Review of 'Vox'
Vox by Christina Dalcher
After the religious right seize power in the United States they enact a series of reforms to return to the idea of a nuclear family with the mother at home cooking and taking care of the children. To this end all females are not only prevented from reading and writing but are limited to speaking 100 words a day with mandatory bracelets that deliver ever increasing shocks if these limits are exceeded. Jean McClellan, once a brilliant scientist, is now forced into a life of domesticity and suppressed rage. After the president's brother suffers brain damage in a skiing accident, Jean is approached to supply a cure. Little do they know that before her voice was silenced Jean's research had found this cure so she thinks about how she can use the situation to her best advantage. With the might of the US government against her Jean looks for a way to break the oppression of not only herself and her daughter but for everyone…
This novel strongly echoes books such as “The Handmaid's Tale” by Margret Attwood in the oppression of females by a dominating male caste. It is does feel this novel has not a lot new to say on the subject.
I found the circumstances that lead to the events in “Vox” a bit hard to believe however it is the way it has affected everyone that is most disturbing with once equal-minded men turned into oppressive overlords and strong minded females seemingly happy to be caged in their silent worlds. The message here is, of course, patently obvious and so the narrative moves quickly to how Jean will take advantage of the opportunity given to her. There is a bit of techno-babble thrown about but otherwise this is a straight-forward dystopian drama that keeps you reading on to discover how it will turn out.
Easy to read though somewhat simplistic premise that offers some disturbing more subtle truths of human society…
Rating: “Really good but I have some issues”
Review Date: 2021-07-31
Genre: Science Fiction
Publisher: HQ
Publication Date: 2018
ISBN: 9780008300678