"Like" or even "love" are far too docile of words to describe how I feel about DOCILE. It's the kind of novel that by turns punches you in the face and then strokes your cheek with unbearable tenderness. In the near-future world of DOCILE, "next-of-kin laws" have ensured that debt can never be erased; instead it's passed down through generations, widening the gap between rich and poor into an unbridgeable chasm. Enter the dystopian solution: the poor can sell themselves into a form of indentured servitude, called being a "docile," to rich patrons who will pay off their debts. To make this more bearable, most dociles take a drug called Dociline, which numbs them to their abuse. Frankly, the premise felt eerily plausible (it's a sad statement about our current capitalist society that I thought the most unrealistic aspect of DOCILE's world-building was that dociles were guaranteed the right to medical care, and to vote in public elections.) But Docile's sly and biting critique of capitalism, while whip smart, isn't why this novel is unforgettable. It's unforgettable because of its characters. DOCILE is told in two, first-person points of view: Elisha, a docile from an impoverished farming community, who sells himself to pay off his parents' debt, and Alex, the trillionaire scion of the family company that makes Dociline, who buys Elisha's contract in exchange for sexual slavery. Their relationship is where DOCILE surprised me, and blew the ceiling off all my expectations. It would have been easy to make this a simple story of victim and villain, but Szpara doesn't ever let this novel take the easy way out. As one of the best professional reviews of DOCILE by Meg Ellison on Tor.com said so astutely (read the amazing full essay here: https://www.tor.com/2020/03/03/book-r...) while science fiction and fantasy depicts rape with depressing frequency, it's usually more about plot devices than personhood, and it's usually painted in unrealistic black-and-white. DOCILE on the other hand portrays consent / lack thereof in all its shades of gray...and I don't just mean the Fifty kind. "It would be easier if I hated him," Elisha says of Alex, but he doesn't, and neither could I as a reader. Szpara is unflinchingly honest in his depiction of all-too-realistic scenarios that most writers would shy away from: consent technically given but meaningless, given the power differential of those involved; coerced sex that was still enjoyable to the coerced; a docile falling in love with his patron; a patron falling in love with his docile. These are the kind of feelings that will make the reader squirm - and make no mistake, DOCILE wants to make you squirm. The book comes with a content warning on the back jacket for a reason, and reader, you have been warned! The descriptions of rape - and, later in the book, of consensual, healthy sex - are extremely graphic. But I could never call them gratuitous, because unlike other fantasy and scifi that uses graphic content like set decoration (*side eyes at Game of Thrones*) all of these scenes in DOCILE feel necessary to the plot and character development. Part of the reason the novel works is the reader is kept almost claustrophobically grounded in Elisha's/Alex's body and mind. But the heroism of DOCILE is that it doesn't stop here in dark dystopia and leave the reader in despair. It's ultimately a book about healing, about putting one's sense of self back together after a toxic relationship almost destroyed it, and bravely exploring the question of whether a person can truly repent, truly change? As a reader, I was rooting so hard for Elisha, as he struggles and ultimately succeeds in defining himself and his own sexuality. And simultaneously I was rooting for Alex, as he starts to see with horrifying clarity the wrong he's perpetuated, and begins the long - and maybe never ending - process of trying to make it right. In light of recent news stories, and programs like Restorative Justice, this book feels deeply timely. There is also one small scene in this novel that personally won my heart, where Elisha navigates consensual sex for the first time with a new partner. While every pop psychologist agrees on the importance of good communication around sex in relationships, almost no popular fiction depicts what that actually looks like. This scene is a jewel of a portrayal of consent enacted: we witness these characters being clear and communicative about their desires, speaking up for what they want, setting healthy boundaries, even recovering a moment that's gone awry (again, real life stuff that's rarely show in fiction.) While I don't typically expect my SFF to be a primer, I found myself earnestly wishing everyone on the planet could read this scene. I understand why DOCILE has gotten mostly five star or one star reviews here; it's not the kind of book readers are going to have neutral feelings about. But I think the publication of a novel like DOCILE represents a giant leap for the publishing industry, and maybe one small step for mankind? As I finished DOCILE, I could imagine Elisha and Alex continuing to grow and evolve, long after the book is closed. That left me profoundly hopeful, not just for them, but maybe also for us?
