The City Center (The New Agenda Series, 1)
Simone Pond, 2013
Ktown Waters
322 pp.
ISBN-13: 9780615889115
Summary
During the man-made apocalypse in the 21st century, a group of elites killed off a majority of the population. Only two groups of survivors remained––those selected to reside inside the Los Angeles City Center and the rebels, relegated to live on the Outside.
Centuries later, Ava Rhodes is one of five potential successors competing to become the next Queen of the City Center. A week prior to the final competitions she encounters Joseph, a rebel from the Outside, and discovers her utopian home is actually a prison and breeding facility aimed at designing the perfect human. She escapes with Joseph to the Outside world, sending the City Center’s leader, Chief Morray, into an obsessive pursuit for his property.
Along the journey, Ava falls in love with Joseph and discovers an even darker secret about the fate of her people. She must decide whether to stay with Joseph, or save her people from destruction. (From the publisher.)
This is the first book of The New Agenda series. The second is The New Agenda (2014), and Mainframe, the third, is due out in 2015.
Author Bio
• Birth—August 21, 1970
• Where—Washington, D.C., USA
• Education—B.A., University of Maryland, College Park
• Currently—Los Angeles, California
I grew up in a town just outside Washington D.C. On my 7th birthday I got a Hello Kitty diary and I've been 'journaling' ever since. Writing saved my life and got me through some tough times (and still does). I spent years scribbling notes and random thoughts, but after reading The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton the world of writing opened up. I was blown away that a woman could write so convincingly from a teenaged boy's perspective. I knew I had to become a writer.
I've written many essays, blogs and songs, but after a strange conversation with my husband about what cities might be like in the future, I decided to write a full-length novel about a supposed utopian city that's actually a prison.
As far as the boring technical information, I graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a BA in Communications and a minor in English. I moved out west a week after graduation and I've been working in advertising ever since––to pay the bills.
While I love writing about the future, I live in current day Los Angeles with my husband and our Boston Terrier. This is my first speculative fiction novel. I'm working on the second in the series—The New Agenda—that will launch sometime in 2014. (From the author's website.)
Book Reviews
(A few things people are saying about the book.)
Looking for a new page turner? My eyes are burning because I couldn't put it down. I skipped meals, sleep, yoga, I HAD to finish it. You can thank or hate on me later."
"You will whip through this book, it is a fast and easy read, and Ava and other characters are fully imagined and instantly enthralling. Can't wait for the next one (there HAS to be a next one, right?!?)"
"I just finished The City Center and I loved it. I started it on Sunday, brought it to work with me on Monday to read during my lunch hour and finished it Monday night. I was quickly caught up in the characters and had a hard time putting it down until I knew how everything played out. I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series!"
"You had me up reading much later than I wanted to stay up last night."
"A friend turned me on to this book, and I couldn't be happier she did. I usually take a long time to finish a book, but blew through The City Center in 2 days. Great story with really good writing. I highly recommend this book."
"Fantastic first book in what I hope is a long series. I thoroughly enjoyed this imaginative journey. Ms. Pond struck a great balance between story and character development. Can't wait for more!"
"The City Center got me thinking about all the great possibilities our future could hold for us, good and bad and that should be a true goal of the fiction writer. Well done Ms. Pond."
Discussion Questions
1. How do you think The City Center differs from other dystopian novels?
2. In The City Center, each Successor Candidate is working toward Graduation Day so they can become a member of Royal Court, yet they don't know what achieving that position fully entails. Is the author trying to say something here?
3. On the Outside, the people are so much more aware of who they are and connected with nature and God. The characters even quote Ecclesiastes. Does this inspire you or bother you? What are things you do to keep your hope alive?
4. Inside the city everything is dependent on technology, including the residents. They're all plugged into the mainframe. What do you think the author is saying about technology?
5. Chief Morray and his team of Planners design and manipulate DNA coding to create humans for specific needs and vocations. What do you think the author is saying about human rights?
6. The story looks at both sides of society—the "haves" and the "have nots." Who decides what is superior? Who decides what is right for the masses? Do you feel that society today (thoughts, ideas, food, purchases, career choices, place in society) is under attack?
7. Ava's journey is to seek the truth about her city, but along the way she discovers herself. Where do you see this transformation beginning to occur?
8. When Ava discovers the even darker secret about her people, were you surprised? What are your thoughts on that subject matter?
9. What are some of the books that have inspired you in the speculative fiction genre?
(Questions provided courtesy of the author.)