Surrogate Colony

by Boshra Rasti

In MicroScrep, a post-pandemic world, one politician, Arthur Mills, brings all scientists and engineers together to create a vaccine and rebuild a world where harmony ensues. What results is a society where algorithms control who you marry, who your child is, and what position you have.

Adriana Buckowski is not normal. Her eyes are two different colors, making her less susceptible to the system’s propaganda, she has a unique connection with a boy named Zach, and she has questions. Weird occurrences happen as she gets closer to her Calling Ceremony, where she’ll be given a position. When she finally starts piecing together the twisted motives at play in MicroScrep, she becomes a cog in the wheel of the state. Her only option for survival lies with Zach, and the hope that she will be vindicated through a vigilante group off-grid.

Kindle Edition

Published February 18, 2022

About the author

Boshra was raised in British Columbia, Canada, and after years of working as an expatriate teacher in Qatar, she has returned home to continue her career in education. She earned a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership at Royal Roads University, which proved a fateful blow to her belief in anything hierarchical. However, it did spark her desire to flee from the real world and start writing about other ones. When she is not working to earn a living, she enjoys the escape that reading and writing lend her. She also enjoys physical running—now back in Canada, where the air doesn’t feel like a convection oven, but the hills make up for it.

Reviews

[Tissie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adriana and Zach live in a post-pandemic world called MicroScrep, where everything is regulated by algorithms and paranoia. From the outside, MicroScrep looks like an idyllic place: forget conflicts, forget diseases, forget everything that might upset the citizens. Harmony reigns supreme and unchallenged.

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read the summary for Surrogate Colony I wasn’t sure what to expect but I did know one thing for sure and that was that I had to read it. Oh, and let me tell you once I picked it up I was pulled into its depths and I don’t think I came up for air until the last page was turned.

I sorely enjoyed the story and the world that was created for Surrogate Colony. The descriptions were so vividly written that I could picture it all playing out in my mind as if I was a part of the whole thing. I could see the characters and how they were dressed. I could see Adriana’s bedroom so vividly whenever Zack came for a visit. I could see the labs in all their brightness and glory so to speak so sparkling clean just like their homes.

I loved the plot/storyline of Surrogate Colony it reminded me of The Handmaids Tale and a little bit of Divergent. It reminds me of The Handmaids Tale because like the title states it is a surrogate colony, a place for women to have/carry babies for others. It reminded me of Divergent because they were divided. I mean like everything is chosen for them. Like their life partners, their children, etc… They are matched with the person that is best suited for them.

Surrogate Colony has one twist after another that kept me glued to the pages with wanting to know what was going to happen next. Surrogate Colony had me entranced and under its spell from beginning to end without a dull moment in between. I would really like more of this world and its characters. I do believe that Surrogate Colony has more stories to tell.

I highly recommend Surrogate Colony to all dystopian fans! One-click your copy of Surrogate Colony and step into a whole new world!

[Carissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received a free digital copy via Book Sirens.

“Abusing women” isn’t a genre. There is NO need for this constant unrealistic, medically unsound, bizarrely sexualized violence against women in literature (we get it enough IRL, thank you)- and certainly not in a novel written with the vocabulary, overexplanation, and poor pacing of a middle grade novel. I have no idea what audience this was written for; it is certainly not mature enough, emotionally or in vernacular, for adult readers, but the age range that requires such juvenile language shouldn’t read a book where the protagonist daydreams about getting laid in the first three sentences.

This book legitimately pissed me off. I only finished it so I felt justified leaving a bad review. The characters were indistinguishable. The “rules” of the utopia were copied straight from The Giver and no effort was put into developing a cognizant, believable society. The narration reminded me of watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse- every tiny thought was spoonfed to the reader two and three times. “I think Laura is doing something bad. I am suspicious of Laura. Why do I have emotions? Laura bad.”

For the love of Christ, authors. Heterochromia is a condition which ONLY effects the pigment of irises. Your protagonist doesn’t have special powers because of her heterochromia. If you’re writing an adult book, please know adult science. Heterochromia is already overdone enough in YA without making it a big deal in your book ENTIRELY about fucking.

Dystopia is the genre I was RAISED on. I refuse to acknowledge this novel as dystopian. It’s a poorly disguised rape fantasy wrapped in protofeminist “women can be a bad guy but men are the ultimate evil” nonsense.

[Sandra Vdplaats · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Surrogate Colony

I received a review copy from the author - for which I would like to thank her. This opinion is my own.

