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Revision as of 15:55, 28 June 2006 by 143.229.22.209 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Shade's Children is a young adult science fiction/fantasy novel written by Garth Nix. It was first published in 1997 in Australia by Allen & Unwin and in the USA by HarperCollins. It was available in the UK for free as part of an Ottakars promotion in 2004 and will be re-released there by HarperCollins in August 2006. The cover art was designed and made by Elliot Earls.
The story takes place in a grim future where no adults exist and children rarely live above the age of fourteen. Evil Overlords control the Earth, and use the bodies and brains of fourteen-year-old humans to create mutant armies to battle for their amusement and competition. A group of humans have developed unique powers that have evolved over years, they use these to escape from the Dormitories that the Overlords raise them in. The uploaded consciousness of an adult known as "Shade" recruits the survivors and leads them in the fight against the Overlords. The children regard Shade as a hero, but respect turns to hatred when they are betrayed by Shade's plan to become human again before defeating the Overlords.
When a child grows to the age of 14 in the dormitories they are taken away to a large factory known as the "Meat Factory". Here they are stored for a short time before being dissected and having their various body parts used in the creation of the various creatures owned by the overlords.
Small silvery orbs are implanted in to the creatures. The orbs suppress the human brain's higher functions and act as a form of mind control. The orbs also enable the creatures to have superhuman powers such as flight or extremely sensetive hearing. The orbs draw power from radiation given off by transmitters which are usually placed within the overlord's immediate power bases.
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