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The Uncertain Midnight
They called him the Survivor - a 20th Century man 'reborn' in 2113.
After a devastating atomic holocaust, mankind had now turned to the machine to solve his problems. Which led to the androids - descended from the robot, they were hardly distinguishable from real humans. By the year 2113 they ran society - leaving man to a life of leisure.
It was into this world that John Markham emerged after spending 146 years of suspended animation in an underground deep-freeze unit. But his new lease of life was likely to be a short one. A man with his outdated ideas could be very dangerous - a fact the androids realized only too well.
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1958
3 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
About the author
Edmund Cooper
101 books45 followersExcerpted from wikipedia:
Edmund Cooper was born in Marple, near Stockport in Cheshire on April 30, 1926. He served in the Merchant Navy towards the end of the Second World War. After World War II, he trained as a teacher and began to publish short stories. His first novel, Deadly Image
(later republished as The Uncertain Midnight) was completed in 1957 and published in 1958. A 1956 short story, Brain Child, was adapted as the movie The Invisible Boy (1957).
In 1969 The Uncertain Midnight was adapted for Swiss television, in French. At the height of his popularity, in the 1970s, he began to review science fiction for the Sunday Times and continued to do so until his death in 1982.
Apart from the website mentioned above there was another Edmund Cooper website full of information about the author and his publications.
Known Pseudonyms:
Richard Avery
George Kinley
Martin Lester
Broderick Quain
Edmund Cooper was born in Marple, near Stockport in Cheshire on April 30, 1926. He served in the Merchant Navy towards the end of the Second World War. After World War II, he trained as a teacher and began to publish short stories. His first novel, Deadly Image
(later republished as The Uncertain Midnight) was completed in 1957 and published in 1958. A 1956 short story, Brain Child, was adapted as the movie The Invisible Boy (1957).In 1969 The Uncertain Midnight was adapted for Swiss television, in French. At the height of his popularity, in the 1970s, he began to review science fiction for the Sunday Times and continued to do so until his death in 1982.
Apart from the website mentioned above there was another Edmund Cooper website full of information about the author and his publications.
Known Pseudonyms:
Richard Avery
George Kinley
Martin Lester
Broderick Quain
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 10, 2015
Edmund Cooper's first novel, Deadly Image (aka The Uncertain Midnight), was completed in 1957 and published in 1958. The book is significant -with emphasis- in the science fiction genre. Not only that it's a good book and carries with it several elements that will evolve into the author's trademark writing, but it is mostly likely the first book to discuss the subject of androids and the theme of what it means to be human. The novel came out at the same time of the more famous author Isaac Asimov's 'Robot' book, The Naked Sun, which similarly depicts a world where robots or androids outnumber humans. Deadly Image, though, focuses on a theme specifically of human and android, the exact same theme later repeated in the more famous novel by Philip K. Dick, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (1968). A matter of fact, the following description also perfectly applies for Cooper's book as stated on Wikipedia as in regard to the Dick book,
The novel explores a number of philosophical issues including what it is to be human. By introducing organic and realistically humanoid androids in this novel, Dick[Cooper:] asks what qualities, if any, are unique to or are able to define what is human.
Cooper came first and, unfortunately for reasons I will not suggest here, was unjustly shoved under the carpet after he died---his last book, 1978; died 1982.
This book could also be seen as the forerunner or even potentially, very basically influential(?) on ideas in books/films like Doctor Who, 1963 (Cybermen); Anthony Burgess' Clockwork Orange, 1962 (which shares a rough likeness to some of Cooper's trademark intense and colorful descriptions, imagery, and lingo); Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, 1968 (same theme, and the book which spawned the later Blade Runner movie, 1982); the 1972 UK film, Z.P.G. aka Zero Population Growth (similar imagery and spin on androids, future state of birth-control); Star Wars, 1976 (Republic of androids/stormtroopers); USA's 1976 film, Logan's Run (mass conformity and complacency in society).
