Justine Avery’s works of both fiction and nonfiction have appeared in numerous magazines and e-zines internationally while her short stories and novelettes have also earned global notoriety and insatiable fans.
This is my first reading of Avery. I had to read this short novelette a second time to see a number of angles from which the book can be read. The line I chose is what does the book tell us about the role and behavior of the TV-social media life; and the lure and trickery of the Internet; and would we choose Earth.
THE TV CHARACTERS:
Nathan who has an to his TV heroes, Matt Mandingo and Chrissy Winkins, professionals of TV nothingness, soundbites; and commercials; and to social networking. Chrissy and Nathan are struggling to some ‘breaking news’; and are successful only in that they get to a commercial, without delivering the story. Leaves us saying” “What did they say?” or the more picturesque words Chrissy herself uses. The TV workplace is where you have fun, and fool around ‘as usual”. Nowadays, TV ads incorporate fun taking place in the backroom.
SHZ, THE ALIEN (AND WHAT HE THINKs OF US)
ShZ is a male alien bee who has inherited Earth. He has the lowest opinion of earth and its peoples. He is also addicted to royal jelly which he hides and thereby endangers the queens and his Colony. He visits Earth and confirms his feelings that Earth is derelict, overrun by two-eyed vermin, and is poorly suitable as a retirement destination.
ShZ meets Nathan, and while there is no ‘take me to your leader’, he demands of Nathan that: “on the rising of the sun, your kind departs”. To him. Nathan’s people have a mental problem due to over-reproduction. He decides that communication with such a species was not only unprofitable; it was impossible.
THE INTERNET:
Nathan mistakes ShZ for his colleague, Cal, pulling a prank in a costume. (ShZ must have been big enough, I presume). A move by ShZ awakens Nathan to the rumors and news reports. Nathan begins taking pictures on his cellphone, thinking to “break the Internet”. The consensus Internet response is that the “simultaneous botched reporting” was “the most outstanding organized prank in recorded history and therefore, likely the funniest thing to happen throughout the life of anyone lucky enough to be alive at that time”. Nathan’s “account-publicized” claims that he was with the alien only brought ridicule, then— worst of all— total disregard. His coworkers labeled him “uncreative”; the Internet declared him “nonexistent”. Like the Internet, Nathan finally believes that he imagined it all. So much for fame!
FINALE
ShZ goes home, (and apparently releases some or all of his stolen royal jelly). With a novel sense of righteousness, ShZ proudly surveys his now thriving colony – queen larvae floating on royal jelly –(”the place of his undisclosed decline and disgrace and of his redemption”(??). He contemplates his upcoming death in two fortnights. His visit to earth and his experiences made him do all that. BRAVO! But I do remember his consideration that “The GrT colony's impending ruin resembled Earth's own rabid decline much too closely.” Did he spin a coin?
The book is entertaining and, evocative, and is small enough to read two or three times. Having seen the book as outlined above, I was able to ask myself a few questions:
1. With all the noise and physical pollution on Earth these days, do I see Earth and its peoples as ShZ sees them?
2. Is the Internet and social media in the end likely to break us – our confidence, our self-esteem; our morals, and our relationships (note the issue of public shaming; and fake news).
3. What would you do if someone decidedly alien walks up to you and says: ”Take me to your Leader?”
4. Would you sacrifice your own addictions to “Make Planet Earth Flourish Again”?
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Top reviews from other countries
Chris Wells
An Entertaining Look At Earth From The Outside.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 16, 2019