This Perfect Day
A modern dystopian classic that stands alongside 1984 and Brave New World, Ira Levin's This Perfect Day is a stunningly prescient work of science fiction that asks what it means to remain human in a world increasingly governed by technology and AI.
"Chip" (born Li RM35M4419) lives in a future controlled by an all-powerful global supercomputer, UniComp. In this seemingly utopian society, free from war and want, every aspect of human existence is meticulously planned and calibrated for efficiency by Uni, which guides the lives of each member of the Family--the eugenically-merged human race, who share a single language and religion, yet live under constant chemical conditioning and behavioral monitoring--long unaware that their sustenance comes at the expense of all individuality and autonomy. When Chip begins to question Uni's benevolence, he embarks on a perilous journey to reclaim his true self, and challenge Uni's rule.
Its predictions already proving unnervingly on target, This Perfect Day is a thought-provoking exploration of free will, and of who ultimately holds the reins of power. Levin's masterful storytelling and vividly imagined world make for an epic tale that's as unsettling as it is unforgettable.
This edition contains an afterword from Andrew Cartmel, renowned Doctor Who script editor and author of the Vinyl Detective crime novels.
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The genre-defining works of novelist-playwright Ira Levin (1929-2007) include such indelible titles as Rosemary's Baby, The Stepford Wives, The Boys from Brazil, and Deathtrap--the fifth longest-running play in Broadway history. At home in nearly every genre--horror (Rosemary's Baby), crime (Edgar-winning A Kiss Before Dying), science fiction (This Perfect Day), comedy (No Time For Sergeants), even a Broadway musical (Drat! The Cat!)--Levin's enduring works continue to resonate with readers and audiences, serving as iconic cultural and creative touchstones. Learn more at Levin's official website, IraLevin.org.
Andrew Cartmel is a British author, journalist, and former script editor of Doctor Who. He has also worked as a script editor on other television series, a magazine editor, a comics writer, and a novelist.
"A futuristic nightmare."
-- "New York Times""Ira Levin's Brave New World."
-- "New York Times Book Review""The same riveting directness that made Rosemary's Baby a terrifying reality."
-- "Los Angeles Herald Examiner""Will make the hairs on your neck rise up and tremble."
-- "Cleveland Plain Dealer""Marvelously entertaining. A cross between Brave New World and Doctor Who."
-- "Look magazine""The excitement never falters."
-- "Publishers Weekly""Outshines Orwell's 1984."
-- "Book Week""A superb tale of a future where artificial intelligence rules."
-- "Mal Warwick on Books""In my view, This Perfect Day outshines Huxley's Brave New World and Orwell's great 1984 in a number of ways. First of all, in the greater political and cultural perspicacity...Secondly, Levin's is superior...in all the elements of novel-building: in plot, stylistic virtuosity, and characterization."
-- "Ralph Raico, founder of the New Individualist Review""An exceptionally serious contribution to the analysis of our own world."
-- "Dimensions""Ira Levin must have built an actual time machine and moved to 2020, where he rented an apartment and wrote the manuscript for This Perfect Day with one eye on cable news. There can be no other possible explanation."
-- "GeekyDomain.com"
