The Playground

On the playground, the strong flourish, the weak are prey and the rest merely survive. On the playground, Tommy is weak. But on the playground, Tommy will protect the weak from bullies’ violence through lies, bribes and by purchasing that same violence.

Matt Palmer’s dystopian novel questions the virtue of a lust for safety from physical harm that is brought about under the threat of physical harm. Palmer questions the wisdom in placing the duty to protect from violence in violent hands. He brings to light the bullies we all face.