Customer Reviews

Mallcity14

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This is a book everyone should read and is the first instalment of what Saunders' hints could be the beginning of an exciting series.

Saunders' novel is purposely structured on a number of levels. Set in the "not to distant future", Saunders depicts the story of the coming of age of a teenage boy, who, after becoming frustrated with being forced to conform to the accepted way of life, leaves it all behind for the sanctuary of a village free from the burdens of modern consumerism. In the process he finds his first true love, gains an understanding of the world and develops a tolerance for the choices made by others.

At the higher level, the world Saunders has created is cleverly disguised as the world we live in today. Saunders criticises society's plunge into consumerism, consumption driven debt cycles, status anxiety and the emergence of "people databases" and personal tagging devices. After reading this book you begin to realise that the actions of the characters are not too dissimilar to your own, to the point where you begin to analyse and trivialise your own behaviour.

Saunders' novel not only provides a prediction of where the path of modern consumerism is leading us into the future, but leaves us with the question of who is really in control of democratic society - Governments or "the invisible hand" of the free market? Is it really that absurd to portray a society where your right to vote is determined on your ability to consumer?

I can't wait for the sequel!!!

Al Mal

This is the most refreshingly different dystopia to be released in a long time, and should be read by all interested in the genre. Unlike other dystopias, this has not one distorted society, but two - an official opposition that is being used by the lords of society.

The story starts in hyper-consumerist hyper-mercantilist Mallcity 14 where everyone is required to purchase as much as possible and go as far into debt as possible, where the only value is newness and everyone is bombarded with commercials and computer surveilance. The hero escapes during a computer glitch, and is brought to those who oppose Mallcity and the rampant consumerism.

Some will notice what may be an anti-capitalist theme to the book, never noticing that this really isn't capitalism but a distorted type of monetarism. The alternative society is communal.

As this dystopia was recently written you will notice many parallels to our current society, which is the way a dystopia is supposed to operate: extrapolation from current trends. That will be quite a refreshing change from 1984 or Brave New World.

I don't normally read books of this type, but a friend suggested I have a look at this one. I'm very glad that I did.

In Mallcity 14, Shaun Saunders paints a picture of life on earth as it might be ... soon! In some ways very frightening and in others very enlightening. Frightening because Saunders shows what can ultimately happen with the end result of today's technological advances. And it's the insidious way that these things are slowly taking over our lives that's also quite scary - implanted chips in people, video surveillance and even thought transference! Enlightening because it shows how we can prevent the ultimate big brother society from happening.

I also liked his underlying (well overt, actually) dig at our consumerism driven society with his Bureau of Consumer Confidence, where everything must be bought. Where will it end? Saunders' story of rebellion, told through the eyes of a teenage boy, provides some possible answers.

This book could have quite easily been another doomsday purveyor. But Saunders with his fluid writing style, great sense of humour and ability to paint vivid, humane pictures, turns this book into an exciting future journey. A journey that you and I are already on and one that you should find out more about.

Highly recommended.

Bob Selden, author What To Do When You Become The Boss: How new managers become successful managers

First, a disclaimer: Mr. Saunders and I are both featured in Brian O'Leary's most recent book, The Energy Solution Revolution, and we correspond frequently.

I just finished Mallcity 14. This dystopian foray can stand with those of the twentieth century, and could be considered Orwell for the new millennium. The book is short, but its plotting is deft. The theme of consumerism run amok is strangely timely, as capitalism lurches into a crisis that has not been seen for eighty years.

Dystopian novels are not intended to be fun reading experiences, but unlike Winston Smith's coming to love Big Brother, Mallcity 14 ends on a note of hope, and I put it down not with the shudder that accompanied finishing 1984, but with a smile.

At first glance you think, well all well and good, Animal Farm type humor. Bit of a good warning but really can't happen now can it. Then it comes to you all of the adverts you sit though before you get to the movie you paid for or the amount of "ads" you get on public TV! At first I am thinking this can't really happen...then OMG it already is! Look at what happens when you don't have a credit rating! Saunder's vision is more than just an over the top cautionary tale...