like for both Lex and Alan. Lex and Alan may be working for opposing sides but as you read more about them you are surprised to learn they have a lot of similarities such as inexperience and lack of confidence with girls. They both have jobs where they have to do as they are instructed no question asked. They perform duties without questioning, or knowing why or what the end result is and how it will affect everyone.
At one point in the book Lex has to choose whether to listen to his father and stay close to home or to keep his date with Zoe. His decision over what you may think is a trivial choice ends up drastically changing what could/should have been.
I really liked both of the main characters, although Lex and Alan are on opposing sides of this “war” I feel in a different setting they could possibly have been very good friends. Both Lex and Alan are, in my opinion victims of circumstance and of which side of the divided London they live on.
At the end of the book there is an “after the event” catch up with the characters which I found quite interesting and enjoyed reading. I loved that this was a story of one place, London. It is a London divided and as the reader we hear the two sides to the story and the divided London through Lex and Alan.
I felt the book was a little stilted in places but perhaps it was meant to be that way. The book was certainly thought provoking and had me making possible similarities between the book and the possibilities of this actually occurring in our present day. I suppose I am trying to say this book is eerily realistic fiction!
Read
November 25, 2017Full review to come.
This looks at a future war from both sides; the poor and fenced in "terrorists", and the better off people who attack the aforementioned with drones.
Some issues with tense stuff ups, and I had a hard time connecting to the characters, but not a bad read... and the final chapter was the only one that really made me feel any proper emotion.
This looks at a future war from both sides; the poor and fenced in "terrorists", and the better off people who attack the aforementioned with drones.
Some issues with tense stuff ups, and I had a hard time connecting to the characters, but not a bad read... and the final chapter was the only one that really made me feel any proper emotion.
December 9, 2018
Spannend dystopisch verhaal dat zich afspeelt in futuristisch Londen, waar drones de bevolking in de gaten houden. De twee hoofdpersonages zijn letterlijk elkaars tegenovergestelde. Het verschil in stem had af en toe iets groter gemogen. Het einde daarentegen was heel origineel. En hoera voor het gebruik van een condoom!
Mijn complete recensie lees je op Oog op de Toekomst.
Mijn complete recensie lees je op Oog op de Toekomst.
December 9, 2022
A clever novel in which the author moves the Palestinian war to a dystopian London, making it more relatable for westerners.
The book switches between two persepectives, those of Lex, a teenager living in the secluded area known as The Strip, and Alan, a young dronepilot in the army surveying The Strip. We follow both of their lives as they struggle with growing up, trying to be independent and endeavour in amorous adventures.
This book succeeds in transposing the Gaza conflict to a western setting and offers an easy to follow plot to make the reader aware of the struggles without ever coming across as patronising. Unfortunately the plot is quite thin and the characters are too uninteresting to make you care a lot about them. The comparisons between the parallel storylines of Lex and Alan are too obvious and uninspired as well. The efforts of psychological exploration are too shallow to offer a real insight in either of the protagonists character development and that development is too limited as well. However, readers might also enjoy this straighforwardness. Sutcliffe also writes using easy language and he keeps the pace up for the entire novel.
Overall, it is a book I would recommend to some people. The dystopian and Western-European setting of the novel is a very clever and intriguing way of confronting people with the Palestinian reality. I think this is a book for young adult readers and for readers looking for a compelling yet easy read. The book is long enough to explore the subject and not too long for it to grow dull.
The book switches between two persepectives, those of Lex, a teenager living in the secluded area known as The Strip, and Alan, a young dronepilot in the army surveying The Strip. We follow both of their lives as they struggle with growing up, trying to be independent and endeavour in amorous adventures.
This book succeeds in transposing the Gaza conflict to a western setting and offers an easy to follow plot to make the reader aware of the struggles without ever coming across as patronising. Unfortunately the plot is quite thin and the characters are too uninteresting to make you care a lot about them. The comparisons between the parallel storylines of Lex and Alan are too obvious and uninspired as well. The efforts of psychological exploration are too shallow to offer a real insight in either of the protagonists character development and that development is too limited as well. However, readers might also enjoy this straighforwardness. Sutcliffe also writes using easy language and he keeps the pace up for the entire novel.
Overall, it is a book I would recommend to some people. The dystopian and Western-European setting of the novel is a very clever and intriguing way of confronting people with the Palestinian reality. I think this is a book for young adult readers and for readers looking for a compelling yet easy read. The book is long enough to explore the subject and not too long for it to grow dull.
March 23, 2018
Sixteen-year-old Lex and Alan will never meet yet their lives are about to intersect.
Lex lives in The Strip, a bombed-out, self-governing territory in formerly London. Under blockade, life for The Strip’s impoverished residents is marked by hardships: commercial goods, living-space, and medicine are scarce; career options and education limited; and the threat of rocket fire is ever-present. Lex is the son of a resistance leader and a courier for the resistance movement.
Alan spends his time monitoring The Strip from the safety of a military base and the birds-eye view of the drone he operates. Alan’s knack for gaming is what caught the interest of the military and landed him the position of drone pilot, tracking subject #K622 — Lex’s father. For the first time ever, Alan experiences a sense of belonging and accomplishment, though his mother continues to disapprove.
