Thomas M. Disch Resident Scholar Profiles
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| Review Summary |
This book is a recent adaptation of the old TV series, and uses several episodes as its plotlines. A member of the British Intelligence Services decides to "retire", taking with him certain valuable information. Someone doesn't want him doing this, and he is drugged and taken to a place known only as the Village.
Unlike the TV version this Village has a train station with tracks, and our hero, now known only as Number Six, tries to walk away. He is herded back to the Village by large inflatable Guardians..they're more dangerous than they sound. A number of tricks are attempted to break Number 6's spirit..among them, a mirror-image double named Number 12 is introduced to make him question his own identity and memories. Several other citizens of the Village..maybe fellow prisoners, maybe not..are used to pump him for information. He resists.
An escape attempt is made, using a makeshift shell to protect himself from the Guardians. Number Two, the visible Leader of the Village, follows him all the way via Rover, a remote controlled version of the Guardians.
He succeeds in reaching London, but no one knows anything and he can find no one familiar.
As it happens, most of Number Six's experiences have been manufactured in a sensory deprivation tank, with laser-imprinted memories and other high tech methods not available when the TV show ran.
Their last resort: introducing Liora, a woman who may have been his lover on the Outside. She remembers nothing of Number Six, however. They engage in a long debate about memory and identity.
Finally it is announced that Number Six has been promoted to Number Two, having endured a pain/pleasure indoctrination technique to ensure his loyalty.
He acts the part perfectly, even though the Doctor, Number 14, disconnected the pain/pleasure devices out of professed love.
tiepilot912, Resident Scholar
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 50%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10%
Tone of book
- cynical or dry-wit
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- science fiction story
Spying & Investigations
Yes
What is main char. doing?
- rescue mission/escape from confinement
Repressive society story
Yes
Repressive because:
- controls your mind
- strict rationing of freedoms/goods
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Who's a slave/repressed?
- humans are slaves of other humans
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- spy
Age:
- 20's-30's
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- an organization
Profession/status:
- mastermind
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- throughout most of the book.
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Setting
Earth setting:
- 20th century
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only)
- none/very little science jargon needed
How much dialogue?
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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