Member Reviews
The Gemini Project is a set in a dystopian future when climate change has made the surface of the Earth all but uninhabitable, and humanity has largely moved underground. There are some significant changes to the social structure as well - most notably, an income- and education-based stratification that significantly impacts opportunity based on birth status, although that's not immediately apparent at the beginning.
This novel is based on the experiences of Jan, a 17 year-old student at The Corpo Academy, a boarding school for the sons of wealthy, influential men. At first, it seems like any boarding school for the children of the rich and famous, but the primary difference quickly becomes apparent: while the boys are taught a wide variety of sports and spend a great deal of time exercising, they are not taught any academic skills. Jan - a bright and inquisitive young man - is an aberration among his peers, because, unlike them, he has learned to read, taught by Dr. Osler, a staff member at Corpo who stands out from the other staff members because he dresses differently, uses recreational drugs, and - most importantly - actually talks to, rather than at, the students. Like all students at Corpo, Jan is happily anticipating his renaissance - his graduation from Corpo, at which point he will take his place in society, working with his father. But "renaissance" in his world means something totally different from what he's been taught all his life - something dark and unprincipled, which is at the heart of the changes in the social structure.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, although there are parts that I think would benefit significantly from additional editing; the description of Jan's journey in the middle of the novel took, in my opinion, an inordinate and unnecessary portion of the book, and dragged on. The societal change that occurred in the roughly 100 years between today and the events of this novel are, if unlikely (I hope) a logical extension of our currently stratified society, one that we need to be cautioned against. Because of the nature of events in this volume, this book is recommended for older teens and adults.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is such a good book! I have always wondered and wished for this type of story to be real, to be able to start your life over, to live forever, to do basically anything! In this book their universe allows you to do so with money, it was a great read, it makes you think and wonder. I enjoyed it
Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and especially the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review of the book!!
The Gemini Project is the story of Jan Ericson, a student at the Corpo Academy, who spends his days honing his physical health through various sports and waiting for his 18th birthday, when he will leave the Academy and go to work with his father. Though his education has been limited, Jan has an inquisitive, sharp mind and conversations with one of his doctor make him start to question the story his life has been built on.
This is an enjoyable book, though if you've read Ishiguru's Never Let Me Go you'll quickly be suspicious of where the story will take you.
What if you could live your life, make your money, then when you got as old as you wanted or terminal, you could become 18 again and, of course, keep your assets minus a small fee? Would you do it? What price would you be willing to pay for this miracle of longevity? What would you give to be forever healthy and young? What would you give up? THE GEMINI PROJECT addresses these issues and more.
For as long as Jan remembers, he has been at the Corpo living, playing, and looking forward to the day when he will finally get to go home and live with his father. Now, finally, at last, he is turning 18, and it's almost his time. Jan wants to make his father, Tre proud of him. On Father's Day, Jan wins virtually all the sporting events, yet Tre only sees the one accident he had during the competitions. A while later, Tre returns to Corpo with bad news. He is dying, and Jan is the only one who can save his life.
The Gemini Project had an interesting premise that seems very possible in the near future. I enjoyed the Sci-Fi aspect of the story from that point of view. I did feel there were times when too much explanation was woven into the story therefore slowing it down. There were enough twists and action, however, to keep moving ahead to find out what the project really was and how one boy intended to put a stop to it.