Review: Ectopia by Martin Goodman

Author: Martin Goodman
Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Adult
Publisher: Barbican Press
Publication Date: June 20, 2013



A modern teenage dystopia set in London. For sixteen years the Earth has baked and no girls have been born. Karen’s the last girl and Steven’s her gay twin. Dad turns their home into a fortress as women take the chance to rule the world. Their eyes are on Steven. Perhaps, with a little medical interference, he could be the saviour of the world.

Review Ectopia is a book that can best be described as a mash-up of Children of Men and A Clockwork Orange if set against the 1980's London Punk scene. This book is as bizarre as it is disturbing and yet for some odd reason I couldn't tear myself away from it. Ectopia is a dark book. It is set in a world that's been literally Fucked up by Humanity. For whatever reason no Females be them Animal or Human  have been born for well over a generation and the youngest one left and last born spends her time stuck in her house under the wanting eye of her overprotective Father.  While this premise sounds very promising it isn't really executed all that well. We never get any really in depth answers as to why Karen is the last born female and why Animals can't breed female offspring either. I also would've liked to learn more about the girls born around Karen. Yes she was the last but what about all those born a day, week, year before her? The details on the other girls is kept to a minimum and for what purpose? To make Karen seem more special or simply because the Author didn't want to really go into depth beyond the limited scope of his Dystopic world? Now while Karen is certainly a major part of the book it is actually her Gay twin Steven who takes center stage. Now I have no problem with Gay Protagonists but I do have a problem with Assholes and Steven definitely is one of those. He's just so damn unlikable and even during the ending which let's be honest royally sucked for him I still didn't care all that much about him.  Steven and his goon Teensquad are the Clockwork Orange part of the story and for me that just didn't work. Sure I guess the Author could be commended for exploring Gender and Identity roles but I didn't set out to read Propaganda and this read like the biggest one of them all. Lastly, I found the world building severely lacking. As I mentioned above we never really get any reasons to how things ended up so badly. Sure we learn how they are trying to "correct" the problem but that doesn't really feel like enough in the grand scheme of things. Also what the hell is with all the graphic masturbation in this book?? Sure no new females are being born but they still exist. You'd think they'd be telling everyone and anyone to try screwing each other in the hopes of a baby female being born but then I guess this wouldn't be a disturbing Dystopian or something. Final Thoughts If you enjoy speculative fiction and Dystopian books that take not just a walk but a run on the dark side then Ectopia is probably for you. However, if you're one who likes a story with a happy ending and lots of in depth world building then you'll probably want to pass this one by. In the end while I did enjoy Ectopia enough to finish I don't think it is a book that I will read again any time soon. With that being said, I will be rating Ectopia by Martin Goodman ★★★.    *Copy reviewed provided by Netgalley. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated in an which way  for providing them.

Want to learn more about this Book or the Author? Click the links below!
Martin Goodman:
Goodreads Page
Barbican Press
www.MartinGoodman.com