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The Chain
Two brothers. One mission: Restore privacy to the world.
The year is 2043. Empowered by the anti-encryption program, ICALL, and the world-wide wireless Blanket, the Global Domain reigns over all colocation centres with its Connectivist ideology, enforcing mandatory online activity for every eartizen and disabling attempts to secure privacy. The Domain’s slogans are: "Secrecy Threatens Security" and "Privacy Prevents Prosperity and Peace."
From his death-bed in New Zealand, Fenton Ouvert commissions his sons, Topia and Lukan, to locate a flash drive containing the files of Jeremy Winterton, files stolen thirty years earlier from international surveillance agencies. A former investigative journalist, Ouvert hid the flash drive at the end of a chain of clue-bearers around the world. Contacted by the resistance movement known as Arachne, Ouvert believes the drive contains original plans for the ICALL program and thus, hope for a free world.
Travelling the globe, the Ouvert boys locate the links, but what will their journey reveal about their father and the effects of the Global Domain's dominance? And what will their quest mean for the world when they reach the end of the chain?
“IF GEORGE ORWELL WROTE A HARDY BOYS STORY . . . IT WOULD BE 'THE CHAIN.'” – NIX WHITTAKER, AUTHOR OF THE GLYPH WARRIOR SERIES
The year is 2043. Empowered by the anti-encryption program, ICALL, and the world-wide wireless Blanket, the Global Domain reigns over all colocation centres with its Connectivist ideology, enforcing mandatory online activity for every eartizen and disabling attempts to secure privacy. The Domain’s slogans are: "Secrecy Threatens Security" and "Privacy Prevents Prosperity and Peace."
From his death-bed in New Zealand, Fenton Ouvert commissions his sons, Topia and Lukan, to locate a flash drive containing the files of Jeremy Winterton, files stolen thirty years earlier from international surveillance agencies. A former investigative journalist, Ouvert hid the flash drive at the end of a chain of clue-bearers around the world. Contacted by the resistance movement known as Arachne, Ouvert believes the drive contains original plans for the ICALL program and thus, hope for a free world.
Travelling the globe, the Ouvert boys locate the links, but what will their journey reveal about their father and the effects of the Global Domain's dominance? And what will their quest mean for the world when they reach the end of the chain?
“IF GEORGE ORWELL WROTE A HARDY BOYS STORY . . . IT WOULD BE 'THE CHAIN.'” – NIX WHITTAKER, AUTHOR OF THE GLYPH WARRIOR SERIES
- GenresBook Club
276 pages, Paperback
Published November 13, 2015
1 person is currently reading
350 people want to read
About the author
Antony Millen
3 books62 followersAntony Millen is a Nova Scotian living and writing in New Zealand.
Originally from Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Canada, he moved to New Zealand with his wife and two children in 1997. He has lived in Taumarunui since then, working at St Patrick's Catholic Primary School and, more recently, as the head of the English department at Taumarunui High School.
During his early years in New Zealand, he wrote sporadically, but with a dream to write novels as a major part of his life-style if not as a career. In 2013, he launched his first novel, 'Redeeming Brother Murrihy: The River to Hiruharama'. He followed this with 'Te Kauhanga: A Tale of Space(s)' in 2014. 'The Chain' is his first novel intended for young adults.
Antony is the winner of the 2014 Heartland short story competition ("Fishing the Pungapunga"). He also won third prize in the 2015 NZSA Central Districts short story competition ("Aukati"), a competition in which he was awarded Highly Commended in 2014 ("The Boy at Ohinetonga".)
His short story, "The Homeless Men of Mahuika", was published in Issue #4 of 'Headland' in 2015.
His short story, "Aukati", was published in Landfall 231.
Antony was a panelist at the Ruapehu Writers Festival, 2016.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Website & Blog: antonymillen.com
Twitter: @antony_millen
Facebook: Antony Millen author page
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 5, 2016
A fantastic adventure story, with a vision of the future that's perhaps a little bit too close to reality. Think Hardy Boys mixed with Orwell's 1984. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it and I think it would make a great shared text for a class, particularly ages 11-15.
December 16, 2015
I must say I have a bit of a bias when it comes to this book as this author is a friend of mine. It is his first in the YA genre but there are clearly still elements that would appeal to an adult audience. Particularly as the style of writing is more like what you would find in the famous five or hardy boys.
The story is of two boys who think their dying father did pretty much nothing with his life until a stranger arrives on their doorstep. They live in a world where everyone watches everyone else. Like Facebook on steroids. Their father actually was part of the movement that tried to keep some privacy. When he realised that it was doomed until a time better suited he and a friend set up a chain of clues that would lead to a flash drive that had incriminating evidence. The Chain is twenty years old and was originally set up so the uncle could follow the clues. So their father's dying wish is for them to follow the chain and collecting the information. At first the boys go along because it is expected and it is their father's dying wish but they are more interested in riding horses and playing games than in overthrowing a corrupt system. From this point the book is a bit like a travelogue as we journey all around the world with the boys. The two discover that their father was right and he was part of something bigger than they could have ever imagined.
This book is based on true events and there is even a Snowden type character. Humanity has given away its privacy without much thought. This book encourages us to think about that. Also with a bit of adventure and action along with stunning descriptions of distant climes. You follow along behind the brothers and feel almost like a sibling that doesn't have a voice.
If I had to give this stars it would for 4 and a bit as there are some parts where while pretty you really just want to get to the nitty gritty. Also I'm not always keen on male Protags but that is only a personal feeling. When my brothers were reading Famous five and the Hardy boys I was reading Nancy Drew. So while the style is familiar and comforting it is male orientated.
The story is of two boys who think their dying father did pretty much nothing with his life until a stranger arrives on their doorstep. They live in a world where everyone watches everyone else. Like Facebook on steroids. Their father actually was part of the movement that tried to keep some privacy. When he realised that it was doomed until a time better suited he and a friend set up a chain of clues that would lead to a flash drive that had incriminating evidence. The Chain is twenty years old and was originally set up so the uncle could follow the clues. So their father's dying wish is for them to follow the chain and collecting the information. At first the boys go along because it is expected and it is their father's dying wish but they are more interested in riding horses and playing games than in overthrowing a corrupt system. From this point the book is a bit like a travelogue as we journey all around the world with the boys. The two discover that their father was right and he was part of something bigger than they could have ever imagined.
This book is based on true events and there is even a Snowden type character. Humanity has given away its privacy without much thought. This book encourages us to think about that. Also with a bit of adventure and action along with stunning descriptions of distant climes. You follow along behind the brothers and feel almost like a sibling that doesn't have a voice.
If I had to give this stars it would for 4 and a bit as there are some parts where while pretty you really just want to get to the nitty gritty. Also I'm not always keen on male Protags but that is only a personal feeling. When my brothers were reading Famous five and the Hardy boys I was reading Nancy Drew. So while the style is familiar and comforting it is male orientated.
May 30, 2016
What an adventure! Really enjoyed this sci-fi, commentary on current political and security vs. privacy debates. Had fun following the boys on their adventure and enjoyed the very lively discussion it generated in book club! A great pick for a discussion group, High School English Class, or book club! Thanks Antony!
February 23, 2016
The year is 2016 and everywhere you look in the media you’ll find news stories about governments and corporations wanting to change online privacy laws to their benefit, not ours, though they may state that to be the case. They want to be able to more easily check in on what we’re doing online, for “our own safety” they claim, or to be able gather info for driving consumer sales. While many of us may find some of the discussions worrying, not many of us tend to put a lot of thought into where it is all going down the road. The author of The Chain has definitely put some thought into it as he takes you to the year 2043. As much as the story is about an adventure of two young men who are sent on an unexpected mission reaching to all corners of the world, it is a look at how the world could become. Where a utopia sold the majority of the populous has left some in the world to be forgotten, where the value of privacy has all but been forgotten by most and valued all the more by others. Both an entertaining and thought provoking novel, while it is wrote for a young adult audience, it’s definitely worth a read by anyone who likes to consider such things.
February 2, 2016
The Chain, by author Antony Millen, is a delightful story that will cause you to question the trajectory for which social media and its tools are sending us.
The characters, through their own perplexing discoveries, plant seeds that will leave you wondering about society’s future. In fact, this novel may just have you look at the big picture of what freewill really means to you, and at what cost.
My advice is to read it, savor it, and pay attention to the resounding message.
Definitely a novel destined for a place amongst my favorite books.
The characters, through their own perplexing discoveries, plant seeds that will leave you wondering about society’s future. In fact, this novel may just have you look at the big picture of what freewill really means to you, and at what cost.
My advice is to read it, savor it, and pay attention to the resounding message.
Definitely a novel destined for a place amongst my favorite books.
November 12, 2015
Two brothers are just minding their own when they find out on their father's death bed that he has a few secrets. The boys are used to living in a world where everyone is watched. Their father was part of a rebellion and he has hidden a secret, a secret people are willing to kill over.
The boys are dragged into travelling around the world trying to solve the riddle their father has left them.
This is Millen's third book but his first in YA.
The boys are dragged into travelling around the world trying to solve the riddle their father has left them.
This is Millen's third book but his first in YA.
December 25, 2015
Love the premise. If I were more of a traveler this would have been a 4 star for me. Curious to see if this becomes our future!
June 11, 2016
In The Chain we are introduced to a cynical story of near-futurism where everyone is watching everyone all the time. Governments cease to function as they once did as the online world both transcends and negates borders. As Lukan and Topia travel the world they see first-hand the impact of the global network upon small communities; on local customs and mythologies and even dialects. Through the digital corporatocracy society is slowly being eroded and dissolved and replaced by a mainstream connectivist culture. There are some brilliant ideas in this book that have much relevance for today’s world and the direction we are headed. The Chain deals with themes of technology vs freedom of speech, preservation of culture, knowledge vs censorship and the impact of technology upon small communities and cultures.
Millen presents a very interesting and poignant look at the future and introduces some fascinating new concepts, while taking existing concepts and giving them a refreshing makeover. Everyone loves to compare dystopian fiction to Orwell’s 1984, but The Chain is more comfortable in the company of the likes of Le Guin’s The Dispossessed.
Visit our blog to read the rest of the review, or for more reviews and author interviews: https://nebulabooks.wordpress.com/201... Also, follow us on twitter for news and updates https://twitter.com/Nebula_Books
Millen presents a very interesting and poignant look at the future and introduces some fascinating new concepts, while taking existing concepts and giving them a refreshing makeover. Everyone loves to compare dystopian fiction to Orwell’s 1984, but The Chain is more comfortable in the company of the likes of Le Guin’s The Dispossessed.
Visit our blog to read the rest of the review, or for more reviews and author interviews: https://nebulabooks.wordpress.com/201... Also, follow us on twitter for news and updates https://twitter.com/Nebula_Books
February 14, 2017
This may seem a bit bias because he's my teacher but it's a really good book, sort of a modernised version of the hardy boys which reminds me a lot of the writer. A very well written story line especially considering it's based in the near future. A good mix of New Zealand and Canadian culture which also reflects Antony.
July 9, 2016
If you like your fiction set in the near future then you will like this book. Kept my interest to the end but felt there were some things which didn't quite hold up to scrutiny.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews