by John Brunner
First published 1978
Norman Niblock House advances through the executive ranks at General Technics, a corporate giant preparing to seize control of an African nation. His roommate Donald Hogan appears to be nothing more than a quiet scholar, but he secretly works as a spy. When Hogan uncovers a major genetic engineering discovery, the knowledge threatens his life. Their intertwined stories unfold in a world where billions of people crowd together in oppressive conditions. Mega computers control society while mass-produced psychedelic drugs and routine genetic manipulation shape daily existence. The corporate powers that employ Norman wield influence that extends far beyond business into political domination. As both men navigate this overcrowded reality, their separate missions converge toward consequences that will reshape their world. Brunner constructs his narrative using techniques borrowed from John Dos Passos, creating a fragmented portrait of civilization under extreme population pressure.
Genres: science-fiction, dystopia, political-thriller
Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: corporate-espionage, government-conspiracy
Setting: Zanzibar, Africa
Period: 20th-century
649 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Ballantine Books
Content warnings: drug-use, violence