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Summary: Futuristic Novel Examines World Without Children
Review: Often the appeal of science fiction lies in the genre's ability to extrapolate from the trends of the present and project them into the future. One novel exemplifying this tendency is "The Children Of Men" by P.D. James. In "The Children Of Men", the reader finds a world where the population has become inexplicably infertile and must deal with the stresses of a dwindling population and the psychological angst that results when many realize what's the point of life if it will come to a screeching halt in a scant generation. Such a milieu is explored through the eyes of Oxford Historian Theodore Faron who becomes a reluctant intermediary between a group of bumbling, idealistic revolutionaries and the dictatorial Warden of England who happens to be Theodore's cousin. The group starts out with the goal of enacting needed reforms such as better treatment of migrant workers known as Sojourners and restoring order to an out-of-control penal colony on the Isle of Man where the inmates --- some not as criminal as the general population is led to believe --- are left to fend for themselves. However, as the story unfolds a matter of greater urgency comes to the forefront of the plot, namely that a couple within the cell has been able to conceive a child. "The Children Of Men" is not the most riveting example of the dystopian police state novel. It often gets bogged in the details of the personal experiences, emotions, and perceptions of its protagonist Theodore Faron. Yet at times the book provides glimpses into a morally eerie world where the outrages of our own day are allowed to fester to ghastly proportions. For example, the elderly are encouraged to commit ritualized suicide in a ceremony called the "Quietus", which Theo discovers is not quite so voluntary for those trying to back out at the last minute. Since people no longer have children, they instead lavish their nurturing affections on pets, even having their kittens christened at formalized baptisms. Those born into the last generation are given free reign and little moral instruction --- as such they are self-absorbed to the point of arrogance and even murder. Of particular interest is the frequent mention of religion made throughout the novel. Two of the revolutionaries are motivated by Christian beliefs. However, others hide behind the cloak of aberrant faith as a scam to enrich themselves personally. "Roaring Roger" is a fire-and-brimstone televangelist preaching that the global infertility is God's judgment while playing on guilt and fear to finance his own lavish lifestyle. Rosie McClure is more broadminded in her religious views, but so much so her brain roles right out as she preaches a gospel of nonjudgmental hedonism. The Church of England is characterized as "no longer with a common doctrine or common liturgy, [and] so fragmented that there was no knowing what some sects might have come to believe." One just wishes Ms. James had spent as much time in such socio-clerical exposition as she did in embroidering the extraneously tedious background details of Professor Faron's psyche. The political situation described in "The Children Of Men" serves as a cautionary tale where our own institutions are headed if we are not careful. In most speculative narratives dealing with one form of totalitarianism or the other, the regimes under consideration often lord over the masses with brutality. In "The Children Of Men", however, the Warden's regime is rather genteel as far as dictatorships go if you happen to be a good little citizen and not to stir up offense. But then again, most of the citizens don't cause much trouble anyway since most have lost interest in political participation and the Warden is careful to maintain illusions of democracy. Of this society very much like our own, one is reminded of Francis Schaeffer's warnings in "A Christian Manifesto" about comfort and affluence becoming the organizing principles in a political system where higher truths such as freedom and self-reliance are increasingly seen as impediments to rather than a necessity of just government and good order.
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Summary: A Disappointment
Review: A Disappointment. P. D. James delivers a fascinating premise -- a near future in which the human race has become infertile and is going extinct. And she goes nowhere with it. It would be nice to see her go in a standard Science Fiction direction, exploring the psychological, sociological, and political implications of this change. (And she does some of this, and does it well. But it's not nearly enough.) If she didn't like the standard route, she could have used the premise as a backdrop for exploring character. She doesn't. I barely remember who the characters were or why they did what they did. Add to all this a trite and abrupt ending. It distresses me whenever a book like this comes along -- amazing concept but poor execution. All I can think is, now no one will ever do it RIGHT.
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Summary: Yawn!
