Truth Machine [Mass Market Paperback]

James Halperin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 29, 1997

Prepare to have your conception of truth rocked to its very foundation.

It is the year 2004. Violent crime is the number one political issue in America. Now, the Swift and Sure Anti-Crime Bill guarantees a previously convicted violent criminal one fair trial, one quick appeal, then immediate execution. To prevent abuse of the law, a machine must be built that detects lies with 100 percent accuracy.

Once perfected, the Truth Machine will change the face of the world. Yet the race to finish the Truth Machine forces one man to commit a shocking act of treachery, burdening him with a dark secret that collides with everything he believes in. Now he must conceal the truth from his own creation . . . or face his execution.

By turns optimistic and chilling--and always profound--The Truth Machine is nothing less than a history of the future, a spellbinding chronicle that resonates with insight, wisdom . . . and astounding possibility.

"PROFOUND."
--Associated Press

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Imagine a world in which no one can lie. Now try to imagine the consequences. Halperin has written this generation's 1984, and rarely have our customers praised a book more highly. (Click on the title, and find out what they have to say ... assuming they are telling the truth!) And only time will tell whether Halperin's book is speculative fiction, or inverse history. Very Highly Recommended. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly

What would the world be like if scientists developed the perfect lie detector? How would it change our criminal justice system? Psychiatric practice? International diplomacy? In his first novel, Halperin argues that such an invention could lead humanity into an era of unequaled prosperity, one in which crime is virtually unknown and true democracy is possible. A professional numismatist and a member of the World Future Society, Halperin is a relatively unskilled novelist. His prose is at best workmanlike, and his plotting and character development tend toward the simplistic. Nearly all of his major characters, from millionaire-genius protagonist Pete Armstrong on down, seem to be either the smartest, the richest, the most respected or the most influential people in the world. The traditional qualities of fiction are apparently of only secondary interest to the author, however. As a futurist, Halperin seems primarily concerned with suggesting innovations and then working out their implications over half a century. Heavily didactic, but supporting positions across the political spectrum, the book argues in favor of mandatory capital punishment for certain crimes, the privatization of schools, strict limits on insurance settlements, the elimination of the FAA, the legalization of assisted suicide, parental licensing and the establishment of a world government. Although crude from a literary point of view, Halperin's novel is not without strengths. His speculations about the next 50 years are fascinating, and the consequences of the truth machine are well worked out. In the final analysis, it's hard to believe that Halperin's near-utopian future could be so easily attained, but it would be nice to live there. 150,000 first printing; six-figure ad/promo; author tour; U.K. rights sold.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey; Reprint edition (June 29, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345412885
• ISBN-13: 978-0345412881
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (312 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #316,406 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Futuristic novel of epic scale, January 29, 2004

By 

Patrick L. Randall (Silver Spring, MD) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Truth Machine (Mass Market Paperback)

James Halperin's debut science fiction novel, "The Truth Machine", is an amazing achievement. It is a story so grand and sweeping in its scale that it gives Clarke's "Childhood's End" and Haldeman's "Forever War" strong competition for the greatest novel written about Earth's future. What sets it apart from those two books, though, is how it only requires a leap of faith regarding scientific advances to imagining the future "The Truth Machine" realizes, as opposed to alien intervention affecting the futures in the "Childhood's End" and "Forever War". The author, Halperin, is Harvard educated posits fascinating theories about perilous future of Earth and how the events in this book helped avoid it.

"The Truth Machine" has been termed "'1984' for our generation". While there are similarities, each book takes a decidedly different view of people having absolute knowledge and no privacy. "1984" is about how the government controls the populace through the use of `big brother', a system with which none of the country's citizens are safe from government surveillance and manipulation. This dark view is contrasted dramatically by Halperin's much more positive view of full disclosure and the methods of achieving it.