In We See Everything, Lex and Alan’s face similar milestones: first love, first job. But there is nothing similar about the way they handle these milestones. Love blossoms Lex. His job earns him the respect of his dad. And the acquisition of a rusty bicycle gains him the freedom to explore the Strip. But for Alan — who’s life is overshadowed by the absence of his dad — first love is an experience far less effortless. His job draws his mom’s contempt. And instead of growing in confidence, the responsibilities of adulthood threaten to crush Alan.
Drawing from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, We See Everything is deeply moving and haunting in the sense that this fictional world has some very real-life parallels. The story explores the impact of war, surveillance in modern society, and the burden of circumstances vs. the power of our choices. Deeply moving and extraordinary in portraying and contrasting the emotional development of its protagonists, this story will tug and tear at your heartstrings.
YA dystopian 14+. 4.5/5 stars.
Lex lives in The Strip, a bombed-out, self-governing territory in formerly London. Under blockade, life for The Strip’s impoverished residents is marked by hardships: commercial goods, living-space, and medicine are scarce; career options and education limited; and the threat of rocket fire is ever-present. Lex is the son of a resistance leader and a courier for the resistance movement.
Alan spends his time monitoring The Strip from the safety of a military base and the birds-eye view of the drone he operates. Alan’s knack for gaming is what caught the interest of the military and landed him the position of drone pilot, tracking subject #K622 — Lex’s father. For the first time ever, Alan experiences a sense of belonging and accomplishment, though his mother continues to disapprove.
In We See Everything, Lex and Alan’s face similar milestones: first love, first job. But there is nothing similar about the way they handle these milestones. Love blossoms Lex. His job earns him the respect of his dad. And the acquisition of a rusty bicycle gains him the freedom to explore the Strip. But for Alan — who’s life is overshadowed by the absence of his dad — first love is an experience far less effortless. His job draws his mom’s contempt. And instead of growing in confidence, the responsibilities of adulthood threaten to crush Alan.
Drawing from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, We See Everything is deeply moving and haunting in the sense that this fictional world has some very real-life parallels. The story explores the impact of war, surveillance in modern society, and the burden of circumstances vs. the power of our choices. Deeply moving and extraordinary in portraying and contrasting the emotional development of its protagonists, this story will tug and tear at your heartstrings.
YA dystopian 14+. 4.5/5 stars.
October 7, 2017
We See Everything by William Sutcliffe was a goodreads win
We are parachuted into this story, without any explanation of what has or is happening. It is like a computer game where you don’t know the rules and how to play. All you know is that there are two sides, the pursuers and pursued. We are not sure who is good and who bad.
The setting is an enclosed strip in central London, a bombed, desolate shell, where people are crowded in with nowhere to live, no facilities and very little food. There is a resistance movement trying to break out, without much success as the ‘outside’ has the technology and weapons to contain them. We are not told who ‘the outside’ people are, or how this situation happened.
The story revolves around two teenage boys, Lex and Alan. They have an expertise with computer games in common. Alan, on the outside, has been recruited to use drones to track ‘terrorists’ and to kill them – just like in a computer game. Lex, on the inside, has been recruited by his father to deliver messages between members of a resistant cell. His gaming expertise means he can visualise obscure routes across the city. It is a cat and mouse situation.
Alan has been brainwashed to think he is doing this for the good of his people. In reality, he is a very insecure individual doing it for acceptance with his peers. To begin with, he does his job without feeling, but gradually starts to identify with Lex – will he be able to kill him?
Both Lex and Alan have another thing in common, they would love to find a girlfriend. Alan’s attempt goes all wrong, which increases his feeling of insecurity. Lex acquires a girlfriend and all goes well, until violence between the two sides breaks out. Will they survive?
The idea of deprivation and futility fills the story. These two teenagers have much in common, their computer gaming skills, their desire to live a normal life and their love of ‘wheels’ – Alex has a bicycle and Alan a motor bike. Their lives are blighted by a war which neither of them understands.
There are parallels with countries today, where people are being displaced through no fault of their own, by political or religious war. They find themselves outcastes, in danger of death by violence or disease and without the basic necessities of life. Computer games desensitized Alex and Lex, we are in danger of being desensitized by constant media coverage of disasters. There is nothing we can do, so we stop caring for our own sanity.
A well written, and thought provoking book!
October 2, 2018
Big thanks to Bloomsbury for sending me a copy for review
Initial Thoughts Upon Finishing
Ahhh I wanted to like this so much more than I did. But the whole plot is basically the blurb and really not much else happens. I wanted to know why London was as it was - we have no idea the whole time why they’re fighting or what people are really doing. I disliked the Alan so much, he was a horrible character. And Lex I didn’t connect with and didn’t believe in the insta-love between him and Zoe. Hmf.
We See Everything
Wee See Everything is a dystopian story about London when a war (that is never explained to us) is happening (sort of) and everything is living in a fenced off section that is small (but big) in the heart of London (but only on one side of the Thames).
Our main character Lex lives in this Fence London, as I'm now calling it. He has grown up here (I think, it was confusing as to whether he was born pre-Fence London time or not). He goes to school but we never get to see this school (how do these schools function?! There are even unis??) but his dad gets really mad at him one day when he's picking berries in an exclusive area that's basically a shoot to kill zone.
