The Ear, The Eye, and The Arm

The Ear, The Eye, and The Arm, like much science fiction, takes place in what could be described as a subtle dystopia. In the futuristic setting, there has been a good deal of scientific and social advancement (though they now live in a world where petroleum is so scarce that plastic is viewed as a luxury). Despite this advancement, the streets are plagued with crime and there still exists significant social inequality.

Nancy Farmer makes an interesting choice in the use of a regressed society, Resthaven, contained within walls in sort of wildlife sanctuary filled with humans. The juxtaposition of this society with the larger society forms a commentary on the conditions of the futuristic lifestyle contained within the book.

I was intrigued by the setting of The Ear, The Eye, and The Arm. The choice to use Zimbabwe struck me ass odd. It seems strange to me an American author would choose to use Zimbabwe, rather than a country she (and we, as readers) are more familiar with. Though there were some elements inherently related to African culture, the story could probably have been adapted to any other country. For me, the use of Zimbabwe didn't necessarily unlock any element of the story that couldn't have been presented in a different setting.

However, the use of Zimbabwe does serve as a commentary of by disrupting the status quo. By trivializing the role of current economic and military superpowers in the future, Farmer paints a grim picture for the fate of those nations in her depictions of economic prosperity in the setting.

The text includes elements of science fiction as well as mysticism. This mysticism at times goes unexplained, and at other times is incorporated into folkloric elements of the narrative. This mysticism explained by folklore is part of what makes the Zimbabwean setting crucial to the story telling in the few instances that it is.

The story contains themes that may seem cliché in some texts. These include adolescents feeling imposed on by the strictness of their guardians, the conflict of technology versus human spirit, and a variety of other themes not uncommon to Sci Fi. However, The Ear, The Eye, and The Arm was a refreshingly unique take on these common themes, approaching them in a manner in which they only seem cliché on careful consideration.

While this text may not be a perfect gem in the Sci Fi genre in the same manner as works by authors like Phillip K. Dick or Neil Gaiman, the same quality that keeps it from being an archetype for the genre makes it approachable for Sci Fi novices. As such, I think it would be valuable to include in a secondary education setting if appropriate the the standards and themes covered in the course.