Walled City by Maressa Mortimer
The theme of this book is both original and thought-provoking: a clandestine evangelistic mission to a despotically ruled city – reminiscent of present-day North Korea. Neither talking about the past nor emotional behaviour, neither pets nor religion, is permitted.
Gax is living in the house in which his grandparents grew up in Elabi. He was thoroughly briefed before sneaking in. Yet he is overwhelmed by the rigid class structure, civil organization and social customs he encounters. To say nothing of the intolerable heat. He is alarmed to discover everything he says aloud is processed and acted upon by his automated servant. He personifies ‘her’ with the name Yulra.
Life in Elabi
Gax has a job in a bookshop, cleaning the shelves. His officious boss and the reticent saleswoman watch his every move with suspicion. Buying food proves challenging. And soon everyone he meets finds him weird – because he smiles and wishes them well, things that aren’t done in this community.
Physical fitness is paramount, so Gax visits the gym every evening. There he gets to know Caecilia, who also comments on his strange behaviour. She warns him he will probably be watched wherever he goes. This is soon confirmed by pointed personal remarks issuing from his video monitor when he gets home. And he notices that cameras have been surreptitiously installed in his rooms.
The challenge
How can he even read his Book, let alone share his beliefs with anyone else? This is the trying setting for Gax’s lone mission.
Impressions
I could identify with the MC’s aims, the remorse he felt at his initial failure to share his faith, and the excitement when the occasional person did show interest. But I do have some reservations about the book, which explain my 3-star rating:
- it’s long and rather tedious to read; very little happens day after repetitive day, and the elements of tension are meagre
- the world the author builds is not altogether convincing. How could the authorities monitor everyone’s behaviour with such a technologically primitive infrastructure?
- wouldn’t Gax, in all his nighttime and beach encounters with pretty young ladies, experience any sexual temptations?
- the prose would benefit from more thorough editing.