Fragments of Humanity is the
second novel by Scott Reed. Following up his profound first novel, Middle of Nothing, the newest book
continues themes of class struggle, sexual compulsions, greed, and desperation.
Digging even deeper into the dark corners of the human mind, Fragments of Humanity follows the tales
of four teenagers looking for a better life.
Gail was a restless young woman looking to make her childhood dream of
modeling a reality. The catalyst for everyone else's actions leaves a comfortable life at a California beach town
to chase down a modeling job. Unsupported by her father, she begins her
adventure with plans for a trip to Las Vegas with a close friend, Jesse. As
they begin their journey, Gail begins to accumulate more friends to join on
this voyage into adulthood.
Jesse, who had been had been her confidante and personal body guard, has a
mother addicted to crack who does anything to fill that need. This backdrop
begins to explain his devolvement into madness as he is ill-equipped for the
disappointment that life brings. He is smarter than anyone gives him credit
for, but that only creates deeper trouble as he finds himself unable to escape
his true nature.
Aaron, a second male friend Gail decides to bring along, has his own
problems; abusive father, alcoholic mother, depression and self-loathing. He
just wants a different life. His journey will put him in extreme danger as he
tries to hold on to whatever humanity is left from his frayed childhood.
Darrell, the final character Gail drags into her mirage, is from a small
logging town in Oregon. A boring childhood was always something which he wanted
to escape, so he chose the Marine Corps. He meets Gail and her friends as he
decides to run away from the Marine Corps and just looking for that escape that
makes him feel as if he has a purpose.
Shortly after arriving in Las Vegas, however, everything goes sideways for
the group. Almost immediately Gail ditches everyone in favor of a new love
interest. As her love grows, the separation of all the four lives continues to
grow as well. When Gail gets the message that her adventure and career are
about to take off, she beams with excitement. The happiness soon becomes terror
as she finds herself kidnapped and sold into an international sex trafficking
ring.
Fragments of Humanity follows the
plight of all four teens as they wade through the morass and pitfalls of
exchanging one hell for another. Filled with Gail’s disappearance, lust, greed,
anger, revenge and the painful realization of what led them all to the brink of
disaster, Fragments of Humanity is
ultimately a story about betrayal and survival. Heroes evolve and enemies are
revealed. With pride, honor and courage, the truth is revealed for all.
Multiple lives are destroyed amid the angst and turmoil. The story once again
is told in a unique style combining sweeping time frames with heavy and intense
moments of dialogue interspersed with a unique narrative voice.
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