Except the enemy isn't on the ground. The enemy is . . . yeah actually we're never told that either. THEY ARE THE DRONES *dramatic music*. So our other main character is a disgusting, unlikeable bully who would absolutely abuse his wife and family if he were to ever have one. If I had to choose between him and Voldemort, I'd choose Voldy every time.
This guy's name is Alan. Alan is tasked with killing Lex's dad. This is not a story about a dad being tasked with killing his own son but not knowing it's his son, like I thought it would be. Immediately, a disappointment. Anyway, let's save the grumblings for the next section.
Alan is the least likeable character I have ever read - I kid you not - and maybe that's not a 'bad' thing but ugh, I just can't with this guy. So the story is him watching Lex's dad who is in the 'Corps' doing something with a rebellion that we never get to hear about. And in doing so, Alan tracks Lex too. It's pretty boring. And Lex falls in love with the first girl he sees and breaks all the rules putting everyone in danger. And his dad remains angry all the time. That's pretty much what to expect from this book.
Why I Was a Let Down
I cannot express how excited I was to read this book when I first got it. I'd misunderstood the plot and was so hyped for this dystopian story. I couldn't wait!! But my basic, trimmed down issue with this book is that nothing happens and nothing is explained.
I don't mind it when authors decide to not explain a world, sometimes it's fitting. But I read through this whole book anticipating and excited for a reveal of what was actually happening. WHY was there a war? WHEN did it begin? WHO are the enemy? WHERE ARE THE ENEMY? HOW are they getting resources in? WHAT is the rest of the world doing? WHEN is this set? HOW do people have phones and technology but can't launch a successful rebellion?
Literally just forever confused and questioning the existence of the plot in this book. It barely has one. I was so let down. But back to the characters, I think I've voiced enough that I did not enjoy Alan's character and thought he brought exactly zero things to the story line. But I also found Lex to be excessively immature and I really disliked the love story. It was ew - that is my only word for it. It was uncomfortable and childish and I didn't want to read about it. And Lex was just SO irresponsible ARGH. Many angsty feelings.
Summary
In short, this book was not even close to what I was thinking it would be. I'm really sad to be giving it a low rating because I'd thought it was going to AT LEAST a 4-star read for me. Alas, what can one do? I'd be curious to read another of Sutcliffe's works to see what his writing style is like across the board, but at the same time I'm not sure I could live through another big disappointment! It just wasn't for me.
Happy reading!
Initial Thoughts Upon Finishing
Ahhh I wanted to like this so much more than I did. But the whole plot is basically the blurb and really not much else happens. I wanted to know why London was as it was - we have no idea the whole time why they’re fighting or what people are really doing. I disliked the Alan so much, he was a horrible character. And Lex I didn’t connect with and didn’t believe in the insta-love between him and Zoe. Hmf.
We See Everything
Wee See Everything is a dystopian story about London when a war (that is never explained to us) is happening (sort of) and everything is living in a fenced off section that is small (but big) in the heart of London (but only on one side of the Thames).
Our main character Lex lives in this Fence London, as I'm now calling it. He has grown up here (I think, it was confusing as to whether he was born pre-Fence London time or not). He goes to school but we never get to see this school (how do these schools function?! There are even unis??) but his dad gets really mad at him one day when he's picking berries in an exclusive area that's basically a shoot to kill zone.
Except the enemy isn't on the ground. The enemy is . . . yeah actually we're never told that either. THEY ARE THE DRONES *dramatic music*. So our other main character is a disgusting, unlikeable bully who would absolutely abuse his wife and family if he were to ever have one. If I had to choose between him and Voldemort, I'd choose Voldy every time.
This guy's name is Alan. Alan is tasked with killing Lex's dad. This is not a story about a dad being tasked with killing his own son but not knowing it's his son, like I thought it would be. Immediately, a disappointment. Anyway, let's save the grumblings for the next section.
Alan is the least likeable character I have ever read - I kid you not - and maybe that's not a 'bad' thing but ugh, I just can't with this guy. So the story is him watching Lex's dad who is in the 'Corps' doing something with a rebellion that we never get to hear about. And in doing so, Alan tracks Lex too. It's pretty boring. And Lex falls in love with the first girl he sees and breaks all the rules putting everyone in danger. And his dad remains angry all the time. That's pretty much what to expect from this book.
Why I Was a Let Down
I cannot express how excited I was to read this book when I first got it. I'd misunderstood the plot and was so hyped for this dystopian story. I couldn't wait!! But my basic, trimmed down issue with this book is that nothing happens and nothing is explained.
I don't mind it when authors decide to not explain a world, sometimes it's fitting. But I read through this whole book anticipating and excited for a reveal of what was actually happening. WHY was there a war? WHEN did it begin? WHO are the enemy? WHERE ARE THE ENEMY? HOW are they getting resources in? WHAT is the rest of the world doing? WHEN is this set? HOW do people have phones and technology but can't launch a successful rebellion?
Literally just forever confused and questioning the existence of the plot in this book. It barely has one. I was so let down. But back to the characters, I think I've voiced enough that I did not enjoy Alan's character and thought he brought exactly zero things to the story line. But I also found Lex to be excessively immature and I really disliked the love story. It was ew - that is my only word for it. It was uncomfortable and childish and I didn't want to read about it. And Lex was just SO irresponsible ARGH. Many angsty feelings.
