Summary of The Ear the Eye and the arm by Nancy Farmer
Certainly! "The Ear, the Eye, and The Arm" by Nancy Farmer is a captivating science fiction novel set in the year 2194 in Zimbabwe. Let me provide you with a detailed summary:
1. Setting and Characters:
The story unfolds in Harare, the dense and crime-ridden capital of Zimbabwe. Three siblings—Rita, Kuda, and Tendai—are the protagonists. They are held captive by the ruthless General Matsika, who seeks to eradicate crime from the country.
2. Escape and Mutant Detectives:
The children, eager to explore beyond their isolated estate, enlist the help of the Mellower, their family's oral historian, to escape. They venture into Harare's dangerous streets, where they encounter the She Elephant, a slave owner. Captured, they find themselves in the plastic mines of Dead Man's Vlei.
Meanwhile, General Matsika commissions three mutant detectives: Ear (with superhuman hearing), Eye (with superhuman vision), and Arm (with long limbs and mind-reading abilities). Their mission is to find the missing children.
3. The She Elephant and the Masks:
The children discover that they are to be sold to the Masks, a notorious gang targeted by General Matsika. Desperate to escape, they flee the She Elephant's clutches and seek refuge in Resthaven, an independent state that values African tradition. However, they are discovered and banished.
4. Borrowdale and Mrs. Horsepool-Worthingham:
In Borrowdale, a neighborhood established by English colonists, the children encounter Mrs. Horsepool-Worthingham, the Mellower's mother. She shelters them and cares for them during their bout of chickenpox. But Tendai grows suspicious—Mrs. Horsepool-Worthingham may be holding them until she can deliver them to the gang for ransom.
5. Themes and Afrofuturism:
The novel delves into themes of human rights, freedom, and the impact of technology. It belongs to the literary subgenre of Afrofuturism, which explores Africa's historical context and speculates about its future amidst technological advancements.
6. The Climax and Resolution:
As the children's fate hangs in the balance, the mutant detectives close in on their location. The story culminates in a thrilling confrontation, where the children's survival and freedom are at stake.
In this richly imagined world, Nancy Farmer weaves together adventure, social commentary, and fantastical elements. "The Ear, the Eye, and The Arm" invites readers to ponder the complexities of identity, justice, and the power of resilience in the face of adversity¹²³⁴.
Source: Conversation with Bing, 3/28/2024