This story has all the hallmarks of a classic dystopian sf, but what could have been a good novel is lost on me due to an unbalanced writing style, with lots of repetition, lack of flow writing, and too much telling instead of showing.
The novel seems to be targeting at a young adult audience, - which may well be one of the reasons it didn't tick for me - I couldn't connect with the main characters; the story itself is not very original, themes seem to have been taken from the most popular SF novels, from Brave New World, to the Matched Trilogy and others.
Interesting concept, but didn't convince me.

2.5 stars

[FeralGreenKat · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. The concept was promising. The author has, at times, a really terrific way with words and is descriptive with some genuinely intriguing ideas.

However…

You know that feeling when someone tries in vain to describe a long, exceptionally vivid dream? Bounding from detail to bizarre detail, turning back around, seemingly so difficult to connect? That's kind of how this book read. Great with words, but a story arc akin to one of those theme park roller coasters, complete with jostling and nausea.

Some random and bizarre narrative features include:

Powerful yet somehow vague and unexplained amulet; murder dogs; sludgy rat poo-flooded floors; jars of preserved "manhood;" musical child who seems important but apparently isn't (?); invented monk language that causes delirium; sleepy bark; and a "tiny grenade."

I feel like most of the book could have benefitted with trigger warnings throughout, yet if they had been utilized, they'd be smattered about randomly (e.g. an ambiguous yet disturbing scene featuring an abrupt-yet-somehow-trivial miscarriage--I think? Also a couple of pretty strong statements that may be construed as clueless and/or offensive to a reader who had either suffered pregnancy loss or utilized IVF.)

I received an advance reader copy of this book for free in exchange for my honest review. I had to extend my review "due date" out because it was just really difficult to pick up for over a month. All in all, I'd say the first 20% was sleepy and not particularly engaging, the final 20% was a jumbled mess as though there was a rush to tie a haphazard bow on it, and the middle, while an easier read, was still fairly chaotic and disorganized.

I liked the idea of the story. It simply felt to me as though two or three books had been jammed together and their plots twisted around.

This one wasn't for me--and I have yet to determine who the target audience is--but I think the author has some great ideas that could be fleshed out better in time.

[Daryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the read and feared the outcome of Surrogate Colony.
This futuristic cautionary tale follows two main characters as they strive to lift love as the ultimate essential for survival of the human race instead of data streams in possession of a few unsavory characters.

The novel unfolds first from Adriana Beckwoski, with her two-toned eyes (considered a defect) as she experiences her post-pandemic world of Micro-Screp, under the control of past politician Arthur Mills and the data streams of Harmony. Right away, I want what Adriana desires: connection with a possible true love in a world devoid of touch.

The mixture of numbing and oxytocin drugs given to all citizens doesn’t block the attraction Adriana feels for her brother’s friend, Zack. Adriana and Zack hope to connect as a “Perfect Matched Pair” by Micro-Screp’s Harmony data standards when their “Calling” day commences. The siblings of Adriana and Zack are Cody and Laura. Laura works at the main data base, Harmony, and is the suspected descendant of Micro-Screp’s founding father, Arthur Mills, the activist responsible for creating the vaccination after a plague ravaged through sexual contact. He hid his perversion by drawing attention away from himself and played on people's fear.

The message implies that sexually and human touching is hazardous to society and thus creates the custom of extreme distancing. An example shows in the axiom, “You may hug your bride,” instead of “You may kiss your bride.”

In this futuristic tale, outside the gates of the sanctioned world, ovulating Surrogates are implanted with unnamed sperm orchestrated from Harmony’s algorithms. Surrogates bring their pregnancy to term under life threatening squalor in cold cement buildings. Infants are taken 'inside' to pure perfect paired adoptive parents. But the Surrogates are left to linger in diseased facilities, under hideous conditions and sacrificed to die painful deaths.

Zack is called to be Eunuch by his sister, unbeknown to him. Eunuchs are made unceremoniously by chopping their reproductive organs painfully and left for the strongest to survive in a cold cement building. To make rank in the Eunuch society, each new eighteen-year-old must kill a scientist from the those who have escaped Micro-Screp’s harsh, restrictive edicts and live peaceful lives in loving couples with their biological children in forests kilometers away.

The story of the world’s potential future, so disturbing, at times, I set the book down. Returning to the page, I could have used a name tag to remember which character spoke. The change of tense from present to past and back to present tense confused this reader, though the intrigue of the outcome kept me reading to the end.