Summary
In short, this book was not even close to what I was thinking it would be. I'm really sad to be giving it a low rating because I'd thought it was going to AT LEAST a 4-star read for me. Alas, what can one do? I'd be curious to read another of Sutcliffe's works to see what his writing style is like across the board, but at the same time I'm not sure I could live through another big disappointment! It just wasn't for me.
Happy reading!
June 16, 2018
The writing is, for the most part, solid, and the depiction of the two opposing sides in a war for a modern/future London presents a chillingly believable scenario. The aggressor effectively dehumanises the opponent/the other, in order to maintain control and do what they deem necessary. The oppressed live hand-to-mouth, day-to-day. Both sides struggle with their place, their relevance, and their relationships in the grand scheme of life. But as I read along I struggled to like either of the two main protagonists, one voice from each side of the conflict, their stories alternating. They were both selfish prats. I was also horrified at the conclusion of Zoe's story arc and the ending as a whole left me cold. While I admired aspects of it, I guess this book just wasn't for me.
September 6, 2021
This is a thriller which is set in a future war-torn London. Bombs have destroyed most of the city, with the notable exceptions of St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. There are tunnels to escape the city around the Brixton area and drones survey the city constantly, as well as regular missile strikes. I imagine all this is meant to replicate the situation on the Gaza Strip - a setting Sutcliffe has also written about in The Wall, which is an outstanding novel about surviving war.
Lex and Alan are two young men on either side of the divide. Alan operates a drone, and Lex is recruited by his father to run messages to his compatriots.
The two young men have very similar lives, and in fact the only thing that really separates them is which side of the fighting they are on. Alan is effectively tracking Lex so that when the time comes, he can fire the missile that will kill him. Both young men have a love interest. The book examines how we can end up on one side or another of a war, seemingly at random, and questions what happens then - do we question what we are doing? Do we get caught up in feeling successful and powerful, and stop thinking about right and wrong?
I liked this book and I think it would appeal to reluctant readers, particularly boys, because of its emphasis on the ego and the fighting. There is an element of video gaming as well, that appeals to a teenage reader. However, I think for me, The Wall is a better book, and if I chose to recommend only one of the books, it would be The Wall, without question. This book is simpler, and perhaps a little more simplistic. However, it is very true to life and it does try and explore the theme of war in a compelling way.
I am a big fan of all William Sutcliffe’s writing, especially his adult novels, (New Boy and Are You Experienced?) and I think he’s written some really good books.
Lex and Alan are two young men on either side of the divide. Alan operates a drone, and Lex is recruited by his father to run messages to his compatriots.
The two young men have very similar lives, and in fact the only thing that really separates them is which side of the fighting they are on. Alan is effectively tracking Lex so that when the time comes, he can fire the missile that will kill him. Both young men have a love interest. The book examines how we can end up on one side or another of a war, seemingly at random, and questions what happens then - do we question what we are doing? Do we get caught up in feeling successful and powerful, and stop thinking about right and wrong?
I liked this book and I think it would appeal to reluctant readers, particularly boys, because of its emphasis on the ego and the fighting. There is an element of video gaming as well, that appeals to a teenage reader. However, I think for me, The Wall is a better book, and if I chose to recommend only one of the books, it would be The Wall, without question. This book is simpler, and perhaps a little more simplistic. However, it is very true to life and it does try and explore the theme of war in a compelling way.
I am a big fan of all William Sutcliffe’s writing, especially his adult novels, (New Boy and Are You Experienced?) and I think he’s written some really good books.
July 15, 2025
I LOVE the concept of this book, because it is something new in the dystopian genre but also inspired by history (Berlin wall). The world building, the emotions in the beginning were all super on point in my opinion. Yes, you would go for berries if you think they would sell.
The characters however… I felt that Alan his character was shallow and super one sided. He was good at his job, he loved his job, his dream was to kill, he hated his mother & seemingly women in general, he was on the ‘right’ side of history. Until the very end where yes he didn’t pull the trigger, but he still didn’t fully stand behind his choice.
Lex is a happy go loving 16 year old with a crush and love that suddenly randomly came over him and was his priority for the rest of the book. I don’t know, I loved his character at first until the love part.
The ending was weird, I feel like it could of been more emotional considering we did have moments to emotionally connect with Lex. It was just.. odd
The characters however… I felt that Alan his character was shallow and super one sided. He was good at his job, he loved his job, his dream was to kill, he hated his mother & seemingly women in general, he was on the ‘right’ side of history. Until the very end where yes he didn’t pull the trigger, but he still didn’t fully stand behind his choice.
Lex is a happy go loving 16 year old with a crush and love that suddenly randomly came over him and was his priority for the rest of the book. I don’t know, I loved his character at first until the love part.
The ending was weird, I feel like it could of been more emotional considering we did have moments to emotionally connect with Lex. It was just.. odd
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2025
Two lives mirrored - a boy in war-torn London, who gets a bike, and meets a girl. A drone operator in suburbia, who gets a bike, and meets a girl.
