Far Out

by Fiona Faith Ross

Saffron's father has been grouchy since her mother died of fever after they moved to the Seaweed Slum. Life there could send anyone of the cliff edge, but Dad is all Saffron has in the world and she prays to Infinity the patrols won't catch him when he sneaks off on his secret missions. Dad was an astronautics engineer in his heyday, and his obsession with space junk gives metal fatigue a whole new meaning. That stuff is a waste of space. Dad could be doing better things with his time.
Hippie Hermione scrapes by with her quack medicine and her stinky meat pies, but Saffron has ambitions. She will qualify as an herbalist and create delicious cosmetics and perfumes for the rich people in Server City. Hermione offers to coach Saffron for the exam, but Hermione's methods don't ring true. Her strawberry dreadlocks, black fingernails and pothead lifestyle are vile, and her recipes stink like rancid rats tails.
Sophisticated Marianne the master herbalist is the new neighbour. Dad invites her to tea, but for Saffron the tea party is a disaster. First Marianne steals Nigel's heart and he squirms round her ankles like a pole dancer; then the woman tells her she won't pass her exam under Hermione's tuition. Saffron's father has absolutely no resistance to the woman's charms. Their cosy hearts-and-flowers club leaves Saffron out in the cold. Dad and Marianne? At their age? It's disgusting.
Student Nate the astrophysicist seeks the engineer's help to rescue his space probe, snagged on a defunct satellite in the junk orbit. Unaware the servants are watching him, Nate brings trouble and the three of them have to leg it to Astro Station in Cornwall, where Saffron discovers what is running rings round her father. Curly-haired Nate makes Saffron's head spin and her stomach fizz and it's quite obvious he's starry-eyed about her. Grumpy old Dad might not approve, but he'll just have to grow up. For Infinity's sake, she's not a child anymore; she'll turn eighteen in December. When Astro Station becomes too dangerous he sends her to the slum for safety, but he won't tell her why. Instead, he's arranged for her to stay at predatory Marianne's; the last place in the universe she wants to be. Nate has dumped her. Life is as sparkly as a soggy biscuit.
Titan sends a bouquet of flowers as insipid as a cup of seaweed tea. Who would send anyone dead flowers, Saffron wants to know, but she learns flowers have a language and they bring a coded message. Nate is trapped and the servants have arrested her father. Marianne and Saffron venture into the deadly city to discover what they can, but the plan goes wrong. Wandering the metropolis at night and evading the robo-guards, Saffron risks talking to Nate on his contact disc. He is thin and exhausted. She asks about her father, but Nate says he is on the machines and he can't tell her any more. If Saffron wants to see Nate and her father alive again, first she must survive the dangers of the city and find them.

215 pages, Paperback

First published January 10, 2013

About the author

Full time copywriter, fiction and screenwriter. I live amongst the witches, spirits and ghouls of the UK's south coast.

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I write Teen & YA under Fiona Faith Ross, and Paranormal, Supernatural & Ghost Horror under F. F. Ross.

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Reviews

[Helen Baggott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saffron lives a hard life. She has none of the comforts that a 17 year-old in our world might take for granted. Second-hand clothes, the taste of a juicy pear, fresh water – these are the luxuries of the 22nd century. But this isn’t a bleak tale – the author doesn’t fall into a trap of demanding pity from the reader.

As Saffron joins her father in the fight against the Servers, this novel develops into a subtly moralistic and hopeful story. There’s delight in the common hedgerow, of connecting with the power and potency of natural remedies. Modern technology allows for a new level of communication, but Saffron’s a young girl that realises there are more important matters than communication via holograms.

I found the story complex and interesting; the author manages to engage the reader by weaving threads and ideas that are timeless – family, commitment, love and freedom. Those are key to any age.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Far Out stands out because y'know, the title says it all... Lil' far out, or something... That river ain't even connected to the mainstream *dramatic arm gestures* WHAT MIGHT BE OUT THERE... far, far out? (loc 1073).
he premise was intriguing but I'll admit it didn't sound really 'far out' or unique. It is.
Themes run through which involve flower language/herbs, a subject which I have never seen touched in such an enlightening but not overwhelming way. OK, I've never seen it mentioned in any books either but it a nice element. 'Far Out' had many areas in which there was a large quantity of action; these bits were fast-paced but calm was never too far away. The story is more complex than a novel bouncing between calm and action and this isn't the only contrast. There's hippie's but they have nothing to do with the method of communication which is "thoughts"... Technology rules and global warming has turned England into outdoor swimming pool weather (I imagine, none were mentioned). It may have been set in a slum. Funnily enough the world was built strongly but the chalets and caravans never felt like the worst place to be or the worst of it all... Sure, the setting was realized but it seemed like help was never far away in the slums. The opinion I'm trying to express is basically that there wasn't a lot of conflict. I'm not saying there has to be a spartan society but I expected to see motives and perhaps something more bleak whereas what I saw was the result of a blend of the coming-of-age plot and a place where high hopes exist.
Saffron did obtain knowledge of herself and she definitely wasn't cut out to be a heroine. In all truth, she was too self-focused and reacted in such bizarre ways (in my opinion). For example, how many teenage protagonist's wet themselves? Saffron wasn't even in a particularly frightening scenario & there she was, completely erasing her dignity & she hadn't even needed the toilet.