I have many questions so I hope Boshra is constructing the sequel. I’m ready to continue the take down of Surrogate Colony, Harmony, and Micro-Scep. Congratulations Boshra
Rasti-Ghalati on your well-constructed and too close for comfort read of a future not so far from a possible reality.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surrogate Colony is a dystopian novel set in a post-pandemic world. Everyone lives in harmony, and sickness no longer seems to exist. Everyone who lives in this world is controlled based on algorithms. People are paired with a marriage partner based on data. They receive a child based on data. Their job is based on data. Everyone is strictly controlled. Citizens are also endowed with X-Ray vision and are required to scan for disease/viruses constantly to make sure they're safe. But the main character. Adriana, has heterochromia, and because of that, she sees things differently. She starts to question the world they live in, and soon, she realizes things may not be as perfect as everyone thinks.
I really enjoyed this novel. I love dystopian fiction, so as soon as I read the synopsis, I knew I wanted to read this. I'm so glad I did. It's really good.
The characters are well-written and seem like real people you might know in real life. The world-building is great, and the imagery it conjures really makes you feel as though you're living in this post-pandemic world too. The plot is engaging and immediately sucks you in, and there are a few twists within the pages to keep you hooked while reading. It also has potential triggers, so sensitive readers may want to proceed with caution.
Surrogate Colony reminded me a bit of the Eve trilogy by Anna Carey, the Matched trilogy by Ally Condie, and even a little bit of Divergent. And, of course, The Handmaid's Tale, but I've never read the books or seen the show (although I know enough about it because I have friends who talk about it).
If you're a fan of dystopian fiction (or any of the books mentioned above), and you're looking for something that will leave you breathless by the end, check out Surrogate Colony. You won't be disappointed.
5 stars!

[Hiren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surrogate Colony is quite unlike many other sci-fi works. The book tries hard to place the reader in a world where advances in science cause many a change in the day-to-day lives of people and lead to new patterns of behavior and etiquette. It doesn't let go of any chance to highlight subtle details that give out the stark differences in what the protagonist of the story expects the world to be and what is actually offered. Plenty of emotions such as love, betrayal, mystery, shock and awe are interspersed at regular intervals.

The plot develops at a swift pace. It leads the reader from situations that are more relatable in one's day-to-day life, to situations that can only be vizualised in a "what-if" setting. The use of scientific terminology has been kept minimal wherever necessary. There is scope for further expansion of the story, although there is definitely a sense of closure at the end, which seems predictable at the outset.

The writer brings out the rebel in the protagonist, who tries hard to avoid conforming to the norm. It provokes the reader repeatedly into thinking how paranoid can society at large be in order to ensure public health safety such that it would fall vulnerable to greater powers so readily.

[Afshan sayed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surrogate Colony is based in a world of survivors’ post pandemic. The few survivors are brought together by a dominating politician, Arthur Mills, who aims to bring a new world order, completely dependent on technology. The society exists based on a system called Harmony that runs on algorithms which decide all major life milestones like marriage, child, etc .
The story follows Adriana and Zach as the main protagonists, and it is hard not to adore their characters. Anyone who questions the system is frowned upon and fortunately or, unfortunately, both the main characters are very curious and intelligent.
I was blown away by the author’s imagination of a futuristic world and to be honest, the possibility of human life dependency on technology is a bit scary.
Personally, I’m not a fan of any form of science fiction, but, I read this book cover to cover in 3 days and loved it. I was very invested in a few more characters that I won’t mention, lest I give away spoilers. I really believe this book will be a future blockbuster movie.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy reading dystopian and thus the reason that I wanted to read this book. In addition, to the fact that the book concept had me very intrigued.

In regards, to main characters, Adriana and Zach, they are very likable and engaging. Except for a few other characters that I liked; the rest were not as likable but the emotions I felt towards them meant that I was still engaged in them.

I have to that admit that I almost gave up on this book several times in the beginning. It just was moving too slowly for me, and I was not really clear on the end game. Yet, I persevered and stuck with this book. It did pick up at the halfway mark and from there I was engaged in the story much better. Overall, I did like this book and would read another one from this author.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Living in a post-pandemic world known as MicroScrep, Zach and Adriana hope to be perfect matched together someday. Love is forbidden and the natural way of life is filled with germs, viruses and disease. A world led to believe that surrogates are to be cherished and worshiped, as they are the creators of the new world. But life isn’t perfect and our two main characters are about to learn an ugly truth.

