These revolutionary technologies allowed humanity to triumph over death and ended what is posthumously referred to as the Mortal Age. In addition, advanced medical technology allows any injury, even fatal, to be repaired in a matter of days through nanites (or for more serious injuries, a hospital procedure known as revival).

In the year 2042, effective immortality is discovered, allowing humans to reset their physical age while retaining their memory. The book was an Honor Book for the Michael L.

However, the new draft is being written by Gary Dauberman.

The notable exception to the Thunderhead's rule is the Scythedom, a group of humans whose sole purpose is to replicate mortal death in order to keep the population growth in check.Ī feature-film adaptation is in the works. It is set in the far future, where death, disease, and unhappiness have been virtually eliminated thanks to advances in technology, and a benevolent artificial intelligence known as the Thunderhead peacefully governs a united Earth. (Nov.Scythe is a 2016 young-adult novel by Neal Shusterman and is the first in the Arc of a Scythe series. Agent: Andrea Brown, Andrea Brown Literary. Is the gleaning of a few acceptable if it maximizes the happiness of all? Is it possible to live a moral life within such a system? This powerful tale is guaranteed to make readers think deeply. Calling to mind Le Guin’s “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas,” Shusterman’s story forces readers to confront difficult ethical questions. Later, Citra becomes an apprentice to Curie, a legendary Scythe, but Rowan is apprenticed to Goddard, who kills for sadistic pleasure.

Neither likes the idea, but they’re given no choice. Sixteen-year-old Citra and Rowan are chosen by a Scythe named Faraday to train as apprentices. Thus evolved the Scythes, an organization whose members are charged with “gleaning” citizens at random. Because babies are still being born, population growth must be limited. There’s no poverty or crime, and everyone is guaranteed immortality. In the future Earth of this grim novel from National Book Award–winner Shusterman ( Challenger Deep), the digital cloud has transformed into the self-aware Thunderhead, whose benevolent totalitarian rule has turned the planet into a utopia.

Scythe author