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Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
In her 12th book, the British author of the two series featuring Adam Dalgleish and Cordelia Gray ( Devices and Desires and An Unsuitable Job for a Woman , respectively) poses a premise that chills and darkens its setting in the year 2021. Near the end of the 20th century, for reasons beyond the grasp of modern science, human sperm count went to zero. The last birth occurred in 1995, and in the space of a generation humanity has lost its future. In England, under the rule of an increasingly despotic Warden, the infirm are encouraged to commit group suicide, criminals are exiled and abandoned and immigrants are subjected to semi-legalized slavery. Divorced, middle-aged Oxford history professor Theo Faron, an emotionally constrained man of means and intelligence who is the Warden's cousin, plods through an ordered, bleak existence. But a chance involvement with a group of dissidents moves him onto unexpected paths, leading him, in the novel's compelling second half, toward risk, commitment and the joys and anguish of love. In this convincingly detailed world--where kittens are (illegally) christened, sex has lost its allure and the arts have been abandoned--James concretely explores an unthinkable prospect. Readers should persevere through the slow start, for the rewards of this story, including its reminder of the transforming power of hope, are many and lasting. 125,000 first printing; BOMC main selection.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
“Extraordinary … daring … frightening in its implications.”
—The New York Times
“She writes like an angel. Every character is closely drawn. Her atmosphere is unerringly, chillingly convincing. And she manages all this without for a moment slowing down the drive and tension of an exciting mystery.”
—The Times (UK)
—The New York Times
“She writes like an angel. Every character is closely drawn. Her atmosphere is unerringly, chillingly convincing. And she manages all this without for a moment slowing down the drive and tension of an exciting mystery.”
—The Times (UK)
Inside This Book
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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Book is better than the movie,
By K.P. (Toronto, ON) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Children of Men (Paperback)
I liked the movie, but the book is MUCH better and not for the usual reasons . I found the story in the book to be much richer, there were just much more "stuff" in it. The book spent much more time on the description of the Omegan's which is central to the story, and the ending was MUCH better.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very different than the movie,
By
This review is from: The Children of Men (Paperback)
I read this book because I read a review that said the movie had missed the point of the book. Not only did it miss the point, it missed the entire story. Aside from the general setting and the catalyst event, it's a completely different. Some of the characters have the same names but often have very different roles or personalities. Though, I don't think the story of the book as is would have made a great movie; there is a lot of philosophical introspection and a lot less action, it makes for a good read. My one criticism would be PD James' lack of research into the generation of her character. The book is written in 1992. The book is set in 2021 and her main character is 50 years old. But it feels as though she has taken someone who is 50 in 1992 and cast them into the future. This especially apparent when the main character recounts his childhood. I'm only seven years younger than him, yet I didn't identify at all. The childhood almost seems like something out of the 50s. In the respect of transposing generations into the future, the movie is far more successful. To be fair, the screen writer did have an extra 15 years of history to work with.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent idea, half delivered,
By
This review is from: The Children of Men (Paperback)
The author carries the idea of an extiguishing population in a fragmented way that can be frustrating at times. The characters are not likeable and some not fully described. The beginning is extremely slow, it does pick up some pace but the ending is not believable or satisfactory.
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