This book is full of lies and deception. Good and evil. In the current pandemic society of today, this book hits close to home on many sensitive topics. It is not for a weak hearted person to read, as it contains many triggers such as abuse and violence.

The author did a magnificent job of creating an unusual yet believable world. Her characters have lots of depth and strong personalities. She has laid the foundation for a perfect series that shall pull in readers and hold them captive.

I could easily compare this book to the Hunger Games or Maze Runner series. It has the same groundwork style and genre. It is a storyline that entails a ruined society and a person or group of persons who want power, and those who want to stand up and fight. I could easily see this book made into a motion picture.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was an intense and steady paced read that flowed flawlessly. It held my attention from the first “illegal dance” till the very mind blowing end. It was definitely not what I expected going in. I truly cannot wait to see what happens next.

[Anne Secher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review on my blog!

https://thebookdreamersalley.home.blo...

[Mana Shootzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surrogate Colony is an addictive read exploring a thought experiment of 'what would a post-pandemic society look like?' The nation of MicroScrep is one answer to this question. This is a place in which its inhabitants have built-in vision sensors to scan for viruses, access to various prescribed medications to regulate any intense feeling they could experience, and a database run on algorithms to match them to their ideal partner for life. Like any attempt to control a society, MicroScrep has many secrets in maintaining its order underneath the surface. This is what the main characters of the story Adriana and Zach eventually discover as they are coming of age while exploring their feelings for each other.

Boshra Rasti paints several uncanny images with her descriptions to draw a reader in and become enmeshed in the multilayered storyline. The book progresses rapidly and leaves the reader constantly wanting to know what will happen next. This work harkens to themes explored in The Giver, Brave New World, and A Handmade's Tale. The pace and level of suspense are similar to the Hunger Games series. Quite an impressive introductory work by the author and will be looking forward to see what comes next.

[Katrina Fram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book! Reminded me a lot of The Giver by Lois Lowry, but I liked how they dove into how the characters were feeling about everything.

[Lilla Petra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book, the construction of the story is captivating, there were parts (in the middle) when I felt so uncomfortable (because of the tension) that I had to stop reading - I love stories like this.
The writer did an exceptionally great job of creating MicroScrep (a post-pandemic world), it just felt so real. As I mentioned, the whole book was exciting, interesting but the end (the last ~10 pages) felt strange, rushed, it left a lot of questions unanswered.
The book reminded me of Divergent, The Handmaid’s Tale and Black Mirror but I love those dystopian stories so I’m glad I had the opportunity to get to know MicroScrep, too.
Congratulations to Boshra Rasti on the debut novel!

I got this book for free, in exchange for my review.

[Rumana · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s been some time since I read a dystopian novel and this one did not disappoint.

The Surrogate Colony is set in a post pandemic world where its citizens routinely scan their surroundings for microbes using their x-ray vision, carry out extensive sanitization procedures on a day to day basis and look down upon large gatherings. Needless to say, this dystopian world is built on our existing fears - the fear of catching a virus.

The protagonists of the story , Zach and Adriana are chosen to live off the grid. The story that alternates from their points of view, highlight the atrocities that exists in a supposedly peaceful society.

While the threads of the story are beautifully tied towards the end, I did feel that the ending was a bit rushed. Adriana's sudden change of heart I felt, needed a bit more explanation. On the other hand, Isidro's ultimate fate deserved a lot more attention. The time spent with the scientists also needed a bit more chapters to make it wholesome. However do not let this dissuade you from reading the book. It is definitely an absolute treat for both teen and adult readers and as Boshra states in her dedication - "for every innocent questioner and every faultless outcast".

For a detailed review, check out the link below

https://justabookishblogger.com/2022/...

[Sofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did like this story very much, its like a mix of Brave new world, handmaids tale and how icasia bloom touched happiness, this is the kind of dystopia that i like, it seems perfect, but some people realize that not everything is perfect, but how to transmite that to others that may not be as perspective as they are?

Keep in mind this is a world where true love does not exist, people take drugs to have feelings for others, but there's no sex, no kisses nothing of the kind, in other hand they have families, a Boy and a girl are chosen to be together thought an program named Harmony, and what you Will be, if you get to be joined or not, you don't have any saying in that...

But even a society without sex needs babies, and for that they need surrogates, and eunuch, a great honor, or is it?! Well for that you Will have to read.

I did like very much, you have some twists on the story that we didnt have anwser for, but for me it ok, maybe in a Next book.

