418: I Am a Teapot is a near-future dystopian science fiction novel that explores a world where people by choice, birth, or punishment, relinquish the rights to their physical body. Their brains exist in a constantly-connected virtual interface where they enjoy a fantasy world of endless indulgences. However, while their minds have fun, their bodies are controlled by implants doing the filthiest and most dangerous jobs known to humanity. Stripped of their identities, these dredges of society are simply called staff and they are disposable. But what happens when a staff becomes cognizant of its situation and tries to break free? When staff number 418’s physical body is broken, he must come to terms with reality before a kangaroo court determines his fate. Will an unlikely friendship save 418 from permanent retirement?
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This book isn't my usual cup of tea (hehe) but I really enjoyed reading it. I hadn’t read a really deep, interesting science fiction book in a while and this one really made me think about our society and the destruction we may be headed to. We abuse our planet, we are glued to our phones/electronics and in turn, we take “shortcuts” in our life experiences/relationships. Even now, so much is available to us on the internet that human contact, exercise, and many other things are replaced virtually.
The staff, as they are called, are dehumanized by other humans going about their daily lives with little regard for their safety, their health, and even their basic human rights. I was slow to get into the story, but then I couldn’t put it down. I had to find out what happened to 418 as he became more aware and wanted something different for his life. He was born into staff, but what we are born into, doesn’t make us who we are. And even though some choose or be punished and become staff, they are seen as lesser beings, essentially fleshy machines.
Are we headed into a world where humans become essentially robots, with no conscious thought of what they do on a day to day basis? Will we, as humans, become little more than robots in order to freely experience "life" and all its indulgences without consequence or effort? Are we taking the easy way out too many times? And if that choice is made, are we denied our basic human rights? Or are we just overlooked & disposable?
Scott writes a compelling book about a series of events that bring two men, a staff & the man who basically owns him, together. And how one comes to realize what he is missing out on & the other what he was taking for granted.
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