Proxy (Proxy, #1)

by Alex London

Knox was born into one of the City's wealthiest families. A Patron, he has everything a boy could possibly want -the latest tech, the coolest clothes, and a Proxy to take all his punishments. When Knox breaks a vase, Syd is beaten. When Knox plays a practical joke, Syd is forced to haul rocks. And when Knox crashes a car, killing one of his friends, Syd is branded and sentenced to death. Syd is a Proxy. His life is not his own. Then again, neither is Knox's. Son to a master manipulator, Knox and Syd have more in common than either would guess. So when Knox and Syd realize that the only way to beat the system is to save each other, they flee. Yet Knox's father is no ordinary Patron, and Syd is no ordinary Proxy. The ensuing cross-country chase will uncover a secret society of rebels, test both boys' resolve, and shine a blinding light onto a world of those who owe and those who pay. Some debts, it turns out, cannot be repaid.

• ISBN10: 014751133X
• ISBN13: 9780147511331
• Publish Date: 1 May 2014 (first published 18 June 2013)
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 13 May 2022
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Speak
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 432
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780147511331

Reviews

[readingwithwrin]

4.5 stars

"Only humans could accept responsibility, and only humans could take on a debt. Only humans could stand in for one another. We all begin as equals,but a contract, like a confession, changes our relationship. One become a debtor, one becomes a creditor. One a proxy the, the other a patron. The contract defines us until its terms are met. A goat would always be a goat, but humans can change how they define one another and how they define themselves. That was civilization."

This book might have just gotten me back into the dystopian genre.

Syd is an orphan who was taken as a baby and put into the proxy program where he is made to pay 18 years worth of debt for saving him. His patron is Knox who is a troublemaker, who loves to make his father's life hell. Since the age of four Syd has been getting Knox's punishments for the things he did, while knox had to watch so he would learn something from it. Sadly Knox never learned his lesson and has just escalated the things he has done since then. But one night he took thinks to far and caused someone to be killed.

From their we go on the journey with Syd, Knox and Marie (who was my favorite character, I mean who wouldn't want purple eyes) who are trying to keep Syd safe and get to Old Detroit where he is needed, so they can change the way things happen.

I'm not going to lie Syd was not what I expected him to be, I was figuring he would be a lot tougher and more like the world owes me because of all the stuff Knox had put him through, he wasn't though. All he wanted was to get debt free and then to get along with his life. Knox on the other hand had a lot of growing up to do and he did somewhat in this book. He changed more than I ever thought he would, he went from being the spoiled brat, to being the spoiled brat that realizes that the whole world doesn't revolve around him and that trying to punish his dad hurts more people than just him. Now Marie who was also a spoiled brat, but she was a spoiled brat that cared for the world around her and wanted to help. I'm not going to lie though I was slightly terrified of what she would do just like Syd was because of how she was a "Causegirl" and wanted to save all of the proxies.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read Guardian and see what happens next!

( I really like how there was no love interest for a change and it was all about trying to change the world.)

See more reviews like this here!

[neddieb]

There is really nothing much I can say about this book because I was not very impressed. The plot of the story was interesting but it felt as if the plot and the story in whole was missing something more. I don't know if it had to do with the characters or the story itself. It was like being on a roller coaster with this book. When you finally thought a part of the story was at its peak and it was getting real good, it somehow immediatley made a sharp turn and went downhill.

[jnikkir]

Proxy first caught my eye when I heard that it was a retelling of Sid Fleischman's The Whipping Boy. Even though I only have vague memories of reading that book in grade school, I do remember really liking it. Plus, I'm a sucker for retellings lately, and Proxy combined the concept of The Whipping Boy with a dystopian, technologically-driven world. And it worked, big time.

Proxy is set in a dystopian future where the entitled upper class kids each have their own "whipping boys" (proxies), who bear the punishments for their patrons' wrongdoings. And the lower class is basically controlled by this system - most lower class citizens are deep in debt to their patrons, because they barter time served as a proxy to buy what they need. And it's not easy to get out of that debt - in fact, it's pretty much impossible. All the data in Proxy hinges on a kind of biological software system. Personal information, like debt, is stored in your blood (or at least, in your body somehow) and tracks you everywhere. This biological software even extends to "patches" that fix injuries or change appearances. It can be hacked, but not easily. (This entire concept was awesome though - I loved how it all worked and fit into the story. SUPER detailed and interesting.)

Anyway. From the very first page, I knew Proxy and I were going to get along. Somehow, Alex London totally sucked me into the story straight away. It's action-packed, there's always something going on, and there are so many twists and turns and unexpected surprises (especially at the end) that I was flipping the pages in agony, wondering how everything could possibly turn out okay. The book was a little darker, and a little gritter than I expected, too, but that only made me love it more.

But even more than the engrossing plot and storyline, what made Proxy so awesome to me were the main characters. (Because if you've seen even a few of my 4+ star reviews, it's really all about the characters, isn't it?)