It wouldn't be hard to see or imagine for those familiar with the above-mentioned works that any one of these creators could of possibly picked up and read at a point Deadly Image (by an author who was more celebrated and known in the 60s/70s) and/or been inspired directly or indirectly.
I find it sad that such a unique, entertaining but thinking writer like Cooper has been neglected and forgotten. Some of his later work can be viewed as a little racy---certainly to a degree and at some point a book or 2 of Coopers has been perceived as politically-incorrect and been misunderstood, a factor which probably turned off some readers to discover more of his work.
In regard to this actual book, the story reads easy with the classic Cooper style of strong visuals, dialogue, and action, telling big concepts in a simple and entertaining manner, as appropriate to the standard-length book of its day---under-200 pages (really, who needs more?). The setting is Earth, first outside London in 1967, then after a disaster, the main character finds himself 150 years later in a utopian/dystopian future where mankind has been 'alleviated' of the necessity of doing work in a world of Man and android. I'm not going to ruin the story by telling more, as Cooper books at best, and like this Cooper debut, provide at least half the fun in discovering the story as well as the discussion. Entertainment with concept and an amiable brain.
The novel explores a number of philosophical issues including what it is to be human. By introducing organic and realistically humanoid androids in this novel, Dick[Cooper:] asks what qualities, if any, are unique to or are able to define what is human.
Cooper came first and, unfortunately for reasons I will not suggest here, was unjustly shoved under the carpet after he died---his last book, 1978; died 1982.
This book could also be seen as the forerunner or even potentially, very basically influential(?) on ideas in books/films like Doctor Who, 1963 (Cybermen); Anthony Burgess' Clockwork Orange, 1962 (which shares a rough likeness to some of Cooper's trademark intense and colorful descriptions, imagery, and lingo); Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, 1968 (same theme, and the book which spawned the later Blade Runner movie, 1982); the 1972 UK film, Z.P.G. aka Zero Population Growth (similar imagery and spin on androids, future state of birth-control); Star Wars, 1976 (Republic of androids/stormtroopers); USA's 1976 film, Logan's Run (mass conformity and complacency in society).
It wouldn't be hard to see or imagine for those familiar with the above-mentioned works that any one of these creators could of possibly picked up and read at a point Deadly Image (by an author who was more celebrated and known in the 60s/70s) and/or been inspired directly or indirectly.
I find it sad that such a unique, entertaining but thinking writer like Cooper has been neglected and forgotten. Some of his later work can be viewed as a little racy---certainly to a degree and at some point a book or 2 of Coopers has been perceived as politically-incorrect and been misunderstood, a factor which probably turned off some readers to discover more of his work.
In regard to this actual book, the story reads easy with the classic Cooper style of strong visuals, dialogue, and action, telling big concepts in a simple and entertaining manner, as appropriate to the standard-length book of its day---under-200 pages (really, who needs more?). The setting is Earth, first outside London in 1967, then after a disaster, the main character finds himself 150 years later in a utopian/dystopian future where mankind has been 'alleviated' of the necessity of doing work in a world of Man and android. I'm not going to ruin the story by telling more, as Cooper books at best, and like this Cooper debut, provide at least half the fun in discovering the story as well as the discussion. Entertainment with concept and an amiable brain.
December 8, 2019
I guess the post apocalyptic dystopia with mankind threatened by android feels a bit trite now, but this came out during the height of that 50s high-concept sci-fi fueled by Cold War paranoia, and it feels so authentically 50s in style and mentality that it works as the perfect case study of that entire period of high inspiration, rather than a generic rehash or modern interpretation of it.
Cooper gets a lot of great material out of his imagined future. All work and responsibility has been taken over by "subservient" androids, and so a human having a job is socially frowned upon, which means calling someone a Dr. is considered offensive. Bohemian characters talk in a fun Clockwork Orange-lite future slang, and you can see the author enjoyed himself coming up with crazy clothing and décor ideas.
