The Jagged Orbit by John Brunner – Dystopian Books Review
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Review, Synopsis, and Summary of The Science Fiction Novel The Jagged Orbit
John Brunner, a famous and well-praised author, wrote the dystopian novel titled The Jagged Orbit. This novel looks similar to his book titled Stand on Zanzibar. The publication received the Nebula Award for best novel and BSFA Award in 1969 and 1970, respectively.
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Author: John Brunner
Genre: Science fiction, Dystopian Fiction
Pages: 400
Good reads rating: 3.74 of 5
My Ratings: 7.2 of 10
Published: 1969
Publisher: Ace Books
Language: English
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Review and Summary of The Science Fiction Novel The Jagged Orbit
***Warning Spoilers Below This Point***
The novel set in the future describes the occurrences of racism and discrimination. The white people became known as “blanks” and the non-whites received the title “kneeblanks”. The kneeblanks own territories in which the blank’s government comprise no power.
The national governments no longer hold access to any economic status and the entire world is in a war state. There are no rules or regulations. Religions cannot influence society and people turn to drugs, psychics, psychotherapists, and superstitious, gullible cults.
In these conditions, a mafia gang named Gottschalks concern only about their business by selling weapons to anyone who can pay the price. This unlicensed uncontrolled effortless availability of weapons make the conditions worse by taking the world toward mortality. They confine people to their homes, communicating only through computerised voice notes and emails. Trespassing and illegal interloping became common. Anyone has the power to dominate or abduct other people from their homes without being arrested for it.
In these circumstances, the novel revolves around certain characters named Matthew Flamen. He is a journalist and struggles to bring down the wrongdoers. Harry Madison, an ex-soldier at the kneeblank territories, receives treatment by an authentic psychiatrist Dr James Redeeth at the Ginsberg mental asylum. A woman named Lyla Clay possess psychic powers and take drugs and medications to read people’s mind.
Pedro Diablo becomes expelled from the kneeblank territories after he struggled to achieve a full kneeblanks status. Pedro and Xavier Conroy meet with Flamen and fight against the riots and discriminations. A mafia member, Anthony Gottschalk has his own evil plans regarding his business empire and works on fashioning a “Robot”.
Final Say on the Science Fiction Novel The Jagged Orbit
Brunner again achieved success by writing about wartime influences, and the manner in which society reacts to it. The author attempted to highlight aspects of working together by investing in love and harmony. This novel receives a 7.2 out of 10 ratings. Would I re-read the novel? No. Am I glad I read it? Yes.
For The Latest Price: The Jagged Orbit
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