V
VeritasLuxMea
Guest
Unwind is the first in a four book series by Neal Shusterman. The setting is a futuristic dystopian United States, where abortion is now illegal and practically non-existent.
Now, to me and others who are pro-life, a future in which abortion is non-existent does not sound dystopian at all, but rather, utopian. But as Shusterman develops this tale of a world gone mad, one thing becomes strikingly clear: while abortion is an intrinsic evil that must be defeated, our affirmation of human life simply cannot end there.
For, you see, Shusterman’s world is one in which abortion is indeed defeated, but human life isn’t valued all that much more than it used to be. “Unwanted” babies are born and either forced upon unwilling strangers or upon the state, and in either case, they are neglected. Those who are raised by the state are given the last name “Ward” and this is used as a kind of scarlet letter in a caste system that will follow them for the remainder of their lives. They are treated as subhumans: mocked, scorned, ridiculed.
But of course we have not yet arrived at what is by far the most unique and frightening aspect of Shusterman’s world, which is the process called unwinding. The war that had been fought to end abortion (there had been a civil war) ended in a compromise that seems very unrealistic at first but becomes ever so slightly more believable as the novel progresses. That compromise is the futuristic medical process known as unwinding.
Children in this world must now be allowed to grow to the age of at least 13. At any time before their 13th birthday, the parents or custodians (for example, the state) of a child may decide that the child is no longer wanted and sign an order to signify this. If they do so, then the child is sent to a harvesting camp to be unwound. During the unwinding, each and every usable part or organ of the teenager is extracted. Each of those organs or parts (e.g. heart, eyes, etc.) are then stored away until a medical need should arise. So if you have the money to do so, you can replace any ailing body parts. This process has become so mainstream and accepted that patients are often given new body parts from unwound children without their prior consent.
The most terrifying and rage-inducing chapter of the book occurs when one child (no names, to avoid further spoilers) is unwound. You get to live through the process as the child is harvested bit by bit (while still conscious) by apathetic surgeons. It is one of the more powerful samples of fiction I’ve ever read.
Shusterman is in a tough situation here, because in order to make the widespread acceptance of unwinding realistic, he has to develop a theoretical coalition of supporters. Here, he does an admirable job, in my opinion. He doesn’t directly state how unwinding received enough support to become accepted, but he hints at it throughout the novel. First, you have the rich and powerful, who are going to have their lives and the quality of their lives extended by buying these parts. Next, unscrupulous medical professionals that either just want to get paid or are interested in these Frankenstein type experiments. Thirdly, people who are concerned with their own pocketbook and thus do not like the idea of having to shoulder the cost of these untouchables through either taxes or charity. Additionally, the great mass of people that just wants to see others as inferior to themselves. Finally and frighteningly, religious groups that begin to endorse the process as a way for parents to “tithe.” Give 10% ---- including the organs of your children.
One reviewer for a liberal newspaper said that the best thing about this novel is that it refuses to “take sides.” In some way, I agree with that—Shusterman is not preachy here, in my opinion. In other ways, maybe I disagree with that----it is difficult to emerge from this novel without recognizing that human life has intrinsic worth and laughing at the arrogance of those who think they are entitled to judge others as worthless.
This was a relatively easy read and yet quite challenging morally, philosophically and emotionally. I do not recall any foul language. There is some violence and there are some unsettling events. I would recommend it to anyone who is capable of enduring some frightening material.
Now, to me and others who are pro-life, a future in which abortion is non-existent does not sound dystopian at all, but rather, utopian. But as Shusterman develops this tale of a world gone mad, one thing becomes strikingly clear: while abortion is an intrinsic evil that must be defeated, our affirmation of human life simply cannot end there.
For, you see, Shusterman’s world is one in which abortion is indeed defeated, but human life isn’t valued all that much more than it used to be. “Unwanted” babies are born and either forced upon unwilling strangers or upon the state, and in either case, they are neglected. Those who are raised by the state are given the last name “Ward” and this is used as a kind of scarlet letter in a caste system that will follow them for the remainder of their lives. They are treated as subhumans: mocked, scorned, ridiculed.
But of course we have not yet arrived at what is by far the most unique and frightening aspect of Shusterman’s world, which is the process called unwinding. The war that had been fought to end abortion (there had been a civil war) ended in a compromise that seems very unrealistic at first but becomes ever so slightly more believable as the novel progresses. That compromise is the futuristic medical process known as unwinding.
Children in this world must now be allowed to grow to the age of at least 13. At any time before their 13th birthday, the parents or custodians (for example, the state) of a child may decide that the child is no longer wanted and sign an order to signify this. If they do so, then the child is sent to a harvesting camp to be unwound. During the unwinding, each and every usable part or organ of the teenager is extracted. Each of those organs or parts (e.g. heart, eyes, etc.) are then stored away until a medical need should arise. So if you have the money to do so, you can replace any ailing body parts. This process has become so mainstream and accepted that patients are often given new body parts from unwound children without their prior consent.
The most terrifying and rage-inducing chapter of the book occurs when one child (no names, to avoid further spoilers) is unwound. You get to live through the process as the child is harvested bit by bit (while still conscious) by apathetic surgeons. It is one of the more powerful samples of fiction I’ve ever read.
Shusterman is in a tough situation here, because in order to make the widespread acceptance of unwinding realistic, he has to develop a theoretical coalition of supporters. Here, he does an admirable job, in my opinion. He doesn’t directly state how unwinding received enough support to become accepted, but he hints at it throughout the novel. First, you have the rich and powerful, who are going to have their lives and the quality of their lives extended by buying these parts. Next, unscrupulous medical professionals that either just want to get paid or are interested in these Frankenstein type experiments. Thirdly, people who are concerned with their own pocketbook and thus do not like the idea of having to shoulder the cost of these untouchables through either taxes or charity. Additionally, the great mass of people that just wants to see others as inferior to themselves. Finally and frighteningly, religious groups that begin to endorse the process as a way for parents to “tithe.” Give 10% ---- including the organs of your children.
One reviewer for a liberal newspaper said that the best thing about this novel is that it refuses to “take sides.” In some way, I agree with that—Shusterman is not preachy here, in my opinion. In other ways, maybe I disagree with that----it is difficult to emerge from this novel without recognizing that human life has intrinsic worth and laughing at the arrogance of those who think they are entitled to judge others as worthless.
This was a relatively easy read and yet quite challenging morally, philosophically and emotionally. I do not recall any foul language. There is some violence and there are some unsettling events. I would recommend it to anyone who is capable of enduring some frightening material.