It's interesting how the subjugation of humans is done by progressive burocratic neutering rather than an armed uprising by the androids. There's also an android Prime Minister character who is awesome. He is in charge of running the country and is also the intelligence behind the gradual android take-over. Being required to keep up appearances he behaves very submissively, while at the same time coming off as seriously threatening, masterminding his plans behind his smile.
It's got the basic philosophic themes of "what it really means to be human", presented in a straight-faced and excessively talky way, and also going in circles sometimes. There's a set of premises and conclusion repeated like three times in different parts of the novel, like Cooper was afraid we'd forget about it. There's also a bit of a reactionary mentality and good ol' family values, this being from the 50s and all.
Another central theme is the pain and beauty of art and how it relates to humanity. One scene has the protagonist attempting to overwrite an android's planning and bring it closer to mankind by expositing it to art, which could have been brilliant, but it ends up clunky as fuck, written in a laborious but also rushed and unconvincing way (which applies to a lot of the book, actually).
The pacing is all over the place, feeling like 2/3s introduction, and then a rushed as hell second and third act, with plenty of instances of a single exposition paragraph speeding us through character development, assuring us how a person's mindset completely changed, or two people who just met became best friends, without giving these changes the time needed to feel natural. There are also some attempts at profoundness that fail impressively, but outside these moments the prose is sharp and clean.
Most importantly, I loooove the coveeeer
Cooper gets a lot of great material out of his imagined future. All work and responsibility has been taken over by "subservient" androids, and so a human having a job is socially frowned upon, which means calling someone a Dr. is considered offensive. Bohemian characters talk in a fun Clockwork Orange-lite future slang, and you can see the author enjoyed himself coming up with crazy clothing and décor ideas.
It's interesting how the subjugation of humans is done by progressive burocratic neutering rather than an armed uprising by the androids. There's also an android Prime Minister character who is awesome. He is in charge of running the country and is also the intelligence behind the gradual android take-over. Being required to keep up appearances he behaves very submissively, while at the same time coming off as seriously threatening, masterminding his plans behind his smile.
It's got the basic philosophic themes of "what it really means to be human", presented in a straight-faced and excessively talky way, and also going in circles sometimes. There's a set of premises and conclusion repeated like three times in different parts of the novel, like Cooper was afraid we'd forget about it. There's also a bit of a reactionary mentality and good ol' family values, this being from the 50s and all.
Another central theme is the pain and beauty of art and how it relates to humanity. One scene has the protagonist attempting to overwrite an android's planning and bring it closer to mankind by expositing it to art, which could have been brilliant, but it ends up clunky as fuck, written in a laborious but also rushed and unconvincing way (which applies to a lot of the book, actually).
The pacing is all over the place, feeling like 2/3s introduction, and then a rushed as hell second and third act, with plenty of instances of a single exposition paragraph speeding us through character development, assuring us how a person's mindset completely changed, or two people who just met became best friends, without giving these changes the time needed to feel natural. There are also some attempts at profoundness that fail impressively, but outside these moments the prose is sharp and clean.
Most importantly, I loooove the coveeeer
December 31, 2022
After 150 years John Markham wakes up from cryogenic sleep. Humanity has been decimated by another world war. A kind of utopia has been established, where nobody has to work any more and everybody has his personal android as a servant. But (of course) things are not as bright as they seem.
For a seasoned Science Fiction reader of today, this novel does not offer much that is new. Seen with the eyes of a reader from 1957 it is more remarkable.
Using John's personal android Marion=A, Cooper asks the question, what being human means. His treatment of the subject is more nuanced than that of many of his contemporary writer colleagues. So I vacillated between respect and boredom when I read this book.
The development of the main character John Markham is not very believable. First he seems to be cautious, almost timid. When he gets appointed to the leader of the rebellion against the machines, he instantly becomes this ice-cold strategist, who leads his men without any doubts.
The development of the plot didn't really convince me either.
