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The Watchers
“The poor who assembled from these neighborhoods were a completely heterogeneous mix of white, black and brown, for although racism and sexism and all the other forms of disability allocation were in bygone days a primary mode of exploitation, now it was mere artifact. This machine didn’t discriminate. It cast it’s predatory eye equally upon any person who stumbled, anyone who became sick, injured or sad. Orphaned minors, the mentally ill, the elderly, used up soldiers, the unemployed, political dissidents, criminals and crime victims alike, these were all food. In short, the machine had one sole It ate people and shat out money.”This is the Old Earth, fifteen years from now. Sometime during the year 2020, the Earth split into two Half of the world’s population remained on the Old Earth—a hot, rapidly devolving savage Capitalist police state. The other half moved to the New Earth, where humanity worked together to “engineer out” world problems to create a money free, sharing Utopia.The Watchers are the only humans on the New Earth who remember the split and the Old Earth. It is their unasked for duty to make sure the horrors of the Old Earth never happen again.This is an easy task until an omen appears and locks a Watcher named Benedick inside his house. It is a fulfillment of an ancient The New Earth is still connected to the Old and as the Old Earth self-destructs, it threatens to take the New Earth down with it. In a story that leaps from Portland to Amsterdam, Detroit and São Paulo, Zehava brings into focus the best and the worst of a world in transition.
503 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 29, 2020
5 people are currently reading
549 people want to read
About the author
A.Z. Zehava
2 books14 followersA.Z. Zehava is an author, permaculturist, and healer living in Portland, Oregon with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 28, 2020
I don’t know where to start to comment about this book, probably because at times the book seemed very disjointed to me. I gave it 3 stars because some parts I didn’t like or understand and some parts I did understand and still didn’t like. I did enjoy the book towards the end because it finally was clear where this book was headed, something that was not true for most of the story.
I would read a bit than put it down and find something, anything, else to do. At times I stopped because I was bored but also at times I stopped to think about what I had read.
I did not exactly dislike the book but I found it a difficult read and thus could not say I completely enjoyed reading it. Other readers will probably disagree with me but this is my review and my feelings about this book.
I won this book in a First Reads giveaway. Thank you to the author A.Z. Zehava.
I would read a bit than put it down and find something, anything, else to do. At times I stopped because I was bored but also at times I stopped to think about what I had read.
I did not exactly dislike the book but I found it a difficult read and thus could not say I completely enjoyed reading it. Other readers will probably disagree with me but this is my review and my feelings about this book.
I won this book in a First Reads giveaway. Thank you to the author A.Z. Zehava.
November 24, 2022
The Watchers was listed as a horror story, but it is really in the science-fiction genre.
It is a story in which a 30s something woman (Mina) in Ireland, travels to a remote forest area in order to deliver a parrot for a friend of hers. She is a sketch artist and gets by with little side-jobs such as this bird delivery.
She is given an old map which does not help her find her way. Her car stops dead in the road. She then begins to walk through the forest area to find a house or another way back to civilization. It is getting dark, she sees a light near a 'house'. As she approaches the door opens and its owner, Madeline shouts for her to hurry, to run as fast as she can or she will be locked out in the nightwoods which is run amuck with Ireland's mythical l creatures, The Watchers.
Thus, begins her odyssey in the COOP. This is a concrete steel habitation with floor to ceiling reinforced plexiglass windows. Within the Coop, a harsh glaring light illuminates its rooms and inhabitants. The other people are Dan, a young man who's motorbike stopped on the forest road as did Mina's car. There is Ciara, a young newly wed whose husband had left to seek help (and he has since been killed by the creatures, known as the watchers.)
Life begins for these few humans with only a small amount of time outside to forage food and water during the daylight hours. (The Watchers do not attack in the daylight.) And, during the nighttime, the COOP must be ablaze in light in order for the creatures to know they are inside. If the Watchers do not see them, they begin attacking the glass.
So, begins the year or so of this misadventure for this foursome. Madeline, a somber, thin older woman is the 'leader' of the group protects them and teaches them how to live out their time in the Coop. She is dour and tight-lipped, rarely showing any kindness. Mina is the brains of the group she watches the Watchers. Young Ciara is too busy weeping over her husband's death to help, and Dan seems to be continuously bullied by Madeline. He seems to have an image of himself as being belittled by his father, now Madeline. Mina wants for survive and return to life.
So, yes the group escapes. They return to their old lives, only three make it out. The group are all tight, fast friends. Each of them experiencing PTSD from their ordeal.