I understand this is young adult fiction, so it cannot get too dark, but even so. The drone operator only executes one attack, at the end of the book, then quits. War-torn London seems bland. The title We See Everything, and drones flying about tracking defenseless civilians, implies paranoia and outright fear - there's none of that. No real character development. No corrupting influence of either war or the dehumanization of modern war technology. Just a lot of odd choices to remove dramatic tension and avoid exploring in any depth these issues bring up. I wouldn't give this to a young adult, because it doesn't tell them anything. Just gives a very sanitized view of modern war that they could probably imagine by themselves.
I understand this is young adult fiction, so it cannot get too dark, but even so. The drone operator only executes one attack, at the end of the book, then quits. War-torn London seems bland. The title We See Everything, and drones flying about tracking defenseless civilians, implies paranoia and outright fear - there's none of that. No real character development. No corrupting influence of either war or the dehumanization of modern war technology. Just a lot of odd choices to remove dramatic tension and avoid exploring in any depth these issues bring up. I wouldn't give this to a young adult, because it doesn't tell them anything. Just gives a very sanitized view of modern war that they could probably imagine by themselves.
dnf
January 4, 2018Here's my first DNF of 2018. :/
Thought I'd give this a go, but I just couldn't get into it. The first chapter was great: lots of tension, introduction to the world, unexpected explosion. Then it jumped from The City to The Base, and I was lost for a sec.
When I got my bearings and kept moving forward, I stopped caring. Especially about The Base POV. So I skimmed ahead, and the more I read the less I cared.
Yeah. I can't be bothered with this one.
Thought I'd give this a go, but I just couldn't get into it. The first chapter was great: lots of tension, introduction to the world, unexpected explosion. Then it jumped from The City to The Base, and I was lost for a sec.
When I got my bearings and kept moving forward, I stopped caring. Especially about The Base POV. So I skimmed ahead, and the more I read the less I cared.
Yeah. I can't be bothered with this one.
October 25, 2017
There is a famous William Gibson quote: The future is already here — it's just not very evenly distributed. Well, that. Except for the future, substitute the word 'dystopia'.
Usually dystopias are set in some imagined future world, but this novel makes you reassess that.
Stunning, beautiful, raw and real - this is a magnificent book.
Usually dystopias are set in some imagined future world, but this novel makes you reassess that.
Stunning, beautiful, raw and real - this is a magnificent book.
August 13, 2022
Die einzigen lesenswerten Seiten waren 197-229.
Das Ende war weder überraschend noch schockierend obwohl die Art wie es erzählt wurde nicht schlecht war.
Mein Problem war nicht wirklich die Story oder der Inhalt sondern mehr die Charaktere die alle sehr flach gewirkt haben.
Als Film bestimmt sehenswerter als als Buch.
Das Ende war weder überraschend noch schockierend obwohl die Art wie es erzählt wurde nicht schlecht war.
Mein Problem war nicht wirklich die Story oder der Inhalt sondern mehr die Charaktere die alle sehr flach gewirkt haben.
Als Film bestimmt sehenswerter als als Buch.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2017
I thought this was an adult book, rather than YA, so it wasn't quite what I was expecting. I'd have liked the story to have been a bit meatier, the ideas fleshed out a bit more, there are a lot of unanswered questions . . .
October 11, 2018
What an incredibly underwhelming book.
Review to come.
Review to come.
July 16, 2024
Best cool maar ik begreep niet helemaal waarom Alan gearresteerd werd, was dat nou omdat hij uiteindelijk niet de bom liet vallen? Tja.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2022
had a really good storyline and was put together so well but nothing amazing happened :)
October 11, 2017
An interesting read for young adults, and a modern take on the big brother theme, but as an adult reader I’d hoped for a little more depth in its exploration of the use of drones, whereas this book focused more on the relationships between characters. That said: the character of the drone pilot was really compelling to read.
November 13, 2017
An interesting take on Orwell's Big Brother.
This book had a lot of promise, and I found the first few chapters quite easy to get through. I thought it was intriguing how the characters appeared to mirror each other [Lex and Alan both like video games and translate them into real life, Lex buys a bicycle just after Alan buys a motorbike, both have dates around the same time], but there just wasn't really anything in either of the characters that I cared about at all. Lex is dull, Alan is unlikable. Neither really has much to keep the reader hooked. The same goes for the world-building. Sure, areas where you're not allowed to go and a world where drones follow people everywhere is a very interesting idea, but we don't actually learn anything beyond that. There's a rebel force who are angry with the way the people controlling the drones act. There are the people who control the drones. Do they live in the same area of London? When and why did it start? Is London split geographically, or is it based on race, class, gender?
Also, there were some reaaaallly problematic elements in this book, which made me wince and consider putting it down. First, the way it tried to suggest Alan was capable of shooting Lex's dad simply because he'd been good at shooting people in video games. Similarly, Lex acts as though he's invincible while he's carrying messages because he's done a lot of sneaking around on his games. Very rarely does something like that happen, and even then it's because there is something more at play, not just a fondness for gaming. It assumes that everyone who plays games sees the world in this way, as though they can't tell the difference between reality and the screen.