On the other hand, you do notice in between that Cooper has a certain quality as a writer. So I would give it 2.5/5 stars
For a seasoned Science Fiction reader of today, this novel does not offer much that is new. Seen with the eyes of a reader from 1957 it is more remarkable.
Using John's personal android Marion=A, Cooper asks the question, what being human means. His treatment of the subject is more nuanced than that of many of his contemporary writer colleagues. So I vacillated between respect and boredom when I read this book.
The development of the main character John Markham is not very believable. First he seems to be cautious, almost timid. When he gets appointed to the leader of the rebellion against the machines, he instantly becomes this ice-cold strategist, who leads his men without any doubts.
The development of the plot didn't really convince me either.
On the other hand, you do notice in between that Cooper has a certain quality as a writer. So I would give it 2.5/5 stars
February 8, 2020
Edmund Cooper heeft mij aangenaam verrast met deze intelligente roman. Een goed bewijs dat het mogelijk was om in 1958 over voor deze tijd actuele thema's te schrijven zonder gedateerd over te komen. Op dat gebied was hij zijn tijd ver vooruit.
De premisse is dat een man vanuit 1960 in de 22ste eeuw terecht komt, als de aarde zich inmiddels weer hersteld heeft van een nucleaire oorlog. Inmiddels hoeven de overlevende mensen niet meer te werken, ze worden volledig door androiden ontzorgd. Androïden die inmiddels zichzelf kunnen programmeren. De komst van John Markham verstoort een delicaat machtsevenwicht tussen de mensen en de androïden.
Wat dit boek zo goed maakt is dat Cooper zich bezighoudt met de vraag of je de Androïden moet beschouwen als een levensvorm die concurreert om de macht met de mensen, terwijl de androïden er baat bij hebben om de mensen in de waan te laten dat zij niets meer zijn dan zielloze robots. Een waarschuwing tegen al te veel vertrouwen en in slaap gesust worden.
Cooper neemt de lezer samen met John Markham mee op ontdekkingsreis door de nieuwe wereld waar telkens blijkt dat de hoofdpersoon zijn eigen zwart wit opvattingen moet nuanceren. Daarin vertoont onze held een opmerkelijk zelfinzicht en een compassie die je in andere SF helden van die periode zelden tegenkomt.
Ik merkte dat ik gedurende de dag zelf speelde met de vraagstukken die Cooper in zijn roman opwerpt. Dat ik zelfs geïnspireerd raakte om ook weer op een andere manier naar de huidige ontwikkelingen rond artificiële intelligentie te kijken. Deze roman van Edmund Cooper houd ik in mijn bibliotheek, terwijl ik eerst van plan was om hem na lezing naar de mini-bieb af te voeren. Ik denk dat ik hem over een tijdje misschien nog eens wil herlezen.
Waarom geen vijf sterren? Weet ik niet, ik vermoed dat ik een kritischer lezer aan het worden ben en dat Cooper daar het eerste slachtoffer van geworden is. Ik vond het een prima roman, maar ik ben niet weggeblazen. En dat wordt mijn nieuwe criterium voor 5 sterren...
De premisse is dat een man vanuit 1960 in de 22ste eeuw terecht komt, als de aarde zich inmiddels weer hersteld heeft van een nucleaire oorlog. Inmiddels hoeven de overlevende mensen niet meer te werken, ze worden volledig door androiden ontzorgd. Androïden die inmiddels zichzelf kunnen programmeren. De komst van John Markham verstoort een delicaat machtsevenwicht tussen de mensen en de androïden.
Wat dit boek zo goed maakt is dat Cooper zich bezighoudt met de vraag of je de Androïden moet beschouwen als een levensvorm die concurreert om de macht met de mensen, terwijl de androïden er baat bij hebben om de mensen in de waan te laten dat zij niets meer zijn dan zielloze robots. Een waarschuwing tegen al te veel vertrouwen en in slaap gesust worden.