I got a copy of this book for free and i am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Marilyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a story set in a world that heavily borrows its main ideas from Lois Lowry’s The Giver. However, it very quickly veers off to include two deaths almost immediately after beginning - one grotesque where a young girl is killed, dismembered and then fed to a dog. And once the two main characters are given their fate of being a surrogate and a eunuch things become even more violent with many deaths and beatings and torturous “medical” procedures. Not all of which are clear as to what is happening or why.

There are some interesting kernels to think about but much of the ideas are left hanging and needed some more fleshing out to make the reader care about the experience. Timelines are disjointed and jump rapidly from hours to months back to hours. Characters die but we are just told about it as an aside. There is a “bad” character but we never get to really know her or why she does what she does. There are MANY characters that felt like they were sketched in ever so briefly so again, we never really understand them so we don’t care when they die or just stop showing up on the page. The reason as to WHY surrogates are immediately infected and made so sick as to often die during their pregnancy (as well as their babies with it) made zero sense to me. It was repeated over and over that this is the way it is but I couldn’t comprehend the logic of that. The reason for WHY some men were made eunuchs was also unclear to me. If this society is so easily controlled by medication would medical castration not be as effective as barbarically hacking off the genitals? And what is the reason for doing it without anesthesia? In the book they are tied to a table. Hacked at and left to live or die without any further medical care. Wouldn’t infection rates be sky-high and the population would drop drastically because all of the eunuchs and surrogates and embryos are dying in these fetid conditions? These eunuchs and surrogates are theoretically important to keep the society continuing but they die at a rate that would not be sustainable. There are a ton of gaps in reason in this story.

The ending is beyond fast-paced to be supersonic and just speeds through escape, confrontation and then an ending … that ends in a bit of a cliff-hanger.

If the author had employed an editor or even beta readers who were willing to give more push-back on their readings this could have been a more engaging book that really makes the reader consider a future controlled by government and medication. But in the end this story that takes its best ideas from a classic novel and then drops the ball in its delivery.

[Shannon Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enthralling, Gripping, Realistic, Page Turner!

Even before I finished the first chapter I was hooked! This story was entirely addictive, everything about it was so real Adriana's intrigue about relationships and life before "MicroScrep" the pull & emotional connection felt between Zach & Adriana. As I continued to read unable to put the book down I started to get "vibes" about certain characters you know what I mean who I liked & didn't who was a good guy and who wasn't such a good guy.

Before I knew it I was so emursed in the story line & the world of MicroScrep that I felt like I was along for the ride as one of the characters!

While reading this story I was completely transported to another time & place where I felt the isolation, adrenaline, the fear, excitement and of course the absolute terror as well as the earth shattering heart break that the characters felt throughout the novel. This was definitely a story that does not disappoint, it was engaging and keep the pages flying by till the end. When I got to the end (which I simply did not ever want to get to, this was a novel I could have read for weeks & still been excited to open each day!) I simply couldn't wait to get to the next book which is always a great sign & refreshing.

I honestly can't say anything bad about this book I think Boshra Rasti-Ghalati is a wonderful writer & very talented I enjoyed this novel immensely I sincerely hope she continues her writing career I will be posting my review of her book as much as I possibly can!

I will be rating this book as a 5/5 because it was Creative, Original, Fascinating & kept the reader engaged and wanting more throughout! Also the character development was amazing, you fall in love with the two main characters, you love to strongly dislike the "bad guys" & then there are so many supporting characters that you just adore or are a tad suspicious of wondering Humm? But the story is absolutely perfect the way it is and how it's told through the eye's of Zach & Adriana…. Bravo

I would like to sincerely thank Booksirens, Atmosphere Press & Boshra Rasti-Ghalati for the ARC of this phenomenal novel. I have written this review voluntarily and was under no obligation to do so, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[S. Jeyran Main · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surrogate Colony is a sci-fi dystopian story set in a post-pandemic world where everything is controlled by x-ray vision and is databased. Adrian Buckowski is a young woman living amongst others but, for some reason, is dissimilar. Her eyes are different, the medications don’t work on her, and she constantly questions things.
As we all know, questions always bring compelling circumstances, and that causes complications; however, in addition to all that, Adrian falls in love with Zach, but they aren’t supposed to. As you get to understand the world-building and read along, everyone is matched to wed. This becomes a possibility of disturbance, and Zach tries his best to make this happen. This creates the premise of the story.

