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The Forever Contract
In the very near future, the country is plunged into drought and unrest. Scare resources and constant heat are making life completely miserable. Casey doesn't think she can stand slugging back another gel pack or working one more shift at the wells. Fortunately, there's a solution: anyone over the age of seventeen can sign the Forever Contract and enter a utopian paradise. While people's minds take a permanent vacation, their bodies get warehoused and hooked up to a complex array of sensors and feeding tubes. As Casey's brother says, "You upload your consciousness to the system and you're free to live as long as you want, however you want. No more pain, no more heat, no more awful dust, no more work. Just pure thought. It's what our species has always been meant for. Suffering is for philosophers. Not for me."
Casey's ready to sign--a permanent vacation is just what she needs. There's only one problem: her boyfriend James doesn't trust it.
Told from his and her perspectives, The Forever Contract is a 17,000 word (60 page) novella suitable for readers in grade 8 and above.
Would you sign the contract?
Casey's ready to sign--a permanent vacation is just what she needs. There's only one problem: her boyfriend James doesn't trust it.
Told from his and her perspectives, The Forever Contract is a 17,000 word (60 page) novella suitable for readers in grade 8 and above.
Would you sign the contract?
56 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 30, 2012
10 people are currently reading
451 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
September 5, 2012
This short YA novella is a undiscovered gem in my opinion. Sawyer creates an imaginative dystopian world brought on mostly by lack of water, a severe drought. The powers that be create a virtual reality for their citizens so their minds can live in a place free of suffering, while keeping their earthly bodies in a stasis. Kind of like a voluntary Matrix.
The story follows two 16 year olds, Casey and James, who are faced with the decision of whether or not to enter into the Forever contract and join other family members and friends in the virtual world. You care about Casey and James almost immediately, a necessary feat because of the fast pace of the novella structure. Their relationship is a refreshing break from a string of love triangles found in other YA novels.
Of course, as with all dystopian fiction, the world is never quite what its made out to be, and the twists in The Forever Contract are somewhat predictable, but nevertheless satisfying. One mystifying moment for me as a reader was when James and Patrick go on a sort of heroic rampage near the end. I think because of the short nature of the story, Sawyer did not have enough time to set up how scary and oppressive the world really was, and thus the characters come off seeming a little less heroic and a little more terrorist like than Sawyer had intended as an author. My main criticism of the story is actually that there was so much more to tell, it really could have made a wonderful full length novel. Regardless, it was an engaging narrative, with good characterization that left you wanting just that little bit more.
The story follows two 16 year olds, Casey and James, who are faced with the decision of whether or not to enter into the Forever contract and join other family members and friends in the virtual world. You care about Casey and James almost immediately, a necessary feat because of the fast pace of the novella structure. Their relationship is a refreshing break from a string of love triangles found in other YA novels.
Of course, as with all dystopian fiction, the world is never quite what its made out to be, and the twists in The Forever Contract are somewhat predictable, but nevertheless satisfying. One mystifying moment for me as a reader was when James and Patrick go on a sort of heroic rampage near the end. I think because of the short nature of the story, Sawyer did not have enough time to set up how scary and oppressive the world really was, and thus the characters come off seeming a little less heroic and a little more terrorist like than Sawyer had intended as an author. My main criticism of the story is actually that there was so much more to tell, it really could have made a wonderful full length novel. Regardless, it was an engaging narrative, with good characterization that left you wanting just that little bit more.
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August 5, 2012I wrote this book, so I can't rate it. :)
July 10, 2014
See more of my reviews on my blog Thoughts At One In The Morning.
My Thoughts:
When I first got the inside scoop on this dystopian novella, I knew I wanted to read it. I have been anxious to read a number of dystopians as of late and this one definitely fit the bill. The synopsis is just an idea of what the world is like, but there is so much more to it that Casey and James and their families face.
Signing the Forever Contract means losing out on physically being with your loved ones who choose to remain. They say it is better to live in the fantasy than suffer the pain of the physical body having to work and be thirsty all the time. Casey’s brother just signed on and he seems to be doing just fine on the other side. Her boyfriend James, however, doesn’t trust it. And he has a reason why. All he needs to do is convince Casey of this before she signs the contract and he loses her forever.
The Forever Contract is an intriguing concept and a tantalizing story. The more you learn about what it means to sign the contract, the more chilling it becomes. My only complaint, and honestly it’s barely a complaint, is that it was too short. It is a novella, so that is the point, but I couldn’t help but want to know more, to see more. Avery Sawyer brought us an interesting, albeit terrifying, new world. Once the story is over, you can’t help but hope for it to continue. And I sure hope it does because I certainly want more!
My Rating:
Very Good: Stay up late
My Thoughts:
When I first got the inside scoop on this dystopian novella, I knew I wanted to read it. I have been anxious to read a number of dystopians as of late and this one definitely fit the bill. The synopsis is just an idea of what the world is like, but there is so much more to it that Casey and James and their families face.
Signing the Forever Contract means losing out on physically being with your loved ones who choose to remain. They say it is better to live in the fantasy than suffer the pain of the physical body having to work and be thirsty all the time. Casey’s brother just signed on and he seems to be doing just fine on the other side. Her boyfriend James, however, doesn’t trust it. And he has a reason why. All he needs to do is convince Casey of this before she signs the contract and he loses her forever.
