Deleted Scenes from the Bestselling Utopian Novel

"Deleted Scenes from the Bestselling Utopian Novel" is a must-read if you want a visceral understanding of living under unchecked authority via the fictional island of Novo Tsarstvo. Bagaev writes with such detail and specificity that the reader is grounded in both the physical and emotional aspects of the story. To the point of almost – very effectively – feeling trapped in the story.

The author is vigilantly curious, and performs a sort of emotional autopsy on totalitarianism by giving voice to the internal psychosis of living under a dictator or any unchecked authority. This authority is creatively investigated from a variety of vantage points, including genders and ages. Bagaev writes riveting sentences that never bore and make you see in a new way, such as in the way he describes a cat,

“From his mouth, a little pink tongue peeked playfully, and his eyes, agape, gleamed verdantly like diluted tarragon lemonade, as deep as the voidest void.”

I especially love this line,

"When time turns to ice, so do the reasons for being happy."

The absurd sickness of dictators, authoritarianism, totalitarianism, etc., are clearly revealed in this book in such a compelling and creative way. From bloody gore to fluffy sweetness, Bagaev gives his readers a captivating story and a necessary lesson. His expressive use of allegory can turn cats, televisions, and toys into physical sensations and political instruction. These allegories make us nervously conscious of the psychological, physical, emotional, and intellectual effects of authoritarianism. Making you aware of why it’s important to fight rather than stay silent.

To have a better understanding of the past, the present and our potential future, you should read "Deleted Scenes from the Bestselling Utopian Novel." The imagery will persist in your mind’s vision, reminding you of the gooey brutality that can beset a whole world, imaginative or real, when too many people capitulate to unrestrained power.