The characters are well created and meshed together. Their personalities and agenda are clear from the beginning. The story’s pace is steady, and you are constantly introduced to something new. This enables the reader to hope and want more. I enjoyed reading this book and felt that there was much room to expand on the storyline.

I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Adeeba Jafri]

In Surrogate Colony, Boshra Rasti creates a dystopian world where individuals and family units are predetermined by a database, interestingly called “Harmony.” Every child is inserted with a chip at birth that collects information about their whereabouts (no more missing children!) and also allows them the ability to scan for potential viruses. For a reader that is just trying to survive in a pandemic world, the life depicted by Rasti seems too good to be true!

From the start of the book, we are introduced to Adriana, the main protagonist. Through hers and Zach’s POV, we see the flaws and discrepancies of the Microsep system. As the plot continues, we see that the face of true evil is not always apparent and how small kindnesses are a true testament to the human spirit.

[Molly Harris · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a very quick read about a dystopian time following a pandemic. The two main characters, Zach and Adriana, begin to question everything that they have ever been told when they start to notice that things are not right. As they get assigned their duties once they are 18, they want to try to escape and go "off-grid" but know it won't be as easy as they hope.

The story line and plot seemed to pull major aspects from the Divergent series as well as The Handmaids Tale, to the point that it became extremely predictable. There was very little extra detail and the story was very jumpy in terms of how it flowed.

[Rebecca Benson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. There was so much going on with this book and I felt the timeline was confusing. It was like a few days than all of a sudden nine months than a few days again.

The idea is interesting overall but has elements of other typical dystopian novels. I would have liked more development of the characters in the beginning to really solidify their place in the novel. Even though Laura was a bad guy, there wasn’t enough for me to really feel that.

[Deedra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This sounded like a book I would like. I didn;t.Right from the beginning the narration was dull and seemed no effort was put into it. Maybe that was the way it was intended to sound like but I lost interest fast.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Ellie Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

~About

Miscroscrep controls the lives of all humans who live within their colonies, with ‘Harmony’, a system based on data compatibility, deciding people’s futures. People are matched romantically according to such data and babies are grown within surrogates and assigned to their perfect family match.

Within one such colony lives Adriana, a curious young woman who suspects that something isn’t quite right when her brother’s fiancé allows a large dog to attack a young girl. Oddly enough, the more Adriana looks into things, the more people try to convince her that everything is fine.

With Adriana and her best friend Zach soon to receive their callings (life roles), each fears being separated from the other in a world which makes little sense.

Will they uncover the secrets being hidden from the citizens of Microscrep?
And can they do anything to change their lives in a system where everything is pre-determined?


~Characters

Firstly, I’d like to discuss Adriana, a young woman whose curiosity is far from valued in a society where asking questions is deemed wildly inappropriate. She often speaks her mind, much to the dismay of others, and has heterochromia, marking her out in the colony by her mismatched coloured eyes. In a world where genetic perfection is supposed to be assured, she is a surreal blip on the colony’s radar. In addition, Adriana is naively idealistic, hoping for a better future than the one that has been predicted for her. She also proves to be strong willed and brave, doing whatever she can to protect the man she loves, Zach, as well as herself.

Secondly, I’d like to talk about Zach, Adriana’s best friend and crush. He also has a curious mind and is deeply caring and empathetic. He seeks to protect Adriana wherever he can, fearing any harm coming to her. As a particularly sensitive young man, I felt myself drawn to his character, admiring his courage and loyalty, even in the face of great danger to himself.

Finally, I’d like to discuss Laura, Zach’s sister as chosen by the Harmony system. She represented Microscrep on a micro-level, symbolizing all they stand for: strict adherence to the rules, apparent genetic perfection, and deception. Laura proved to be an insensitive and selfish individual from the start, something we are made privy to when she allows a dog to inflict great harm on an innocent child. Laura works for Microscrep’s government as a state scientist and will do absolutely anything to get what she wants. As such, she was easy to hate, having no redeeming qualities whatsoever.


~Positive Aspects

There was much to like when it came to Surrogate Colony, details of which are included below.

-I liked the book’s opening dedication: ‘For every innocent questioner, for every faultless outcast.’

-I also liked how the story switches back and forth between Adriana and Zach’s main point of views, allowing us to view the story’s events through each of their eyes.

-The first person, present tense narration was well executed, a form of narration which is usually quite hard to pull off.