To view the GIF head over to Amy Bookworm's blog

I think I should have more sympathy for her but I don't have a spare spine to hand! I really wanted to like her as I know she was a nice person and was finding herself but boy, I had a critical response for her.
All I could think was that Nate really should have bought her some... She's almost 18! Her reactions aren't always pathetic but I wouldn't call her brave. She's not witty, not rough around the edges, not depressed, she doesn't hyperventilate or feel queasy so my empathising was really not surfacing. She seemed to have a bit of a wide-eyed "delicate" personality which didn't really appeal to me.
Even if Saffron didn't seem realistic to me most of 'Far Out' was realistic. The technology was believable and the society had turmoil for a reason even if it isn't crystal clear, perplexing history is better than absence of how it came to be which is why I think the world building was established boldly.

Far Out is an vivid, unusual tale with successful world-building which makes it a fairly super read.

[Susan Lulgjuraj · Rating 4 out of 5]

The future never looks bright. There is a huge gap between the have and have-nots, life is a struggle with a constant surveillance to ensure you're following the rules.

But ... but there is always some semblance of hope.

Far Out is another book that takes place in a dystopian future. Problems arose from issues with genetically modified food and overpopulation where the world’s economy collapsed. Now, herbal studies is one of the great careers as the earth slowly becomes sustainable again.

Saffron is the main character. She worries about her father who seems to leave for days at a time while on a secret mission. She doesn't ask too many questions because she wants to have plausible deniability if the patrol ever finds out.

Saffron soon learns there is whole world out there that is working against the machines -- oh, I forgot to mention that machines tend to rule with humans following their whims. Man vs. machine -- another common theme found in Far Out.

The book, however, focuses on Saffron's growth. She's 17 years old and at a crossroads in life. She has spent her life taking care of her father and those around her without giving much thought to herself. It's apparent early on when she gets a dog and would sooner give the puppy the last of the food without eating anything for herself.

But like many teenagers, she suffers from rash and impulsive feelings. As Saffron realizes the world is bigger and badder than the slum she is living in, her views tend to change. Life isn't just about her anymore, but finding people who might make the world a bit brighter, including friends and lovers.

Even in a dystopian world, Saffron can find some joy as she learns about life and love through family and new friends.


**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **

[Joanna Gawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very solid 4 stars for FAR OUT!

It's easy to visualise the world the author has created, one which is split between the servers - with their servants - and those whose lot it is to dwell in the slums, barely making ends meet. Change seems inevitable.

Saffron, still a very young woman, has a sweet blend of strength and vulnerability. She'll need that strength, and she'll need courage and faith, too. Like all parents, Saffron's father might not always make the right choices, but he does his best for his daughter. Key characters Nate and Marianne are memorable, as is Hermione and her meat pies. I loved the references to Goonhilly, as I visited there a few years ago. I also liked the themes of natural medicine and the language of flowers: utilising the planet's generous resources in a good way.

FAR OUT addresses approaches to land use, balancing our needs with the Earth's; the need for community; the worrying uses of artificial intelligence; and where we, as human beings, should steer ourselves. What do we really want to create as our future?

Finally, it's clear the author loves writing and language. There are a few phrases I would like to have created myself!

[Linda Parkinson-Hardman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Far out is a tale set in the slightly altered future world of the West Country. On the one hand we have those who live on the margins of society; on the other, those who live in Server City. The contrast between them is as vivid as life and death. At the core of this unusual tale are some real truths that we should all consider paying attention to: the way we use the planet to our own advantage, the implications of an ever advancing technology and the basic human needs of companionship, love, friendship and self sacrifice. The ending is a challenging surprise suggesting there may well be room for a sequel.

[Cheryl Youngman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A vision of a dystopian future and a young girl trying to deal with the constraints it puts on her.
The authors descriptive abilities really come into play here. One can feel the claustrophobic grey of the Seaweed Slum and the cold stark reality that is Server City.
Saffron is likeable, a character you can empathize with. The other main characters again have depth and richness.
With a pacey plot, twists and turns and an exciting climax this book is a most excellent read.

[Celia Edwardes-ker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richly imagined Saffron's Story is full of vivid characters in a hugely believable future world. A delightful story leaving the reader in suspense - what happens next?

[Peter Boland · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's some beautiful writing in this book and a lot of originality. The characters are quirky and interesting, and every scene is vividly described. Looking forward to more