In the future, the human body is a place for experimentation, striving for perfection. Eradicating disease, making us indestructible and pretty to look at. Stronger, Faster, and More Beautiful examines six different stories advancing on this idea. Through these stories, Arwen Elys Dayton explores what might happen as we continue to create the perfect human body–and the things that we might create instead.
I’ve been a bit MIA this week, and I apologize. It’s holiday season at work, and I’ve been too tired to write anything when I get home. But, we received an ARC of this a few weeks ago, and I’m glad I picked it up to read. It was a thought-provoking read that was a good start to my holiday reading season.
Right off the bat, this book reminded me of Where Futures End by Parker Peevyhouse, also a book that gets further and further into the future with each story. The thing that intrigues me the most about these kinds of books is the way that the authors weave together these different stories; I’d imagine that in re-reads, you’d notice even more connections between characters and years, even more foreshadowing that draws the reader into what is to come. Grounding them in reality also makes them more believable and more relatable. Could I see people wanting to alter their appearance until they are unrecognizable? Absolutely.
Out of the six stories in Stronger, Faster, and More Beautiful, my favorite was the one where the child lived underwater, able to learn anything except how to empathize with other human beings. Though not all the stories held my interest in exactly the same way, there was enough connecting them to propel me though the ones that didn’t strike a cord. But, skipping one of the stories would mean that you might miss a crucial piece of information for a future story. The stories are true to the blurb that’s used in order to market the book, for fans of Black Mirror and Westworld. Dayton shows how technology and the pursuit of perfection can be good, but it also can have dire consequences.
If you’re looking for a thought-provoking read this holiday season, check out Stronger, Faster, and More Beautiful when it comes out December 4!
4/5 stars