Book Review: Eve of Man

By Giovanna & Tom Fletcher

Book review: Eve of Man

A couple that writes together stays together (touch wood).

Hey Besties! This week, I am taking you on a futuristic journey with the book Eve of Man. Have you looked at the birth rates lately? In 2022, the global birth rate was at a historically low level... approximately 2.3 births per woman according to the World Bank Data. How times have changed... That's nearly half of the 1950 rate of 4.7, which makes the premise of the novel rather plausible.

In an interview with Closer Magazine UK, the authors have revealed that the inspiration behind the book happened at a friend's house, where they realised that most of the children born in their friend group were boys, and they decided to explore the possibility of a world where there were no more girls.

In that context, Eve of Man depicts a world where the last fertile woman is a sixteen-year-old girl groomed by older women into obedience in a sanctuary cut from reality. A reminder that control does not always look violent. I mean, they looked after her, kept her in perfect health and shape; she just did not know there was an agenda. Her only friend was Holly (short for hologram, I presume), and together they came up with a plan to get her out of there.

But here's the kicker: Holly was controlled by three teenage pilots, and Eve could tell them apart by the colour of their eyes. What can we say? She's just that smart. She grows very fond of one of them, as Holly's personality would change depending on the pilot (obviously). Later on, when presented with suitors for... Well... The bee's knees, Eve quickly realizes she'd rather live a normal life. Typical teenage crisis.

What she does not know is that the world outside is nothing like she imagined. It's full of men, and men only. As the first woman born in 50 years, the continuity of the human species depended on her, and leaving her sanctuary put her life at risk (talk about a lonely man epidemic).

Calling her Eve is an intentional choice and refers to the first woman on Earth in Biblical terms; quite fitting for the woman responsible for bringing in the next human generation. As much as the novel is qualified as dystopian, I don't think we are so far off from it. I believe it's a necessary read and a wake-up call on the rise of technological progress toward artificial intelligence. The technology that kept Eve disconnected from the real world was impressive.

This novel explores the theme of living in a matrix and being socially conditioned. In her bubble, Eve did not know the world outside; therefore did not know of her "mothers' agenda" until she was old enough to bear children. Could this possibly underline the theme of consent as well?

On the topic of matrix, how much of our beliefs are based on what we consume? Or rather, what we allow ourselves to be exposed to?

The only way for Eve to break out of it was to question everything she was presented with from birth. Seeking the truth about her parents and how she ended up in her "ivory tower." This novel is not just about the continuity of humanity; it also points out who gets to decide it. The reproduction agenda was monitored by a big tech corporation (it's always the tech bros). With the current technological and economic bubbles, those not fast enough to keep up will quietly be left behind (me included, I don't even update the apps on my phone >:( ).

What a lovely read! The cadence of the book was easy to pick up. I took it with me during my commute, and it was a nice break from my routine. I can't tell you how long it took to finish it... I am not a very fast reader.

But I would rate it a 10/10 sci-fi book. Clear depictions of the characters and scenes, clear change in point of view, the tension was successfully built, and I hear there is a second book? Can't wait to get my hands on it!

What about you, besties, what is your favourite Sci-Fi novel and why?

Let me know, I write back ;)