La tour des damnés

by Brian W. Aldiss

En 1968, Brian Aldiss imagine une expérience aux proportions babyloniennes pour mesurer les effets de la surpopulation. Début du XXIe siècle. La terre semble avoir résolu ses problèmes de surpopulation et de famines. Et tout irait pour le mieux dans le meilleur des mondes, s il n y avait « la Tour ». Mélange de plastique, de béton et d acier, le fameux édifice dix niveaux de cinq étages chacun a été érigé en Inde en 1975 dans le cadre d une expérience. À l origine, 1 500 volontaires dont 500 couples de moins de 25 ans y furent introduits afin d étudier le comportement d individus soumis au confinement. 25 ans plus tard, 75 000 personnes pullulent à l intérieur. Le conditionnement a si bien fonctionné que personne ne semble vouloir sortir, ni même imaginer qu une autre réalité extérieure soit possible. Pourtant, un certain Thomas Dixit est chargé de mesurer l intérêt de poursuivre l expérience de La Tour... La Tour des damnés (Total Environment en anglais) explore aussi bien la faculté de l humanité à chercher infatigablement des solutions à sa survie, que la puissance de la science et les problèmes d éthique qui en découlent. Il évoque la capacité d adaptation de l homme face à son environnement, ainsi que son absolu besoin de pouvoir, de croyance et de domination.
En 1968 (date de parution de la nouvelle d'Aldiss) paraissait aux Etats-Unis The Population Bomb. Le livre s'est vendu à plus de 2millions d'exemplaires et a contribué à la prise de conscience collective des problématiques de population et d'environnement.

Genres: Science Fiction, Novella

96 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1968

About the author

Pseudonyms: Jael Cracken, Peter Pica, John Runciman, C.C. Shackleton, Arch Mendicant, & "Doc" Peristyle.

Brian Wilson Aldiss was one of the most important voices in science fiction writing today. He wrote his first novel while working as a bookseller in Oxford. Shortly afterwards he wrote his first work of science fiction and soon gained international recognition. Adored for his innovative literary techniques, evocative plots and irresistible characters, he became a Grand Master of Science Fiction in 1999.
Brian Aldiss died on August 19, 2017, just after celebrating his 92nd birthday with his family and closest friends.

Brian W. Aldiss Group on Good Reads

Reviews

[Floriane · Rating 5 out of 5]

du pur génie.

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Earth, plagued by famine and pestilence. The "Total Environment" is set up in India, populated by volunteer couples and their children. It has been four generations and each generation matures faster, grows older more rapidly, so that twenty-year-olds have the appearance of old men and women.

Our protagonist is sent into the Total Environment to give a recommendation on whether it should be shut down, as well as to find out if Extra-Sensory Perception has been developed in the isolation. He hears the concerns that those on the outside have so much, why do they want to take away the little that the Total Environment's inhabitants have?

Though his life is in danger, he escapes to the outside and gives his recommendation to empty the isolated community and destroy the dark tower.
The leader of the top level is perceived to be interested in the outside and that leader is chosen to lead the communities outside the tower.

[Gr1972 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 out of 5

[alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,25/5

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bon moment de lecture sans plus.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-written and unsettling.
Unfortunately I always struggle with suspending disbelief in the telepathy that often seems to feature in sci-fi of this era.