Without

Glenis Stott

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Lovereading Price £7.99

RRP: £7.99

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Why I wrote this book

The novel began almost as a piece of ‘automatic’ writing. I sat at the computer, emptied my mind and just let the writing flow. When I read what I had written, I was puzzled over what had happened. Why was there an armed soldier guarding the school gate? Why was security only tight in the morning? Why was Celia worried about the teacher reporting her? Why did she feel so vulnerable being out on the streets at that time of day?

I set about answering those questions and that’s how I began to develop the idea of this strange society where there was no monetary system and resources were scarce.

This book is different because it explores an alternative society and looks at social issues through the eyes of a young mother. There is a strong focus on the family and the needs of the children are always under consideration. This is not a novel where the children ‘disappear’ when they are in the way of the plot. It also takes a look at how life could be organised if resources were short and there was no monetary system.

A reader should buy it if she wants to empathise with the main character, Celia, and explore through Celia’s eyes how her own life could be different, although not necessarily better. This is a novel to read if the reader is intrigued by a society where the groceries are delivered to a locker outside the front door, along with a recipe for the evening meal. A society where a little girl is sent an old underskirt to wear as a party dress. A society where there are no cars and everything is recycled. A society which is very different from our own and yet so close to how we live our lives.

Synopsis

Without is the story of a time when everyone has to be 'green'; they have no choice. Against a background of unpredictable weather, we watch events unfold through the eyes of Celia, wife of Robin, Recycling Technician and full time mother of Jasmine and Sevvy. Food, clothing and household goods are delivered to the family by horse and cart. Nothing is new, it's all recycled. Power comes from the extensive solar and wind power farms on the outskirts of town. There are no more petrol driven vehicles; Robin travels to work on an electric bus. The family are given whatever they need; money is no longer used. But there is a price to pay. The family have no choice about what they are given and only the bare minimum is provided. They know that if they don't 'toe the line' then they will have their home and goods taken away from them. Agnes, the Guardian, makes regular visits to ensure they are following the rules. And there's an armed guard at the school gate to make sure no one enters school if they are not entitled to an education. The problems start when their neighbour steals a toy car from work and takes it home for his son. When the theft is discovered, Celia tries to help the family for which she is admonished by Agnes and the incident is recorded on Celia's file. From that point, the family seem to be on an unstoppable downward path which results in them being taken from their home to an Assessment/Rehabilitation Centre. They manage to escape from there and, with the assistance of others, set off on a long and difficult journey to a totally different life.

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