The Forever Contract is an intriguing concept and a tantalizing story. The more you learn about what it means to sign the contract, the more chilling it becomes. My only complaint, and honestly it’s barely a complaint, is that it was too short. It is a novella, so that is the point, but I couldn’t help but want to know more, to see more. Avery Sawyer brought us an interesting, albeit terrifying, new world. Once the story is over, you can’t help but hope for it to continue. And I sure hope it does because I certainly want more!
My Rating:
Very Good: Stay up late
August 26, 2012
I am giving this a 4 star rating as a YA short story. It does not have the depth and character development of a full novel, and therefore, could not compete with my favorite full length YA dystpians ( e.g., Divergent, Legend, Delirium, Hungar Games). That being said, I really enjoyed the dystopian elements. It is The Matrix meets Coma from a YA perspective. The book made me think about what true happiness really means and the innate need for human survival.
November 10, 2016
This was such a good book !! It sort of reminded me of the Uglies series, and Delirium, two amazing books with a plot similar to this. I hope there's more because this one right here was so interesting!! She wrote it very well, and was sad because all those people who went into the forever would just die and become a program.
August 16, 2012
I loved this. it was so compelling. I hope that there is a folks up. I seriously wish it was a full novel. I didn't want it to end. I need to know if the programmer goes down... so many questions!!! Great read!
August 17, 2012
This book is not in my normal realm of reading but it was definitely a good read....
August 16, 2012
I really wish this were a full novel. I absolutely loved the story and the characters and was left wanting to read more. I hope there is a follow up!
June 13, 2018
Not just another YA book
A creative but credible storyline combined with relatable characters who are more than cardboard cutouts make this book shine like Venus before dawn. No vapid term girl waiting for a hero to save her, rather a more equal relationship much better to see in young adults. Definitely has me heading back to Amazon with my credit card and to favorite a new author. 😀
A creative but credible storyline combined with relatable characters who are more than cardboard cutouts make this book shine like Venus before dawn. No vapid term girl waiting for a hero to save her, rather a more equal relationship much better to see in young adults. Definitely has me heading back to Amazon with my credit card and to favorite a new author. 😀
September 17, 2015
Read more of my reviews here: https://paigeturnerreads.wordpress.com/
The cover of The Forever Contract and the synopsis were both misleading. For the most part, I stay away from books that have covers like that, it usually means certain events occur. None of that happened though, so I’m not sure why Sawyer chose this cover. The synopsis was what pulled me in. The thought of “upload[ing] your consciousness to the system and you're free to live as long as you want, however you want.” was intriguing. What a unique twist to a dystopian novella. So why didn’t I give it more than one star?
It was completely and totally dull. I was losing my mind trying to get through this novella. Casey and James were one dimensional. This is one of the biggest issues with novellas. The poor character development. If you need more “book time” to develop a solid character than a novella will be able to provide, do not write a novella . It’s unfair to the reader not only if they spent money to buy the book, but in addition, they spent time reading your book only to receive something subpar. It’s equivalent to going to a restaurant and reading over the menu (the books on shelves) and you finally choose something that sounds appetizing (the cover). The chef is making the food in front of you and there are lots of flips and sizzles (the synopsis). Then your food is finally done and the food is being put on your plate, a little sloppily, but it still looks rather good (the first few chapters). You finally take a bite and your face scrunches in disappointment as your tastebuds recoil in horror. It’s undercooked and not what you expected after watching the chef’s grand flips and loud sizzles. But what can you do? You already paid. You wasted your time and money on a chef that did not deliver the service you deserved.
It was honestly a shame because this plot was incredibly amazing. There could have been ocean-deep depth, heartbreakingly emotional scenes between James and Casey, gorgeous world-building, and just so much more. There was barely a climax before the ending, the ending just quickly wrapped everything up. It was like those times when you’re having company over soon and you aren’t quite ready and don’t know what to do so you quickly throw things into closets and shove things under couches. I don’t know what happened why Sawyer decided to hastily end The Forever Contract this way but it was inexcusable. It left an appalling amount of uncertainty and was poorly put together. It clearly says “END” in bold letters, but seems to hint at a sequel since it “ends” at a cliffhanger. The Forever Contract has immense potential and I truly mean that. It should definitely not be a novella, but at least a full length novel so that Sawyer can make this plot reach its full potential.
The cover of The Forever Contract and the synopsis were both misleading. For the most part, I stay away from books that have covers like that, it usually means certain events occur. None of that happened though, so I’m not sure why Sawyer chose this cover. The synopsis was what pulled me in. The thought of “upload[ing] your consciousness to the system and you're free to live as long as you want, however you want.” was intriguing. What a unique twist to a dystopian novella. So why didn’t I give it more than one star?
It was completely and totally dull. I was losing my mind trying to get through this novella. Casey and James were one dimensional. This is one of the biggest issues with novellas. The poor character development. If you need more “book time” to develop a solid character than a novella will be able to provide, do not write a novella . It’s unfair to the reader not only if they spent money to buy the book, but in addition, they spent time reading your book only to receive something subpar. It’s equivalent to going to a restaurant and reading over the menu (the books on shelves) and you finally choose something that sounds appetizing (the cover). The chef is making the food in front of you and there are lots of flips and sizzles (the synopsis). Then your food is finally done and the food is being put on your plate, a little sloppily, but it still looks rather good (the first few chapters). You finally take a bite and your face scrunches in disappointment as your tastebuds recoil in horror. It’s undercooked and not what you expected after watching the chef’s grand flips and loud sizzles. But what can you do? You already paid. You wasted your time and money on a chef that did not deliver the service you deserved.
