Athena's Choice
by Adam Boostrom
What if, in the future, a virus was engineered to eradicate terrorism? And what if it killed all the men on the planeet?
This is exactly what happens in Adam Boostrom’s novel Athena's Choice, and what sets the stage for the novel throughout.
Set in the decades following the eradication of men, we follow a young woman named Athena Vosh — who, though a typical teenager in her own right, becomes caught up in a wild mystery when it is revealed that the Lazarus Genome, which is meant to correct the genetically-engineered virus and bring men back into existence, has been stolen. Though initially accused of stealing said genome, it becomes quickly apparent to the powers that be that this young woman, only a teenager, could have had nothing to do with it. However, after Athena reveals that she has experienced a series of strange dreams about a book titled "Original Sin" — which appears to exist in a library that one of the world's most advanced AI cannot find — an officer of the Public Safety Organization believes that they may, in fact, be more than just random. Thus, Athena Vosh is tasked to help find the genome, and, as a result, bring men back to the world.
Athena's Choice is a gorgeous novel. Set in the year 2099, it follows a young woman through a futuristic world that is filled with everything from magnetic implants, to happiness profiling, food printers, heli-cars, and more. Though on the surface it may appear to be little more than a young-adult science-fiction novel, Athena's Choice examines the very real concept of gender and what it means to be a woman in a world without men. I was particularly impressed by the relationship dynamics that are present within the novel, and the particular attention the author paid to the downfall of all men, including those trans-men who lived during the height of what is described as the Y Plague. This novel was obviously well thought-out, and I can only commend the author for his sensitivity and willingness to reach beyond the casual "What If?" story to make something wonderful.
I would highly recommend Athena's Choice to anyone who loves a good science-fiction story, tales of friendship, and coming-of-age narratives that focus on young women. It's one of my favorite novels of the year, and you should definitely read it, too.
Reviewer's Note: I download this book on Amazon during a free promotion.
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