And then we move on to the women in this novel. Wow. Where to start. Firstly, Alan's treatment of his mum, which is just eurgh. Lex doesn't do this, but his mum might as well be a stuffed doll for all the voice she has in this book. Zoe's mum is the same. The only female characters who do have some kind of voice is Zoe and Victoria. Alan has a disastrous date with Victoria, drives her home drunk on his bike, and then forcibly tries to kiss her before she runs inside. Zoe is treated more kindly, but she's not really got enough voice to make for an interesting female character. They're essentially just there as the romantic matches. Also, right at the end they both end up pregnant and settled down. Okay, I'm sure it's meant to represent new life and hope, but really all it suggests to me is that this is what women are reduced to in this book. I especially thought that when Victoria admits she 'might have been wrong about Alan' AKA the guy who tried to force her to kiss him, just because he sorta did the right thing in the end [except, it was really more of a case of not doing anything at all].
So yes, sorry for the rant, but this book just had so many problems and I really wasn't impressed. I would give it one and a half stars for effort, but that's about it.
This book had a lot of promise, and I found the first few chapters quite easy to get through. I thought it was intriguing how the characters appeared to mirror each other [Lex and Alan both like video games and translate them into real life, Lex buys a bicycle just after Alan buys a motorbike, both have dates around the same time], but there just wasn't really anything in either of the characters that I cared about at all. Lex is dull, Alan is unlikable. Neither really has much to keep the reader hooked. The same goes for the world-building. Sure, areas where you're not allowed to go and a world where drones follow people everywhere is a very interesting idea, but we don't actually learn anything beyond that. There's a rebel force who are angry with the way the people controlling the drones act. There are the people who control the drones. Do they live in the same area of London? When and why did it start? Is London split geographically, or is it based on race, class, gender?
Also, there were some reaaaallly problematic elements in this book, which made me wince and consider putting it down. First, the way it tried to suggest Alan was capable of shooting Lex's dad simply because he'd been good at shooting people in video games. Similarly, Lex acts as though he's invincible while he's carrying messages because he's done a lot of sneaking around on his games. Very rarely does something like that happen, and even then it's because there is something more at play, not just a fondness for gaming. It assumes that everyone who plays games sees the world in this way, as though they can't tell the difference between reality and the screen.
And then we move on to the women in this novel. Wow. Where to start. Firstly, Alan's treatment of his mum, which is just eurgh. Lex doesn't do this, but his mum might as well be a stuffed doll for all the voice she has in this book. Zoe's mum is the same. The only female characters who do have some kind of voice is Zoe and Victoria. Alan has a disastrous date with Victoria, drives her home drunk on his bike, and then forcibly tries to kiss her before she runs inside. Zoe is treated more kindly, but she's not really got enough voice to make for an interesting female character. They're essentially just there as the romantic matches. Also, right at the end they both end up pregnant and settled down. Okay, I'm sure it's meant to represent new life and hope, but really all it suggests to me is that this is what women are reduced to in this book. I especially thought that when Victoria admits she 'might have been wrong about Alan' AKA the guy who tried to force her to kiss him, just because he sorta did the right thing in the end [except, it was really more of a case of not doing anything at all].
So yes, sorry for the rant, but this book just had so many problems and I really wasn't impressed. I would give it one and a half stars for effort, but that's about it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2017
Short, powerful dystopia - a Big Brother world with targeted missiles and a frightening look at both sides of the divide
In '1984' we do not see behind the mask of the Party. It is all the more insidious for it. Here, Sutcliffe lets us see a real 'drone', a gamer who wins himself a job through his talent at piloting the flying drones that spy on citizens. It seems almost a games as he watches his target, pushes buttons, enjoys his wage and power.
On the flip side, we also watch the target's son and his life down below in a London that's been sealed off and near-destroyed by wars, bombs and constant attacks on rebels.
Alan is hardly a likeable young man, he is puffed up with self-worth. His mother tries to convince him to quit his job, but he can see nothing wrong with it, he is doing good work. Lex lives with the consequences of the bombings that pilots such as Alan are part of. His father, injured in one such attack, is now a leading member of the rebels and as such has been targeted by a drone, putting Lex and their family in danger.
A tense story in which you know not everyone may stay safe, it feels desolate and dirty, a near future and a back-and-forth that moves quickly.
Would make a good short TV series, some wonderful images of a broken London (families in the depths of the British Library sheltering from missile strikes), and I really liked the character development, especially Alan who has the furthest to travel as a burgeoning adult.
Great creation of a broken and brutalised world, it felt real - I was glad to look up and see it hadn't really happened. A good example of how technology can dehumanise - plenty to discuss for book groups.
Suitable for teen readers but one I would also recommend to fans of Orwell / Huxley and other dystopian novels.
With thanks to Netgalley for the advance reading copy.
In '1984' we do not see behind the mask of the Party. It is all the more insidious for it. Here, Sutcliffe lets us see a real 'drone', a gamer who wins himself a job through his talent at piloting the flying drones that spy on citizens. It seems almost a games as he watches his target, pushes buttons, enjoys his wage and power.
On the flip side, we also watch the target's son and his life down below in a London that's been sealed off and near-destroyed by wars, bombs and constant attacks on rebels.
Alan is hardly a likeable young man, he is puffed up with self-worth. His mother tries to convince him to quit his job, but he can see nothing wrong with it, he is doing good work. Lex lives with the consequences of the bombings that pilots such as Alan are part of. His father, injured in one such attack, is now a leading member of the rebels and as such has been targeted by a drone, putting Lex and their family in danger.