So, the plot gets a bit complicated and there is not really any 'happily ever after'. I won't spoil the book by going into detail of the Post-Coop life. It is very surprising, but Mina has it all figured out.
The true theme of this book is the Watchers - creatures who continually watch. There is a lot of dialog about mirrors and window reflections, dark and light. The characters reflect on their images and have self-assessments continually. The idea of HOW one is perceived by others is another idea in this story. And, how all humanity has become used to being watched: via CCTV, the neighbors, the people who Mina sketches. It also has a lot of 'self-dialog' of its characters (many chapters exclusively one character's thoughts). The reader never really gets a true handle on the characters motivations. Each has an inner self and an outer self. It shows that Society has forced mankind to rely on images (computer screens, views from windows, personal perceptions). But, for whose benefit? Mina's images (and all of society) has become fish in a fishbowl. So, the theme of this is really how society has whittled down our own perceptions and made them into perceptions ACCEPTABLE to a norm of 'Big Brother'?
Thus, this is truly a refined science-fiction with horror throughout. Not only are there real monsters, but the monsters we have created and accepted as normal.
It is a story in which a 30s something woman (Mina) in Ireland, travels to a remote forest area in order to deliver a parrot for a friend of hers. She is a sketch artist and gets by with little side-jobs such as this bird delivery.
She is given an old map which does not help her find her way. Her car stops dead in the road. She then begins to walk through the forest area to find a house or another way back to civilization. It is getting dark, she sees a light near a 'house'. As she approaches the door opens and its owner, Madeline shouts for her to hurry, to run as fast as she can or she will be locked out in the nightwoods which is run amuck with Ireland's mythical l creatures, The Watchers.
Thus, begins her odyssey in the COOP. This is a concrete steel habitation with floor to ceiling reinforced plexiglass windows. Within the Coop, a harsh glaring light illuminates its rooms and inhabitants. The other people are Dan, a young man who's motorbike stopped on the forest road as did Mina's car. There is Ciara, a young newly wed whose husband had left to seek help (and he has since been killed by the creatures, known as the watchers.)
Life begins for these few humans with only a small amount of time outside to forage food and water during the daylight hours. (The Watchers do not attack in the daylight.) And, during the nighttime, the COOP must be ablaze in light in order for the creatures to know they are inside. If the Watchers do not see them, they begin attacking the glass.
So, begins the year or so of this misadventure for this foursome. Madeline, a somber, thin older woman is the 'leader' of the group protects them and teaches them how to live out their time in the Coop. She is dour and tight-lipped, rarely showing any kindness. Mina is the brains of the group she watches the Watchers. Young Ciara is too busy weeping over her husband's death to help, and Dan seems to be continuously bullied by Madeline. He seems to have an image of himself as being belittled by his father, now Madeline. Mina wants for survive and return to life.
So, yes the group escapes. They return to their old lives, only three make it out. The group are all tight, fast friends. Each of them experiencing PTSD from their ordeal.
So, the plot gets a bit complicated and there is not really any 'happily ever after'. I won't spoil the book by going into detail of the Post-Coop life. It is very surprising, but Mina has it all figured out.
The true theme of this book is the Watchers - creatures who continually watch. There is a lot of dialog about mirrors and window reflections, dark and light. The characters reflect on their images and have self-assessments continually. The idea of HOW one is perceived by others is another idea in this story. And, how all humanity has become used to being watched: via CCTV, the neighbors, the people who Mina sketches. It also has a lot of 'self-dialog' of its characters (many chapters exclusively one character's thoughts). The reader never really gets a true handle on the characters motivations. Each has an inner self and an outer self. It shows that Society has forced mankind to rely on images (computer screens, views from windows, personal perceptions). But, for whose benefit? Mina's images (and all of society) has become fish in a fishbowl. So, the theme of this is really how society has whittled down our own perceptions and made them into perceptions ACCEPTABLE to a norm of 'Big Brother'?
Thus, this is truly a refined science-fiction with horror throughout. Not only are there real monsters, but the monsters we have created and accepted as normal.
October 13, 2020
Received copy thru #GoodreadsGiveaways
There's a lot I could write about this book. Initial impressions are not always accurate. Sometimes, you find a jewel in among the stones.
First the not so great: I would have probably given this 5 stars if not for the poor editing. AND, the fact that the first third of this book felt like disjointed preaching. If the first 33% could be edited down and the content tightened, so that I didn't feel 'lost' by random scenes, I would have felt a connection sooner. Also: Caveat Emptor~ this is a book designed to reflect a more liberal aspect of current politics. If you do not come to this with an open mind, you probably will not like it.
