Uglies
 |
 | |
| Author | Scott Westerfeld |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Series | The Uglies series |
| Genre | Young adult Science Fiction |
| Publisher | Simon Pulse |
Publication date | February 8, 2005 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 426 |
| ISBN | 0-689-86538-4 |
| OCLC | 57686394 |
| LC Class | PZ7.W5197 Ugl 2005 |
| Followed by | Pretties |
Uglies is a 2005 science fiction novel by Scott Westerfeld. It is set in a future post-scarcity dystopian world in which everyone is turned "Pretty" by extreme cosmetic surgery upon reaching age 16. It tells the story of teenager Tally Youngblood who rebels against society's enforced conformity, after her new found friends Shay and David show her the downsides to becoming a "pretty". Written for young adults, Uglies deals with adolescent themes of change, both emotional and physical, and dealing with the revelation that "some of what you’re taught isn’t true, your parents are flawed human beings and the world isn’t constructed for your benefit."[1] The book is the first installment in what was originally a trilogy, The Uglies series which includes Pretties and Specials. The series has now has been extended with the publication of a fourth novel, Extras.
Themes
Uglies "plays on adolescent changes, both physical and emotional."[2] The book and series as whole addresses the issues of conformity, self-worth, body image and individuality, as well as the impact of strong peer pressure. Modern environmental issues also underlie much of the book's discussion of the global past.[citation needed]
Under the surface, "Uglies" speaks of high profile government conspiracies and the danger of trusting the omnipresent Big Brother. While the underlying story condemns war and all the side effects thereof, the true thrust of the story proves that individual freedoms are far more important than the need for uniformity and the elimination of personal will.
The book series shares many of its themes with the 1964 The Twilight Zone Episode "Number Twelve Looks Just Like You." [1] In a blog posting, the author of the books notes that he has seen the episode in his childhood and had forgotten all the details. [2]
Plot introduction
The Uglies series is set at least a few centuries in the future, after current civilisation was destroyed by a bacterium which de-established all petroleum products, causing widespread chaos. The survivors of this disaster established cities much smaller than those currently existing, each of which is independently governed with limited traveling. At the age of sixteen, each person undergoes an operation which boosts their immune system and reflexes while giving them well-proportioned, symmetrical faces based on an international standard, so that all pretties look nearly identical. Later operations follow to show signs of increasing age while maintaining this beauty. Before they receive the operation, children are referred to as "uglies", and are kept separate from their older friends.
Story
Faggets begins as Tally Youngblood, a fifteen year old "ugly", sneaks across the river to find her best friend Peris, a "pretty" living in New Pretty Town. After meeting Peris, and finding that he does not want to see her until she turns sixteen and is made pretty, she escapes with the help of another ugly, called Shay. After discovering that they share a birthday, Tally and Shay become close friends. Shay teaches Tally to hoverboard, and takes her out of the city to the nearby Rusty Ruins. Gradually, Tally realizes that Shay does not want to become a pretty, which culminates in Shay running away from the city shortly before her birthday, leaving Tally a cryptic note of instructions on how to follow her.
Although Tally is upset by Shay's disappearance, she still plans on becoming a pretty. However, on the day of her operation, she is taken to meet Dr Cable, head of Special Circumstances, a group of "cruel pretties" who ensure the city's security. They inform her that she will not be allowed to become pretty unless she follows after Shay and lets the Specials track her to the Smoke - a group of runaway Uglies. Reluctantly, Tally agrees, and sets off on a long journey across the wilderness. After many days of travelling, during which Tally faces several life-threatening situations, she makes it to the Smoke.
In the Smoke, Tally is initially horrified by the primitive way of life, but gradually begins to see the benefits of freedom, and learns to enjoy the rough lifestyle. She does not activate the tracking beacon Dr Cable gave her, although she keeps it while deliberating whether to stay or return to the City. Tally begins to fall in love with David, the son of the founders of the Smoke who was born outside the cities. Meeting David's parents, she learns that a part of the pretty operation creates brain lesions, which force all pretties to be happy and compliant. Between this, and her feelings for David, she decides to destroy the tracking beacon.
Unfortunately, Tally accidentally activates the tracker when she tries to destroy it, and the Smoke is invaded by Special Circumstances who take all the uglies back to their home cities. Tally only just escapes, and with David, who was outside the Smoke when the attack began, she makes her way back to the city to free her friends and David's parents. In a daring raid on Special Circumstances headquarters, they rescue the Smokies from Tally's city. However, they are horrified to discover that Shay has already been made pretty, and that David's father Az was killed in an experimental procedure to make him forget the lesions.
David's mother, Maddy, explains that she has fabricated a cure for the lesions, but refuses to use them on Shay without her consent. Realising the only sensible course of action, Tally confesses to her betrayal of the Smoke, shocking the other Smokies. She then gives full consent to taking the cure, and surrenders to the city to become pretty.She hurt David to the point were he walks out on her.Yet she knows time will heal things
Adaptations
20th Century Fox and producer John Davis (Eragon) bought the film rights to the novel in 2006. Davis and his co-producer wife Jordan were "plugged into the tale by their daughter, who read the book in school." The movie is scheduled to be released in the year 2011.[3]
Characters
Tally Youngblood: The main protagonist of the trilogy. Nicknamed "Squint" because of her eyes.
Shay: Eventually becomes Tally's best friend after Tally meets her on the way back from a visit in New Pretty Town. Shay is the main reason Tally became involved with the "Smokies" Also called "Skinny" because of her weight.
David: Shay's ugly friend that lives in the Smoke. He is the son of Maddy and Az. Did have a relationship with Shay, but gradually falls in love with Tally.
Maddy: David's mother, and was once a surgeon for turning Uglies into Pretties, along with her husband, Az.
Az: David's father, and was once a surgeon for turning Uglies into Pretties. He was captured and killed during an operation led by Dr. Cable.
Croy: One of Shay's friends who lives at The Smoke.
Peris: Tally's best friend since they were littlies. Aka "Nose" Is a pretty.
Dr. Cable: Head, or leader, of Special Circumstances. Sends Tally out as the spy to "the Smoke" Dr.Cable is basically responsible for the whole downfall of "the Smoke"
References
- ^ Hynes, James (2007-11-11). "Looks Aren't Everything". Sunday Book Review. The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Levy Mandell.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Fleming, Michael (2006-06-25). "'Uglies' sitting pretty: Teen tale gets bigscreen makeover at Fox". Variety. Retrieved 2008-03-20.
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