The main characters are patron and proxy, Knox and Syd. Knox is the Prince Brat of the story - an entitled rich kid who goofs off and generally makes trouble - and Syd is the whipping boy forced to endure the punishments for Knox's wrongdoings. The book really gets underway when Knox goes too far with one of his 'stunts', and Syd is basically sentenced to death. Syd runs - right into Knox - and they end up teaming up to get Syd to safety.

For me, like I said, these two boys are where Proxy really shines. Knox and Syd could have easily been simple and unsurprising characters, having been based on Fleischman's original duo. Knox, the annoying troublemaker who eventually has a change of heart; and Syd, the stoic whipping boy who's had a hard life but comes to forgive his patron. While these things are technically true of both characters, they still felt totally fresh and unique, and their emotional journeys were incredibly fulfilling and really great to watch.

Knox is so much more complicated than he first appears. I think his character-arc is the one I most admire (but I really can't say much because I don't want to give anything about him away). But Syd is definitely my favorite character in the book - he's been through hell, which has made him smart and tough (on the outside and the inside), but he's got his flaws as well. And he's not the long-suffering-yet-still-endlessly-noble hero that we've all seen so many times, which was really refreshing, in a way. (Oh, and Syd also happens to be gay. London wrote this perfectly - it's not made into an ~issue~, it's just a natural part of the character and story.)

One of the only things I didn't like about Proxy was a certain character who tagged along with Knox and Syd to help get Syd to safety. She was okay, but often I felt like she didn't have a real reason to be there - and she just seemed too idealistic and "good", if that makes sense, and didn't really fit in with the rest of the story. Compared to Knox and Syd, she definitely fell flat for me.

So yeah. Knox and Syd were awesome. They're both as multi-layered as they come, and I loved that both of them ended up making complex and surprising choices that made sense for their unique characters, not just following their literary counterparts/predecessors.

In conclusion...
Proxy is really the epitome of what a retelling should aspire to be - at least in this style of "darker scifi retelling of a children's classic" (is that a thing? well it is now). It's totally engrossing, action-packed, and un-put-down-able - the perfect blend of fast-paced thrill-ride, awesome throw-you-in-the-deep-end worldbuilding, and characters that grew realistically by leaps and bounds through the course of the story.

Don't you think it sounds awesome? Yes?

Have you picked it up yet? No?

Wrong answer. ;)
_________________________________________

{ Find this and other reviews at my blog, There were books involved... }

[kimbacaffeinate]

Alex London presents us with a futuristic world where everything is digital. Proxy, his debut novel is the first book in a promising new series. I found both the characters and world-building to be captivating as I read this action-packed tale. Three world review: thriller, captivating, page-turner.

The tale is presented to us from two points of view. First we have Knox, a Patron and son to one of the wealthiest men in the city. Next we meet Syd an orphan who lives in the valve. The world is completely digital and everyone is linked to the data but their worlds are completely different. Every Patron is matched to a Proxy. In order to settle his debts for housing, school, food, and medical attention the government made Syd a Proxy. Since he was a small boy he has received a punishment for Knox's mistakes. The two have never met, but Knox has had to witness Syd taking his punishment. When Knox crashes his car and kills his friend Syd is branded and sentence to a life that will surely mean death. When Syd escapes the only person who might be able to help him escape is his Patron and the tale that unfolds is fast-paced, action packed and suspenseful.

The characters in London’s tale are fascinating and complex. Each carries their own emotional burden. Syd is smart, level headed and determined to be free of debt. He works on gadgets fixing and repairing them off the grid. He is comfortable with his homosexuality even when others become aware of it and I loved the way the author portrayed him. Knox is your typical spoiled rich kid, who cares more about his next hook up then the consequences of the world around him. As we peel back his layers we see anger, loss and growth. Marie is another Patron and doesn’t like the social system. She is strong and ready to fight for the causes she believes in. While at times I wanted to see a little more depth from the characters and glimpse more into their psyche I ended up liking them. Knox is driven by his hatred of his father, Syd by fear and Marie by the cause. There is no romance although we do get to laugh at a few kisses. The banter and tension between the characters was hilarious one moment and sad the next but it helped us gain insight.

London spun science-fiction twists into this dystopian world making it a fast paced and compelling read. I thought the world building was well done, especially the picture he painted of the valve and Upper city. As they traveled away from the city the tale almost had a western feel to it. The gadgets, technology and science fiction aspects were fascinating from the Guardians (guards, government police) to what makes Syd special. The tale at times was dark and intense as we faced both death and spine-tingling chases. The points of view goes back and forth between Syd and Knox and I thought it was well done. The interaction between Knox and Syd are my favorite as we witness growth, trust and reflection. The author effortlessly weaves a few social issues into the tale and allows us to both see the absurdity in them and the consequences. My only real complaint was that I wanted more depth both in the characters and the world but of course I am greedy! The ending was climatic and I am anxious to see what book two has in store for us.

Copy received in exchange for unbiased review and originally published @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer