Oct. 21, 2014

Novel: Unwind

Genre: Science Fiction

Author: Neal Shusterman

Publisher: Simon & Shuster

Books in Series: 3

Sometime in the near future, after ‘The Heartland War’, which was fought over the taboo topic, abortion, a decision was made by the leaders of both pro-life and pro-choice fighters.  Unwind is a novel based off of a dystopian society, centered around “legal abortion”. But this isn’t the pre-birth abortion that we know, this is something else entirely. Unwinding.

Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, parents have the opportunity to Unwind their children. This means that teenagers are sent to “Harvest Camps”, where while they are still alive, and not under sedation, doctors slowly remove each of the internal organs, limbs, and skin of the patient, apparently painlessly. “Harvest Camps” are grotesquely masqueraded organ-harvesting facilities. The parts, limbs and organs are then given to people that are in need of them.

In the novel, readers are introduced to three runaway Unwinds, who escape police custody on the way to be unwound. Connor, who tried running away and hitchhiking to safety after finding his unwind documents signed by his parents. Risa, unwanted by society, a ward of the state who is the result of a lack of government funds, and over-populated government orphanages. And Lastly Lev, a religious sacrifice called a “Tithe”, who chose to be unwound as a religious gesture.

These three teens meet after a tragic, but fortunate series of events. They each guide one another through the difficulties of their dystopian society, building off of each other’s strengths, and fleeing towards an unknown future.

They meet other intimidating and important characters throughout the book, who push the teens to limits they would have never thought imaginable. These three protagonists, who struggle to find compassion and change from their society. The world they once lived in is now only a memory. Their lives have been turned upside down, and they must find what it means to be happy, as they journey across the country, finding an underground support network, and themselves along the way.

This trilogy is gripping and leaves the reader with a clear and disheartening look at what could be our society’s future. In some ways, the series shows the cruelty and indifference of an abortionist society, in a twisted, gut-wrenching story.

 Oct. 22, 2014

The discussion of making Unwind into a major motion picture is in effect, Producers from Tasty Films Co. are giving us insight into how the movie is coming along and how they plan to deliver it to the big screen. As of right now it’s still in the beginning stages, including casting still underway. Rumored release dates of the film are said to be in sometime late 2016, I personally do not expect much from this production based on the fact that Tasty Films are first timers, i’m guessing this will be a low budget film, although still worth a shot, and as always the movie will never compare to the book. There are no official trailors out but this short film by MainstayProductions can give you a pretty good idea.