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| Images Courtesy of Nina Frola Joyner |
Dystopian
fiction, whether in text or visual form, has always been one of the most
popular genres. Perhaps it is because of how it mirrors current events or
more importantly how it heralds various future scenarios that could
transpire. Or perhaps it is the sense of hope that these works of art
tend to instill in their consumers. Hope that change is possible and that
in the end, human decency and kindness will always win out over selfishness,
bigotry, and hatred. Nina Frola Joyner's debut novel, Dickie's Promise
is a bravura effort that harnesses a very familiar American darkness and
presents it in a different light: What if the elderly were labelled as a
burden on society and discarded? The result of this question is a
thrilling, dialogue laced sojourn through a futuristic nightmare.
America has been taken over by a fundamentalist Christian society that has
deemed senior citizens (aka Boomers/Busters) as the blame for Earth's dwindling
resources and the current economic quagmire that grips the United States.
Dickie, an ex-nurse, is currently in the "adopt a
grandparent program" and being housed by one of the new regime's
families, however soon, everything is going to change...for the worse.
Joyner has an extensive background in child welfare and juvenile probation, and
her knowledge of bureaucratic systems is evident, especially during the
first act.
What makes this story so enthralling is how simple and yet how real each of the
characters are. These are people who readers have worked with, eaten
lunch with, or bought something from. The dialogue, particularly between
the core women of the novel is organic, funny, and surprisingly candid about
sex which is a refreshing touch. These are women who, while in their
twilight years, still clearly love life and are willing to fight for it.
The way that Joyner reveals their backstories, triumphs, and tragedies through
conversation is unexpected for a story such as this.
Comparisons
to The Handmaid's Tale are unavoidable, but there are also elements of
American history, comedy sitcoms, WWII, and even Mad Men that are
immediately conjured, and when blended together, the yield is a poignant story
about the power of taking a stand. To go further into detail would
spoil, but the intensity of the final act, involving a sojourn through an
anachronistic underground railroad is stunning.
Now available in bookstores and online, Dickie's Promise is clearly a
labor of love that shows a great amount of promise for Joyner. While
certain aspects of the story are (pointedly) ambiguous, the message of good
always persisting is clear and perhaps needed now more than ever. The
takeaway is that readers will be very curious as to what Joyner writes next.
--Kyle
Jonathan