The Cure (Silver Whistle) - Hardcover

Levitin, Sonia

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0152018271 ISBN 13: 9780152018276

Publisher: Silver Whistle, 1999

Synopsis

Gemm 16884, a young boy living in 2407, collides with the past when he finds himself in Strasbourg, Germany in 1348 confronting the antisemitism that sweeps through Europe during the Black Plague. 10,000 first printing.

About this title

From the Author

Acombination of historical fact, imagination and challenge
THE CURE is based on an actual incident in history, an incident so compelling and terrible that the moment I read it, I knew this was my story to tell. Why? Because it deals with faith and love, and also with oppression, the kind of oppression that I also experienced as a child. I have always loved science fiction but never wrote in that genre before. Here was my chance to build a new world, a place where violence does not exist. I let my imagination roam: What creates violence? Hatred and fear of people who are different. Aha! what about a society where everyone is alike, conforming so completely that they even wear face masks to avoid showing emotion. In such a society all creative acts--music, poetry, dance and art would be prohibitied, because these arts are born of diversity, too. I had my story, time and place, for history provides the true facts of a time when the Black Death threatened all the world with disease and destruction. It seemed incredible that such a thing could happen without cause. As is the sad custom of humans, a scapegoat was soon found, the lie was disseminated and believed: the Jews poisoned the water supply to bring to plague to Europe. Of course, later investigation proved that rats were responsible for this catastrophe, but reason holds no sway when prejudice is aroused. While faces and places and ideas are different between life in the Middle Ages and now, acts of prejudice and persecution, unfortunately, follow the same pattern now as then. The book asks many questions, foremost among them: How can we change the world to embrace all manner of peoples? If we do not, are we doomed to lives of mediocrity and confromity? Without the delights of the spirit--love, music, art, is life worth living? This book was very exciting to write. it thrills me to know that readers find it exciting--and challenging--to read.

Edition details

• Publisher: Silver Whistle
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0152018271
• ISBN 13: 9780152018276
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 181