The Loop by Ben Oliver

The Loop by Ben Oliver, takes place in the aftermath of World War 3, and follows the life of a boy named Luka who awaits his murder trial. Each day, energy is harvested from prisoners in the form of fear, used to power the prison and the city, which are run by an all-knowing Artificial Intelligence. But one night, things are different, and the scheduled rain comes late. Then, there is a blackout. As Luka and the other prisoners set out to discover the cause of these irregularities, they must tread cautiously.

 

I have found The Loop to be one of my most favorite dystopian books that I have read. It presents an interesting take on the future of society, and seems almost ahead of its time, especially with its focus on the dangers of artificial intelligence and aspects such as vertical farms. One of my favorite things about this book is its focus on cool technology, such as augmented reality contact lenses. Overall, I think The Loop perfectly combines a dystopian society with a classic zombie apocalypse.

Reviewed by Roderick, Grade 11

Montrose Library