The Immundus

by Christina Enquist

Overview

Would you sacrifice your humanity to save mankind?

IT’S THE YEAR 2828, and Domus is the last remaining country. Divided into twelve walled cities known as genuses, Domus spans what’s known as the purist lands—lands unaffected by the genetic modifications that killed all other species of mammals. But outside the walls of each genus the Immundus threaten the welfare of those within. From a young age, all citizens of Domus are trained for combat against these intruders.

At sixteen, Nia Luna knows little of the Immundus, except for the citywide alarms that ring any time an Immundus nears the genus walls. What she does know is that her own species is dying—their numbers dwindling as a mysterious disease called allagine kills many before their eleventh birthday. The same disease that ravaged her family when it took her sister.

When Nia is recruited into Genesis, a research company pioneering the path to a cure, she knows that her dream to find a cure for allagine is finally within her grasp. But within weeks of starting at Genesis, Nia witnesses something she shouldn’t have—something that changes everything. As she sets down a dangerous path that uncovers national secrets, Nia will have to decide not only what kind of person she wants to be but also how far she’s willing to go to save humanity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780999414019
Publisher:	Odolf Mingan Publishing
Publication date:	02/06/2018
Pages:	206
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.25(h) x 0.47(d)
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

I grew up in Salinas, California, the same hometown of John Steinbeck, one of America's greatest writers. I loved to read (and still do) and frequented the John Steinbeck Library as a child. I discovered at an early age that I also enjoyed writing. In sixth grade, my teacher, Mr. Graham gave the class an assignment to write a story for a contest. The contest required that we create our book binding as well, which we did with cardboard, glue, and wallpaper. My book was called "Mully Mully" about a creature who lived in an underwater lake city. I was sad when I didn't win, but I cherished my book so I kept it all these years. It wasn't until a few years ago that I decided to put other stories, roaming around in my mind, down on paper again, or actually, in my case, into a computer.

Aside from writing, I work full-time and some semesters I also teach at a local community college in Visalia, California, where I now live. When I'm not working, I enjoy writing, reading, watching TV, and spending time with my husband and pets (cat-Smokey, dog-Princess).

The Immundus is my debut novel.

Table of Contents

PART ONE - IN THE BEGINNING THERE WAS DARKNESS

Chapter One - Colosseum

Chapter Two - Spero

Chapter Three - School

Chapter Four - Recruitment

Chapter Five - Animal Museum

Chapter Six - Genesis

Chapter Seven - Frank's Hotspot

Chapter Eight - Interrogation

Chapter Nine - Changes

PART TWO - AND THEN THERE WAS LIGHT

Chapter Ten - Immundus

Chapter Eleven - Trust

Chapter Twelve - Kashmir and Kafira

Chapter Thirteen - Confessions

Chapter Fourteen - Fiducia

Chapter Fifteen - Attempt

PART THREE - AND THE LIGHT WAS DIVIDED FROM THE DARK

Chapter Sixteen - Freedom Plan

Chapter Seventeen - Chuck

Chapter Eighteen - Rescue

Chapter Nineteen - Exodus

Editorial Reviews

"In her book, Enquist . . . provides some intriguing reflections on evolution and genetic science . . . a well-paced sci-fi story with excitement, emotion, and character testing."--Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2018-01-09
In this YA dystopian debut, a teenager must make hard decisions when she learns the truth behind a mysterious disease.In 2828, after the genetic engineering that nearly killed all life, humans survive in the nation of Domus. Beneath the country's dome, 12 genuses—walled cities—work to sustain humanity, still threatened from within by a disease called allagine and from without by the Immundus, rainbow-scaled humanoids who live outside the dome and often try to intrude. Because of this danger, all Domus citizens are trained fighters, practicing their skills from an early age. Nia Luna, 16, lives in a genus where Arlington, Texas, used to lie. She lost a good friend and her sister to allagine, which kills the young. Her mother left the family, and now Nia lives with her emotionally distant father, a scientist. She's at the age when teens graduate and are recruited into companies based on their skills and interests; Nia wants to become a geneticist and find a cure for allagine. Being recruited to Genesis, her father's company, seems to set her on the right path. Nia's emotional life is complicated when Eric Marcello, her best friend, discloses his romantic interest, but this news is overshadowed when she discovers startling truths about allagine, the Immundus, Genesis, and her own father. With the help of a resistance group, Nia resolves to carry out a bold, possibly world-changing plan. In her book, Enquist uses many elements familiar from YA dystopian fiction, but her future history and science are fairly well thought out. She provides some intriguing reflections on evolution and genetic science. Some references, though, don't sound very 29th century (individual car ownership; toothpaste from a tube), and others could be fresher, such as the hoary grain/chicken/fox puzzle. Nia is almost comically overwrought in the somatic manner common to YA: "My intestines play Twister with my organs, sending spasms along my spine." Still, she's conscientious, brave, smart, and compassionate—a nicely balanced heroine. Despite a few flaws, a well-paced sci-fi story with excitement, emotion, and character testing.

Kirkus Review