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The day of the Coastwatch
207 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1968
About the author
Philip McCutchan
187 books36 followersaka Robert Conington Galway, Duncan MacNeil
Philip McCutchan (1920-1996) grew up in the naval atmosphere of Portsmouth Dockyard and developed a lifetime's interest in the sea. Military history was an early interest resulting in several fiction books, from amongst his large output, about the British Army and its campaigns, especially in the last 150 years.
Philip McCutchan (1920-1996) grew up in the naval atmosphere of Portsmouth Dockyard and developed a lifetime's interest in the sea. Military history was an early interest resulting in several fiction books, from amongst his large output, about the British Army and its campaigns, especially in the last 150 years.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 9, 2026
Firstly, I recognise this is a long forgotten (perhaps a fault of the author and not the story itself) novel which has slipped away with the waves of time. As another reviewer has put, this isn't by any means a great novel, and for all its faults, the damned thing starts off so wooden and dry. To Really get into the story I found that it started to move along around 30% into the text. To remain spoiler free, our man Slade finds himself in a seismic situation. The kind of situation found in the likes of protagonists of 1984, Brave New World, etc. And on that note, this book with its very unique setting (more on that in a bit), feels a bit like a slap dash nod to those examples, or perhaps it is down to me and trying to find a steady rhythm to the novel.
Having said that, this novel is a clear projection of fears, some time before the IMF crisis in the mid 1970s, the three day weeks of Heath's Governments, the Winter of Discontent, and the many economic crises and strains the UK would later go on to endure. Funnily enough, the setting has the UK established as a "New Socialist State", leaving the two parties, Conservative and Labour, disintegrating, one (Labour) due to an ever rightward shift in politics and policy, and the Conservatives fizzling in the, alternate 1980's. In their place the minor Liberal Party becomes the de facto party, ushering in a new era of politics.
Trade Unions and their functions had been largely abandoned, though used as old social clubs and functionally activated when the government feels the need to lambast another sector of society, seen as "bourgeois". All in the guise of keeping workers *interested* in some form of class politics and funnel state initiatives as progressive.
In terms of taxation the author has come up with a Britain that has abolished income tax. In its place general taxation takes a share of the burden, this in turns means all citizens must account for all expenses (keeping receipts and annual accounts).
Next to general tax, was a Spending Tax. Food is considered tax free.
1) Household expenses 33 1/2% Taxed
2)Clothing 50% Taxed
3)Pleasure and spending 70% Taxed
4)Unaccounted balances (think savings deposits) VAT 50%, in order to deter pleasure in savings.
An Employment Tax is also utilised by the state, at £7.75/week, these taxes provided *according to authorities* a well funded welfare state, helped by a significantly reduced military budget, and zero foreign aid (if this novel was found by some of the latest populists of our current time, think of the /prophetic/ claims! Alas, I do not share in such delusions.
Furthermore, The New Socialist State, provides housing on a points based system, abolished private property, Beer and Sweets are taxed as pleasure items, money itself takes on an altered role with everything being produced by the state, lastly car ownership is heavily regulated with the requirement of a permit.
Aside from the economic window that McCutchan provides, he furthermore establishes that racial and nationality preferences had been eradicated for school children. Recreation camps established all over Britain to cater to annual holidays for workers and their families.
Re-education is dished out for individuals who express fondness for the *old* Britain and its relics, both ideological and physical, our main character undergoes as such this method, rousing the antagonist's due to his friend's attempted escape and suicide.
Above only shows the alternate Britain for what it is. A 1990's much divorced from our own (Britain was ejected from the Common Market sometime before the 1990's and an act established to restrict civilian movement ( Restriction of Movements Act). Markers surround the coasts, with no one allowed past. Any that do pass are quickly caught and face the prospect of prison and re-education. Our first victim faces such a situation, though he takes his own life before being caught by the Coastwatch. An organisation to, well, watch the coast and stop all those from trying to flee via the sea. Funny, the prospect of air travel and people trying to get away through there is never discussed, then again its a story about boats!
