The Age of Acceptability
| File:Age of acceptability.png Cover of original paperback editition | |
| Author | Robert Saint-Antoine |
|---|---|
| Country |  Ainin |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Young adult alternate history |
The Age of Acceptability is an alternate history young adult novel written by Aininian author Robert Saint-Antoine and published on 16 December 2009. The story, told through a first person point of view, revolves around Michael Fredericks, a 14 year-old member of a guerilla organisation fighting against Namorese occupation forces in an alternate history in which the Aininian Revolution was defeated and the Namorese Civil War never occurred.
Its title is inspired by a famous quote from a speech given by Geadish Prime Minister Pir Muinten to its House of Representatives, saying that "the age when colonialism was considered morally acceptable is over".
The novel was noted for its portrayals of imperialism, xenophobia, military use of children and social inequality. It was also controversial for its graphic descriptions of sexually explicit scenarios, the liberal use of profanity in certain scenes and its perceived Namophobia.
Plot
The story opens in a forest in Northern Linack, where the protagonist, Michael "Mike" Fredericks, is practicing bayonet techniques with members of the Aininian Patriots, a guerilla organisation led by Colonel Woods with the goal of toppling Namorese rule and restoring the Glorious Confederation. Later in the day, he meets Anna Hartman, a new recruit and the daughter of the Mayor of Hartly, and develops a friendship with her after she saves him from an enraged black bear. One night, their camp comes under attack from commandoes, and Mike and Anna escape through a hidden cave with a hunting rifle and two hand grenades, the rest of the group being captured or killed, but Anna is shot in the arm by a pursuing soldier.
They manage to escape by hiding in a depression, and hook up while hiding beneath a large bush. The next day, Anna's injury becomes severely infected, and they head for the nearby town of Marlane to find medication for her injury. On their way there, they meet a police patrol, who they ambush and kill, before taking the police cruiser's first aid kit.
During the night, Anna becomes increasingly distraught over the killing of the police officers after having a dream in which she keeps seeing the moment where she stabs one of them, the first time she had ever killed another human being. The next day, they arrive in Marlane, where Anna spots a newspaper announcing that her father had been executed because of her escape. Overcome with emotion, she runs off into the woods alone, taking their supplies with her.
Mike realises that Anna disappeared, and goes off to