Ira Marvin Levin, an American novelist, written exceptional and interesting books which even opted for a film. “This Perfect Day”, a science fiction novel is one of his two novels and used as part of movie productions. Levin won a Prometheus Award in 1992 for this novel.
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Author: Ira Levin
Genre: Science fiction, Dystopian fiction
Pages: 368
Good reads rating: 4.02 of 5
My Ratings: 8 of 10
Published: 1970
Publisher: Random House
Language: English
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***Warning Spoilers Below This Point***
The dystopian world created by Levin in his book describes control and management by a computer called the UniComp. This computer is designed and programmed by a person named Wei Li Chun who with his toxic mindset of unification creates a world of eugenically transformed people. Also, being genetically same and speaking one language, they receive the name “The Family”. This computer design contains all the information and data of every single person and controls them.
People experience continuous drug injections that influence their thinking and emotions, for example, anesthetizing their brains and minds. So they will remain satisfied and Co-operative members of The Family. Everyone receives an assignment by their own counsellor, who looks upon them and guides them. Everyone also receives a numbered code that allows the authorities to distinct them from each other. Every person wears a coded bracelet which the UniComp uses to control their movements. Besides the people, they also aim to control the environment.
The programmers of UniComp are long-lived people residing in an underground place and leads a luxurious life. They are only workers and selected based on merit. They cannot program UniComp, only Wei can. Wei remains immortal by transplanting his brain in a young body.
The story revolves around a boy named LiRM35M4419 nicknamed “Chip” by his grandfather, who was a rebel of this UniComp-world. A genetic error resulted in Chip having one green eye. His grandfather encouraged him to go against this weird world. But Chip remains misguided by his counsellor and manipulated to follow the same line as others.
Chip’s mind forces him to do violations. People who also experience physical differences noticed Chip and taught him how to avoid his medications. It allows him to think clearer. They together discovered some old maps indicating other islands where many people like them escaped. Unfortunately, the programmers caught them and, King decided to kill himself.
As the story proceeds, something went wrong with Chip’s medications. Chip took advantage of this situation, kidnaps Lilac, and manages to escape to the island. They met other people who also escaped but came to know that these islands form part of an UniComp trap. This created a rebellious power in Chip. Chip along with other rebellions planned to destroy UniComp.
As they returned to their main-land, one of their companions who was actually a programmer betrayed them. Held at gunpoint, they became forced to join the programmers’ secret land. Chip wanted to earn Wei’s trust and started working there as one of them. A day arrived when Chip defeats Wei and destroy the Unicomp.
The story remained exceptionally interesting and offers a combination of technology and human nature in the shape of Wei. This book makes the reader think about life and I decided to rate this novel an 8 out of 10. Would I re-read this? No. Am I glad I read it? Yes.
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