Cooper neemt de lezer samen met John Markham mee op ontdekkingsreis door de nieuwe wereld waar telkens blijkt dat de hoofdpersoon zijn eigen zwart wit opvattingen moet nuanceren. Daarin vertoont onze held een opmerkelijk zelfinzicht en een compassie die je in andere SF helden van die periode zelden tegenkomt.
Ik merkte dat ik gedurende de dag zelf speelde met de vraagstukken die Cooper in zijn roman opwerpt. Dat ik zelfs geïnspireerd raakte om ook weer op een andere manier naar de huidige ontwikkelingen rond artificiële intelligentie te kijken. Deze roman van Edmund Cooper houd ik in mijn bibliotheek, terwijl ik eerst van plan was om hem na lezing naar de mini-bieb af te voeren. Ik denk dat ik hem over een tijdje misschien nog eens wil herlezen.
Waarom geen vijf sterren? Weet ik niet, ik vermoed dat ik een kritischer lezer aan het worden ben en dat Cooper daar het eerste slachtoffer van geworden is. Ik vond het een prima roman, maar ik ben niet weggeblazen. En dat wordt mijn nieuwe criterium voor 5 sterren...
September 29, 2019
It was a bit odd, reading it now rather than in the 1950s, because there were points where you wanted to say: "computers do that" or "just use GPS..." but you have to suspend disbelief and think, if there had been nuclear war in the early 1960s, maybe these technologies wouldn't have existed. The personal helicars are a great idea though - I want one!
February 23, 2018
4 estrelas pela estória e o quanto está bem engendrada, mesmo a nível tecnológico, para um livro que foi escrito em 1958!! (passando-se a estória em 2113, num mundo pós apocalíptico "dominado" por androides).
October 11, 2022
Deadly Image, written by Edmund Cooper and published in 1958, is a competent novel concerning the reality of living with androids. This is my first exposure to Cooper's writing, who, I should add, is not even mentioned in the index in my 2006 science fiction reader's guide.
In the novel, he argues about the definition of life and the protagonists eventually decide that androids are indeed alive, solely due to the fact that they want to dominate their environment. They also procreate, far more efficiently than humans, by using factories to reproduce.
In this novel, all people are required to have a P.A. - personal android. Humans are forbidden from working and being unhappy is the greatest crime, which will result in forced personality adjustment.
There is one prediction in this novel that did pan out - Cooper predicted that computers, which filled rooms in 1958, would fit inside briefcases within 50 years.
In the novel, he argues about the definition of life and the protagonists eventually decide that androids are indeed alive, solely due to the fact that they want to dominate their environment. They also procreate, far more efficiently than humans, by using factories to reproduce.
In this novel, all people are required to have a P.A. - personal android. Humans are forbidden from working and being unhappy is the greatest crime, which will result in forced personality adjustment.
There is one prediction in this novel that did pan out - Cooper predicted that computers, which filled rooms in 1958, would fit inside briefcases within 50 years.
April 23, 2023
John Markam wakes up from being deep frozen for 146 years, as a result of a nuclear war, only to find that androids are running everything. Humanity lives only for pleasure, and unhappiness has become a crime punishable by brain-washing. Markham is given a PA, a personal android, to look after, and spy on him, but as she is exposed to John's deviant behaviour, she is affected by it and joins in his act of rebellion against android rule. The rebellion gains ground and a war ensues that not everyone will survive. Casualties will occur on both sides at every level. A great book, a little dated, originally published in 1958, but still wonderful. Cooper was a fantastic writer, in my opinion. I wish he had written more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2025
This is Edmund Cooper's first novel, it was apparently very successful being translated into several different languages and having a TV series made in French. It deserves every bit of that acclaim.
The book combines the classic questions of when a utopia is actually a dystopia, with an examination of the artificial intelligence question: when is artificial intelligence indistinguishable for plain, organic intelligence? Add to this a hint of post-apocalyptic scenario (for which Cooper is well known) and you have a really excellent classic SFF novel.
