Veracity (novel)
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Founder | Laura Bynum |
| Products | Speculative fiction novel |
Veracity is a speculative fiction work published in 2010 by the American writer Laura Bynum.
Plot summary
Taking place in the year 2045, Veracity centers on Harper Abigail Adams, a psychic employed by the authoritarian regime known as the Confederation of the Willing. Following a fabricated pandemic in 2012, during which a counterfeit vaccine caused the deaths of half the global population, this regime seized power. The Confederation maintains control over its populace through a ruthless police force called the Blue Coats, government-approved narcotics and prostitution, as well as rigid restrictions on language. Citizens are required to wear a prosthetic device called a "slate" implanted in their necks, which monitors their whereabouts, actions, and speech. Uttering any term from the "red list"—including words like "America" or "revolution"—results in an electric shock and immediate police response, with punishments ranging from torture to execution. Harper’s ability to perceive auras enhances her effectiveness within the government.
When Harper discovers that her daughter Veracity's name has been added to the red list, she flees to an underground hideout to join a resistance movement led by Lazarus Cole, who helped create the slate technology. This underground group consists of individuals who either evade or disable their slates and follow the teachings found in the Book of Noah—a legendary manuscript that is actually a copy of Webster's Dictionary—believed to contain ultimate knowledge.
Prominent characters include John Gage, an undercover Blue Coat operative who enlists Harper; Ezra James, a prostitute who prepares her for combat; and Jingo, another Blue Coat tracking Harper and the resistance bunker.
Critical reception
The reception for Veracity was mixed among critics. The New York Journal of Books drew favorable parallels between it and George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four. Meanwhile, Publishers Weekly praised its emotional intensity but pointed out moments where the plot became confusing. Conversely, The A.V. Club dismissed it as an ineffective modernization of a familiar genre, criticizing its unrealistic political elements and underdeveloped characters.
Themes
As a dystopian novel, Veracity delves into issues surrounding censorship and freedom of thought. Reviewers have connected its storyline to contemporary political concerns such as the Patriot Act and surveillance practices employed by agencies like the National Security Administration and governments including that of China.
The novel’s frequent use of flashbacks reinforces its emphasis on language control and censorship, contributing to an overarching sense of epistemological uncertainty.