It was honestly a shame because this plot was incredibly amazing. There could have been ocean-deep depth, heartbreakingly emotional scenes between James and Casey, gorgeous world-building, and just so much more. There was barely a climax before the ending, the ending just quickly wrapped everything up. It was like those times when you’re having company over soon and you aren’t quite ready and don’t know what to do so you quickly throw things into closets and shove things under couches. I don’t know what happened why Sawyer decided to hastily end The Forever Contract this way but it was inexcusable. It left an appalling amount of uncertainty and was poorly put together. It clearly says “END” in bold letters, but seems to hint at a sequel since it “ends” at a cliffhanger. The Forever Contract has immense potential and I truly mean that. It should definitely not be a novella, but at least a full length novel so that Sawyer can make this plot reach its full potential.
September 1, 2012
MY REVIEW
I was won this from Librarything to read and review this novella, in exchange for my honest review. So big thank you's to Librarything and of course the Author.
I like the cover and I suppose it is to represent the relationship between Casey and James, so sure it is relevant to the book. However I feel perhaps a different cover may have promoted the much more. I think the fact the book is dystopian is not shown or hinted at all
with it's present cover, but I still would definitely pick this book up to learn more about it if I were to see it in a book store or on the Amazon Kindle site.
Now the book, I really did enjoy this novella. As I explained above from the cover I did not realise it was dystopian so it was a really nice surprise to me. I loved the dystopian concept in this book. I would love to read more of Casey and James story so I am hoping this novella is an introduction to more rather than a stand alone novella.
The world is literally starving and has very little water, the "common" "normal" people have very little and basically just get by on a meagre existence and work at the wells everyday. The only "bright light" on the horizon for Casey is when it's her birthday she has the right to sign the "forever contract" that allows her to enter a surreal world where everything is how you want it. However the downside of this is to go to this place your body has to be placed in a warehouse and you are hooked up to the system. The problem with being in the warehouse hooked up, is that your body literally belongs to the "programmer" Your organs and your body are not your own anymore. You are literally signing your life away when you sign the forever contract. Once you go in......you can never come out!
I think Casey and James have minds of their own and have not been completely brain washed into signing the contract. They are brave to take on the task of finding out more, as if caught you can be put in jail or put straight into the warehouse.
Things don't go according to plan and it comes down to how much James loves Casey, what is he prepared to do or sacrifice to help her?
For a novella this is really action packed and has lots of things happening.
So did I enjoy it? Yes loved, only disappointment was the cliché that I didn't want it to end!
Would I read more of this if it's a series? YES. Would I read more by Avery Sawyer? Am planning to! Would I recommend? Yes and you don't really have to be a total dystopian addict to read this either, and as it's short if you are not a great reader, or lack the patience for a long book, this novella will be ideal.
I was won this from Librarything to read and review this novella, in exchange for my honest review. So big thank you's to Librarything and of course the Author.
I like the cover and I suppose it is to represent the relationship between Casey and James, so sure it is relevant to the book. However I feel perhaps a different cover may have promoted the much more. I think the fact the book is dystopian is not shown or hinted at all
with it's present cover, but I still would definitely pick this book up to learn more about it if I were to see it in a book store or on the Amazon Kindle site.
Now the book, I really did enjoy this novella. As I explained above from the cover I did not realise it was dystopian so it was a really nice surprise to me. I loved the dystopian concept in this book. I would love to read more of Casey and James story so I am hoping this novella is an introduction to more rather than a stand alone novella.
The world is literally starving and has very little water, the "common" "normal" people have very little and basically just get by on a meagre existence and work at the wells everyday. The only "bright light" on the horizon for Casey is when it's her birthday she has the right to sign the "forever contract" that allows her to enter a surreal world where everything is how you want it. However the downside of this is to go to this place your body has to be placed in a warehouse and you are hooked up to the system. The problem with being in the warehouse hooked up, is that your body literally belongs to the "programmer" Your organs and your body are not your own anymore. You are literally signing your life away when you sign the forever contract. Once you go in......you can never come out!
I think Casey and James have minds of their own and have not been completely brain washed into signing the contract. They are brave to take on the task of finding out more, as if caught you can be put in jail or put straight into the warehouse.
Things don't go according to plan and it comes down to how much James loves Casey, what is he prepared to do or sacrifice to help her?
For a novella this is really action packed and has lots of things happening.
So did I enjoy it? Yes loved, only disappointment was the cliché that I didn't want it to end!
Would I read more of this if it's a series? YES. Would I read more by Avery Sawyer? Am planning to! Would I recommend? Yes and you don't really have to be a total dystopian addict to read this either, and as it's short if you are not a great reader, or lack the patience for a long book, this novella will be ideal.
November 23, 2012
How would you like to live in a world where everyone is thirsty? There is hardly any water and electricity. To make up for the lack of water inhabitants are given gel packs. They don't really get rid of the thirst, but they help keep everyone alive. And the electricity? Everyone is given an allotted amount a month. Most people save their electricity to power their screens.
What are these screens and what is so important that people would rather use their electricity for them than for such things as air conditioning and heating?
Casey and her family have the option of leaving the dystopian society they live in for one full of lush green grass, food, and most importantly water. But, doing so they pay a price. They become not themselves, but an avatar, a computer generated program living in a computer generated world. Sounds wonderful to get rid of the pain and the thirst of the real world. When one reaches the age of seventeen they are allowed to sign a contract to enter the world. Most do. Casey's parents did not and will wait until Casey signs before they go in to live with her and her older brother who has already left for that world.
The screens are their way of contacting those on the inside. They're not called computers but they function very much like the ones we have today. They're everywhere--hand held and all rooms of the house. They're not glued to them so much as they have become their only way of communication, especially to the utopian world they can escape to.
Casey is unsure if she will sign the forever contract to move into this world. She's always dreamed of going but the distrust of her boyfriend James causes her to hesitate and find out what that world is really about.
This novella written by Avery Sawyer deals with this dystopian society. I do think it's creative the two worlds she has created, but the story itself seems lacking. It does not go into as much detail as I would have appreciated. I think there is enough detail to take this from a novella to a full-fledged novel and that if was that I probably would have appreciated it more.
The ending feels very dues ex machina. How are Casey and James going to get answers and punishment for what they have done which I will not share here so I don't spoil the story if you plan to read it? The answer given is such an easy out, like the author has run out of ideas to come up with a true ending. There's so much that could be there that isn't.
I give the novella two stars for it is a very promising story, but it promises much more than it delivers.
What are these screens and what is so important that people would rather use their electricity for them than for such things as air conditioning and heating?
Casey and her family have the option of leaving the dystopian society they live in for one full of lush green grass, food, and most importantly water. But, doing so they pay a price. They become not themselves, but an avatar, a computer generated program living in a computer generated world. Sounds wonderful to get rid of the pain and the thirst of the real world. When one reaches the age of seventeen they are allowed to sign a contract to enter the world. Most do. Casey's parents did not and will wait until Casey signs before they go in to live with her and her older brother who has already left for that world.
The screens are their way of contacting those on the inside. They're not called computers but they function very much like the ones we have today. They're everywhere--hand held and all rooms of the house. They're not glued to them so much as they have become their only way of communication, especially to the utopian world they can escape to.
Casey is unsure if she will sign the forever contract to move into this world. She's always dreamed of going but the distrust of her boyfriend James causes her to hesitate and find out what that world is really about.
This novella written by Avery Sawyer deals with this dystopian society. I do think it's creative the two worlds she has created, but the story itself seems lacking. It does not go into as much detail as I would have appreciated. I think there is enough detail to take this from a novella to a full-fledged novel and that if was that I probably would have appreciated it more.
The ending feels very dues ex machina. How are Casey and James going to get answers and punishment for what they have done which I will not share here so I don't spoil the story if you plan to read it? The answer given is such an easy out, like the author has run out of ideas to come up with a true ending. There's so much that could be there that isn't.
I give the novella two stars for it is a very promising story, but it promises much more than it delivers.
November 20, 2012
In this short novella, The Forever Contract, we dive into a dystopian world where the country is experiencing the worst drought human kind has ever encountered, where the water is so scarce trees and plants are a rarity to be seen. Following the water wars, a system was created as an alternate paradise where you can live an immortal life, pain free, work free, and with all the food and water you could possibly want. However, this paradise has a price. A dangerous price.
The Forever Contract was one intense book! I was impressed with Avery Sawyer’s ability to create such a great storyline in a very short read. She had me from the first page right down to the very last and even then I was wanting more. The world she built in The Forever Contract was well developed and explained thoroughly. The best part about this world was that it was realistic and believable. I could definitely imagine something like this happening in our world with the rate in which we are using our resources and the way technology advances so quickly. The Forever system was the most fascinating about this world. Although I slowly got to learn the truth about how it really works behind the scenes, Sawyer still piqued my interest and made me want to experience it the way Casey wanted to.
Another aspect I loved and enjoyed in this book was the split point of view between Casey and James, our two loving and amazing protagonists. Casey was a lovable and brave young lady. She was bright and open to wanting a new life, but she was stuck with going after her brother in the system or staying with her parents and James who never planned to go in. James was an intelligent and passionate person who was devoted not only to Casey, but to bringing down the system and the government in charge. He did everything he could, never wavering from his beliefs. I adored his determination, his willingness and his sacrifices. He was my favorite and I admired him so much.
The ending of The Forever Contract is one that will surely make your heart race and keep you at the edge of your seat. It ends abruptly with a hint of bittersweetness that left me hanging by a thread. Despite the very quick pacing, I very much enjoyed this novella. I’m hoping Avery Sawyer will continue this journey between Casey and James because I’m itching for some kind of resolution and even more so, retribution.
Overall, The Forever Contract is definitely one novella you don’t want to miss out on!
More Reviews on my blog: Words, Pages, and Books
The Forever Contract was one intense book! I was impressed with Avery Sawyer’s ability to create such a great storyline in a very short read. She had me from the first page right down to the very last and even then I was wanting more. The world she built in The Forever Contract was well developed and explained thoroughly. The best part about this world was that it was realistic and believable. I could definitely imagine something like this happening in our world with the rate in which we are using our resources and the way technology advances so quickly. The Forever system was the most fascinating about this world. Although I slowly got to learn the truth about how it really works behind the scenes, Sawyer still piqued my interest and made me want to experience it the way Casey wanted to.
Another aspect I loved and enjoyed in this book was the split point of view between Casey and James, our two loving and amazing protagonists. Casey was a lovable and brave young lady. She was bright and open to wanting a new life, but she was stuck with going after her brother in the system or staying with her parents and James who never planned to go in. James was an intelligent and passionate person who was devoted not only to Casey, but to bringing down the system and the government in charge. He did everything he could, never wavering from his beliefs. I adored his determination, his willingness and his sacrifices. He was my favorite and I admired him so much.
The ending of The Forever Contract is one that will surely make your heart race and keep you at the edge of your seat. It ends abruptly with a hint of bittersweetness that left me hanging by a thread. Despite the very quick pacing, I very much enjoyed this novella. I’m hoping Avery Sawyer will continue this journey between Casey and James because I’m itching for some kind of resolution and even more so, retribution.
Overall, The Forever Contract is definitely one novella you don’t want to miss out on!
More Reviews on my blog: Words, Pages, and Books
November 28, 2012
This is a short novella in the burgeoning YA dystopian fiction genre.
There are some really good ideas here. The underlying main concept is fantastic. A world where you can choose to have your consciousness uploaded into a virtual world. Still being able to interact with those in the “real” world via computers screens is fascinating. The idea of watching those you know in their self-created virtual worlds. Even the reasoning behind why this is happening works – water shortages that cause wars, arid land that won’t support crops. Then throw in an undercurrent of suspicion. A few that don’t believe everything they are being told. The set up and the background are great.
Where this novella lets the reader down is in the execution.
Perhaps it is because the concept is too large to be contained in a novella, but the entire story feels rushed and lacking.
The bare bones are there but nothing is given depth or fleshed out. The main characters, Casey and James, are mere facades. They are not real people yet who encourage the reader to become attached. The potential is there.
Casey is a young woman about to make a huge life altering decision. Her boyfriend James is facing the same decision. But the entire tension between their differing views is played out in grade school type dialogue that is far too simplistic for what should be complex and deeply layered emotions.
The same happens in what should be climactic moments. They end up falling flat because the reader has not suspended that disbelief and embraced the world Sawyer is trying to create.
This disappointed me. I wanted more. If the time were taken to develop this into a full length series (if properly fleshed out I easily see 2 books just with what story is already there and a 3rd or even 4th book of what is hinted and left unanswered) it could be mesmerizing. I want to know what the secrets are. What caused the water wars? What is really going on in Chicago? What is the real purpose behind the uploads? What was James’ mom doing?
There is a lot of potential. But it cannot be recognized until the story, the world and most importantly the characters are fully realized. This means giving the depth and complexity they now lack.
I was given a free copy of this novella to review. And while happy to have had the chance to glimpse what could be, I would not have purchased this in its current form.
There are some really good ideas here. The underlying main concept is fantastic. A world where you can choose to have your consciousness uploaded into a virtual world. Still being able to interact with those in the “real” world via computers screens is fascinating. The idea of watching those you know in their self-created virtual worlds. Even the reasoning behind why this is happening works – water shortages that cause wars, arid land that won’t support crops. Then throw in an undercurrent of suspicion. A few that don’t believe everything they are being told. The set up and the background are great.
Where this novella lets the reader down is in the execution.
Perhaps it is because the concept is too large to be contained in a novella, but the entire story feels rushed and lacking.
The bare bones are there but nothing is given depth or fleshed out. The main characters, Casey and James, are mere facades. They are not real people yet who encourage the reader to become attached. The potential is there.
Casey is a young woman about to make a huge life altering decision. Her boyfriend James is facing the same decision. But the entire tension between their differing views is played out in grade school type dialogue that is far too simplistic for what should be complex and deeply layered emotions.
The same happens in what should be climactic moments. They end up falling flat because the reader has not suspended that disbelief and embraced the world Sawyer is trying to create.
This disappointed me. I wanted more. If the time were taken to develop this into a full length series (if properly fleshed out I easily see 2 books just with what story is already there and a 3rd or even 4th book of what is hinted and left unanswered) it could be mesmerizing. I want to know what the secrets are. What caused the water wars? What is really going on in Chicago? What is the real purpose behind the uploads? What was James’ mom doing?
There is a lot of potential. But it cannot be recognized until the story, the world and most importantly the characters are fully realized. This means giving the depth and complexity they now lack.
I was given a free copy of this novella to review. And while happy to have had the chance to glimpse what could be, I would not have purchased this in its current form.
September 4, 2012
The premise of this book was very interesting. Sign away your life and live in Sim City? Why not? You can control where you want to live, how you want to look, etc. Don't have to worry about a job, a place to live, what to eat because it's all provided for you in a virtual world of your choosing.
Casey is almost of age, and is about to join her brother, who has already signed the Forever Contract, but her boyfriend, James, doesn't trust it, and doesn't want to lose her to it. He has been working with a group called the Greys to call the government officials on their BS, and to show the world that their perfect reality isn't as perfect as they'd like to believe.
When Casey gets arrested after trying to get her brother out of the system, she gets put in the program and James has to figure out how to get her out.
The problem I had with this novella (and most novellas, actually) is that I feel there was so much the author COULD HAVE covered, but didn't. There was so much untapped potential and so much of the world that we didn't see. So much that wasn't described to us. I found it terribly disappointing.
It also ended abruptly. It ended on a cliffhanger. Potentially there will be another book? I don't know, but I honestly wish the author would go back and add to it. I was left unfulfilled, with so many questions. One of which was that I thought Casey changed her mind awfully quickly. When James went on a kidnapping jaunt to save Casey's life, I thought he and his crazy stepfather gave up awfully quickly. Everything happened to fast for me to believe the reality of this future. Also, there was only ONE guard at the warehouse where all the people who signed the contract were being kept? Really?
I want the author to go back and add to it. I believe this book has potential, but she wasted it by publishing it too soon.
Casey is almost of age, and is about to join her brother, who has already signed the Forever Contract, but her boyfriend, James, doesn't trust it, and doesn't want to lose her to it. He has been working with a group called the Greys to call the government officials on their BS, and to show the world that their perfect reality isn't as perfect as they'd like to believe.
When Casey gets arrested after trying to get her brother out of the system, she gets put in the program and James has to figure out how to get her out.
The problem I had with this novella (and most novellas, actually) is that I feel there was so much the author COULD HAVE covered, but didn't. There was so much untapped potential and so much of the world that we didn't see. So much that wasn't described to us. I found it terribly disappointing.
It also ended abruptly. It ended on a cliffhanger. Potentially there will be another book? I don't know, but I honestly wish the author would go back and add to it. I was left unfulfilled, with so many questions. One of which was that I thought Casey changed her mind awfully quickly. When James went on a kidnapping jaunt to save Casey's life, I thought he and his crazy stepfather gave up awfully quickly. Everything happened to fast for me to believe the reality of this future. Also, there was only ONE guard at the warehouse where all the people who signed the contract were being kept? Really?
I want the author to go back and add to it. I believe this book has potential, but she wasted it by publishing it too soon.
September 27, 2012
This was a short novella. So now I have to say give me MORE!! The story line was great. The whole thing takes place in the future when natural resources are all but non-existent. There is no water and even less food so everyone survives on jell packs. In order to make the world better "the programmer" has created a virtual world. At the age of seventeen you are allowed to sign a forever contract and go into the system. What this means is that your body is hooked up to life support and you mind is hooked up to a computer, putting your subconscious into a computer system where anything is possible. If you want to eat or change where you live, even your body type (i.e. mermaid or wings) all you have to do is think about it and it changes. Who wouldn't want to get out of hell in order to live in a heaven of your own mind. You can still talk to all of your family and friends on the outside through a computer screen.
James is a boy on a mission. To stop his girlfriend Casey from signing the contract. This novella is the story about telling about their journey as James shows her the truth about the system. He shows her the small print in each contract saying that while you are in the system the owners of it can take your body parts whenever needed. After finding her brother missing some essential body parts, Casey finally believes him. It was a great story with a really great ending.
Now for my issue. I needed there to be more between the beginning and the end. They were both great it just seemed like the ending was rushed. I would really like to see another story with this plot. Not a novella but a full story. Don't get me wrong it was a great story. It just made me want more. I give this story 3.5 stars.
James is a boy on a mission. To stop his girlfriend Casey from signing the contract. This novella is the story about telling about their journey as James shows her the truth about the system. He shows her the small print in each contract saying that while you are in the system the owners of it can take your body parts whenever needed. After finding her brother missing some essential body parts, Casey finally believes him. It was a great story with a really great ending.
Now for my issue. I needed there to be more between the beginning and the end. They were both great it just seemed like the ending was rushed. I would really like to see another story with this plot. Not a novella but a full story. Don't get me wrong it was a great story. It just made me want more. I give this story 3.5 stars.
February 12, 2013
The Forever Contract is a short Novella and I started it in October 2012 and finally had a chance to pick it back up and read it in January of this year. I have to say that I was peeved with myself for not reading it sooner. Man oh man Avery needs to make this into a book. Lord the world had me scared to death. Lord that kind of world could happen to anyone. Yes it is Dystopian but the government is always doing something so this may be our world soon enough. Food for thought.
The country is in a state of unrest and suffering from a drought. Everyone is eating jell packs instead of food because the drought has caused a food shortage. The government has comes up with a way for teens 17 and over to have a different life. They can sign the forever contract where their mind will go on a permanent vacation and their body will be stored and hooked up to IV's and things to keep them alive. Sounds good doesn't it because then you wouldn't have to worry about jell packs or working at crazy places to survive. The heat would no longer bother you.
Casey wants to sign up she wants a different life but her brother and her boyfriend are against it. They think something is off about this contract. So they try and convince Casey not to do it. What will Casey chose? Will it be her boyfriend and her brother? This is a short Novella and I wanted no I needed more from it.
Read it you will not be disappointed!
The country is in a state of unrest and suffering from a drought. Everyone is eating jell packs instead of food because the drought has caused a food shortage. The government has comes up with a way for teens 17 and over to have a different life. They can sign the forever contract where their mind will go on a permanent vacation and their body will be stored and hooked up to IV's and things to keep them alive. Sounds good doesn't it because then you wouldn't have to worry about jell packs or working at crazy places to survive. The heat would no longer bother you.
Casey wants to sign up she wants a different life but her brother and her boyfriend are against it. They think something is off about this contract. So they try and convince Casey not to do it. What will Casey chose? Will it be her boyfriend and her brother? This is a short Novella and I wanted no I needed more from it.
Read it you will not be disappointed!
December 29, 2012
4 STARS
The Forever Contract(A Dystopian YA Novella)
The story is good but short. I wanted to read more, find out what happens next.
The world is in a drought for years. No one has grass, it is illegal to have your own garden. Thier are food shortages, water shortages. You can buy gel packs that work in your body instead of water.
A system was developed where you sign a contract snd your body goes in a warehouse,hooked up to feeding tubes and you get uploaded to a virtual world. You can have anything you want thier. You can be whatever you want. never in pain,thirsty or hungrey.
You have to be 17 to sign most did on thier birthdays. Casey will be turning 17 soon.
She wants to go in. but her boyfriend James does not trust the system. Her brother joined and tells her its great.
James is working with others to get the truth out about the system but Casey thinks it is fine. James takes her to the warehouse to see her brothers body.
I like James and Casey and want to see more of them and find out more about life is like for them. It is really short only 56 pages. It does a good job telling the story.
It is a clean book.
Thier is lots of drama and action as they get caught breaking in to see the bodies.
I was given this ebook to read from Librarything and asked to give a honest review of it.
Publisher: Planet Explorers Publishing (July 30, 2012) ASIN: B008R9DDZ0
The Forever Contract(A Dystopian YA Novella)
The story is good but short. I wanted to read more, find out what happens next.
The world is in a drought for years. No one has grass, it is illegal to have your own garden. Thier are food shortages, water shortages. You can buy gel packs that work in your body instead of water.
A system was developed where you sign a contract snd your body goes in a warehouse,hooked up to feeding tubes and you get uploaded to a virtual world. You can have anything you want thier. You can be whatever you want. never in pain,thirsty or hungrey.
You have to be 17 to sign most did on thier birthdays. Casey will be turning 17 soon.
She wants to go in. but her boyfriend James does not trust the system. Her brother joined and tells her its great.
James is working with others to get the truth out about the system but Casey thinks it is fine. James takes her to the warehouse to see her brothers body.
I like James and Casey and want to see more of them and find out more about life is like for them. It is really short only 56 pages. It does a good job telling the story.
It is a clean book.
Thier is lots of drama and action as they get caught breaking in to see the bodies.
I was given this ebook to read from Librarything and asked to give a honest review of it.
Publisher: Planet Explorers Publishing (July 30, 2012) ASIN: B008R9DDZ0
February 25, 2016
For the first several pages I thought this would be a four-star read. As I got into more pages I changed my mind and rated it three stars, and I thought it would stay at that rating. But by half of the story, I realized that this book only deserves two stars: the writing is bad, the characters make silly decisions to do things, and weird things are made to happen in order to move the plot.
The narration is flat, the sentences fail to create the atmosphere of the situation they are narrating; and I couldn't know that the characters are feeling something until I read that they are. Often, I read some dialogues in some scenes just as neutral and normal toned conversations, but after a line or two of dialogues the narrator then will say things regarding the dialogue just uttered like "I feel like I want to murder someone" which means that she is angry or "she cleared her throat, but I can hear agony in her voice" which means the person in question is sad, but I didn't know it since I didn't get the feeling from the emotionless dialogues; every dialogue feels like just some plain part of common conversations. This is a book where I really can say that I find a case of "tell not show".
Actually I liked the idea of this story. Maybe this novella's failure is only a case of the lack of space to develop a better writing and give more depth to the characters.
The narration is flat, the sentences fail to create the atmosphere of the situation they are narrating; and I couldn't know that the characters are feeling something until I read that they are. Often, I read some dialogues in some scenes just as neutral and normal toned conversations, but after a line or two of dialogues the narrator then will say things regarding the dialogue just uttered like "I feel like I want to murder someone" which means that she is angry or "she cleared her throat, but I can hear agony in her voice" which means the person in question is sad, but I didn't know it since I didn't get the feeling from the emotionless dialogues; every dialogue feels like just some plain part of common conversations. This is a book where I really can say that I find a case of "tell not show".
Actually I liked the idea of this story. Maybe this novella's failure is only a case of the lack of space to develop a better writing and give more depth to the characters.
August 30, 2012
My mini-review can also be found on my blog Collections.
2.5 stars
I have to admit that the cover is what made me want to read this novella. It's very eye-catching and hot. Now, as for the actual story, it's a quick and easy read. I do think some of the things that happened in this novella would have been better in a full-length novel because I felt some things needed to be fleshed out more. And I didn't quite feel connected with the main characters Casey and James. Honestly, they aren't a pair that really stood out to me. And even though it basically had what's typically found in stories with dystopian settings, The Forever Contract was pretty good for a short story. There were a couple of moments that I wasn't expecting at all, so it was nice being surprised like that. If you love dystopian stories and want a fast read, I recommend The Forever Contract.
September 26, 2013
I rated this novella high because I knew what it was when I first started reading, a short novella. This story was a really cool concept. The problem was because it was so short there was really no world building or characterization. You got a glimpse of these but not a big picture. It seemed like the author wrote the first book in a trilogy of dystopian novels, but only gave us the highlights of that first book in this novella. Everything happened so quickly because to tell the whole story she had to skip from one big thing to the next without much explanation of how they got there.
Like I said this really should have been a full length novel of the first in a series. It was a really good story and could really make a great book if expanded and the holes were filled in. The end was abrupt and there needs to be more. The story is nowhere near finished which is sad because she is probably not writing anything else for it. It would be nice if she made this a series of novels.
Like I said this really should have been a full length novel of the first in a series. It was a really good story and could really make a great book if expanded and the holes were filled in. The end was abrupt and there needs to be more. The story is nowhere near finished which is sad because she is probably not writing anything else for it. It would be nice if she made this a series of novels.
September 29, 2012
I really liked this novella, and only wish it had been longer! This would make a great full length novel. The characters are interesting, the story line is very original, I believed most of it!
Two main things I did not like:
1. There were many writing errors. The verb tense was jumping all over the place. Pick the past or the present, and stick with it unless you are writing a flashback or something along those lines.
2. I rolled my eyes when Casey pulled out the laser gun. Even though the author tried to back up Casey's random weaponry, it did not work for me.
Other than that, I really enjoyed it. I won this ebook on LibraryThing, but if I hadn't, I would definitely be willing to pay the $.99 on Amazon.
Two main things I did not like:
1. There were many writing errors. The verb tense was jumping all over the place. Pick the past or the present, and stick with it unless you are writing a flashback or something along those lines.
2. I rolled my eyes when Casey pulled out the laser gun. Even though the author tried to back up Casey's random weaponry, it did not work for me.
Other than that, I really enjoyed it. I won this ebook on LibraryThing, but if I hadn't, I would definitely be willing to pay the $.99 on Amazon.
October 7, 2012
I received this novella in exchange for my review. I had mixed feelings about this story. I really liked the story idea, and I wanted to like the actual novella, but it fell a bit short for me. I think it would have made an excellent full-length novel, but as it was written it came across as an ok abridged version. I felt like a lot of the things that happened in this book didn't really fit with the story, or were part of a story line that didn't seem to go anywhere. Even for a novella, it felt unfinished. Another reviewer mentioned the main character just pulling a gun on someone out of nowhere. That also felt really forced and awkward to me. That said, the story was a really interesting idea, and I would be interested in reading more from this author.
November 2, 2012
The Forever Contract, was what i am looking for when I needed to read that time, it gives me an ample idea that deciding on this trivial such as selling the soul is a very important decision (dumb statement). XD. But really it was the third Dystopian Series i read after that epic read of Hunger games and divergent, this was a refreshing read after the adult books i've been seen to be drawn to these days. Story's about Casey and her choice to go into the "system" that holds her dear brother and the opposition of James, her boyfriend which seems to be her forever too. They both discover the truth and then they were chased by the people in charge and then it rolls. I hope that this would result to a second book because that just suck if it ends there. ENjoy the read people!
November 23, 2015
The idea of it was good but I honestly expected a different ending. If this had been a full novel with an alternative ending, I believe it would've been way better and probably would've gotten AT LEAST 3.5 stars out if me.
Edit: After writing about this book on my blog, I've decided to come back and go more into detail about why I disliked this book. Like I said above, the IDEA was really good, but the ending felt rushed and unimaginative and the book itself seemed to lack detail. I feel like if Avery had spent more time on this, made it long, put in more detail, and went over all her options for an alternative ending, she could've had a real hit series on her hands. possibly Hunger Games or Divergent grade hit. I COULD'VE been that good.
Edit: After writing about this book on my blog, I've decided to come back and go more into detail about why I disliked this book. Like I said above, the IDEA was really good, but the ending felt rushed and unimaginative and the book itself seemed to lack detail. I feel like if Avery had spent more time on this, made it long, put in more detail, and went over all her options for an alternative ending, she could've had a real hit series on her hands. possibly Hunger Games or Divergent grade hit. I COULD'VE been that good.
November 12, 2012
I started this book this evening and it had be hanging on every single word. Needless to say I finished it in one sitting! My only complaint, it's too short! I got 75% into it and was super confused as to how the author was going to wrap it up with so few pages left... I wanted MORE!! The action at the end could have lasted much longer and the last few scenes felt choppy as it finalized. All in all a really good, drawing read, but I was disappointed in how abruptly it ended. Left me yearning for more! This book would have made an excellent series....
October 2, 2013
This book was different. I am new to the Dystopian fiction genre and have found myself intrigued by a few of the book in this genre. This one was different and while I liked it I think I connected with the story but not the characters maybe there was something that I missed or maybe I was not supposed to connect with them. This book was interesting and I think that the story line could have had more to it and I would have connected with these characters. This was not what I thought it would be and the cover is very deceiving!
April 13, 2014
A really good novella that amazed me. I could have read it in one sitting it was a gripping short story that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I think that the cover is slightly irrelevant to the story line, however, the story as a whole was fantastic and suitable for any dystopian fan.
I enjoyed a fresh and new outlook on the genre. I enjoyed the Divergent Trilogy (a little too much!) and The Hunger Games, so I thought that I would give this book a chance, what made even better was that it was a free e-book on Kobo!
A great short story!
I think that the cover is slightly irrelevant to the story line, however, the story as a whole was fantastic and suitable for any dystopian fan.
I enjoyed a fresh and new outlook on the genre. I enjoyed the Divergent Trilogy (a little too much!) and The Hunger Games, so I thought that I would give this book a chance, what made even better was that it was a free e-book on Kobo!
A great short story!
August 26, 2012
It was definitely a novella....or really just a short story.
Great premise about the near future, rampant drought and starvation, and rumors of wars.
People are given the opportunity to sign the forever contract, which will make them an avatar...their body resides in suspension, on life support and their minds live on in paradise....or so they are told.
The idea was amazing, but the story was brief and lacked depth.
Great premise about the near future, rampant drought and starvation, and rumors of wars.
People are given the opportunity to sign the forever contract, which will make them an avatar...their body resides in suspension, on life support and their minds live on in paradise....or so they are told.
The idea was amazing, but the story was brief and lacked depth.
September 22, 2013
Very appealing concept. After the government realizes there's a game noone wants to log out of,they use it in their favor. The world is running out of resources. If you want to be free of worry you load your consciousness into a program that the government runs. You sign a forever contract, never to be returned to your body. All the avatars of the people who've done it say it's wonderful. But is it really?
Need another installment!!
Need another installment!!
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