Today it's a pleasure to take part in the BlogTour The Visitor by Louvie G. Tucker.
Louvie G. Tucker lives and works in the Pacific Northwest with his wife. Born in Buffalo, New York, he’s called various U.S. states, Japan, and China home at points in his life. When he’s not working in cyber security, he enjoys rock climbing, staying up to date on current events, keeping up with his Japanese language skills, and riding his bicycle. He is currently working on the second book in the Corrupted Genes series.
Nusans don’t cause trouble. Peter is a good Nusan. Single, annoyed with his best friend’s constant blind dates, and comfortably provided for with his job as a genmod technician, he spends his days telling expectant parents what their unborn children will look like. For a fee, he can modify physical and mental traits.
To ensure Nusa’s perfect society, however, it is law that all babies must be born with white skin, an IQ 120 or above, and without any illnesses or disabilities. These modifications are free of charge. It’s the law. And good Nusans obey the law. The people of Susa, however, are known to be troublemakers.
Thank goodness the dark-skinned Susans all live south of the border, in Susa. The closest Peter ever has to come to a dangerous Susan is either on the silver screen being vanquished by a heroic Nusan hero or on the news as deporters -- the force charged to keep Nusa safe -- prepare to send them south to Susa.
That is, until a dark-skinned visitor is suddenly inside the four walls of Peter’s quiet existence. Snarky. Irreverent and without any regard for the rules, the stranger should be a Susan but is he? Why is he claiming to have fallen from the stars?
Everything Peter knows is suddenly in question and even his status as a good Nusan is under threat as deporters seek him out on suspicion of a capital crime. Has Peter caused trouble?
Life as Peter has known it is fragile. Can he survive long enough to learn the truth? And will he even want to believe it once he finds it?
This is a novella length read and although it's dystopian it is very much a social commentary on our society now. On racism, eugenics, capitalism and the division of people. The cracks in society that are becoming wider and the voices of dissent who rise up to counter the hatred.
Peter is a law-abiding Nusan, who believes the propaganda both for his people and for the Susans. The slogans reminding him of his duty and to not doubt the hierarchy or upper echelon. the light-skinned Nusans, who stay out of trouble, as opposed to the Susans, the dark-skinned troublemakers.
The author doesn't wander too far from reality with the baby factory genetics. Parents being able to pick eye colour, skin colour, gender and size. It also means they are able to eradicate genetic faults, and yes they are the ones who decide whether it is a fault. This is already a possibility in many countries. The problem with that is what one person may view as a disadvantage another may adore.
I hope this isn't the last we read by this particular author. I'd like to see the more speculative elements fade to let the social commentary be heard more clearly.
Buy The Visitor at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Buy at Amazon com.
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