Customer Reviews

Epiworld

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In the rush of trying to get away from the android guards, Travis and his friends in the Rockets were hiding out when suddenly everything went black. Discovering that is was an epileptic seizure was a surprise. In the year 2099, most all of the illnesses and diseases have been eradicated. Anyone found sick is shipped off to institutions that resembles a prison. Being placed in Number Forty Institution, Travis quickly became acquainted with the new rules and Emmett Hudson. The offer from Dr. Alexander to help him escape was an interesting prospect. Finding that it was through a time portal that his epileptic seizures created made the whole prospect more fantasy than reality to him. Traveling back in time changed his mind, appearing in the year 2009 and meeting Demi Fraser on the isle of Barrasay and then just as suddenly jumping ahead again to 2010, and then 2014. The experiences in the past soon makes him realize how much he doesn't belong there, he really only belongs in his own time, in his `corrugated city' with the Rockets, now how to get back.

What an interesting concept of a futuristic world. The story was fairly easy to follow even with all it's twists and the adventure was really creative. Really enjoyed the concept, Travis, Hudson, and Demi where good characters, I just had a difficult time getting into the story. It was written from the point of view of Travis and the simplicity of the story telling made it easy but that may also have something to do with why I had difficulty becoming more emotionally invested in the characters. I would put this in the category of young adult because of the easy writing style as well as the teenage characters. This is not the first work by Tracey Morait, wonder now if all the books have the same simplistic writing style. I would read another of this authors books, but only if I am in the right mood.

I was drawn into this book from the first page.
The story kept me wanting to know more every step of the way. I really wanted to know the ending; but on the other hand that meant finishing the book!
An excellent all round read. I highly recommend this book.
I will certainly be reading more by this talented author.

As Epiworld opens we meet Travis as he runs with his gang, the Rockets, in a brutal and heavily policed future version of England. In this future all disease has been eradicated and only the `clean' are allowed to lead a normal, unencumbered life. Those unlucky enough to be deemed unclean are kept in institutions which sit somewhere between hospital and prison, with guards and nurses in the form of unfeeling droids.

Each member of this future society carries under their skin a probe. This is Big Brother on a very intimate level. A probe knows when you are doing something against the law, it knows when you're somewhere you shouldn't be, and it knows when you are ill.

When Travis is hurt in a gang fight he ends up in an institution for treatment of his epilepsy and comes under the care of Dr Alexander, a human and sympathetic psychiatrist. With his help Travis is put into a permanent state of `fit' where he finds he can live in the world of 2009. This time travel experience puts him directly in the path of a young Professor Chase, the Director of the institution where he is house back in his own time. Professor Chase is also about to undertake a dangerous and illegal operation on Travis in an attempt to cure his epilepsy. Can Travis stop Chase in 2009 and save his skin?

Epiworld is an exciting read. The language and thoughts of Travis and his supporting cast put it very much in the realm of the Young Adult novel, but without painting the characters too heavily as `childish' and thereby making it unenjoyable to older readers. The story is fast-paced and easily relatable. The relationships Travis makes throughout the story help in moving it along nicely, each person has their part to play in this tale where everybody's future is at stake.

I received a copy to review and took it with me while waiting for my wife to have her eyes tested. 45 minutes later, she nudged me and pulled me back from an amazing world created by Tracey Morait. I finished the book in three one-hour sittings and was amazed at the quality. This is an excellent book, not only for young adults, but for adults who enjoy reading in the YA genre. The plot theme, time travel caused by seizures experienced by Travis, the protagonist, could easily have come unraveled. Instead it is the center of a riveting nonstop action tale which ends in a very satisfying manner. I will be happy to add it to our collection at the Hartland Public Library where I'll be suggesting it to a number of patrons.