-The world-building is done well, giving us a little bit of detail at a time. The world itself was intriguing and prompted numerous questions in my mind about its inner workings, while successfully painting the picture of a corrupt, controlling authoritarian society.

-The characters felt real and have clear goals, which are expressed throughout the story.

-There’s a deep sense of the need for survival within this story’s pages. The very essence of what it means to be human, or inhumane is explored, contrasting those who seek answers and aim to do good with those who deceive and aim to constrict people’s free will.

-The plot was clear and exciting. There wasn’t too much going on and everything was causally-linked, making it easy to understand the character’s motivations.

-The story was deeply, emotionally moving, tugging on my heartstrings at every opportunity. The author made me empathize deeply with the character’s plights, enabling me to better root for their success.

-I especially loved the author’s style of writing as it was clear and simple, emotional yet concise.

-Finally, the tension-building was gradual and well-executed, making me eager to find out what would come next.


~Memorable quotes

Five quotes stood out to me while reading Surrogate Colony.

1) ‘Everybody belongs to everyone-else. Blood does not matter. Love- pure, clean love- for all of society is idealized.’

2) ‘Just as it is natural to have pain, it is natural to adapt once conditions are different.’

3) ‘It’s interesting how one can emotionally shut off when it’s necessary for survival.’

4) ‘Control and power in the wrong hands are as dangerous as the most pestilent disease that can be created.’

5) ‘The ones who question; they get rid of us.’


~Overview

Overall, I found Surrogate Colony to be a wonderful and gripping thriller experience. It explores natural aspects of humanity such as romantic relationships and how authorities attempt to control them. It also provided a close up look at how government propaganda can enslave people, shaping their views and daily lives in a way that defies free will.

Themes included: power and control, technology, survival, and deception.

My Rating: 5 stars.
Recommended to: lovers of suspenseful, gut-wrenching dystopian novels.

[Boshra Rasti]

Poet and short-story writer Boshra Rasti’s SURROGATE COLONY is a solid first novel with an intriguing pandemic-related premise that fleshes out an alternate reality. It is also a sensitively drawn love story in a world where love beyond social strictures is no longer safe.

IR Approved
Science Fiction
Posted by Ellen G
|
February 18, 2022
SURROGATE COLONY is a dystopian novel about a highly controlled post-pandemic society.
Adriana doesn’t quite fit in MicroScrep. Born, imperfectly, with heterochromia, she sees both too little and too much. Her standard-issue X-ray vision, used to scan for viruses, is flawed—she is also less susceptible to social propaganda. She tries dutifully to live right, despite her curiosity and inappropriate affection for her friend Zach. Zach, also an inquisitive soul, is too deeply fond of Adriana to suit social protocols. Zach and Adriana hope that Harmony will make them a Perfect Matched Pair, meshing their lives with the children society would provide them through the highly valued MicroScrepian surrogates. But their mild, unradical idiosyncrasies and their proximity to Zach’s soulless, powerful sister Laura is too much. All too soon they are led into greater danger than they could have ever imagined.

Character relationships and their place in a radically dystopic society drive Boshra Rasti’s SURROGATE COLONY. Rasti’s choice to let Adriana and Zach tell the story offers an intimacy that effectively counterpoints the controlled MicroScrepian world. Adriana and Zach speak to readers in their innocent, warm-hearted voices from orderly, frightening, deceitful MicroScrep. The secondary characters are also compelling. While the motivation for Laura’s violent hostility is somewhat murky, she is delightfully and relentlessly evil. And Adriana’s mother deserves a special callout; her buoyant enthusiasm for the social order provides a subtle comic edge that enriches the story.

Dystopian novels often double as cautionary tales in which an idea meant to save society has gone too far. Sometimes a well-intentioned idea, drifting to a worst logical conclusion leads to environmental devastation; often, as in SURROGATE COLONY, the well-intentioned idea has led to gravely overbalanced social control and a loss of individualism. In MicroScrepian history, the virus led to death and loss, which led to efforts to ensure a healthy population and to an entrenched fear of viral particles. Fear of viral particles has led to engrained rules against uncontrolled human contact. There are echoes here of Johnson and Nolan’s 1967 novel Logan’s Run, as well as Margaret Atwood’s A Handmaid’s Tale. In an additional brutal irony, MicroScrep has replaced physical degradation by means of a virus with physical degradation by human design.

Poet and short-story writer Boshra Rasti’s SURROGATE COLONY is a solid first novel with an intriguing pandemic-related premise that fleshes out an alternate reality. It is also a sensitively drawn love story in a world where love beyond social strictures is no longer safe.

