Volume 7- Issue 1, January 2008
Published by Llumina Press

Review of Civilized Savages

December 30^th, 2008

Reviewed by Daniel J. Neumann

For E Writer Magazine

A Different Type of Anti-War Novel

            Before I write anything about Civilized Savages, I must confess to my bias as a reviewer: I wrote two novels (OMA: One Man Army and OMA: Part 2) with a similar subject as Susan Kaye Behm. I also have reservations concerning the relativity that this book’s critique is receiving versus the others. So here are the variables I am judging by: Entertainment (writing style), Literary Merit (plot), and Honesty (content accuracy).

            Civilized Savages is a fiction on the premise of a political movement converting children into super-soldiers. The public accepts due to a sense of artificial crisis. The reader follows the young protagonist, Joey, as she slowly loses grasp of her previous, innocent identity. Much of Behm’s plot, it would seem, is burrowed from Germany during Nazi rule. Susan Kaye Behm has written on a somewhat cliché plot with a fresh perspective—and certainly her own flavor.

            Civilized Savages is, no doubt, an anti-war novel. But it is from a different perspective. While an interested reader could read first-hand war experiences from Tim Obrien, one would pick up Behm’s work to contemplate the philosophical repercussions of the concept of war. Symbolism shines as the best quality of this work. The children becoming super-soldiers represent degradation of innocence; daily “vitamin” pills signifies the brainwashing the military uses; and Jesse killing his father on command denotes the attempt to bring order to the chaotic nature of murder.

            While the plot twists can become predictable, Behm’s writing style entertains. She does not overwhelm the reader with unneeded details, yet never leaves the reader in the dark. For the most part, the story is told from a third-person omnipotent view—but the italicized soliloquies from Joey help clear the blind-spots of that narration style. Civilized Savages exemplifies a well-done, action-packed adventure.

            I mentioned earlier in the review that I wrote two anti-war novels. At a recent book-signing, I recall a man arguing with me: “Why are you against war?” And I replied, “Why are you for it?” He did not answer, but if the conversation would have carried on, I would have recommended Susan Kaye Behm’s Civilized Savages to the man, over my own books. Behm may not have had any direct exposure to war, but she offers a future that conveys the horrors of war as much as any civilian can contemplate. In short, it is an anti-war novel for those of us who have never fought in a war—which makes it the most valuable variety of anti-war novel.