With that being laid out, the story is not altogether bad, but I think could have survived a strengthening of characters, in some places dialogue. The world building is its greatest strength, and whilst it would have been interesting for this to be adopted as a short/limited series by either of the UK broadcasters, it remains as a testament for the fears of Old Britain being dragged into the latter half of the 20th century. Travelling further from the myth and reality of war ravaged Britain and into something altogether as impactful as the Great War and the Industrial Revolution.
3 stars.
Not bad, not great. Could've been good!
If you made it this far, you've only got yourself to blame ;)
Having said that, this novel is a clear projection of fears, some time before the IMF crisis in the mid 1970s, the three day weeks of Heath's Governments, the Winter of Discontent, and the many economic crises and strains the UK would later go on to endure. Funnily enough, the setting has the UK established as a "New Socialist State", leaving the two parties, Conservative and Labour, disintegrating, one (Labour) due to an ever rightward shift in politics and policy, and the Conservatives fizzling in the, alternate 1980's. In their place the minor Liberal Party becomes the de facto party, ushering in a new era of politics.
Trade Unions and their functions had been largely abandoned, though used as old social clubs and functionally activated when the government feels the need to lambast another sector of society, seen as "bourgeois". All in the guise of keeping workers *interested* in some form of class politics and funnel state initiatives as progressive.
In terms of taxation the author has come up with a Britain that has abolished income tax. In its place general taxation takes a share of the burden, this in turns means all citizens must account for all expenses (keeping receipts and annual accounts).
Next to general tax, was a Spending Tax. Food is considered tax free.
1) Household expenses 33 1/2% Taxed
2)Clothing 50% Taxed
3)Pleasure and spending 70% Taxed
4)Unaccounted balances (think savings deposits) VAT 50%, in order to deter pleasure in savings.
An Employment Tax is also utilised by the state, at £7.75/week, these taxes provided *according to authorities* a well funded welfare state, helped by a significantly reduced military budget, and zero foreign aid (if this novel was found by some of the latest populists of our current time, think of the /prophetic/ claims! Alas, I do not share in such delusions.
Furthermore, The New Socialist State, provides housing on a points based system, abolished private property, Beer and Sweets are taxed as pleasure items, money itself takes on an altered role with everything being produced by the state, lastly car ownership is heavily regulated with the requirement of a permit.
Aside from the economic window that McCutchan provides, he furthermore establishes that racial and nationality preferences had been eradicated for school children. Recreation camps established all over Britain to cater to annual holidays for workers and their families.
Re-education is dished out for individuals who express fondness for the *old* Britain and its relics, both ideological and physical, our main character undergoes as such this method, rousing the antagonist's due to his friend's attempted escape and suicide.
Above only shows the alternate Britain for what it is. A 1990's much divorced from our own (Britain was ejected from the Common Market sometime before the 1990's and an act established to restrict civilian movement ( Restriction of Movements Act). Markers surround the coasts, with no one allowed past. Any that do pass are quickly caught and face the prospect of prison and re-education. Our first victim faces such a situation, though he takes his own life before being caught by the Coastwatch. An organisation to, well, watch the coast and stop all those from trying to flee via the sea. Funny, the prospect of air travel and people trying to get away through there is never discussed, then again its a story about boats!
With that being laid out, the story is not altogether bad, but I think could have survived a strengthening of characters, in some places dialogue. The world building is its greatest strength, and whilst it would have been interesting for this to be adopted as a short/limited series by either of the UK broadcasters, it remains as a testament for the fears of Old Britain being dragged into the latter half of the 20th century. Travelling further from the myth and reality of war ravaged Britain and into something altogether as impactful as the Great War and the Industrial Revolution.
3 stars.
Not bad, not great. Could've been good!
If you made it this far, you've only got yourself to blame ;)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2024
Full review: https://sciencefictionruminations.com...
2.5/5 (Bad)
"Sometime after the 1990s, a fascist government, the “New Socialist State,” emerges out of the wreckage of the wreckage of the Labour and Conservative parties in the UK. A draconian coast watch prevents escapees desperate to flee Modern Britain for France or its one-time colonies of Canada [...]"
2.5/5 (Bad)
"Sometime after the 1990s, a fascist government, the “New Socialist State,” emerges out of the wreckage of the wreckage of the Labour and Conservative parties in the UK. A draconian coast watch prevents escapees desperate to flee Modern Britain for France or its one-time colonies of Canada [...]"
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews