Customer Reviews

Silence Descends: The End of the Information Age, 2000-2500

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4 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a very interesting novel that is more in the epoch of Huxley's 'Island' than 'Brave New World.'
By identifying modern day society as a mass of people who are patronised with an unlimited variety of information, Case believes that it is this censored, genetically dictated information that has lead to a callous abolishment of human sympathy from the corporate entrepeneurs. He signifies a Nuclear attack on Volgograd in 2004 as the zenith of this lack of comprehension for mass suffering. Unable to cope with the shame of humanities afflictions he invents a further 5 centuries and predicts a conclusion that will definitely provoke some thought in you.
The main synopsis is that after a disaterous 21st century of civil wars, earthquakes and nuclear conflicts people eradicate trust in a media that can bring them information in a convenient time and dismiss it as an ideological tool of reward for the bourgoisie of tycoons that profit from it. Essentially they understand that there are no universal truths in the information they are confronted with and their disillusionment with it leads to a new consolidation of stability through an enforced utopia of a classless world.
Humanity therefore evolves into a mass of people who abolish the capricious existence of unneccesary mediums and face a 'Paradise Now' of 'The Community of Soul;' a new world wide religion that has the courage to believe in an abstract faith and not be paralysed by any duties to feel inferior to a God. Destitute of the information that was previously dictated to them without question, the people feel a true union as homo sapiens who can revisit the most beautifully primitive communication of word of mouth via teleportation. No longer are they subservient to the consumerist information that they previously had to subscribe to and no longer do they have to forge their sympathies for suffering because people tell them to. This is a utopia brought about by the calamities of a century of diabolical suffering and its explanation as to how humanity becomes a haven for a prejudice free society is quite valid.

Aesthetically this book is composed in the same way as a history documentation. More AJP Taylor than Yevgeny Zamyatin because there is definitely a mathmatical prose to the writing that may isolate some readers. It is precisely this cold hearted, unbiased prose that makes this is a good book in my opinion. It is more like a prophecy; a scrutiny of 5 centuries should not bring out the authors own bitterness, character development, avate garde syntax or anything that can be identified as contemporary fiction.
A remarkable achievement from George Case and when reading it one has the same curiosities as when one first read '1984.' Can any of these predictions come true?

Mr. Case, from his seemingly remote vantage point has apparently attempted to create some elaborate and marginally compelling historical personalities and visions of the future, however he falls sadly short of his goal.

Despite the somewhat believable landscapes and scenarios, the author's lack of practical involvement with the subject matter seems very evident. He appears to give credence to a computer age mythology promoted by manufacturers of the silicon "revolution" while supposedly debunking the whole phenomenon.

The book reads like Case had a "How to Write Novels" manual beside his typewriter. The cold and embittered attitude of an outsider is glaringly apparent - with the author's neurotic eye for elaborate detail, perhaps this would have been a better read if his manual had been "How to Write Interesting Novels". His writing denotes a cocooned "intellectual" looking out of his high rise window with disgust upon the cultureless drones but offers no alternative to that which he decries. The eventual cliche conclusion of this "textbook"; that mankind will bind together in a "community of the soul"; was a mushy, quasi-sixties anticlimax. This novel will fall onto the favourites list of a few self absorbed, pseudo-intellectuals, but anyone predisposed to accept the premise of the novel will be disappointed at the lack of story or character development. It would have been refreshing to see perhaps some dialogue or some hint of human warmth or insight on the author's part. If there had been any hint of this, the author might have actually succeeded in making his "textbook" an interesting "novel".

A truly wonderful book. I've used it in a course I teach called Person & Society, and my students loved it. This term I will use this work as a foil against another text called the 'Barbarian Manifesto.' Perhaps Mr. Case you have some of your own ideas on how you'd like your work to be read? In any event, if you ever get a chance drop me a line (micallef@smtp.munet.edu).

The bible of modern horror and a cold prediction for all possible futures. We can only hope the future is as informed, civilized and equitable as Mr.Case's vision. The poor and down trodden masses of the corporate reality have not a care for any of the information age and it's fleeting virtues.Education is rendered secondary if it becomes exclusive and the machines will have to run themselves.Information implodes into the void when comprehension is impossible and contradictory.

The kind of novel that you snuggle into a comfy chair or bed with...Before it rips your reality asunder! This is the novel of the year by one of the most important new voices in fiction. George Case is a credit to writers everywhere and a messiah of talent for the years to come, I eagerly await his next offering.

This book is now the crown jewel of my collection. I began to read it with suspicion, but soon found myself completely absorbed into the plot. Mr. Case has done an excellent job on the pacing of this novel, and the elaborate dialogue sequences are done with the florish of master. I highly recommend this brave, new work.