Aya's BIG BIG story!

EXTRAS

SCOTT WESTERFELD

2007

SIMON PULSE PUBLISHING

The cover of this book is a little misleading. It states that this is “the thrilling fourth book in the UGLIES series,” but on his own blog (at http://scottwesterfeld.com/blog/) he clearly states that this is a separate novel from the previous three. This novel is a lot bigger…

This book is centered around a 15 year old Japanese girl named Aya Fuse. Westerfeld has this book taking place after the mind-meld, that is after Tally Youngblood, in the previous trilogy cured the world (see previous posts).

The city that Aya lives in is run a little differently than before. You see..It’s all about who you are and reputation. One of my favorite things about this book is the technology; everyone in this city has a hover cam (a flying camera) that follows them anywhere. Like any camera today, it records, because that is how people gain a reputation – stories. They are called kickers and people like Aya’s brother Hiro, kick really well storied that get people talking about him. The more then the city talks about you the better, because the city interface keeps track of everyone’s “place.” It is almost a popularity contest, you see at the beginning of the novel Aya is number 451,369 and dreams of being up higher, then she’d be famous. This craving to be on top has people on wits ends, they love to surge themselves (make themselves differently); for instance, you have people whose skin is pixilated and it is moving so fast they are practically invisible , people with monkey hands for legs..and even anime looking individuals (of course the ones I mentioned are important in the novel, so heads up!)

She finally has the lead on a BIG story and has to go undercover. This 15 year old goes through so much after she kicks the story she’s been working on, I mean it is a really big deal – her reputation goes up rapidly. I don’t want to give the story away, just know it’s huge. Let’s just say be the end of the novel she earns the right into a party that is reserved for individuals in the top 1000. Can you even guess who number 1 is? Tally of course! I love that she came back in this book to do what she knows best, cause or fix trouble, and kick some butt.
This novel is quite action packed I was kept satisfied. From the descriptions of the characters after Aya’s big story goes out and all the challenges they face, is quite…in their “language…” bubbly making! They go from city, to riding trains, to finding a “mine,” all leading to her BIG STORY that lands her and her friends (including Tally who comes to save Aya after the launch of her story) in a tropical jungle. Some other new friends kind of appear as well.

This book links an old story to a present one, bringing the old world to the new world and you notice that Tally doesn’t like what is becoming of the newly expanding world – then again it is her job to save humanity whenever it needs her.

The points of view and descriptions and things of that nature haven’t changed from the 1st three books either, so it’s a nice balance, with little adjusting necessary. I didn’t find anything that I did not like in this novel; the description of the technology and buildings makes me think how realistic this novel can really be. Maybe one day we’ll get to have moving buildings, and be lucky like Aya (since she gets a high reputation from her story) just walk into a mansion and claim it yours! I would LOVE to live in these times. BUT GREAT NEWS, if you are a fan you might not have to wait too long – a possible movie for UGLIES is in the works: D a company bought the rights to make it a movie, now they just have to decide if they want to or not!

So does the novel end in happiness? Does Westerfeld leave room for another novel? Come see for yourself in, my opinion, the most action packed of the previous bunch I’ve read from him.