A eerily likely dystopian that you can't tear your eyes from
Have you ever read a book that struck a little too close to home for comfort? That may be this book. The Followers by Megan Angelo takes place in both 2015 and 2051. 2015 is just like we all remember it. The continuing rise of social media and smart phones and smart devices, the rise of influencers and otherwise … kind of talentless stars, and more and more tabloids following the live scandals, outfits, and lives of all the a-listers, b-listers, and c-listers you could possibly care about.
In 2015 we meet Orla Cadden, aspiring author just killing time before her big break by writing for Ladyish.com. Ladyish covers all the celebrity news, or whatever qualifies as news for the rich and the famous. Orla knows she’s destined for more, for bigger and greater things. And when she welcomes a new roommate, Floss, into her apartment, together they scheme to make that happen.
Floss wants to be an influencer. She’s sure she can make it happen if she just gets a little bit of attention, attention that Orla can give her. Orla starts covering Floss on Ladyish, essentially making her into a star. The money, the sponsorships, and the followers start pouring in. And like a boulder gaining speed, once they get going, is there any way to make it all stop?
In 2051 we’re transported to Constellation, an entire enclosed town in California where every citizen is on television. You can tune in almost 24 hours a day and watch as their life unfolds, mostly scripted by the network, but it’s more fun to pretend it isn’t. Here lives Marlow, a popular Constellation star whose had almost her entire life filmed. Her viewers have been there through her adolescence, through her mental wellness, through her love life and her marriage. And now she isn’t sure she wants to stick it out anymore. She’s becoming more and more aware of just how heavy of a hand the Network has in her life from staging her courtship to her husband to their next step, a baby. She figured their next step was a messy divorce, especially after realizing the relationship is all a sham, neither of them have true feelings for each other but they’re supposed to have a baby together? Bring a new human into THIS world?
It gets more and more interesting as their storylines start to come together. As past and present begin to merge and we learn more about the terrifying event that lead to where our country is in 2051, Orla, Floss, and Marlow’s lives start to come into sharper focus.
Angelo creates a world in 2051 that doesn’t seem outside the realm of possibility. Now we have devices embedded in our wrists that interact with our brain. These devices replace any smart device you’d ever need. Want to know how to get to the nearest ice cream shop? Just think about it and your device will guide you there. Need to know how old your favorite actress is? Just think it and you’ve got the answer. Now we have a government-run internet. Now we have genetically designed babies. Now we have children on mood-controlling medicines from toddlerhood. Now privacy is a taboo thing no one has or wants.
This book will stick with you. It will pop into your head when you’re scrolling through Facebook and make you remember that text-neck is a thing. You’ll remember this book like a pop-up ad when you’ve been staring at your tablet for a little bit too long. And honestly, maybe that’s not such a bad thing. It’s going to strike a chord with you as you think about the world we live in.
In 2015 we meet Orla Cadden, aspiring author just killing time before her big break by writing for Ladyish.com. Ladyish covers all the celebrity news, or whatever qualifies as news for the rich and the famous. Orla knows she’s destined for more, for bigger and greater things. And when she welcomes a new roommate, Floss, into her apartment, together they scheme to make that happen.
Floss wants to be an influencer. She’s sure she can make it happen if she just gets a little bit of attention, attention that Orla can give her. Orla starts covering Floss on Ladyish, essentially making her into a star. The money, the sponsorships, and the followers start pouring in. And like a boulder gaining speed, once they get going, is there any way to make it all stop?
In 2051 we’re transported to Constellation, an entire enclosed town in California where every citizen is on television. You can tune in almost 24 hours a day and watch as their life unfolds, mostly scripted by the network, but it’s more fun to pretend it isn’t. Here lives Marlow, a popular Constellation star whose had almost her entire life filmed. Her viewers have been there through her adolescence, through her mental wellness, through her love life and her marriage. And now she isn’t sure she wants to stick it out anymore. She’s becoming more and more aware of just how heavy of a hand the Network has in her life from staging her courtship to her husband to their next step, a baby. She figured their next step was a messy divorce, especially after realizing the relationship is all a sham, neither of them have true feelings for each other but they’re supposed to have a baby together? Bring a new human into THIS world?
It gets more and more interesting as their storylines start to come together. As past and present begin to merge and we learn more about the terrifying event that lead to where our country is in 2051, Orla, Floss, and Marlow’s lives start to come into sharper focus.
Angelo creates a world in 2051 that doesn’t seem outside the realm of possibility. Now we have devices embedded in our wrists that interact with our brain. These devices replace any smart device you’d ever need. Want to know how to get to the nearest ice cream shop? Just think about it and your device will guide you there. Need to know how old your favorite actress is? Just think it and you’ve got the answer. Now we have a government-run internet. Now we have genetically designed babies. Now we have children on mood-controlling medicines from toddlerhood. Now privacy is a taboo thing no one has or wants.
This book will stick with you. It will pop into your head when you’re scrolling through Facebook and make you remember that text-neck is a thing. You’ll remember this book like a pop-up ad when you’ve been staring at your tablet for a little bit too long. And honestly, maybe that’s not such a bad thing. It’s going to strike a chord with you as you think about the world we live in.