The 100 (Novel)

The 100 is the first novel in The 100, a series of post-apocalyptic science fiction series by American author Kass Morgan.

The novel is set approximately 300 years after a nuclear cataclysm rendered the Earth uninhabitable. Humanity, however, has survived for generations on three large spaceships: Phoenix, Walden, and Arcadia.

With life support on the ships dwindling, 100 prisoners under the age of 18 are sent down to Earth to find out if it has become survivable.

Summary

 * "No one has set foot on Earth in centuries — until now."

Ever since a devastating nuclear war, humanity has lived on spaceships far above Earth's radioactive surface. Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents -- considered expendable by society -- are being sent on a dangerous mission: to recolonize the planet. It could be their second chance at life...or it could be a suicide mission.

Clarke was arrested for treason, though she's haunted by the memory of what she really did. Wells, the chancellor's son, came to Earth for the girl he loves -- but will she ever forgive him? Reckless Bellamy fought his way onto the transport pod to protect his sister, the other half of the only pair of siblings in the universe. And Glass managed to escape back onto the ship, only to find that life there is just as dangerous as she feared it would be on Earth.

Confronted with a savage land and haunted by secrets from their pasts, the hundred must fight to survive. They were never meant to be heroes, but they may be mankind's last hope.

Plot
Clarke Griffin is a seventeen-year-old ex-medical apprentice from the ship Phoenix. She was arrested for treason, and continues to be haunted by her actions. We learn through a flashback, a frequent media throughout the book, that Clarke's parents, two of the most brilliant scientists on the ships, violated the Gaia Doctrine by experimenting radiation exposure on children while under order of Vice Chancellor Rhodes. Rhodes threatened to have Clarke killed if they didn't obey. Once Clarke finds out, she befriends one girl in the ward who weakens as the radiation exposure increases. Weeks later, Clarke finally gives in Lilly's demand to help her die. This haunts Clarke throughout the entire first novel. She blames Wells for the death of her parents, as not hours after she confided her secret about the experimentation of radiation exposure on children, Wells rushed to his father, the current Chancellor, to tell him the news. As Chancellor Jaha was unaware and the Vice Chancellor Rhodes denied any implication in the matter, both of Clarke's parents were executed. As the security system showed that she had access to the lab, Clarke was also voted guilty by the council and sent to Confinement.

Wells Jaha's mother died of an unknown illness months before the 100 mission, a time during which he falls in love with Clarke. Once he hears about the plan to send 100 juvenile delinquents, including his girlfriend Clarke, he sets the Eden Tree, the only sapling saved from the planet prior to the Exodus, on fire to be sent to Earth with her. He is the only one who is truly aware of the problems with the resources on the Colony.

Bellamy's mother gave birth to her second child when he was six years old. His mother became paranoid as Octavia grew bigger as having a second child was forbidden and would lead to her own execution. When Octavia was found, both she and Bellamy were sent to the Care Center for orphans. Octavia is arrested for stealing pills to help her sleep although her brother believes it was for stealing food for smaller children. After hearing that the 100, including his sister, would be sent to Earth, Bellamy fights his way onto the launch ship accidentally shooting Chancellor Jaha in the process. On earth, Octavia steals the medicine box that Clarke needs to save Thalia, dying of blood poisoning from a wood. Once she confesses her crime, Graham wishes for her to be executed but Wells convinces the others to banish Octavia and Bellamy. However, before they can be actually banished, the encampment goes up in flames.

Glass is a seventeen-year-old Phoenician resident, best friend of Wells Jaha. She fell in love with a Waldenite, Luke. Given that Walden is the poorest station on the Colony, their love was forbidden. Through various flashback, we find out the reason behind her arrest: an unwarranted pregnancy. She loses the baby during her arrest. While in jail, Luke had no idea she was interned. During the commotion created by Bellamy's attempt to get on the launch ship, Glass succeeds in escaping. She returns to Luke and later to her mother. Due to her mother convincing Vice Chancellor Rhodes, Glass is pardoned for her crimes but soon comes to realize the dire situation the Colony actually is in. The first book ends with Glass' fate unclear as Walden is suddenly shut off from Phoenix due to a lack of oxygen with Glass inside.

The book ends with a fire ravishing the Delinquents' camp. Thalia dies in the flame. Bellamy realizes that Octavia has gone missing right before the fire occurred. Clarke and Bellamy set out to find her. In the camp, Asher is suddenly hit by an arrow. The 100 realize they are not alone.

Editions
The novel has been published in multiple editions in hardcover, paperback, e-book, and audiobook form. The English audiobook is narrated by Phoebe Strole.

Notes and Trivia

 * The 100, by Kass Morgan Reached #13 in the New York Times Best Sellers list for the category Young Adult, the week of April 06, 2014.

TV vs Book:
 * Only Clarke, Wells, Bellamy, Octavia, and their parents appear in both series.
 * Wells' father is the Chancellor in both series.
 * In the books, Clarke's parents, Mary and David, are scientists. In the TV series, her mother, Abby, is the Chief Medical Officer and her father, Jake, is the Senior Environmental Engineer.
 * Bellamy's and Octavia's mother is named Melinda in the books, but named Aurora in the TV series.
 * In the TV series, the space station is called the Ark. In the books, it is called the Colony.
 * In the TV series, Ark residents had been living in space for 97 years, but in the books, the Colony residents had been in space for approximately three hundred years.
 * In the books, the people born on Earth are called Earthborns, whereas they are called Grounders in the TV series.
 * The plot of the novel is different from the one in the TV series.
 * In the TV series, Jake Griffin is executed for wanting to warn everyone about the air leak. In the novels, both of Clarke's parents are arrested and supposedly executed for conducting radiation experiments on unregistered children. In both series, Clarke is arrested for knowledge of her parents' work.
 * In both series, Wells gets himself purposefully arrested to get sent to Earth with Clarke. In the books, Wells did betray Clarke and got her family arrested, whereas the TV series shifted blame to Clarke's mother.
 * In the TV series, Octavia isn't found until she is 16. She is arrested for being a second child. In the books, Octavia is found when she is about five years old, after her and Bellamy's mother commits suicide. She is raised in the care center before being arrested for stealing drugs.
 * In the TV series the Bellamy automatically takes charge of the camp. In the novel, he only really cares about his sister and exploring the forest while hunting. Graham (similar to Murphy but raised in a wealthy family), Wells, and Clarke are the ones to take charge.
 * In the TV series, Wells and Clarke are childhood friends, whereas in the novels they did not meet until they were in their teens and were romantically involved.
 * Wells survives in the books, but he dies in the third episode of the TV series.