A tense story in which you know not everyone may stay safe, it feels desolate and dirty, a near future and a back-and-forth that moves quickly.
Would make a good short TV series, some wonderful images of a broken London (families in the depths of the British Library sheltering from missile strikes), and I really liked the character development, especially Alan who has the furthest to travel as a burgeoning adult.
Great creation of a broken and brutalised world, it felt real - I was glad to look up and see it hadn't really happened. A good example of how technology can dehumanise - plenty to discuss for book groups.
Suitable for teen readers but one I would also recommend to fans of Orwell / Huxley and other dystopian novels.
With thanks to Netgalley for the advance reading copy.
July 17, 2023
Overall, I think the book was pretty fun but in a very generic way. It definitely is a dystopian setting by all means but Sutcliffe offers very little information on how such a world (namely The Strip) came about to be. Of course, this may be a purposeful occlusion in order to encourage readers to be creative in their imagining of the world, but the details are too vague and sparse to even begin such an endeavor in a constructive way.
But more so than the dystopian setting, it's the characters that are most memorable in Sutcliffe's stories--young people who are able to find love and connect despite the atrocious environment that they are thrown in. Lex's life under the pressure of his father and Alan's guilt and humiliation under his mother's disapproval is is written out and expressed very well, and the depth to which Lex feels for Zoe is a reminder that boys feel their passions as deeply as girls, even if they are more seldom expressed.
However, the distinct lack of interaction between the Alan and Lex is what first caught my attention. Despite the fact that Alan is aware of Lex's existence and seems to care for his well-being (for reasons that are not made clear--because there is no reason he should care more for Lex than the other members of his family), Lex is never aware of Alan's individual existence. This lack of connection then makes it harder to understand Alan's hesitancy at the end to fire the missile, or at least makes the act of defiance feel not just unlikely, but somewhat insincere.
Similarly, the end of Lex's story seemed like an incomplete story. While his death was a big shock factor, it rendered his entire character development pointless as we never got to truly see how the culmination of his actions and situation changed (or not changed) him. Instead, Zoe experiences much--if not all--of the grief. And as likeable Zoe is, her story and her perspective is not explored much throughout the book so it is harder to truly grasp the depth and source of her emotions.
Although the book doesn't really make us feel very deeply for the character, it's a fun book to read once and perhaps once only.
But more so than the dystopian setting, it's the characters that are most memorable in Sutcliffe's stories--young people who are able to find love and connect despite the atrocious environment that they are thrown in. Lex's life under the pressure of his father and Alan's guilt and humiliation under his mother's disapproval is is written out and expressed very well, and the depth to which Lex feels for Zoe is a reminder that boys feel their passions as deeply as girls, even if they are more seldom expressed.
However, the distinct lack of interaction between the Alan and Lex is what first caught my attention. Despite the fact that Alan is aware of Lex's existence and seems to care for his well-being (for reasons that are not made clear--because there is no reason he should care more for Lex than the other members of his family), Lex is never aware of Alan's individual existence. This lack of connection then makes it harder to understand Alan's hesitancy at the end to fire the missile, or at least makes the act of defiance feel not just unlikely, but somewhat insincere.
Similarly, the end of Lex's story seemed like an incomplete story. While his death was a big shock factor, it rendered his entire character development pointless as we never got to truly see how the culmination of his actions and situation changed (or not changed) him. Instead, Zoe experiences much--if not all--of the grief. And as likeable Zoe is, her story and her perspective is not explored much throughout the book so it is harder to truly grasp the depth and source of her emotions.
Although the book doesn't really make us feel very deeply for the character, it's a fun book to read once and perhaps once only.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2017
DNF at 57%
I received an ARC from NetGalley/Bloomsbury Publishing in an exchange for an honest review
Lex lives in London - or what is left of it, with his twin sisters, mother and mysterious Dad; a member of the Corps. Struggling to find money to make ends meet, Lex accepts a job offer from his Dad to deliver secret envelopes to and from other members of the community.
Alan is a drone operator. He has been appointed to watch after #K622 - Lex's dad. For now, Alan watches his every move - reports on where he goes, who he meets and how he gets there. Until he is appointed with an armed drone.
This book held SO much promise - a dystopian London in the midst of war, two contrasting characters who could develop so much and the opportunity to engage the reader in an ethical battle.
Disappointingly, I had to finish this book at 57% of the way through, I just could not go any further.
My reasons:
The author introduces two "love interests" to the main characters AT THE EXACT SAME TIME in the story with no good reason at all. Does this further the plot? Not really. I am so sick of reading stories where the romance is so obviously forced and the two characters are in love with each other within five pages. No.
The two main characters are so UNINTERESTING. Do I care what happens to these characters? No, which is the main reason I gave up reading.
The city itself is not explained very well - I found it very hard to get my head around where Alan was located in comparison to Lex.
Halfway through the book (almost exactly), time jumps ahead three years. THREE YEARS. With not much happening to warrant this jump at all.
There is a sense that there is a lot happening but also nothing happening at all - it drags. A LOT.
I wanted so much to like this book and keep on reading, but unfortunately, there are so many better books in the world I could be spending my time on.
