Title from container. Read by Devon Hales, Sophie Amoss, Cassandra Campbell. Compact discs.
Summary:
The old-fashioned struggle for fairness has finally been abandoned. It was a misguided endeavor. The world is divided into two groups, pats, and quads. The pats may kill the quads as they like, and do. The quads have no recourse but to continue with their lives. It is a thinly veiled description of society, an extreme case that demonstrates a truth: they must change, or their world will collapse. What is the effect of constant fear on life, or a culture? It explores the consequences of violence through two festivals and the dramatic and excruciating examination of a woman's final moments. Brilliantly constructed and achingly tender, it shatters the notion of common decency as the binding agent between individuals, forcing people to consider whether compassion is intrinsic to the human experience. With his signature empathy and ingenuity, Jesse Ball's latest work solidifies his reputation as one of contemporary fiction's most mesmerizing talents.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.