John Markham is a regular a 20th Century man with a wife he loves, two children and a family and a job that is building food storage shelters for the nuclear war everyone fears will occur soon. He is down in one of those shelters when the worst happens, he is trapped there and slowly freezes to death.
We learn this in flashbacks, as Markham is slowly brought out of suspended animation only to find that it is 2113, and society is a very different place to anything he could have imagined.
In the wake of the atomic holocaust that froze Markham deep below the surface of (London? Hampstead Heath? Somewhere in the UK!), mankind was obliged to turn to machines to solve the labour problems; there just were not enough people alive to do all the tasks that needed doing. This rapid technological expansion (which Cooper correctly identifies as a byproduct of war) has led to the androids - developed from robots that became more and more like people by Markam's reanimation the newest models are virtually distinguishable from real humans except through their programming. Society is run by them, in every aspect leaving man to a life of leisure.
For John Markham emerging after almost one hundred and fifty years of suspended animation this life is bewilderingly meaningless; no jobs no striving no families as he knows them. Striving to fit in with his personal android at his elbow is a desperate task, since he slowly becomes aware that people who do not fit in with the happy, feckless society are taken for brainwashing - all for their own good, of course - and come back happy, but no longer the person they were. As Markham's dissociation increases he is drawn to the 'runners' those who have escaped the brainwashing but have no organised resistance - they need only a leader.
For an older book, this one felt fresh in the ways it examined the themes of post nuclear apocalypse, the discussion of the Utopia theme, and when the measures taken to preserve the utopia qualify it as a dystopia. Also I thought the examination of androids and their intelligence, their programing and how that is different to our own intelligence and programing was excellent. These of course are a theme that is very common in SF, always has been always will be because there are so many options in a story. Despite all the different ways these themes have been used in the last seven decades, this novel still has a uniqueness to the storytelling which I thoroughly enjoyed.
The ending I found very satisfying and poignant both in the examination of the humanity of Markham and of his personal android, Marion-A. I loved the fact that the last stand of the rebellion happened in the British Museum, in the Egyptian Gallery. I will not disclose the outcome only say that my heart squeezed out a tear or two when the Rosetta Stone was shattered and as for the rest of the battle; read it and find out!
There was no hint of the clumsiness that can exist in even the best author's first books, the only real difference I could see between this and his later work was more plot threads in this than in some of his later work, which tends to have very linear plot lines.
The book combines the classic questions of when a utopia is actually a dystopia, with an examination of the artificial intelligence question: when is artificial intelligence indistinguishable for plain, organic intelligence? Add to this a hint of post-apocalyptic scenario (for which Cooper is well known) and you have a really excellent classic SFF novel.
John Markham is a regular a 20th Century man with a wife he loves, two children and a family and a job that is building food storage shelters for the nuclear war everyone fears will occur soon. He is down in one of those shelters when the worst happens, he is trapped there and slowly freezes to death.
We learn this in flashbacks, as Markham is slowly brought out of suspended animation only to find that it is 2113, and society is a very different place to anything he could have imagined.
In the wake of the atomic holocaust that froze Markham deep below the surface of (London? Hampstead Heath? Somewhere in the UK!), mankind was obliged to turn to machines to solve the labour problems; there just were not enough people alive to do all the tasks that needed doing. This rapid technological expansion (which Cooper correctly identifies as a byproduct of war) has led to the androids - developed from robots that became more and more like people by Markam's reanimation the newest models are virtually distinguishable from real humans except through their programming. Society is run by them, in every aspect leaving man to a life of leisure.
For John Markham emerging after almost one hundred and fifty years of suspended animation this life is bewilderingly meaningless; no jobs no striving no families as he knows them. Striving to fit in with his personal android at his elbow is a desperate task, since he slowly becomes aware that people who do not fit in with the happy, feckless society are taken for brainwashing - all for their own good, of course - and come back happy, but no longer the person they were. As Markham's dissociation increases he is drawn to the 'runners' those who have escaped the brainwashing but have no organised resistance - they need only a leader.