I received an ARC from NetGalley/Bloomsbury Publishing in an exchange for an honest review
Lex lives in London - or what is left of it, with his twin sisters, mother and mysterious Dad; a member of the Corps. Struggling to find money to make ends meet, Lex accepts a job offer from his Dad to deliver secret envelopes to and from other members of the community.
Alan is a drone operator. He has been appointed to watch after #K622 - Lex's dad. For now, Alan watches his every move - reports on where he goes, who he meets and how he gets there. Until he is appointed with an armed drone.
This book held SO much promise - a dystopian London in the midst of war, two contrasting characters who could develop so much and the opportunity to engage the reader in an ethical battle.
Disappointingly, I had to finish this book at 57% of the way through, I just could not go any further.
My reasons:
The author introduces two "love interests" to the main characters AT THE EXACT SAME TIME in the story with no good reason at all. Does this further the plot? Not really. I am so sick of reading stories where the romance is so obviously forced and the two characters are in love with each other within five pages. No.
The two main characters are so UNINTERESTING. Do I care what happens to these characters? No, which is the main reason I gave up reading.
The city itself is not explained very well - I found it very hard to get my head around where Alan was located in comparison to Lex.
Halfway through the book (almost exactly), time jumps ahead three years. THREE YEARS. With not much happening to warrant this jump at all.
There is a sense that there is a lot happening but also nothing happening at all - it drags. A LOT.
I wanted so much to like this book and keep on reading, but unfortunately, there are so many better books in the world I could be spending my time on.
July 27, 2017
This is an interesting book with exciting world-building and consistent action throughout; the author certainly knows how to keep you reading. Lex lives on The Strip, so named because it is a closed-off section of London; a London that is watched constantly by Drone surveillance which makes for a thought-provoking read. Alan, the second character you will come to know, doesn’t live on The Strip. Alan is a Drone pilot. And he is watching his assignment very closely – Lex’s dad. So unfolds a story which will probably leaving you feeling like you’re sat on Big Brother’s sofa and he’s watching you!
What I really liked about this world is that it isn’t too far-fetched to be believable and so it highlights parallels with our world which aren’t too difficult to imagine but it still tests the boundaries enough to make it exciting. There were definitely moments which freaked me out a little in relation to the surveillance aspect! The dual narrative really helps to see all sides of the story and Lex and Alan have interesting enough personalities to keep you reading. Having said this, they are quite similar in terms of narrative voice, which often led me to back track to check whose perspective I was reading from.
The background of the world-building is a little lacking; there were quite a few things I think it would have been nice to know more detail about to make the concept easier to imagine, particularly in terms of how the set-up of the drones and the division of London really developed. But overall, the story moved along at such a good pace with chunks of action throughout that I happily kept reading to find out if Lex and Alan would ever find out about each other!
ARC provided free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
What I really liked about this world is that it isn’t too far-fetched to be believable and so it highlights parallels with our world which aren’t too difficult to imagine but it still tests the boundaries enough to make it exciting. There were definitely moments which freaked me out a little in relation to the surveillance aspect! The dual narrative really helps to see all sides of the story and Lex and Alan have interesting enough personalities to keep you reading. Having said this, they are quite similar in terms of narrative voice, which often led me to back track to check whose perspective I was reading from.
The background of the world-building is a little lacking; there were quite a few things I think it would have been nice to know more detail about to make the concept easier to imagine, particularly in terms of how the set-up of the drones and the division of London really developed. But overall, the story moved along at such a good pace with chunks of action throughout that I happily kept reading to find out if Lex and Alan would ever find out about each other!
ARC provided free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 7, 2022
Meet Alan & Lex, two guys on opposite sides of a wall. Neither will ever know each other's name, but they will change each other's lives forever.
This was a fairly quick read. I didn't love either of the main characters particularly, not least because Alan in particular is kinda the embodiment of toxic masculinity (intentionally, but still). It's essentially the drone strikes etc perpetrated by Western countries in foreign states, but transposed so that both sides are in a fictionalised London, which I guess is an interesting way to force the reader to shift perspective on what's justifiable etc when it comes to wars, particularly modern ones where you can kill from the comfort of essentially an office. That the author chooses not to elaborate much on how London ended up having "The Strip" instated is not an unreasonable choice, as the "why" doesn't really matter to the story, but it does make it all the thinner an allegory. It's also somewhat a coming-of-age tale but not so much in a wholesome way.
Overall, not my favourite book. I get what they were going for, and the characters aren't entirely unsympathetic, and I actually quite liked how they played the ending, but on the whole it was mostly just "alright".
This was a fairly quick read. I didn't love either of the main characters particularly, not least because Alan in particular is kinda the embodiment of toxic masculinity (intentionally, but still). It's essentially the drone strikes etc perpetrated by Western countries in foreign states, but transposed so that both sides are in a fictionalised London, which I guess is an interesting way to force the reader to shift perspective on what's justifiable etc when it comes to wars, particularly modern ones where you can kill from the comfort of essentially an office. That the author chooses not to elaborate much on how London ended up having "The Strip" instated is not an unreasonable choice, as the "why" doesn't really matter to the story, but it does make it all the thinner an allegory. It's also somewhat a coming-of-age tale but not so much in a wholesome way.
Overall, not my favourite book. I get what they were going for, and the characters aren't entirely unsympathetic, and I actually quite liked how they played the ending, but on the whole it was mostly just "alright".
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