Scythe (novel)

Scythe

Author	Neal Shusterman
Cover artist	Kevin Tong
Language	English
Series	Arc of a Scythe
Genre	Science fiction, biopunk, adventure, dystopia, dystopian fiction
Publisher	Simon & Schuster
Publication date	2016
Publication place	United States
Media type	Hardback, paperback
Pages	443
ISBN	9781442472433
Followed by	Thunderhead; The Toll

Scythe is a 2016 young-adult novel by Neal Shusterman and is the first in the Arc of a Scythe series. It is set in the far future, where death by natural causes has been virtually eliminated thanks to advances in technology, and an advanced computer system known as the "Thunderhead" controls society. The Thunderhead is a form of artificial intelligence who does not make mistakes or have regrets. However, the Thunderhead can communicate with others. The Scythedom is an organization separate from the Thunderhead tasked with deciding who must die, as overpopulation has remained a problem. Scythes, who are those who "glean"—or permanently kill—people, must glean a certain number of people each month. The novel follows two teenagers, Citra Terranova and Rowan Damisch, who undergo training as they are recruited into the scythedom by Scythe Faraday.

A feature-film adaptation is in the works. Sera Gamble was writing the script, however, the new draft is being written by Gary Dauberman

The book was an Honor Book for the Michael L. Printz Award in 2017 for teenage novels.

Plot

The story follows two teens, Citra Terranova and Rowan Damisch, as they apprentice Scythe Faraday. In a world where death has been conquered and people can be 'revived', 'gleanings' by Scythes are the only permanent end. At the beginning of the novel, Scythe Faraday meets Rowan and Citra. He noticed their integrity and offers them both apprenticeship but explains that only one of them can have the position. Rowan and Citra accept his offer, although reluctantly. They both go to live with Scythe Faraday to apprentice under him, learning about weapons, toxins, laws, etc. They also accompany Scythe Faraday on his gleanings, needing to meet a certain quota. While apprenticing, the two develop romantic feelings for one another, but suppress them, as Scythes are forbidden from having romantic relations like stated in the commandments.

Faraday takes Citra and Rowan to a Scythedom conclave where they meet Scythe Curie. While there, Xenocrates, the high scythe, is informed that Scythe Goddard, a member of the 'new guard', disapproves of Faraday having two apprentices. The 'new guard' order of scythes find pleasure in killing, albeit being condemned by the 'old guard.' One of Scythe Goddard's followers, Scythe Rand, proposes that the 'failed' apprentice must be gleaned by the other at the end of their training. Despite Faraday's protest, Xenocrates agrees.

Later, Xenocrates visits Citra and Rowan and explains that Faraday had killed himself. Citra and Rowan realize that he did this in order to free them of their apprenticeships and thus, spare them from death. This does not work, though, as the two are taken on by other Scythes. Scythe Goddard apprentices Rowan while Scythe Curie agrees to take on Citra. Citra then grows suspicious of Faraday's death and decides to investigate. She suspects that Scythe Goddard murdered Faraday as Faraday was a prominent member of the old guard. Rowan, meanwhile, has further learned that Goddard was spreading ideals that scythes should be free to glean as they please, devoid of compassion and instead like a sport. It becomes more apparent that Goddard and his followers, abuse their power as Scythes, showing corruption in the Scythedom.

Xenocrates, implied to be under Goddard's control, accuses Citra of killing Faraday. She and Scythe Curie go to South-Merica for refuge from the Scythedom, who are seeking Citra out because of the accusation. In a confrontation with Citra, it is then revealed that Faraday had faked his death. As Citra updates Faraday on the events and resumes training, Scythe Curie clears Citra's name back home.

Goddard takes Rowan and his junior scythes to mass glean a group of anti-scythe cultists, promising Rowan he will glean someone. Rowan is hesitant and points out that he as an apprentice, cannot glean. Goddard dismisses the thought and saves a cultist for Rowan to glean. Instead, Rowan beheads Goddard with his own sword, kills the other scythes, and starts a fire to destroy their bodies, effectively preventing their revival.

Citra comes back as Curie's apprentice, and she and Rowan face their final test to become scythes. Citra is ultimately declared the winner. When she is told to kill Rowan, she punches him, hoping to get his blood on her ring, and her plan succeeds. Rowan's blood gets on her Scythe ring which grants him temporary immunity from gleaning, giving him one year to live.

In Citra's journal, she makes note of a "Scythe Lucifer", a mysterious figure who has gained a reputation for assassinating corrupt scythes. She expresses hope that if she meets him, he'll see her as one of the good ones.

Characters

Main characters

• Scythe Michael Faraday - Honorable Scythe Faraday trains two apprentices, Citra and Rowan. He is well respected by the Old Guard and is the former lover of Scythe Curie
• Rowan Damisch - Protagonist; trained by Scythe Faraday and later by Scythe Goddard as an apprentice. He becomes Scythe Lucifer, a vigilante gleaner of 'unworthy' scythes.
• Citra Terranova - Protagonist; trained by Scythe Faraday and later Scythe Curie as an apprentice. She becomes Scythe Anastasia, named after the Russian princess Anastasia Romanov.*
• Scythe Marie Curie - aka The Grande Dame of Death, who tests the Apprentices at their first Conclave and later becomes Citra's mentor. The former lover of Scythe Faraday.
• Scythe Robert Goddard - Honorable Scythe Goddard, known for mass gleanings and opulent lifestyle.

Secondary characters

• Scythe Volta - A Junior Scythe to Scythe Goddard. Secretly disgusted by the mass slaughter and his peers' behavior, he self-gleans after guilt from genocidally killing Tonists and children
• Scythe Chomsky - A Junior Scythe who works with Scythe Goddard who specializes in flamethrowers. Brainless and a fan of mass gleanings.
• Scythe Rand - Scythe who works with Scythe Goddard. Described as having pan-Asian features and a green robe. Extremely loyal to Goddard, she revels in death just as much as her mentor does.
• Esme - The secret daughter of High Blade Xenocrates whom Goddard uses to control Xenocrates.
• High Blade Xenocrates - Holds the position of 'High Blade' of MidMerica. The father of Esme, which is used against him--scythes, by law, cannot have children.
• Tonists - those part of a cult who dislike Scythes and welcome the idea of 'natural death'. Sound is sacred to them. Often targets of Scythe attacks and mockery. They are said to believe in a thing called the Tone and an event known as the Great Resonance.

Reception

Scythe has received the following accolades:

• 2019: Barnes & Noble Young Adult Book Club Pick
• 2018: American Library Association (ALA) Top Ten Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults
• 2018: ALA Teen's Top Ten
• 2018: DUBLIN Literary Award Long List
• 2017: ALA Michael L. Printz Award
• 2016: Booklist Starred Review
• 2016: School Library Journal Starred Review
• 2016: Publishers Weekly Starred Review
• 2016: Kirkus Reviews' Best Books Of 2016