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Good kink with some problematic tones
Szpara's writing style is very beautifully descriptive. The scenes were set so well, and done in such an attention-grabbing way. Like this book read very quickly. Once it caught your attention, it really held it. I read this book in a couple sittings because I just didn't want to put it down. Whenever I did stop reading, I would think about it because my brain wanted me to keep reading. I was able to really get into the moments, I felt for the characters (even though I didn't quite vibe with Elisha; I'll get into it later). The way the book was written just really pulled you in and would not let you forget.I want to touch on the "romance" aspect of this book, though I'm not sure that romance is really the right word. Actually, that is really one of the plot points within the book. Can you call the relationship between Elisha and Alex "romantic." They have sex and interact as a couple would, but their relationship is built on an unequal power dynamic. As a docile, Elisha has no say in what happens to him. His every waking moment is controlled by Alex. Elisha grows to "love" it, but the question is if he really loves Alex, or if he's just been conditioned to think that he loves him. The same goes for Alex; does he really love Elisha, or does he love what he made him into? I really enjoyed the complexity of their relationship. There was really no clean-cut relationship. Honestly, I still don't know if they actually loved each other (but I like to think that they did). I thought that it made it a very compelling read.Let's talk about our protagonist and whatever you want to consider Alex (protagonist? antagonist? idunnoman). Elisha being a virgin was just kind of meh to me. Like, aren’t they always in books like this? I hate reading first-time stories/fics whatever. Personal preference, I won’t take off for that. Also, gotta be real, Elisha was super white-bread. Like, even when he was being feisty, he wasn’t. He submitted long before we ever even met him in the book. I didn’t dislike him, he just felt kind of pitiful. Like, you want to hug him, but you don’t really want to follow what he’s doing. Obviously he was forced to become one-note, but even before that I wasn’t impressed with his personality. Let’s be real, nobody noticed when he lost his personality because he never had one I’M SORRY. I like Alex (I'm not sure if I am supposed to).Though he's not like bad enough to be bad or good enough to be good. I'm kind of torn.I'm going to go into the negative aspects of the book. Keep in mind, I'm a hater at heart. So, I have an easier time pointing out flaws than I do positive things. Most of my qualms are small things that are more nit-picky and really only relate to the story. In terms of writing, Szpara did an excellent job. It seems to me, that when I focus on negative things regarding the story, it's because the writing itself doesn't need much critique. Some things I noticed in the book: there’s a lot of emphasis on the drug. Which I know it’s important, but it doesn’t need to be mentioned every paragraph. Trust me, I won’t forget it. Like maybe calm down with the mention of Dociline (great name by the way). In the same vein, I felt like I was constantly being spoon-fed information. Like, there isn't anything wrong with that inherently, but I think we could handle what's being thrown at us.I’m not sure if I’m supposed to like these Empower Maryland people. I don’t. They’re super annoying. Honestly, they aren’t really better than the rich people. They’re still manipulating poor people for their own means. I believe they weren't meant to be viewed as perfect. It seemed like they were purposefully made obtuse. Even at the end they were still kind of abusing their own power. Obviously they did good things, but they were making things worse for Elisha on numerous occasions. Like I don't blame him for denying Empower Maryland numerous times. If my cash flow were being threatened, then I would also get cagey and nervous.I can't end the review without addressing the "slavery" aspect of the book. I'm torn, obviously slavery was a huge occurrence in America, and it should never be overlooked. But, the author is a white man who, by all means, is not an authority on slavery and the oppression of BiPOC. I'm not sure how far in the future this book is set, though it clearly has a futuristic setting. In modern times, there is no arguing that BiPOC are the ones who suffer most from the wealth inequality in America. This fact did not feel as though it were properly exemplified within the story. It felt as though most of the people in the story who were at the mercy of the ODR and the docile system, were white. This doesn't seem like it would be realistic. Of course, I absolutely don't think that further oppressing BiPOC would be a good addition to the story either. What I'm saying is, it isn't an easy subject to breach, but it is important. I think a kind of timeline regarding slavery in America and how it evolved into the docile system would have been a good addition. The story needed to reference America's history with slavery, it should not have been brushed over. The historical aspect would have been a very pertinent and meaningful addition. (I really hope that this paragraph makes sense).
