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Love blooms, in all its forms, despite the world around it, forming the threads that hold us together.
An outstanding debut with a unique voice, drawing parallels with Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, The Ten Percent Thief crafts an indelible image of a world that has lost it’s humanity, trapped by it’s reliance on statistics and devotion to technology and productivity. Told through a complex mosaic of interwoven stories The Ten Percent Thief is a new masterpiece of science fiction wiriting. This really is dystopian future at its best, a heartfelt admonition of covetous behavour that is inspiring, and hopeful.Mary also brings contrast with the younger women, who tend to see men more as something to care, for or just to protect, rather than part of society; and that is also reflected in the way they treat those under their care. I liked that the main protagonist was a much older woman who had lived through the outbreak. Mary brought a breath of fresh air to the proceedings that sometimes you lose with younger ones. As a survivor, she and her friend Olivia had a certain rapport which helped bring some humour to the narrative. On the topic of trans people, there do not seem to be trans men in the story at all, though there is one odd reference to a woman who has had a mastectomy/top surgery scars because (paraphrased) “some women just feel their breasts get in the way.” Queer women are quite prevalent though, and many wives are mentioned throughout the story. The secondary main character Olivia is a lesbian, but she is murdered and framed for killing and “grooming” a “helpless” infantilized man. She was a POV character but after she is killed the rest of the story is just continued from Mary’s perspective only which seemed like a very odd choice from a writing standpoint. I wanted to explore what would happen if a percentage of men suddenly became violent. I wrote the novel at the height of the Me Too movement. Women, frustrated by the mental, emotional, sexual and cultural violence against women and girls that permeates our society, were screaming.
Many years later, very few even remember what life was like before the change. Mary does, though, and when an opportunity presents itself, she is faced with soul-searching decisions to make. Will she cling to the only strand of the past she has left or will she risk it all in the name of equality?On the 9th of July 2019. I know so precisely because that is when I read an article on the BBC titled Toxic processionary caterpillar plague spreads across Europe. I was planning to write an apocalypse book that flipped the gender power dynamic – I just needed a narrative vehicle. A moth plague presented itself as the perfect villain. Did you do much research before you started writing? There is a sequel! I’m writing it now and I am very pleased with how it’s going (so far!). Sign up for the newsletter and I will give you updates on how it’s coming along, as well as additional content. Could the Moth thing really happen? Jane Hennigan: “I devour any and all dystopian fiction, especially feminist dystopias, so when I read an article on a type of toxic caterpillar infesting Europe, I put the two together and the idea for Moths was formed. I wanted my protagonist to be an older woman, flawed but capable, and constantly underestimated by those close to her. I put my book out there with few expectations and was stunned by the overwhelming response from so many readers. This past year, Moths has taken on a life of its own, and I’m delighted that Angry Robot has stepped in to ensure Mary’s story reaches the widest readership possible. ”
All around the world men are turning into crazed killers or dying in their sleep, as toxic threads find passage on every breath of wind. For cost savings, you can change your plan at any time online in the “Settings & Account” section. If you’d like to retain your premium access and save 20%, you can opt to pay annually at the end of the trial. Rating 3.5) —- I’ve read a lot of feminist dystopian books and books were the gender roles have been reversed and lately I’ve found it hard to find one with a unique concept but the premise of this book is really unique and like nothing I had read before.The gender role reversal in this new world was done subtly but had a big impact as all it did was have the women of the future describe the men how men describe women in this day and age. This stereotyping adds a level of absurdity as it highlights just how ridiculous it is to associate women with certain innate traits, but it is also quite jarring when you realise it feels quite unnatural to read men be described as weak and silly but it doesn’t feel strange reading women be described this way. Add to the fact that these men are staging protests for access to more education, etc, similar to what women had to do in the past to receive basic human rights, but when applied to men it really stands out how wrong and unfair this was. I find, as a woman today, we often accept that we were treated unjustly in the past but often forget how strict and narrow our lives actually were. Putting these same issues on men really makes it stand out how absurd it is to assume one sex is weaker than the other and then use this as a way to control. Cliched perhaps, but – a talking point? How would a country of women, cut off from the old world economies, design a society? How would they treat the men in their care? How would men have acted if the toxin had affected women? Similar to Atwood’s assertion in The Handmaid’s Tale, every act of male violence in Moths is taken from an actual incident. Research for this part of the novel was grim, and I spent much of this time furious. I think you can feel the rage in those scenes.
Toxic threads originated from moths only those who are biologically male. And there's no cure, leading the infected to either die or become extremely violent; all of this has evolved into a matriarchal society. Decades after the outbreak, we are going to be following Mary and Olivia, who were present the moment all began. We recommend members be over 18, since we do discuss books with adult content, but this is not strictly enforced. Please be aware that there will be adult discussion in this group! Let’s delve beneath the cover and into your dystopia. You’ve talked about being influenced by feminist dystopias, and also an article about a toxic caterpillar? Can you tell us more about how these two things merged into Moths?
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However, the women of The Union have worked together for the last forty years through many hardships and have built a strong society based on agriculture and recycling. Medicine, and engineering – especially regarding solar power, are prioritised as is education – for women at least. We’re primarily introduced to the world of Moths via Mary – why did you choose Mary to be the book’s protagonist and what can you tell us about her? Oh, Mary, don’t be ridiculous. Their brains aren’t wired for complex ideas....they’re just men – emotional and fragile." Toxic threads originating from moths infect only those who are biologically male. Once contaminated, the men die or turn violent, leaving the women to form a matriarchal society.
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