Comments on: Thoughts On A Book: Scott Westerfeld’s ‘Uglies’

By: Kaitlyn

Kaitlyn — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 16:25:07 +0000

Jasper Fforde’s “Shades of Grey” has a really interesting look – the equivalent of PWD (the greys – people who can’t see color, or can’t see it strongly enough) live in certain places and are allowed to hold certain jobs.

The greys can be seen as any oppressed minority throughout history, but since it deals with the body, it’s interesting to look at it PWD-wise. Also, PWDs don’t exist in that society, they can fix them quickly.

By: Kaitlyn

Kaitlyn — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 04:49:53 +0000

A better look at PWD and Harrison Bergeron is the question of what would they do to those who are on the opposite end of the “average” spectrum – too “dumb” or ugly or disabled. I don’t remember if it’s addressed in the story, but it doesn’t seem like it would have good implications for PWD.

By: Carly

Carly — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 07:41:32 +0000

Look around for a book called “Mind Rain” as well (when/if you finish the series) – it’s commentary on the book. I have not been able to find it (I rarely order online as I have no credit card/debit card), so I don’t know what it covers, but it looked like it might be fascinating.

By: CJ

CJ — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 21:50:33 +0000

Wow, the whole set-up of this novel is right out of a Twilight Zone episode. (“The Eye of the Beholder,” to be exact!)

By: Isabel

Isabel — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 02:04:12 +0000

I’m glad to see commentary on this book; it’s one of very few books I’ve read where the ideas were fascinating enough (and the characters compelling enough) to make me completely ignore the slightly clunky prose. Honestly, it’s one of the most interesting ways I’ve seen sci-fi used to explore current societal issues, not least of all because it’s not clear-cut and never comes down on a pro-technology or anti-technology side. They get more fascinating, and more thorny (some might say problematic, especially in a YA series, but I don’t really hold with that), as the series goes on, and I will definitely be curious to see what you think of the next two books. (Maybe I should brush up on the plot, since it’s been a while and it gets even twistier from here on out, and I’m not sure I remember what fols is referencing – though if it’s who I think he’s referencing I might just disagree, heh.)

By: notemily

notemily — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 22:01:48 +0000

Oh, I can’t wait to see what you think of the next two books, if you read them. There’s some really interesting stuff.

By: Deborah

Deborah — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 21:31:17 +0000

My daughter’s class is reading the novel, and using it to discuss issues of fitting in, and being compelled to be like everyone else. They’re a year 5 and 6 class, so they’re aged about 10, 11, and 12.

By: Kaitlyn

Kaitlyn — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 19:30:23 +0000

Well I ordered the first book (Uglies) from my local library thanks to the review – fascinating premise!

By: fois

fois — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 18:22:18 +0000

I read this series over Xmas break this past year… Was pretty disappointed in the ending, but it was okay. Interesting premise, certainly. I’m pretty sure, where race is involved, they mentioned something about everyone being the same race now? I think it might have been some amalgam of current day races. I don’t really remember, though, sorry.

As for specific disability, there are a few characters as the series goes on that truly are disabled. It takes an interesting look at ability, disability and what ‘ugly’ is. It also has a lot about who is happier in the end.

Unfortunately, I got a lot of ~enlightened cripple~ tones from one disabled character in specific, and he was ultimately a learning lesson. :/

Just a warning for later in the series–I tried to keep it as spoiler-free as possible.

By: liz

liz — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 17:56:43 +0000

I read this whole series last summer, and mostly enjoyed it. There are definite parallels to cure culture, but also to the entire idea of bodily/medicalized perfection.

The last book, Extras, is set in future-Japan, so race becomes a bit more salient, but isn’t treated with much depth, as I remember.