The Power (Alderman novel): Difference between revisions
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==Overview== |
==Overview== |
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''The Power'' is a book within a book: a manuscript of an imagined history of the tumultuous era during which women across the world developed and shared the power to emit electricity from their hands. The manuscript is submitted by Neil Adam Armon to |
''The Power'' is a book within a book: a manuscript of an imagined history of the tumultuous era during which women across the world developed and shared the power to emit electricity from their hands. The manuscript is submitted by Neil Adam Armon to another author named Naomi, approximately five thousand years after the power emerges and revolution reassembles the world into a matriarchy. This fictional historical fiction chronicles the experiences of Allie, Roxy, Margot, Jocelyn, and Tunde, as they navigate their rapidly changing world. |
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==Characters== |
==Characters== |
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Revision as of 18:25, 23 July 2018
- For the 1956 novel of the same title, see The Power (1956 novel). For the self-help book, see The Power (self-help book).
| Author | Naomi Alderman |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Marsh Davies |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Science Fiction |
| Published | 2016 |
| Publisher | Viking |
| Publication place | Great Britain |
| Pages | 400 pp |
| ISBN | 978-0-316-54761-1 |
The Power is a 2016 science fiction novel by the British writer Naomi Alderman.[1] Its central premise is women developing the ability to release electrical jolts from their fingers,[2] thus leading them to become the dominant gender.[3]
In June 2017, The Power won the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction.[4][5] The book was also named by The New York Times as one of the 10 Best Books of 2017.[6] In December 2017, former U.S. President Barack Obama named The Power as one of his favorite books of 2017.[7]
Overview
The Power is a book within a book: a manuscript of an imagined history of the tumultuous era during which women across the world developed and shared the power to emit electricity from their hands. The manuscript is submitted by Neil Adam Armon to another author named Naomi, approximately five thousand years after the power emerges and revolution reassembles the world into a matriarchy. This fictional historical fiction chronicles the experiences of Allie, Roxy, Margot, Jocelyn, and Tunde, as they navigate their rapidly changing world.
Characters
- Allie Montgomery-Taylor is young girl who uses her power to kill her abusive foster father. She retreats to a convent where she becomes a religious figure named ‘Mother Eve.’
- Annabeth MacDuff
- Mr. Clyde Montgomery-Taylor
- Mrs. Montgomery-Taylor
- Kyle
- Hunter
- The voice
- Aunt Rose
- Savannah
- Victoria
- Gordy
- Luanne
- Sister Maria Ignacia
- Sister Veronica
- Roxy Monke is the young daughter of a London mob boss and is a witness to her mother’s murder. She meets with Mother Eve at the convent to seek help in strengthening her powers and ends up becoming Mother Eve’s confidante.
- Christina
- Bernie Monke - drug dealing gangster
- Ricky Monke
- Terry Monke
- Darrell Monke
- Barbara Monke
- Primrose
- Tony
- Einar
- Margot Cleary is an American politician and advocate for training young girls on how to properly use their power. She creates the North Star Girls Camps across the country as part of her advocacy.
- Bobby Feinburg
- Maddy Feiburg Cleary
- Laurie Vincens
- Daniel Dandon
- Tom
- Kristen
- Jocelyn Cleary is the daughter of Margot Cleary and experiences power fluctuations. Despite her difficulties, Jocelyn is able to awaken her mother’s power.
- Tunde Edo is a journalist who documents the growing power of women across the globe. He first gains recognition by posting one of the first videos of women using their power online.
- Enuma
- Noor
- President Viktor Moskalev
- Tatiana Moskalev
- Tatianna Moskalev is the former first lady of Moldova. After killing her husband, she takes over the role of president and reconstitutes Moldova as a matriarchal country called Bessapara.
- Neil Adam Armon is the fictional author of The Power and a member of The Men’s Writers Association. Neil reaches out to Naomi Alderman through letters to discuss her thoughts on his book.
Development History
The Power is Alderman’s fourth novel and was influenced by her relationship with Canadian novelist Margaret Atwood. The mentorship was arranged through the Rolex mentorship program. In an interview with The Telegraph in 2012, Alderman explained the influence of Atwood’s work on her as a novelist before the mentorship as,“I’d been to an Orthodox Jewish primary school where every morning the boys said, ‘Thank you God for not making me a woman.’ If you put that together with The Handmaid’s Tale in your head, something will eventually go fizz! Boom!” [8] In another interview for The Guardian regarding The Power, Alderman described being inspired by Atwood, saying, “The one thing Margaret directly suggested was the idea of a convent.” [1] Within the novel, the setting of the convent plays a crucial role during the development of the power of women.
Literary significance and reception
The book, backed up by critics’ reviews and awards, was broadly regarded as significant work of women’s literature. The Washington Post reviewer Ron Charles praised the novel as “one of those essential feminist works that terrifies and illuminates, enrages and encourages.”[9]
The Power was the winner of the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2017.[10] The novel was also featured fourth in The 10 Best Books of 2017 list by The New York Times.[11] The Guardian’s deputy literary editor Justine Jordan praised the book by stating “it’s also endlessly nuanced and thought-provoking, combining elegantly efficient prose with beautiful meditations on the metaphysics of power, possibility and change.”[12]
There were some who criticized the novel. The New York Times Book Review contributor Amal El-Mohtar criticized the book for worldbuilding and philosophical inconsistencies.[13]
Adaptations
The novel is set to be turned into a long-running, global television series, after the TV rights to Naomi Alderman’s work were acquired by Jane Featherstone in an 11-way auction.[14] Along with being the series' writer, Alderman will also be a producer.[15] The series intends to portray the characters' storylines from the book, while also exploring the characters' lives beyond the established narrative.[15]
References
- ^ a b Armitstead, Claire (28 October 2016). "Naomi Alderman: 'I went into the novel religious and by the end I wasn't. I wrote myself out of it'". (Interview) The Guardian.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Jordan, Justine (2 November 2016). "The Power by Naomi Alderman review – if girls ruled the world". The Guardian.
- ^ Steele, Francesca (15 October 2016). "The Power by Naomi Alderman". The Times.
- ^ Kean, Danuta, "Baileys prize goes to 'classic of the future' by Naomi Alderman", The Guardian, 7 June 2017.
- ^ Masters, Tim, "Baileys Prize: Naomi Alderman wins for 'shocking' sci-fi novel The Power", BBC News, 7 June 2017.
- ^ "The 10 Best Books of 2017". New York Times. 30 November 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- ^ "Here's Barack Obama's Favorite Books and Music of 2017". Time. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
- ^ "Margaret Atwood Mentors Naomi Alderman". Telegraph. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
- ^ Charles, Ron. "'The Power' is our era's 'Handmaid's Tale'". The Washington Post. The Wshington Post.
- ^ "THE 2017 BAILEYS PRIZE WINNER IS REVEALED…". Women's Prize for Fiction 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
- ^ "The 10 Best Books of 2017". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
- ^ Jordan, Justine. "The Power by Naomi Alderman review – if girls ruled the world". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
- ^ EL-MOHTAR, AMAL. "A Novelist Asks, What if Women's Bodies Became Deadly Weapons?". The New York Times.
- ^ http://www.scifi4ever.com/book-0062-the-power-naomi-alderman_news.html
- ^ a b "Sister Pictures options The Power". Sister Pictures. Retrieved 2018-02-08.