This Perfect Day: A Novel [Paperback]

Ira Levin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 2010

By the author of Rosemary‘s Baby, a horrifying journey into a future only Ira Levin could imagine.

Considered one of the great dystopian novels—alongside Anthony Burgess's A Clockwork Orange and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World—Ira Levin's frightening glimpse into the future continues to fascinate readers even forty years after publication.

The story is set in a seemingly perfect global society. Uniformity is the defining feature; there is only one language and all ethnic groups have been eugenically merged into one race called “The Family.“ The world is ruled by a central computer called UniComp that has been programmed to keep every single human on the surface of the earth in check. People are continually drugged by means of regular injections so that they can never realize their potential as human beings, but will remain satisfied and cooperative. They are told where to live, when to eat, whom to marry, when to reproduce. even the basic facts of nature are subject to the UniComp's will—men do not grow facial hair, women do not develop breasts, and it only rains at night.

With a vision as frightening as any in the history of the science fiction genre, This Perfect Day is one of Ira Levin`s most haunting novels.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ira Levin is the author of The Boys from Brazil, Rosemary’s Baby, Son of Rosemary, The Stepford Wives, This Perfect Day, Sliver, and A Kiss Before Dying (for which he won the Edgar Award). Levin was also the recipient of three Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe Awards. His website is iralevin.org.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Pegasus (November 15, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 160598129X
• ISBN-13: 978-1605981291
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (180 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #137,563 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

70 of 71 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Levin tale of a strange future August 21, 2002

By Gary M. Greenbaum

Format:Mass Market Paperback

This underrated cult classic tells us of a future where there is no "selfishness, aggressiveness, or greed" Each is given what he needs, each gives all he can. And all this is enforced by monthly injections or "treatments", and administered by a worldwide computer called Uni.

Our hero, Chip, is born into this culture. But in childhood, he is influenced by his strange (by their standards) grandfather, who dies at at about the same age that everyone seems to, and as an adult, comes under the influence of a group of mild rebels. But Chip seeks more. And exactly why does a map in a historical museum show islands not shown on current world maps?

A fine book, which grapples with the questions of life, liberty, and self-will, and leaves you to find your own answer at the end. Highly recommended.

63 of 67 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This Perfect Day by Ira Levin January 24, 2006

By Marci

Format:Hardcover

At age 58 I cannot remember when I first read this book. It's not that I am losing my mind, but it was that long ago. I have haunted used book stores, flea markets and online, and have bought several hard backs and soft backs so that I am not without a copy of this book (Does this ring of the movie "Conspiracy Theory and the Catcher in the Rye"). I also shared this book with my daughter who is not as much a reader as I am and she loved it too. I cannot understand why this book has not been brought back into print, used as mandatory reading in school and also perhaps made into a movie. Ira Levin has had other books made into movies. I am not going review the story but is there anyone out there who wants it not to end when it does? I have read this book once a year for years and like a small child, keep thinking something will click and I will see whether life on the Island will improve once Chip returns...how will the untreated survive... Also I think that Chip and others due to small differences than the norm are more liable to rebel and this is what the powers that be (Programers, is that what they call themselves...hmmm) were watching for.

As a child I was a science fiction freak and I still love it if I can find a good futuristic society book such as "Beggers In Spain" and now I am a Stephen King/horror/mystery freak. But what can I say, ask me what my favorite book is and it will always be, THIS PERFECT DAY!!!

112 of 136 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "Christ, Marx, Wood and Wei / Led us to this perfect day." March 30, 2001

By John S. Ryan

Format:Hardcover

How can this book possibly be out of print?

For anyone who hasn't read it yet: it belongs alongside _A Clockwork Orange_ among the great literary portrayals of individualism-vs.-collectivism. (I've never been much of a fan of either _1984_ or _Brave New World_, which are usually listed as the top two. And Ayn Rand's annoying novella _Anthem_ is just . . . well, annoying.)

It is the tale of a lad named Chip, in a future world in which the great socialist dream has finally been realized. Preferring one person to another is a sign of social maladjustment. "Fight" is a dirty word; "f**k" is just the usual term for an activity no more important than sleeping or urination. Everyone is told what to do by "Uni," the great computer that organizes society and keeps track of everyone's location via electronic bracelet. (And one of the dirtiest, most maladjusted and antisocial expressions anyone can utter is "Fight Uni.")

There is, in short, no more "juice": all the oranges are clockwork now. Until . . . ah, but that would spoil things, wouldn't it?

So ATLAS SHRUGGED is still chugging along on the best-seller lists, turning unwitting victims into narcissistic misunderstood geniuses -- but this brilliant novel is out of print. What's wrong with this picture?

I'm sure glad I still have my old hardcover copy.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Immensely underrated September 9, 2003

By Avery Morrow

Format:Hardcover

I have a trio of excellent dystopian books which can never stay on my bookshelf very long. They are the eugenic dystopia of /Brave New World/, the psychological dystopia of /1984/, and the technological dystopia of /This Perfect Day/.

Why, I wonder, is the final one of these out-of-print and forgotten, unlike its two companions? It can't be the sex scenes, because all three books have them. It can't be the writing style, because /This Perfect Day/ is at least on par with /Brave New World/ (although nowhere near Orwell's perfection). It must simply be the fact that the idea had already been done twice before, which is a shame.

Ira Levin puts a great new spin on the already defined genre; exactly three times I thought the book was finished, only to turn the page and find that the adventure continues on. Unlike the brutal justice of the other two, /This Perfect Day/ comes up with a logical, humane, and easier solution to discard the aberrant members of its society.

This book deserves more publicity, and one day it might get it. Buy it now while it's still cheap.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly Perfect September 16, 2003

By P. Smy

Format:Hardcover

I found this book in a box at a used book shop while travelling. It is so engrossing, so completely perfect at creating its world...I was shocked. I've never read Levin before.
If you want an incredible SF read with more than a hint of social commentary and a plot that is pure page-turning power...get this book.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible... terrifying. March 5, 2004

By T.G.

Format:Hardcover

"This Perfect Day" is one of my all time favorite science fiction stories -- it's a shame it seems to be out of print.

The book is about a world where everyone is genetically engineered to be as similar as possible, the "global village" has been realized in its entirety, and the world is run by computer. People get "treatments" regularly (injected medications) designed to even their moods and make them conform to societal norms.

In a world where we drug our kids for "ADHD" and political correctness and sameness are celebrated, this story remains very prophetic indeed. Levin doesn't make a single misstep here. It's utterly terrifying, because this is the way the world is headed. If you can find the book, please get it and read it.

P.S. at least one review claims the book is about "the great socialist dream" or a socialist society. In my opinion this is unfair, as the society portrayed in this story is far to the left of socialism -- really, it's communism/marxism being portrayed here.