“Each exacting characterization would be an impressive feat; melded together, they form one of the best aural performances of the year.” Booklist (starred audio review)
Description
Award-winning author Sylvain Neuvel explores an immigration dystopia in The Test
Britain, the not-too-distant future.
Idir is sitting the British Citizenship Test.
He wants his family to belong.
Twenty-five questions to determine their fate. Twenty-five chances to impress.
When the test takes an unexpected and tragic turn, Idir is handed the power of life and death.
How do you value a life when all you have is multiple choice?
Praise
“Each exacting characterization would be an impressive feat; melded together, they form one of the best aural performances of the year.” Booklist (starred audio review)
“Providing memorable, distinct, and believable voices for every character, narrator Neil Shah creates the atmosphere of the live stage for this chilling dystopian story…Shah is especially adept at handling the philosophical repartee between the mystified refugee and his ruthless tormentor….Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.” AudioFile
“A timely novella with a powerful thematic punch…Readers will find themselves living vicariously through Jalil and struggling with every gut-wrenching decision…Thought-provoking and disturbing. A cautionary tale illuminated with dark enlightenment.” Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“With an intriguing plot, alternating viewpoints, and unexpected turns, Neuvel tells a fast-paced story full of action and takes a hard look into the human psyche.” Library Journal
“Told in alternating chapters that differ in style, tone, and even font, this novella packs the punch of a much larger novel when the exam becomes a life-and-death hostage situation. A timely and thought-provoking story for book-discussion groups and fans of speculative fiction.” Booklist
Details
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Release Day | Feb 11, 2019 |
| Release Date | February 12, 2019 |
| Release Date Machine | 1549929600 |
| Imprint | Blackstone Publishing |
| Provider | Blackstone Publishing |
| Categories | Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Sci Fi and Fantasy, Fiction - All, Fiction - Adult |
Author Bio
Sylvain Neuvel dropped out of high school at age fifteen. Along the way, he has been a journalist, worked in soil decontamination, sold ice cream in California, and peddled furniture across Canada. He received a PhD in linguistics from the University of Chicago, taught in India, and worked as a software engineer in Montreal. He is also a certified translator. Neuvel is an amateur robotics enthusiast and lifelong fan of all things science fiction. He lives in Montreal.
Narrator Bio
Neil Shah is an Audie-nominated and multi AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator who has recorded over 250 audiobooks spanning across almost every genre, as well as numerous long-form journalism articles. AudioFile magazine has commended him for “an absolutely mesmerizing listening experience” and as “an outstanding narrator who adds a healthy dose of personality to each of the characters.” As a classically trained actor, he has appeared off Broadway and on regional stages, as well as in film and television. He records from his home studio in Oregon’s beautiful Wine Country.
Overview
Award-winning author Sylvain Neuvel explores an immigration dystopia in The Test
Britain, the not-too-distant future.
Idir is sitting the British Citizenship Test.
He wants his family to belong.
Twenty-five questions to determine their fate. Twenty-five chances to impress.
When the test takes an unexpected and tragic turn, Idir is handed the power of life and death.
How do you value a life when all you have is multiple choice?
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