Book Review: Persona
Books and recommendations from Scientific American
By Clara Moskowitz
On supporting science journalism
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Persona
by Genevieve Valentine
Saga Press, 2015 (($24.99))
In Valentine's imagined future, war and international politics have been replaced by maneuverings in a reality television–esque “International Assembly,” where a celebrity “Face” represents each country. Romantic relationships between Faces stand in for diplomatic treaties, and the beauty and popularity of a representative determine the nation's standing on the world stage. In this atmosphere, the Face of the United Amazonian Rainforest Confederation escapes an assassination attempt with the help of a paparazzo and must uncover the humanity behind other Faces to survive. The action-packed story and thorough characterization in Valentine's sardonic novel offer a view on a not so different world from our own, where a celebrity-obsessed populace can ignore the real issues affecting people around the globe.
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