Heart transplants. Body modification. Harvesting spleens from other animals. Steel/plastic/synthskin… How far can and will science go to help the human body fix itself? Or even create new? What are the religious and ethical ramifications of these practices?
Arwen Elys Dayton pushes these questions further and further in each of the six connected stories in Stronger, Faster, and More Beautiful. It is populated with thought-provoking voices that are brimming with dark humor, eternal hope, and still others with stark, religious furor. The best part of this collection is the way Dayton seamlessly intertwines technology and the human desire for perfection in each narrative. Each subsequent step seems plausible in light of the previous machination.
Every story is a bittersweet satisfaction. A try for perfection, yet a dash towards a possible cliff.
Highly recommended for high school students and beyond. The speculative and dystopian fan will jump to this book.
5 out of 5 stars.
Releases on December 4th.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Childrens/ Delacorte Press, and Arwen Elys Dayton for the advanced copy for review.
Paul's Picks 
Are these stories in the same vein as the tv show “Black Mirror”?
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Yes. I’d say that’s exactly the vein. And although it may be marketed as YA bc the characters are young adults, there’s universal appeal.
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I was afraid of that. Thanks for the confirmation…
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Glad to hear your review of this one! I hadn’t heard of it until, coincidentally, I got a surprise copy in the mail today. Sounds like something I’ll enjoy.
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I loved the connections between each story. Interesting how she links them.
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I’ve been curious about this one! It reminds me a lot of Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies series, which I loved, so I’ll definitely check it out at some point. 🙂
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Cool. It’s definitely thought provoking. I will look into Uglies!
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Thanks for letting me know about this one matey! It sounds interesting. Nice review. Arrr!
x The Captain
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Thanks so much for stopping by!
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Interesting! I didn’t know about this, but it’s nice to hear about a “Black Mirror” type book exists out there! 😀
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I don’t read many short story collections, and it’s interesting to see how authors thematically connect the individual stories.
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I have a copy of this, I’d love to read it this month, sounds fantastic!
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It starts off sorta realistic and then spins wonderfully crazy and out there:)
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