Neal Shusterman's The Arc of a Scythe trilogy was easily one of the most entertaining, imaginative, uncomfortable, and fascinating book series I had ever read. I enjoy reading books that seek to answer seemingly impossible questions, and with The Arc of a Scythe, Shusterman attempted to answer a question that many have asked: What if humans could live forever? What exactly would that mean for life on Earth? Gleanings: Stories from The Arc of a Scythe is somewhat of a continuation of the series, but this time includes short stories from the time before, during, and after the events in the initial The Arc of a Scythe series.
Genre, Themes, History: Set during a distant (but not that distant) future, this collection of stories brings readers back into a world where the human population is controlled by Scythes, people who have been given the authority to kill (or glean) pretty much whomever they please, with the Thunderhead controlling every other aspect of life. There are rules and regulations, but as the stories prove, many Scythes find ways around them, or they simply glean those they find annoying, or those that manage to get in their way. In "Never Work with Animals," Scythe Fields makes sure his small community is just as he likes, and anyone who irks him risks having their life taken. And then there is Scythe Dali in "The Persistence of Memory," who prefers to turn his gleanings into elaborate public works of art in an attempt to win both love and respect from the people around him. Readers of the previous book will notice familiar names and faces in stories like "Formidable" and "A Martian Minute," which may provide key insights into events that were merely mentioned before. The stories may not be presented in chronological order, but the clues are there to allow readers to know exactly where in the timeline each tale belongs.
My Verdict: This collection of stories is just as unnerving and intriguing as the first three books, and I foolishly thought they would not be. I figured they would be incredible and a great read, but I did not expect to feel unsettled while reading them. I found myself once again imagining what life under the Scythedom would be like, with the Thunderhead controlling everything else, and I have once again decided that it is not for me. Having my fate be in the hands of what is essentially little more than sanctioned serial killers does not sound like a life worth living. Each story, even the ones that do not reveal some previously missing piece of information from the time of the previous books, is not only entertaining, but also eye-opening to how some people choose to behave in the face of some unusual circumstances. Sure, it is fiction, but I have learned that we often both over and underestimate what humans are capable of.
Favorite Story: For me, it is a tie between "A Death of Many Colors," and "Meet Cute and Die." In the former, a group of teenagers debate the existence of Scythes during an annual Halloween party that is about to take a turn. In the latter, a young woman must figure out what she wants out of life, which is not easy, considering the aunt she lives with is a Scythe and insists on keeping her close. But there is also "The Mortal Canvas," which may not have been my favorite, but was oddly moving, and also heartbreaking.
Recommended Reading: The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez is not YA, but it does explore a future for humanity that includes many different options for how we will live. I also recommend Shusterman's Dry, which asks the question of what people would do if they suddenly lost access to water.
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