santhoshkoneru

** spoiler alert ** This is one of my favorite books. It is a fantastically-told tale of spiritual malaise in a hedonistic utopia. In a idealized, futuristic world, humans live in cities under fabulous domes where robots cater to their needs. Adolescence in the domed cities typically lasts for half a century, or more, and the life of a single individual might span centuries, until the soul becomes weary of living and voluntarily requests "personality dissolution," which is not even death, but a kind of deferred reincarnation. Young people in this world are encouraged to indulge in all manner of hedonistic activities, and even suicide is mostly recreational, as new bodies are routinely custom-made for everyone. Gender can be changed on a whim, and it is not unusual for inhabitants of the cities to request bodies with wings, or fur, or bodies monstrous in appearance. In this world, senses can be distorted for pleasure, dreams can be ordered up, and work is virtually non-existent. This book tells the story of a young girl who has every experience, and every object she could ever desire - and who is profoundly unsatisfied. She begins her quest for meaning by denying that pleasure and safety are the goals of life, moves on to breaking the taboos of her culture, and ends up leaving the magnificent life of the cities behind for good. Her life as a member of a community of exiles in the desert is harsh and terrifying at times, but it is also filled with meaning and deeper joys than the ones she knew before. The book ends on an optimistic note, with the human spirit asserting itself against the protectionist and machine forces which seek to oppress it - by which I mean all those busybody, paternalistic robots that make up the city's "Committee." Thought-provoking, entertaining and highly recommended.

2022-10-02 04:40