Chain Gang All Stars

CHAIN GANG ALL STARS

by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

 

Nominations: Aspen Words Finalist 2024, Carnegie Longlist 2024, Center For Fiction Longlist 2023, Dublin longlist 2024, National Book Finalist 2023, NY Times Finalist 2023

 

Date Read: October 27, 2023

 

As much as I don’t like the dystopian future genre, this book might be favorite book of 2023. The dystopian future isn’t that far in the future and it portrays something I could actually believe might happen – turning convicts into gladiators who kill each other. A chain gang is like a team and links in the chain are players. 

 

So richly imagined and full of awful facts about the atrocity that is mass incarceration in America, Adjei-Brenyah has created a work that is so unique, so fresh and so very necessary. We can all agree that murder and rape are atrocious. And of course there are people who need a time out or a permanent time out but does that mean society should stoop so low as to torture these individuals every day for the rest of their lives? I think we can do better and so does Adjei-Brenyah.

 

His premise is relatively simple – Convicts are set loose in an arena to kill each other. Eventually, if one keeps succeeding at this, they can earn their freedom. Their practice, marches from city to city and downtime are all presented as a reality TV program that fans can watch. And, oh boy, do they have fans. As with any sport, there are hardcore fans that cheer on their favorite Link. 

 

The two main characters are Thurwar and Staxxx. Both are champions, whereas Thurwar is a Colossal and Staxxx is just about to break into that rank. They are in love and on the same chain. But as all sadistic enterprises lead to – they are forced to make an impossible choice towards the end, when Thurwar is so close to her freedom.

 

There is so much detail and complexity and richness to this novel that I can’t even begin to describe all of it. I am just drooling and truly in awe. I’m hoping it wins beyond the longlists on which it has landed. 

 

I can already see the opportunity for a film adaptation of this novel. I am terrified it will only focus on the violence and not explore the heartbreaking degradation of humans within our penal system. I hope to hell Adjei-Brenyah maintains his integrity.

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