Where to Start with Daniel Sweren-Becker
Daniel Sweren-Becker is a versatile writer who successfully bridges the gap between high-concept young adult science fiction and gritty, experimental adult true-crime satire. Because his work is divided into two distinct lanes, choosing where to start depends entirely on your preferred genre:
- For Sci-Fi and Dystopian Fans: Start with The Ones (2016). This is the opening book of his young adult duology, exploring a near-future world where genetic modification has created a new social class.
- For Thriller and True-Crime Fans: Start with Kill Show (2023). This is a standalone, adult investigative thriller written as an oral history, dissecting the modern obsession with true-crime entertainment.
The Ones Series: A Dystopian Dilemma
The core of Sweren-Becker’s early literary success lies in The Ones duology. In this world, the top one percent of the population has been genetically engineered at birth for physical perfection, intelligence, and athletic prowess. The stories follow two main protagonists, Cody and James, as they navigate the inevitable societal backlash, discrimination, and political conspiracy that follow. The series consists of two full-length novels and one digital-only companion novella:
- The Ones (2016): Introduces the concept of "The Ones" and the rising movement to strip them of their rights in the name of equality.
- The Between (2017): A digital-only companion novella that takes place between the events of the first and second novels. It provides essential character depth and bridges the narrative gap.
- The Equals (2017): The final installment that wraps up Cody and James's journey amidst an escalating rebellion.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
For The Ones series, there is a slight variation depending on how you treat the companion novella, The Between. While publication order and chronological order are identical, readers often debate whether the novella is required reading.
The Ones Series in Chronological & Publication Order:
- The Ones (2016)
- The Between (Novella, 2017)
- The Equals (2017)
Chronological Caveats
Because The Between was released as a digital-only novella right before the release of The Equals, many readers skipped it. While you can technically read the main duology (The Ones and The Equals) back-to-back without the novella, reading The Between in its chronological spot is highly recommended. It adds crucial emotional context and explains character motivations that make the transition to The Equals far smoother.
Standalone Novels
Sweren-Becker transitioned to adult fiction with a sharp, innovative standalone thriller:
- Kill Show: A Novel of Murder, Madness, and the Media (2023): This novel centers on the disappearance of a teenage girl named Sara Parcell. Instead of a traditional mystery, it is written as a retrospective oral history, featuring transcripts of interviews with family members, investigators, producers, and showrunners. It acts as both a page-turning mystery and a scathing critique of the commercialization of tragedy.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into Sweren-Becker's catalog, keep the following tips in mind to maximize your enjoyment:
- Check Out the Audiobooks: Both of his main projects excel in audio formats. The Ones features engaging narration suitable for YA fiction, but Kill Show is where the audiobook shines. It features a full cast of distinct voice actors, making the oral history format feel like a real, high-production investigative podcast.
- Brevity and Pacing: Sweren-Becker's background as a playwright (known for his play Stress Positions) and television writer influences his novel structures. The chapters are short, the dialogue is snappy, and the pacing is incredibly fast.
- Themes of Media and Ethics: Across both sci-fi and true crime, Sweren-Becker is deeply interested in how media, technology, and societal pressure shape human behavior. Be prepared for stories that prompt self-reflection on ethics and modern culture.