Review: A good book if you like to be aware of an author using lots of uncommon words when an ordinary one will do. Good for vocabulary expansion. Story - Ha ha! Don't bother! At one point the book had me turning pages fast and reading with real interest, but that was it! The edition I read had a review on the back "A most tender love story" Where? Characters did not come over well especially towards the end of the book. It did seem good at the beginning as far as the ideas of a story go, but it feels as though the author is fast running out of both ideas and interest by the end. I only read this book because I was bored and there was nothing else to do. That's the only time I would recommend you to pick it up. If your interested, go and get a copy from the library, but save your hard-earned for something else!
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Summary: A grim dystopia
Review: Dame Phyllis has deceived many into believing she was continuing in her normal genre, mystery. .... This is not a mystery novel, though it has suspense. (So did the Odyssey!) Another error is to assume it is science fiction and is so regarded by those who classify C. S. Lewis as a sci-fi writer. What we do have is a grim dystopia, almost apocalyptic, with overt religious underpinnings. Most of the plot gives a futuristic rendering of the Nativity story--e.g., a woodshed for a manger. At the end Dame Phyllis resonates with the Lord of the Ring, the corrupting power of a symbol. I would fault the work only because the parallels to the Gospels and Tolkien's work seem too overt. By the way, she also deceives some about her gender. ...
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Summary: richly symbolic, lyrical & philosohic, a worthwhile parable
Review: don't miss the great play on spirituality paralleled by story action in this wonderful book which blurs the lines between action thriller, spiritual examination and social critique. It has also a hint of Orwellian insight into the tension and counterplay between faith and science.
This is a compelling tale. A parable
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Summary: What if everyone became infertile?
Review: Great premise! The year is 2021, and not a single child has been born anywhere on earth since 1995. No one can figure out what's happened or how to fix it. I like James's writing style, and I really liked the first half of the book, spinning out the individual and societal consequences, mainly in England, of the end of human procreation and the impending end of our species. But then James throws in an odd twist, and the second half of the book seemed like it belonged to a slightly different novel, one that I didn't like nearly as well. Also, I was distracted and confused by the shifts between first-person and third-person narration. Despite feeling a bit disappointed, I did enjoy the novel and would recommend it.
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Summary: I'm surprised at everyone's disappointment.
Review: I am extremely surprised had how everyone seems to view this book as dissappointing. I have never read another novel of P.D. James, so I can't compare it to her other works. Yet, I found the novel to be eye opening and thought provoking. It was written in a very real and poetic manner. I was fascinated at how a society could be so conforming to the thoughts of others and it made me think of how are society isn't too far off. This was a very interesting and special novel.
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Summary: Good story, but unsurprising ending
Review: I enjoyed the premise behind this story. I was somewhat disappointed by what I thought was the "easy out" ending the author chose, rather than leaving her readers with a less optimistic, but perhaps more emotionally significant, ending.
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Summary: An intriguiguing and excellent foray into sci-fi ala CSLewis
Review: I read the book just a little over a year ago after hearing an interview with James on the Mars Hill Tapes. I think a couple of things should be kept in mind when reading this book. First of all, I didn't find it slow starting at all (I have no way to compare it to her other works, not having read any other of them.), but rather found it to be quick-paced and very intense. Secondly, there is a lot here for one to pick up on if you simply look past the sometimes over-indulgent descriptions. What might society become in the absence of a hope for the future? What sort of ways would society react as it faces certain extinction? James' story gives us a glimpse. Strange rituals, psychotic groupthink, totalitarianism. How would we react to the good news that our crisis is over with the birth of just one child? What would the road back look like? The suspense in the book would make a good Clancy-like movie. There's more than meets the eye in this very insightful, thought-provoking story. "Take up and read!"
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Summary: Excellent change of pace for James
Review: I've read everything James has written except for 2 novels which I intend to read next and can honestly say that this is probably my favorite to-date. I felt like I was with the Fishes on their trek and felt distressed when they faced hardships. I especially enjoyed Miriam as a supporting character. The novel, like so many other PD James novels moved very quickly, especially the last 100 pages or so. I literally could not put it down! All I can say is well done and please write more Sci-Fi soon!
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