Octavian’s coming-of-age is coupled with the College falling on hard times and the start of the Revolution. Over the course of the novel Octavian grows more aware of the uniqueness and injustice of his situation. This goes right down to Octavian having his excrement weighed after every bowel movement to study the efficiency of his digestive system. In time it is revealed that Octavian and his mother are slaves living in Boston in the 1760’s-70’s and while treated well materially, Octavian is also something of a lab rat, under constant observation by the scientists of the Novanglian College of Lucidity. Octavian and his mother are royalty, and although they are far from home, they live in luxury with fine foods and clothing, a classical education, and sophisticated society. Young Octavian lives with his mother Cassiopeia and a crowd of Natural Philosophers who go by numbers instead of names. Anderson begins like a science fiction story, reminiscent of The Baroque Cycle.
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation.
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