Y Negative

Set in a devastated future America, this thoughtful debut from geneticist Haworth examines the role of gender in a world that has no concept of female. The privileged mascs are men with XY chromosomes, while the Y-negative men are beaten, abused, and discriminated against. Self-loathing Ember, like many of his fellow Y negatives, injects testosterone so he can grow facial hair and muscle mass to appear masc. Scientist and masc Jess hires computer whiz Ember for a dangerous road trip from Atlanta to Kansas City to repair communication relay towers. They dodge acid rain, polluted rivers, and savage scavengers living in the wilderness. Ember, who admits to being a despised het—a Y negative who’s romantically interested in mascs, or vice versa—reveals his attraction to Jess, who is questioning his own relationship with the bully Heath. Volcanic eruptions explain the toxic atmosphere; the reason for the societal loss of “female” is less clear. However, readers willing to accept the premise will be struck by how it highlights the absurdities of discrimination on the basis of gender and sexual orientation. Haworth provides a worthy analysis of sociological norms and aberrations while taking the reader on an enjoyable adventure. (Nov.)