Scythe (novel)

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Scythe

Author	Neal Shusterman
Cover artist
Country	United States
Language	English
Series
Genre	Science fiction, biopunk, adventure, dystopia, dystopian fiction
Publisher	Simon & Schuster
Publication date	2016
Media type	Hardback, paperback
Pages	443
ISBN	9781442472433
Followed by	Thunderhead;

Scythe is a 2016 young-adult novel by Neal Shusterman and is the first in the Arc of a Scythe series. It is set in the far future, where death by natural causes has been virtually eliminated thanks to advances in technology, and an advanced computer system known as the "Thunderhead" controls society. The Thunderhead is a form of artificial intelligence who does not make mistakes or have regrets. However, the Thunderhead can communicate with others. The Scythedom is an organization separate from the Thunderhead tasked with deciding who must die, as overpopulation has remained a problem. Scythes, who are those who "glean"—or permanently kill—people, must glean a certain number of people each month. The novel follows two teenagers, Citra Terranova and Rowan Damisch, who undergo training as they are recruited into the scythedom by Scythe Faraday.

A feature-film adaptation is in the works.^[1] Sera Gamble was writing the script,^[2] however, the new draft is being written by Gary Dauberman^[3]

The book was an Honor Book for the Michael L. Printz Award in 2017 for teenage novels.^[4]

Plot[]

The story follows two teens, Citra Terranova and Rowan Damisch, as they apprentice Scythe Faraday. At the beginning of the novel, Scythe Faraday meets Rowan and Citra. He is impressed by them and offers them both apprenticeship but explains that only one of them can have the position. Rowan and Citra accept his offer, although reluctantly. They both go to live with Scythe Faraday to apprentice under him. While apprenticing, the two develop romantic feelings for one another, but suppress them, as Scythes are forbidden from having romantic relations.

Faraday takes Citra and Rowan to a Scythedom conclave where they meet Scythe Curie. While there, Xenocrates, the high scythe, is informed that Scythe Goddard disapproves of Faraday having two apprentices and agrees with him that whichever apprentice is chosen must glean the other at the end of their training.

Later, Xenocrates visits Citra and Rowan and explains that Faraday had killed himself. Citra and Rowan realize that he did this in order to free them of their apprenticeships and thus spare them from death. This does not work, though, as the two are taken on by other Scythes. Scythe Goddard apprentices Rowan while Scythe Curie agrees to take on Citra. Citra then grows suspicious of Faraday's death and decides to investigate. She suspects that Scythe Goddard murdered Faraday. Rowan, meanwhile, has learned that Goddard has been spreading the idea that scythes should be free to do whatever they want regardless of the consequences and that he has been abusing his power as a scythe.

Xenocrates accuses Citra of killing Faraday. She and Scythe Curie go to South Merica for refuge from the Scythedom, who are seeking Citra out because of the accusation. It is then revealed that Faraday had faked his death.

Goddard takes Rowan and his junior scythes to mass glean a group of anti-scythe cultists, promising Rowan he will glean someone. Rowan then finds Goddard tying up a surviving cultist so that Rowan can glean him. Instead, Rowan beheads Goddard with his own sword, kills the other scythes, and starts a fire to destroy their bodies.

Citra comes back as Curie's apprentice, and she and Rowan face their final test to become scythes. Citra is ultimately declared the winner. When she is told to kill Rowan, she punches him, hoping to get his blood on her ring, and her plan succeeds. Rowan's blood gets on her Scythe ring which grants him temporary immunity from gleaning, giving him one year to live.

In Citra's journal, she makes note of a "Scythe Lucifer", a mysterious figure who has gained a reputation for assassinating corrupt scythes. She expresses hope that if she meets him, he'll see her as one of the good ones.

Characters[]

Main characters[]

• Scythe Michael Faraday - Honorable Scythe Faraday trains two apprentices, Citra and Rowan.
• Scythe Robert Goddard - Honorable Scythe Goddard, known for mass gleanings.
• Rowan Damisch - Protagonist; trained by Scythe Faraday and by Scythe Goddard as an apprentice. He becomes Scythe Lucifer.
• Scythe Marie Curie - aka The Grande Dame of Death, who tests the Apprentices at their first Conclave.
• Citra Terranova - Protagonist; trained by Scythe Faraday and Scythe Curie as an apprentice. She becomes Scythe Anastasia, named after the Russian princess Anastasia Romanov.

Secondary characters[]

• Scythe Volta - A Junior Scythe to Scythe Goddard.
• Scythe Chomsky - A Junior Scythe who works with Scythe Goddard who specializes in Flamethrowers.
• Scythe Rand - Scythe who works with Scythe Goddard.
• Esme - The secret daughter of High Blade Xenocrates.
• High Blade Xenocrates - Holds the position of 'High Blade' of MidMerica.

Reception[]

Scythe has received the following accolades:

• 2019: Barnes & Noble Young Adult Book Club Pick ^[5]
• 2018: American Library Association (ALA) Top Ten Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults^[6]
• 2018: ALA Teen's Top Ten ^[7]
• 2018: DUBLIN Literary Award Long List ^[8]
• 2017: ALA Michael L. Printz Award^[4]
• 2016: Booklist Starred Review^[9]
• 2016: School Library Journal Starred Review ^[9]
• 2016: Publishers Weekly Starred Review ^[10]
• 2016: Kirkus Reviews' Best Books Of 2016 ^[11]

References[]