Inspection
Josh Malerman
Rave
Positive
Mixed
Pan
Inspection
Josh Malerman
Rave
Positive
Mixed
Pan
Rave
Positive
Mixed
Pan
Malerman makes the horror of this impossible experiment appear completely plausible while thoughtfully contemplating grand issues like nature versus nurture, gender roles, and scientific ethics—all of that, plus he manages to create a satisfyingly oppressive atmosphere. And yet, for all of this serious intensity, Inspection feels effortless; the story flows easily and at a compelling pace: think Shirley Jackson writing Lord of the Flies (1954). Hand to fans of Margaret Atwood or Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro (2005)..
Wild concept meets richly imagined narrative.
A novel whose premise is also claustrophobic and unsettling, but more ambitious than that of Bird Box.
Naturally, the sex-quarantining breaks down, and all the little guinea pigs end up 'spoiled rotten.' In real sci-fi, one can’t help thinking, there would be more interest in what all the child-geniuses were supposed to do. Design a starship, control climate, achieve immortality? As it is, they discover sex. Happens all the time..
... where Bird Box electrified by keeping readers as much in the dark as its blindfolded protagonist Malorie, Inspection leans too early and too quickly toward why the boys will revolt.
There's much to love about Inspection. Malerman's sparse yet evocative prose helps move the narrative along, which is good since, in other hands, the same idea could have ended up being quite bloated. Characters both good and evil are completely fleshed out, with the latter especially believing themselves to be the heroes of the story, convinced their deplorable deeds are just. Malerman handles the point-of-views of his adolescent characters adeptly, capturing the heartache, confusion, longing, and ever-shifting quality of self-esteem that comes with the onset of puberty, especially as it applies to these extraordinary pre-teens, who live strange and extremely sheltered lives. Much of the novel relies on atmosphere and mystery, for 'quiet' horror fans, but for those who appreciate some Grand Guignol levels of violence, Malerman has you covered there too. And yet, there's a pretty big oversight that mars Inspection.
... a lot of mythology to consume, especially in the book’s disorienting early chapters. Malerman builds a striking world, but he struggles to ease us into it, especially since, despite this being their story, only a few of the boys crystallize into layered characters.
... strange, uneven.
Though one shocking plot turn is forced and the publisher needlessly gives away what would have been a beautifully orchestrated surprise, this unlikely cross between 1984 and Lord of the Flies tantalizes.