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- Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2020
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Szpara's writing style is very beautifully descriptive. The scenes were set so well, and done in such an attention-grabbing way. Like this book read very quickly. Once it caught your attention, it really held it. I read this book in a couple sittings because I just didn't want to put it down. Whenever I did stop reading, I would think about it because my brain wanted me to keep reading. I was able to really get into the moments, I felt for the characters (even though I didn't quite vibe with Elisha; I'll get into it later). The way the book was written just really pulled you in and would not let you forget.
I want to touch on the "romance" aspect of this book, though I'm not sure that romance is really the right word. Actually, that is really one of the plot points within the book. Can you call the relationship between Elisha and Alex "romantic." They have sex and interact as a couple would, but their relationship is built on an unequal power dynamic. As a docile, Elisha has no say in what happens to him. His every waking moment is controlled by Alex. Elisha grows to "love" it, but the question is if he really loves Alex, or if he's just been conditioned to think that he loves him. The same goes for Alex; does he really love Elisha, or does he love what he made him into? I really enjoyed the complexity of their relationship. There was really no clean-cut relationship. Honestly, I still don't know if they actually loved each other (but I like to think that they did). I thought that it made it a very compelling read.
Let's talk about our protagonist and whatever you want to consider Alex (protagonist? antagonist? idunnoman). Elisha being a virgin was just kind of meh to me. Like, aren’t they always in books like this? I hate reading first-time stories/fics whatever. Personal preference, I won’t take off for that. Also, gotta be real, Elisha was super white-bread. Like, even when he was being feisty, he wasn’t. He submitted long before we ever even met him in the book. I didn’t dislike him, he just felt kind of pitiful. Like, you want to hug him, but you don’t really want to follow what he’s doing. Obviously he was forced to become one-note, but even before that I wasn’t impressed with his personality. Let’s be real, nobody noticed when he lost his personality because he never had one I’M SORRY. I like Alex (I'm not sure if I am supposed to).Though he's not like bad enough to be bad or good enough to be good. I'm kind of torn.
I'm going to go into the negative aspects of the book. Keep in mind, I'm a hater at heart. So, I have an easier time pointing out flaws than I do positive things. Most of my qualms are small things that are more nit-picky and really only relate to the story. In terms of writing, Szpara did an excellent job. It seems to me, that when I focus on negative things regarding the story, it's because the writing itself doesn't need much critique. Some things I noticed in the book: there’s a lot of emphasis on the drug. Which I know it’s important, but it doesn’t need to be mentioned every paragraph. Trust me, I won’t forget it. Like maybe calm down with the mention of Dociline (great name by the way). In the same vein, I felt like I was constantly being spoon-fed information. Like, there isn't anything wrong with that inherently, but I think we could handle what's being thrown at us.
I’m not sure if I’m supposed to like these Empower Maryland people. I don’t. They’re super annoying. Honestly, they aren’t really better than the rich people. They’re still manipulating poor people for their own means. I believe they weren't meant to be viewed as perfect. It seemed like they were purposefully made obtuse. Even at the end they were still kind of abusing their own power. Obviously they did good things, but they were making things worse for Elisha on numerous occasions. Like I don't blame him for denying Empower Maryland numerous times. If my cash flow were being threatened, then I would also get cagey and nervous.
I can't end the review without addressing the "slavery" aspect of the book. I'm torn, obviously slavery was a huge occurrence in America, and it should never be overlooked. But, the author is a white man who, by all means, is not an authority on slavery and the oppression of BiPOC. I'm not sure how far in the future this book is set, though it clearly has a futuristic setting. In modern times, there is no arguing that BiPOC are the ones who suffer most from the wealth inequality in America. This fact did not feel as though it were properly exemplified within the story. It felt as though most of the people in the story who were at the mercy of the ODR and the docile system, were white. This doesn't seem like it would be realistic. Of course, I absolutely don't think that further oppressing BiPOC would be a good addition to the story either. What I'm saying is, it isn't an easy subject to breach, but it is important. I think a kind of timeline regarding slavery in America and how it evolved into the docile system would have been a good addition. The story needed to reference America's history with slavery, it should not have been brushed over. The historical aspect would have been a very pertinent and meaningful addition. (I really hope that this paragraph makes sense).
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