PROXY by Alex London
3/5
PROXY, when you define it means a person authorize to represent or act for another. PATRON, on the other hand,is a person giving influence or financial support to a cause.
But they all got twisted here. In the world where Knox and Syd lives, they got a very different idea for those two words. GLITCHED.
Set in a dystopian world where science is in its highest form and the technology is much more advanced, the rich remained in power and the poor remained poor. The divide in these two societies were so obvious that if you were from an affluent family, you can acquire a person to bear all the consequences of your misdeeds so long you provide them with basic necessity such as school. Those were your proxies. Indebted with years to pay, and man power to use, their patron's identities were unknown to them. When their patron misbehaved, they were always caught off guard, taken to suffer for something and pay for whatever punishment equivalent to the misbehavior. Physical pain. For proxies, how can you bear that without even knowing what you are suffering for? And the main culprit, the patrons, despite of letting them know that they should learn their lesson by watching their proxies got the beatings, but not really laying a finger on them, would they really learn the lesson well, you think? I told you, they got it all twisted. A world where equality do not exist.
But it was true for Sydney Carton. Since he was four, he was experiencing this. In the world that he was raised, this was just you call normal. Because Knox Brindle is his patron, or rather, Knox's father is the one who acquired him to be his son's proxy. Since Syd has a dream of being free someday, he strives to be better. BUt Knox is not one that is easy to handle. He do things that completely put him in danger or involve himself to quite a number of illegal doings. And when it gets out of hand, Syd will be the one in the hurtful end. Poor Syd.
Proxy never meets the patron. Syd never should have met Knox. But circumstances threw them in each other's radar. Where everything began, secrets unfolded, decisions were made, plans unravelled, alliances built. They all learned that there is a bigger picture here. Suddenly every person's whom to trust was put to a test. Every intention was put into question. It is difficult which side you will go for and put your trust in. With the help of some characters, Egan, Marie, Mr. Baram, Syd has to choose which side is he willing to put his trust on. In the end, it is not just the trust but his whole existence depends on it. His whole life. And Knox, is partly to be blamed for or thank for for starting it all.
A sci-fi plus dystopian kind of read, i enjoyed this one. Parts where i had not seen the scenes coming and it made my eyes bulged and rolled at times, esp. knowing that Syd is actually kind of chapter 11. But hero comes in all forms, I am a believer.
I like Syd. He's strong and loyal and compassionate. Knox is just Knox, arrogant, full of self, rich kid. But first impressions don't usually last for me. That last scene proved that. Still i dont want to believe it happened. Im not telling! im just gonna wink and enjoy my Epicure pill of quarter pounder of a burger. What can you say about that Mcdonald's?
Well, maybe the author Alex London was aiming for an epic ending. Not actually the end, since there is a sequel called Guardian. But he quite got my full attention there.