The Jupiter Effect

by Katrina Tuvera

The novel focuses on the story of Kiko and Gaby, two martial-law babies who underwent political initiation during the Marcos years. The book poses questions about the Filipinos’ complicity in the Marcos dictatorship and portrays many compromises that are still present in current Philippine politics.

Genres: Fiction, Novels

190 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Katrina Tuvera is a Filipino author, creative writing professor, and communications specialist known for her award-winning novels and short story collections. Her works often explore Philippine history, politics, and culture. Tuvera has authored several novels, including The Jupiter Effect (2006), set during the Philippine martial law years, and The Collaborators (2022), which examines complicity in Philippine history from World War II to the turn of the millennium. Her writing has earned her a National Book Award from the Manila Critics Circle for both Testament and Other Stories and The Jupiter Effect, as well as a Carlos Palanca Memorial Award and a Philippines Graphic Award for Literature.

Reviews

[Naj · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Many things today must transcend friendship."

It starts off relatively slow and races to the finish. A little open-ended since it's meant as a start to a trilogy. It's about martial law babies and the struggle and perks of being known for who your family knows, the things that are not said on dinners, the tortures, lies and deceit, and losing friends and the sight of what's truly important.

Relevant today but the book would benefit at being twice as long, to fully flesh out everything else. I needed more from this and it fell a little short.

Roughly 2.5/5 but rounding it to 3 since it's a book you'd most likely reread. I know I will.

[Edwin Del Rosario · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay book but may be a good starter for the younger generation whose knowledge about Martial Law is limited to the propaganda of an administration that shrugs off the atrocities of the regime to return a political favor.

Slow-paced although very personal and introspective, the book gives a feeling that it is unfinished or it could have been a collection of short stories instead of a novella. That is probably because the author intends to extend it to a trilogy, but the book in itself should be compelling enough.

[bebe go]

2.5/5

[Levi · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot of books have already been written about the Martial Law, some of which I have already read like Ninotcha Rosca's State of War, Jose Dalisay's Killing Time in a Warm Place, Lualhati Bautista's Dekada 70, among others. People just can't stop writing about it, all coming from different point of views. Which is fine with me. Sometimes.

So I was not shocked in what Tuvera did in The Jupiter Effect. "Hey, what about writing some Martial Law stuff from the eyes of the privileged ones? from the so-called Martial Law babies? That would be great!"

Yet while Tuvera is indeed a very fine writer, very nostalgic, mushy and introspective,I jsut found The Jupiter Effect quite mechanical in its attempt to humanize the Marcosian mysriquei.e. Marcos is not really that bad, he was not some evil insane dictator, etc. In attempting to subvert the stereotypical bleak Martial Law novel, she also succumbed into stereotyping. The main characters Julian and his family became unwitting rich kids. I doubt that rich kids are that dumb, you feel me? I expected more 3-d characters.

There was also nothing new to ruminate on. Given that this is somewhat a biographical/ historical novel, I expected something that I would'nt expect, if you know what I mean.

[Deanne Dumo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This 200-page novel is a fictional retelling of what it's like growing up as martial law babies from the 1970's to 80's in the Philippines' "New Society". I like the simple, almost detached, writing style of Tuvera. The story centers around a middle class family whose father works as a cabinet minister in the Marcos administration. The author made use of events that were actually published then: from the public execution of the Chinese drug pusher as the President's display of power to discipline the country, to the human rights violation done to rebellious students and militant groups, to the shooting of Sen. Aquino that culminated to the unified protest nationwide. The novel is a coming-of-age, loss of innocence experience of the fictional Contreras siblings during the Marcos years. Good read in this election season.

[Amiel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Introspective. The pacing is too slow, though.

It's kind of frustrating to arrive at the point where Gaby and Kiko are already questioning the kind of society they were raised in and be left at that exact point not knowing what actions the main characters took given the new understanding they've acquired. So, I guess I'll have to wait for the second installment.

Other than that, this is a good book to start with for people who'd like to work their way through the existing books written about the Martial Law Era.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's an okay book-- nicely written and introspective but not my favorite. The premise is good and the book gives the young reader a taste of Filipino history; however, the story, on its own, isn't the most exciting. You need background to fully appreciate the depth of this novel, otherwise it might seem a bit too slow and better off as a short story.

[Rosette Adel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Timely read for the martial law anniversary.

[Rhianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just the worst book ever!! Can't force myself to finish this book. Waste of time.

[Yeng · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite interesting but the writing wasn't engaging and was a little confusing.

[Martdenzel Delacruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its good doe i had that book for my school.

[Rizzie]

I loved it. The first Martial Law related book that I have ever read WOW I WANT MOREEEEE