The Resisters is a novel written by Gish Jen, an acclaimed American author known for her exploration of themes related to identity, culture, and the immigrant experience. Published in 2020, this dystopian fiction presents a thought-provoking narrative set in a future society where technology and surveillance have taken over.

The story revolves around the lives of the Quan family, particularly Gwen and her daughter, Gwen II. In this futuristic world, society is divided into two classes: the Netted, who are privileged and have access to advanced technology, and the Surplus, who are marginalized and live in poverty. The Surplus are forced to work in factories and live in overcrowded conditions while being constantly monitored by the Netted.

Gwen is a former Olympic-level softball player who now works as a data analyst for a company called Automatix. She is dissatisfied with her life and the oppressive nature of society. Gwen’s husband, Luke, is a former baseball player who has become disillusioned with the sport due to its increasing reliance on technology. Together, they raise their daughter Gwen II, who possesses exceptional athletic abilities.

Gwen II’s talent catches the attention of an underground resistance movement called The Resisters. They recruit her to play baseball for their team, which serves as a form of rebellion against the oppressive regime. The Resisters aim to challenge the status quo and fight for equality and freedom.

As Gwen II becomes more involved with The Resisters, she faces numerous challenges and risks. The government becomes aware of her activities and attempts to suppress the movement. The novel explores themes of resistance, surveillance, inequality, and the power of sports as a means of protest.

Throughout the book, Gish Jen delves into complex issues such as social stratification, technological advancements, and the impact they have on individuals and society as a whole. She raises questions about the potential consequences of unchecked technological progress and the importance of human connection and empathy.

• The Resisters

• By: Gish Jen
• Narrated by: William DeMeritt

Time: not too long from now. Location: AutoAmerica. Land: half underwater. The internet: part artificial intelligence, part surveillance technology, and people are weird – funny even. People: Divided. Angel-fair “Netted” has a job and literally occupies a high position. The “leftovers” live on the swamp if they are lucky, on the water if they are unlucky.

The Story: The surplus couple – he was a professor, she was still a lawyer – gave birth to a Blasian girl with golden arms. At two years old, Gwen was throwing her stuffed animals out of the crib; up to 10, she can hit any target she likes. Her teens see her happily playing in an underground baseball league.

However, when AutoAmerica re-entered the Olympics – with a particular interest in beating ChinRussia – Gwen attracted attention. Soon she found herself playing ball with Netted even as her mother challenged the very foundations of this divided society.

A moving and important story of an America that seems to be getting more and more possible, The Resistance is also the story of a family struggling to maintain humanity and normalcy in a situation that threatens all of their values – as well as their very existence.

Extraordinary and ordinary, seductive and full of life, this is the irresistible Gish Jen.

This is a wonderful book. I wish I could find a few like it. I love hearing different developments about the future and what it might look like. This book does just that and adds to the game of baseball to give it life and character. I’m not a baseball fan but I enjoyed that in this book. Every time I move it to my library, I wish there were 5 more like it.

I absolutely love this story. Good narrator, he doesn’t have a voice that’s too distinct between the characters, but he’s a good storyteller that doesn’t take anything away.

As for the story – oh my gosh but that was well done! The Dark World is very well developed and a lot of good commentary on where the world could be headed. I can understand why some people say there’s too much baseball, myself a fan, but the author went into some serious detail about pitching and training and so on.
Overall I would definitely listen to this one again!

I thought I might like this dark novel after hearing an NPR interview with the author, Gish Jen, and I said it was for me. I’m an Alexa enthusiast and we have 4 people in the house. So it’s interesting to see what can happen when IA loses control. So don’t be lazy, get up and move to the bookstore and buy. or ask Alexa to buy audiobooks on Amazon

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