It is 2073 and a young girl, Mia, is brought up in a megacity. As she approaches her sixteenth
birthday she becomes increasingly aware of going to the 'resort' and leaving the city for the first
(and possibly) last time. She knows the resort is a rite of passage but it is also a mystery.
Mia's world is run by ELK (Earthly Living Kingdom) who are a powerful and controlling elite.
They are attempting to live forever and aim to create self-perpetuating, mostly biological AI
which a human consciousness can inhabit. Already AI is an established presence in the life of
the city.
This is a dystopian novel which also captures the indefatigable spirit of humanity. It's both a
thriller and a romance. It asks who and what we are and where our place will be in the future.
Are we more than a biological body, do we possess something that AI can never have?
In the cities of the future, non-Elkian humans have little worth - except, that is, for the most
beautiful and intelligent.
Tim Bragg's fifth novel explores the gradual sexual and spiritual awakening of two teenage girls,
Mia and Karella, in a world controlled by corporations, guardians and shady government [The
Hub]. AI is everywhere, from household gadgets and appliances all the way up to life-like
robots that mentor and monitor the city's inhabitants. The world of the two girls is quite
structured and limited and all they are excited for now is to get out of the city and spend time at
the mysterious 'resort' where they are told they will finally experience freedom. It will be the
new beginning to everything they have always wanted. A proper life. But not all is as it seems
and as new people come in to their circle of friends (including someone from the underground resistance who tells Mia
a very unexpected secret) the girls begin to question their very existence and what it is that
makes a person human.
"The Mirror" is an intense peek at a near-future dystopian world where
terrifying elements are emerging in governmental practices. Indeed some insidious marketing
and laws are with us right now, seemingly innocuous but could lead to a pathway to complete
societal control as outlined in Bragg's novel - KSK
"The Mirror" is a slow burner that left me breathless, sad but hopeful. It reminded me of "The
Giver" but it felt more mature, more spiritual, more human - AJ
"The narrative is intriguing and the themes you've woven into the story are thought-provoking. The exploration of music and art, technology and control, rebellion and freedom, identity and connection, and the preservation of old ways, all contribute to a layered and complex narrative that is sure to engage readers. The characters are well-developed and their relationships are nuanced. Mia, in particular, is a compelling protagonist whose journey is both relatable and inspiring. Her interactions with other characters, such as her mother and Ned, are well-crafted and contribute significantly to the narrative." - DF
