Out of Time (Nadine Brandes)
Nadine Brandes
I have long been a sucker for YA dystopian novels; from The Wind on Fire trilogy, Mortal Engines series, Divergent and of course the incomparable Hunger Games (Team Peeta all the way and not just because of the incredible memes that emerged after the films, if you know, you know). So, when a friend lent me a series I had never come across before with the prompting it was “Hunger Games kind of vibe” I was more than a little bit excited. Nadine Brandes stands up to many of my favourite dystopian authors in her ability to swiftly yet effectively create a vibrant and immersive imaginative world along with engaging characters who draw you deeply into their lives. As with many other dystopian novels a fractured North America is the main stage for the saga (must be something about America that makes it easier to see these strange terrible futures, cue a huge upsurge of dystopian novels in the wake of the Trump into Biden era). Brandes’ dystopian world is divided by a large wall (spoiler, not made by Donald Trump). On the East side of the wall life is marked by its measured lifespans. From birth citizens are clock matched by the government stating exactly when a life will end, the year, the month, the day, the hour, the minute, the second. We meet the protagonist Parvin Blackwater with just over a year left to live, counting down to her death as every other citizen does. Things quickly take an upsurge in excitement as we learn that Parvin shares a Clock with her twin brother, a dangerous and illegal position to be in as a citizen of the East. When the secret is discovered Parvin is sentenced to death by having to cross over the wall into the unknown West, the dreaded fate of all “Radicals” (those without clocks). This sets the scene for a thrilling, engaging, imaginative (and somewhat violent) journey for the young protagonist as she grows, learns, and seeks to return to save her people.
Perhaps the most startling thing, as I buried myself in this series, is that it turned out to be a Christian dystopian novel, a genre I was not aware existed. Perhaps more startling still is how well Brandes develops the faith of the main characters along with her ability to believably portray real living faith in a futuristic dystopian world in a way that added to her story and world building. Refreshingly, the faith is realistic rather than shiny and perfect; the characters struggle with God’s call on their lives, they forget to pray, they find it hard to forgive, they are real.
One of the major themes to emerge from the series is focused on TIME, an abstract concept which is very difficult to teach or explain (try teaching it to kids) and yet governs every moment of our finite lives. The clocks given to the citizens of the USE were a ground-breaking invention that were meant to provide people with a sense of control, an opportunity to know their time and use it accordingly as well as providing an opportunity to say goodbye to love ones, something often heart-breakingly denied here on earth. However, the clocks were yet another means of usurping the true Keeper of Time (along with some major corrupt governmental control). Parvin throughout her journey struggles with her mortality and where to trust her days to as well as the calling placed on her life. As she journeys, she finds shalom and is burdened that others too might find shalom in the one who is Jehovah Shalom, who holds all our days in His hands.
If you removed all the direct mentions of God and faith from the story you would still have a dystopian novel unlike those of Suzanne Collins, Veronica Roth or Philip Reeve. Out of Time interweaves key elements of hope, forgiveness and redemption into the heart of the story telling which you don’t find for Katniss Everdeen, Hester Shaw or Tris. The result is a protagonist who faces the most horrific of circumstances without the sense of pointlessness and hopelessness or a precarious better life option. Instead Parvin Blackwater grows in faith, hope and truth as she moves forward in faith amidst strange and horrific circumstances in the knowledge of a loving Father who holds all time in his hands.
Regardless of whether we can see our countdown clock, our days on this earth are numbered for man is a fading flower and a quickly withering grass. I know not when I shall take my last breath here, when I shall close my eyes for the last time on this earth or when I will be rushed in to stand before my Maker and my Saviour. We cannot and do not choose or know when we live nor for what number of days, or hours or minutes it will be for nor for what that time will hold. Our Time is held by the Almighty God who calls us to find shalom in Him. In short this is a great read for any who enjoy a bit of dystopian fantasy.
