THE DECLARATION

In a world with severely reduced energy supplies, a drug that guarantees immortality means that procreation is forbidden. Children born to parents who have signed "The Declaration" are known as "surplus" and are trained from infancy as servants. Surplus Anna, the narrator of this disturbing story, is fully realized by Charlotte Parry. Anna journeys from guilt at being born to understanding the contemptible world of those who champion longevity. Her story is laced with thought-provoking observations on greed, ambition, and government interference. Charlotte Parry's deliberate narration makes this dystopian England of 2140 especially harrowing. Through her, listeners hear Anna's flat acceptance of her lot in life and, then, her fearful shift to newfound freedom. S.G. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2009]