FatLand [Paperback]

Frannie Zellman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 2009

In the near future the Pro-Health Laws of the United States of America have become so oppressive that people seeking freedom over their bodies have established a new country. In FatLand, life is good and scales are forbidden. Free from the hatred and discrimination of the Other Side, FatLanders have built happy, productive lives. But not everyone is flourishing.Soon a group of FatLanders and freedom fighters on the Other Side will face forces threatening the health and happiness of all.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Many of us have had this fantasy -- to build a world where fat prejudice is not allowed, where discrimination against fat workers and travelers does not exist and where teachers and school authorities don't look the other way when brutal teasing forces some fat kids to contemplate or actually commit suicide. In a future where the authorities maintain "Re-education centers" for those who do not meet government-imposed standards of thinness, Frannie Zellman's characters create such a place -- a territory called FatLand, 400,000 people-strong. In FatLand, discrimination is illegal. Lots of us would line up to become citizens. In the book, of course, there are diet profiteers fighting the brave pioneers of FatLand. The fun in the book is seeing tolerance and healthy body positive attitudes win the day! I loved the Anti-Dieting Underground Railroad!"

Lynne Murray
author of the Josephine Fuller, sleuth of size, novels

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 220 pages
• Publisher: Pearlsong Press (January 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1597190152
• ISBN-13: 978-1597190152
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,507,508 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FatLand - Entertaining, yet very Thought-Provoking, January 25, 2009

By 

Pat Ballard "Queen of Rubenesque Romance Novels" (Nashville, TN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: FatLand (Paperback)

Frannnie Zellman has weaved an intriguing tale of a territory named FatLand, where fat people can live without being harassed. In fact, it's against the law for weight to be mentioned. People of FatLand have raised their children in a society completely free of any kind of fat prejudice.

Frannie has done an outstanding job of writing a story that, while it is futuristic, it's close enough to home to be extremely thought-provoking. FatLand makes me want to do more fat activist work to make sure we don't wind up like the people on the Other Side...

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A world away from fat prejudice, February 3, 2010

By 

Lynne Murray "Author" (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: FatLand (Paperback)

Many of us have had this fantasy--to build a world where fat prejudice is not allowed, where discrimination against fat workers and travelers does not exist and where teachers and school authorities don't look the other way when brutal teasing forces some fat kids to contemplate or actually commit suicide. In a future where the authorities maintain "Re-education centers" for those who do not meet government-imposed standards of thinness, Frannie Zellman's characters create such a place--a territory called FatLand, 400,000 people-strong. In FatLand, discrimination is illegal. Lots of us would line up to become citizens. In the book, of course, there are diet profiteers fighting the brave pioneers of Fatland. The fun in the book is seeing tolerance and healthy body positive attitudes win the day! I loved the Anti-Dieting Underground Railroad!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smart novel in which plot and writing style emphasize equality, July 13, 2009

By 

Lesleigh J. Owen (Pasadena, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: FatLand (Paperback)

FatLand is technically a science fiction book, since it's located in the near future (mid-21st century) and predominantly features the lives of people who live in a size-celebrating territory called FatLand. Outside of FatLand, pro-health laws have broken out, thereby criminalizing certain types of foods and restricting individuals' caloric intakes. As well as promoting a body-positive attitude, the author also provides us with a sobering and timely social commentary of governmental intervention into our lives and lifestyles. The novel follows the loves and lives of the FatLand council members, the very egalitarian ruling body of FatLand Territory. The novel includes themes of love, assassination, betrayal, and self-sacrifice. Above all, however, this is an unabashedly political novel that encourages readers to consider the roles government, advertising, and body hatred play in our own lives.

As for her writing style, Zellman is an intriguing mix of sensualist and minimalist. Some scenes burst with the sensuality of food, sex, and scenery; they're so lush, readers can almost smell or taste them. Other scenes are told only in dialogue and are devoid of any commentary outside of characters' discussion. Her style is alternately lush and spare, which I took as commentary on the different interpretations (and dictates) concerning fatness itself. Also, it's very easy to see Zellman is a Leftist, since there is no central character and her novel is wrought with concerns of political rights, personal freedoms, and in-group egalitarianism. Each character has a voice, a scene, and tells her/his own story. In this way, the story feels more like a stew, filled with individual vegetables that contribute to the overall flavor, than a narrative melting pot. It will be disconcerting to some readers who are used to the usual protagonist/antagonist formula that privileges one s/hero; ultimately, however, and IMO, her writing style reflects the novel's overall, political theme of equality and diversity.

In short, I wish FatLand really existed. I'd apply to immigrate immediately! :)