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A Matter of Proportion
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More by Anne Walker
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A clearer way to understand A Matter of Proportion through themes, characters, and key ideas
This reading guide highlights what stands out in A Matter of Proportion through 4 core themes, 3 character profiles, and 3 chapter-level ideas. It is meant to help readers decide whether the book fits their taste and deepen the reading once they begin.
About this book
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What the book is doing
Anne Walker's "A Matter of Proportion" is a late 20th-century science fiction novel that plunges readers into a war-torn future where advanced technology clashes with deeply human struggles. The narrative centers on Clyde Esterbrook, a soldier who has undergone a groundbreaking brain transplant, granting him a unique yet challenging perspective on identity and existence. Leading dangerous missions with his comrades, Clyde navigates perilous environments and intense psychological battles, utilizing cutting-edge equipment like the inter-cortical encephalograph (ICEG). The story intricately explores themes of human resilience, the quest for meaning amidst chaos, and the profound impact of overcoming overwhelming challenges, both physical and existential.
Key Themes
Identity and Consciousness
This is the central theme, explored through Clyde Esterbrook's brain transplant. The novel questions what constitutes identity when the physical brain is replaced, delving into the role of memory, experience, and consciousness in defining the self. It examines the struggle to reconcile a fragmented past with a present reality.
Human Resilience and Survival
The novel highlights the extraordinary lengths individuals will go to survive and protect their comrades in the face of overwhelming challenges. It showcases the physical and psychological endurance required to operate in a harsh, demanding, war-torn environment, emphasizing the human spirit's capacity to adapt and persevere.
“"Proportion, they said, was the key to sanity. But how could one measure the self when the very vessel of thought had been remade?"”
How does Clyde Esterbrook's brain transplant challenge conventional notions of identity and self? Is he the same person as before?
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