"The Truth Machine" primarily focuses on the life story of Randall Peterson "Pete" Armstrong, a child prodigy with total recall memory, whose entire life's outlook has been defined the tragic murder of his younger brother, Leonard, by an ex-convict who was believed to be capable of committing violent crimes again, but could not be imprisoned any longer under the current law structure. Pete is committed to making a difference for humanity that will atone for his brother's death and help millions of others, too. In his first year at Harvard (at just age 13!), Pete is recruited to enroll in a small, but exclusive, class of the brightest and most agile students on campus. In that class, he meets people and establishes friendships that will further his identity. It is there that the idea of a `truth machine' is conceived and Pete realizes that its existence is possible and that he could do it. The `truth machine' would be a mechanism that would be 100% accurate in determining if a person was lying or telling the truth. It could help eliminate crime and dishonesty in general. As long as it is employed universally (and not just by government officials), the `truth machine' could revolutionize humanity and take it to that next evolutionary step which would help it avert its coming self-destruction.

The premise is fascinating and, had it just focused on the development and application of the `truth machine', this would have been a very solid book. However, "The Truth Machine" achieves transcendence by becoming a social history of our future. Over 60 years of time and events are covered in this novel. Halperin realizes that the company Pete established to design the `truth machine', Armstrong Technologies Inc. (ATI), will have to produce other products in order to keep functioning during the two decade quest to develop its premier product. Halperin skillfully depicts the formative years of ATI, its development, and the development and growth of the principle people involved. Halperin also frames each of the story's events masterfully by beginning each chapter with a brief synopsis of world events at that particular point in time. It enables the reader to put this future into a proper context and understand the urgency and importance that creating the `truth machine' possesses.

What would the impact of such a machine be? Halperin makes that case that it will help usher the world into period of unprecedented peace and prosperity. The future is too variable to predict, but dangers and benefits of the future put forth in "The Truth Machine" are dealt with equally and fairly. This vision for the future is a remarkable and inspiring one and the journey to get there is rich and full. Few books are as satisfying.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought fertilizer, January 10, 2000

By 

Ryan Grove (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Truth Machine (Mass Market Paperback)

This book is my favorite type of speculative fiction. It's a story about something that completely changes the way the world works. All the variables are redefined, and the characters are forced to adjust accordingly. Books of this nature always seem to be the ones I enjoy most -- perhaps because I love the thoughts they spawn and the philosophies they help me to form. Before reading _The Truth Machine_, I was awestruck by two other novels, _Replay_ by Ken Grimwood, and _Jumper_ by Steven Gould. Coincidentally, all three of these novels were written by first-time authors, just like James Halperin.

Character development in books of this type is one of the most important elements, and I was very pleased that even though there are quite a few major characters in _The Truth Machine_, Halperin managed to develop each one in great detail. I was able to anticipate and understand the thoughts and actions of the characters, which is a certain indicator that they were very well-developed.

I also found the writing style to be very enjoyable. One of the reviews here criticized the style, although I can't quite see why. I found it to be an excellent balance between ease of reading and complexity of the ideas expressed. The computer's narration and the occasional footnotes made it even more enjoyable.

In terms of plot, I couldn't have been more pleased. The plot was very solid and moved fast enough to keep me interested, yet slow enough that all the interesting details were relayed. I was even more impressed with the predictions however, as I'll bet many people are. Excepting a few minor cases that I'd disagree with merely because I tend to be slightly more of a pessimist than an optimist, the predictions, and even the dates, seemed so realistic that I almost found myself thinking that this book was, in fact, an actual historical document.

Like the other two books I mentioned, _The Truth Machine_ has provided me with truckloads of thought fertilizer, and I honestly believe (no pun!) that I will think about life somewhat differently now that I've read it. Even now, I find myself analyzing my words to make sure I'm being as truthful as possible in relating my opinions of the book! I think I've been completely honest, but an ACIP probably wouldn't hurt things. ;)

I'll be taking a few nights off for some much-needed rest, and then I'll start on _The First Immortal_ right away. I can't wait to see what *it* does to my thoughts.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Void, September 12, 2001

By 

Rodrigo Llamozas (the last cubicle at the end of the hall...) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Truth Machine (Mass Market Paperback)

What could have been a great, great book ended up as a major dissapointment. The concept that Halperin explores is quite interesting -- that of a truth machine that binds everybody to not lie -- but, as other reviewers have stated, the environment he creates around that concept seems unrealistic and bland at best.
None of the characters are really likeable, and what may be worse, none are hateable either, so they never really catch your interest.
At the end I was left with a void, as if of a promise unfulfilled...