{"product_id":"the-mirror-9781838196332","title":"The Mirror","description":"\u003cp\u003e • Author(s): Tim Bragg\u003cbr\u003e • Publisher: Sycamore Dystopia\u003cbr\u003e • Publisher Imprint: Sycamore Dystopia\u003cbr\u003e • BISAC: Dystopian\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is 2073 and a young girl, Mia, is brought up in a megacity. As she approaches her sixteenth\u003cbr\u003ebirthday she becomes increasingly aware of going to the 'resort' and leaving the city for the first\u003cbr\u003e(and possibly) last time. She knows the resort is a rite of passage but it is also a mystery.\u003cbr\u003eMia's world is run by ELK (Earthly Living Kingdom) who are a powerful and controlling elite.\u003cbr\u003eThey are attempting to live forever and aim to create self-perpetuating, mostly biological AI\u003cbr\u003ewhich a human consciousness can inhabit. Already AI is an established presence in the life of\u003cbr\u003ethe city.\u003cbr\u003eThis is a dystopian novel which also captures the indefatigable spirit of humanity. It's both a\u003cbr\u003ethriller and a romance. It asks who and what we are and where our place will be in the future.\u003cbr\u003eAre we more than a biological body, do we possess something that AI can never have?\u003cbr\u003eIn the cities of the future, non-Elkian humans have little worth - except, that is, for the most\u003cbr\u003ebeautiful and intelligent.\u003cbr\u003eTim Bragg's fifth novel explores the gradual sexual and spiritual awakening of two teenage girls, \u003cbr\u003eMia and Karella, in a world controlled by corporations, guardians and shady government [The\u003cbr\u003eHub]. AI is everywhere, from household gadgets and appliances all the way up to life-like\u003cbr\u003erobots that mentor and monitor the city's inhabitants. The world of the two girls is quite\u003cbr\u003estructured and limited and all they are excited for now is to get out of the city and spend time at\u003cbr\u003ethe mysterious 'resort' where they are told they will finally experience freedom. It will be the\u003cbr\u003enew beginning to everything they have always wanted. A proper life. But not all is as it seems\u003cbr\u003eand as new people come in to their circle of friends (including someone from the underground resistance who tells Mia\u003cbr\u003ea very unexpected secret) the girls begin to question their very existence and what it is that\u003cbr\u003emakes a person human. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"The Mirror\" is an intense peek at a near-future dystopian world where\u003cbr\u003eterrifying elements are emerging in governmental practices. Indeed some insidious marketing\u003cbr\u003eand laws are with us right now, seemingly innocuous but could lead to a pathway to complete\u003cbr\u003esocietal control as outlined in Bragg's novel - KSK \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"The Mirror\" is a slow burner that left me breathless, sad but hopeful. It reminded me of \"The\u003cbr\u003eGiver\" but it felt more mature, more spiritual, more human - AJ \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"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","brand":"Sycamore Dystopia","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48222044520599,"sku":"9781838196332","price":1167.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0666\/3471\/1191\/files\/9781838196332.webp?v=1788755847","url":"https:\/\/atlanticbooks.com\/products\/the-mirror-9781838196332","provider":"Atlantic Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}