~Ellen Graham for IndieReader

[Emma Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was sent an ARC by the authors, and I was very excited to read this book. Science fiction is not a genre I tend to gravitate to, but because so many of my friends have read the genre, I find myself reading it more every passing year.

I can see the different books and tropes that the Surrogate Colony takes inspiration from, and I am not one to say that makes a book bad or good because we have all borrowed things from other books; it is what we do with those ideas and tropes that are universally shared that can make or break a book. I did enjoy the book, and I would read the second one. I would give it a 2.5, a very middle-of-the-road rating, but I can't give that on Goodreads. I think this lays the foundations for a very interesting world, and for a debut novel, I think it is a well-crafted book with an exciting concept. Where I struggled the most was I couldn't seem to care about the characters. I wanted to really badly, and I have yet to be able to find the disconnect; it very well could be on my end and the feelings I have towards the genre rather than a reflection on Rasti's writing.

I found myself constantly wondering why things were happening, said, or being pointed out by the character, which led to questions I didn't have answers to, but I think that piqued my interest to read the second book.

Overall the book was good. I found the concept interesting, and it leads to many opportunities for development both in world-building and character development. I hope any loose ends in the first book are tied together in the second.

[TaniaRina · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOVE me a good dystopia. The author brings in some old skool “barbarity” that we do nowadays to give the reader a sense of scene and of time. As in WHY society is what it is.

There are a few hints here and there of discontent, discord, and distress to foreshadow that something’s gotta give.
Some creepy quotes:
‘Pain is temporary. Honor is lifelong.’
‘He served by offering up his body.’
‘Stop thinking; too much thinking is against nature.’
‘Desperation breeds innovation.’

MicroScrep’s citizens are drugged and indoctrinated to the point of ‘Brave New World’; they behave like ‘The Stepford Wives’ even though the family unit has been ripped apart then reconstructed using Harmony algorithms (similar to ‘The Giver’). The masses have an unseen enemy in the scientists who worked on a vaccination for a sexually-transmitted plague at the time of MicroScrep’s founding. The scientists’ descendants live outside the system and are fair game for genocide since they represent the exact opposite of the MicroScrep way of life.


Oh, wait. Omg! Isn’t there a dating app/site called eHarmony? I’d probably stay away from that if I were you…


Let me check out ‘Surrogate Code’ and let you know if it’s safe yet to drink the water.

[Michele Benchouk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surrogate Colony is another young adult dystopian novel that appears to delve into a post-apocalyptic world where the human experience is much more sterile -- in terms of life choices, reproduction, and actual scanning regularly for pathogens. We, like the MicroScrepians, are fed a story about what life must be like... until we find out that the government has an agenda and is lying to us all. Things are much darker than they seem. There was a truly disturbing scene involving a child in this novel, but I'm glad the author had the courage to go there and not tone down the evil. There were several cases where I expected the story to turn one way, but kept finding myself saying "wow. we are really going there." Definitely not predictable.

Despite the challenges, this novel presents a view of several different kinds of love -- that between siblings, newlyweds, parents and children, longtime friends -- and the challenges that arise when that love is not as expected. The sci-fi aspects, while soft, add to the intrigue. And then the rug gets pulled out from under our protagonists Adriana and Zach. What a ride.

Recommended reading!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Maheen · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Rating: 4.5


In my Opinion, this book has all the makings of a Black Mirror episode. I will try not to give much spoilers as I have a lot to say.
Surrogate Colony is a story set in the future after the pandemic in which the world is now known as MicroScerp. The main characters in this book are Adrianna and Zach, who believe they live in a perfect world where everything is stored in Harmony (a database that collects biological and social data) and their future is determined based on that. A world without crime, where people scan each other with their eyes to check for viruses using modern medicine, and many other fascinating things.

Zach and Adrianna began to develop feelings for each other, which was not normal in the world they were living in because these were the preposterous acts done by the Pre-MicroScerpians. One day, due to some unfortunate events they discover MicroScerp's dark side and decide to expose them. Along the way, they witness and experience some of the injustices that many citizens have faced including brutal torture. They uncover many lies, lose some family and friends, and go through horrific events in order to escape this ostensibly "perfect life."

This book did remind me a bit of The Handmaid’s Tale. Overall, this is a well-written and thought-out book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book with mixed emotions, specially towards the end. It is a must read specially for those who are into Sci-Fic and Dystopian Stories.