I however, enjoyed the book starting around 34%. It was as if something 'clicked' and the Zehava found her stride. Suddenly 2001 Space Odyssey got a re-boot and I started to feel part of a story, There was still quite a bit of scene jumping, esoteric concepts and 'liberal' rants; but Zehava still manages to make a convincing argument for the changes she advocates.
Imagine Utopia (New Earth). Within that, is a group of people who remember Not Utopia (Old Earth). Having arrived in Utopia 15 years earlier, they set about documenting their 'before' lives. In doing so, they try to justify a higher purpose: learn from history so you don't repeat it. It takes a while for this to become clear. A murder triggers events in Utopia while simultaneously pulling key characters back to a corrupt, alternate Old Earth. Transition between scenes is often abrupt & can be disaffecting, leaving the reader to read back to double-check the previous events. Continuity suffers in many places of the story which would have benefited from better editing.
Overall, I have to say this is a story I could recommend with caveats:
1. There is very much a political agenda: however, if you can set aside prejudice & read with an open mind, you will find Zehava has given a lot of thought and is passionate about alternatives that quite simply are not working.
2. Zehava has some editing issues which can detract from the flow of the story. If you can work through those, there is a great story. In the hands of a good editor, this would be a great story.
3. The author presents concepts that are foreign to some; but are actually quite old. Be careful not to get bogged down in the definition of words. It is very obvious what we've been doing as a nation is not working. So do we continue doing what is broken? Or look at possible alternatives?
Zehava does a great job of presenting alternatives. These may be radical to some, but given time to digest, not only make sense; but, are already part of American culture. Socialism has been part of our economy for over 100 years. Farmer's co-operatives, public schools, social security among others. Is it such a leap to include medicine? Employment? Even, imprisonment?
I had a hard time deciding on 3 stars v. 4. Ultimately, I found I enjoyed the last 2/3rds of the book enough and found Zehava's handling of options enjoyable enough to finish reading last night -all night. 3.5 stars rounding up.
There's a lot I could write about this book. Initial impressions are not always accurate. Sometimes, you find a jewel in among the stones.
First the not so great: I would have probably given this 5 stars if not for the poor editing. AND, the fact that the first third of this book felt like disjointed preaching. If the first 33% could be edited down and the content tightened, so that I didn't feel 'lost' by random scenes, I would have felt a connection sooner. Also: Caveat Emptor~ this is a book designed to reflect a more liberal aspect of current politics. If you do not come to this with an open mind, you probably will not like it.
I however, enjoyed the book starting around 34%. It was as if something 'clicked' and the Zehava found her stride. Suddenly 2001 Space Odyssey got a re-boot and I started to feel part of a story, There was still quite a bit of scene jumping, esoteric concepts and 'liberal' rants; but Zehava still manages to make a convincing argument for the changes she advocates.
Imagine Utopia (New Earth). Within that, is a group of people who remember Not Utopia (Old Earth). Having arrived in Utopia 15 years earlier, they set about documenting their 'before' lives. In doing so, they try to justify a higher purpose: learn from history so you don't repeat it. It takes a while for this to become clear. A murder triggers events in Utopia while simultaneously pulling key characters back to a corrupt, alternate Old Earth. Transition between scenes is often abrupt & can be disaffecting, leaving the reader to read back to double-check the previous events. Continuity suffers in many places of the story which would have benefited from better editing.
Overall, I have to say this is a story I could recommend with caveats:
1. There is very much a political agenda: however, if you can set aside prejudice & read with an open mind, you will find Zehava has given a lot of thought and is passionate about alternatives that quite simply are not working.
2. Zehava has some editing issues which can detract from the flow of the story. If you can work through those, there is a great story. In the hands of a good editor, this would be a great story.
3. The author presents concepts that are foreign to some; but are actually quite old. Be careful not to get bogged down in the definition of words. It is very obvious what we've been doing as a nation is not working. So do we continue doing what is broken? Or look at possible alternatives?
Zehava does a great job of presenting alternatives. These may be radical to some, but given time to digest, not only make sense; but, are already part of American culture. Socialism has been part of our economy for over 100 years. Farmer's co-operatives, public schools, social security among others. Is it such a leap to include medicine? Employment? Even, imprisonment?
I had a hard time deciding on 3 stars v. 4. Ultimately, I found I enjoyed the last 2/3rds of the book enough and found Zehava's handling of options enjoyable enough to finish reading last night -all night. 3.5 stars rounding up.
October 1, 2020
Very nice
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews