Module 8 Incarceron by Catherine Fisher (SLIS 5420 review)

Summary: No one can enter the prison called Incarceron, and no one can leave either. Finn lives in the bleak world of Incarceron, but somehow he has memories of the outside world. Claudia is the daughter of the warden of Incarceron, and she is facing an arranged marriage and unhappy future. When Finn gains possession of an unusual crystal, he finds that he can communicate with Claudia in the outside world. With Claudia’s help, Finn finally does escape Incarceron, but he finds himself thrust into the middle of a world full of political intrigue and people concealing their true identities and intentions. Finn’s story has just begun, and it continues in a sequel, Sapphique.

Citation: Fisher, C. (2010). Incarceron. New York: Dial Books.

Impression: Fisher is a master of suspense and action. Incerceron had me on the edge of my seat from the opening scene where Finn is tied to a set of railroad tracks, to the final climatic scene after he escapes from the prison. The world Fisher has created is extremely detailed and nuanced. The world of Incarceron and the world outside are so different, and early on in the book you learn that the outside world is not exactly as it seems. It’s hard to describe without giving away some of the secrets of the book, but I can say that Fisher has a knack for revelaing strategic pieces of information in surprising ways.

I also enjoyed the characters in Incarceron. The two main characters are likable protagonists. Finn is incredibly brave and loyal, and Claudia is intelligent and is driven by her desire to do the right thing. The secondary characters, especially Claudia’s tutor Jared and Finn’s oath brother Kiro, are also well drawn.

Review:
Publisher’s Weekly:
Fisher (the Oracle Prophesies series) scores a resounding success in this beautifully imagined science fantasy set in a far future where, many years earlier, civilization was artificially frozen at late-medieval levels in order to save the world from dangerous technologies. Simultaneously, all of the world's malcontents and madmen were sealed into an unimaginably vast, sentient prison named Incarceron, where a dedicated group of social engineers intended to create utopia. Claudia, the brilliant daughter of the cold-blooded warden of Incarceron, has been raised from birth to marry and eventually control Caspar, the simpleminded heir to the throne. Finn, a young man without a past, is a prisoner in Incarceron, which has become a hideous dystopia, an "abyss that swallows dreams." When Claudia and Finn each gain possession of a high-tech "key" to the prison, they exchange messages, and Finn asks Claudia to help him attempt an escape. While he negotiates the hideous maze of the prison, Claudia makes her way through the equally deadly labyrinth of political intrigue. Complex and inventive, with numerous and rewarding mysteries, this tale is certain to please. Ages 12-up.

(2009, December 7). [Review of the book Incarceron, by C. Fisher]. Publishers Weekly, 256(49), 49. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/

Use in a library: This would be a great selection for a teen book club. Fantasy is extremely popular with teens, and this particular title would appeal to both teen boys and teen girls. It would lead to discussions on topic like bravery, identity, loyalty, crime and punishment, and social classes.