For an older book, this one felt fresh in the ways it examined the themes of post nuclear apocalypse, the discussion of the Utopia theme, and when the measures taken to preserve the utopia qualify it as a dystopia. Also I thought the examination of androids and their intelligence, their programing and how that is different to our own intelligence and programing was excellent. These of course are a theme that is very common in SF, always has been always will be because there are so many options in a story. Despite all the different ways these themes have been used in the last seven decades, this novel still has a uniqueness to the storytelling which I thoroughly enjoyed.
The ending I found very satisfying and poignant both in the examination of the humanity of Markham and of his personal android, Marion-A. I loved the fact that the last stand of the rebellion happened in the British Museum, in the Egyptian Gallery. I will not disclose the outcome only say that my heart squeezed out a tear or two when the Rosetta Stone was shattered and as for the rest of the battle; read it and find out!
There was no hint of the clumsiness that can exist in even the best author's first books, the only real difference I could see between this and his later work was more plot threads in this than in some of his later work, which tends to have very linear plot lines.
June 15, 2024
I've read a few books from Cooper now, and I've been very impressed with each one. This one is no exception. It really seems relevant nowadays with the rise of AI.
This story concerns John Markam, a man who has been frozen for 150 years and wakes to up a world run by androids in the 23rd century. He has a hard time adjusting and ends up leading a liberation movement against the domination of androids.
Well written and entertaining. Cooper was one of the greats, though I never hear him mentioned in Sci-Fi circles. Check him out.
This story concerns John Markam, a man who has been frozen for 150 years and wakes to up a world run by androids in the 23rd century. He has a hard time adjusting and ends up leading a liberation movement against the domination of androids.
Well written and entertaining. Cooper was one of the greats, though I never hear him mentioned in Sci-Fi circles. Check him out.
June 15, 2021
The horrid editing keeps it from getting 4 stars
After a limited nuclear holocaust, a man who had been working in a refrigeration plant is defrosted over 100 years later in an England dominated, like the world, by Androids. The nearly human looking automatons are both guardians and caretakers of the remnants of humanity who are a debauched people. Other than this-horrible editing aside-is worth reading, I'll say no more.
After a limited nuclear holocaust, a man who had been working in a refrigeration plant is defrosted over 100 years later in an England dominated, like the world, by Androids. The nearly human looking automatons are both guardians and caretakers of the remnants of humanity who are a debauched people. Other than this-horrible editing aside-is worth reading, I'll say no more.
Read
December 14, 2025There are two possible interpretations of this book.
1. A 'revolt of the machines'. A prelude to "The Terminator", "The Matrix" and so on.
2. A war between two groups of people.
Some believe in free will.
The other group denies free will and considers itself biorobots.
1. A 'revolt of the machines'. A prelude to "The Terminator", "The Matrix" and so on.
2. A war between two groups of people.
Some believe in free will.
The other group denies free will and considers itself biorobots.
pbs-wishlist
November 9, 2022wished on PBS
October 18, 2023
Fantascienza di terza categoria, filone futuro distopico, presumibilmente tollerabile negli anni '50 ma ormai ondeggiante tra l'ingenuo ed il patetico.
October 22, 2025
Edmund Cooper's first novel and one of his best. A criminally underrated novelist. So far as science fiction is concerned, only Philip K. Dick is better.
April 15, 2014
The author writes like Arthur C Clarke minus all the in-depth scientific explanations of how things work and the extremely well thought out futures, i.e. the author is terrible at writing female characters and believable male-female relationships. This book was alright, but it seemed like the last 20 pages or so were just rushed through to end the story, and the chosen ending was exactly what you'll be predicting by about page 30.
I was really disappointed with how it ended, and with how little the question of what exactly makes something a living thing was actually dealt with. I was expecting some in-depth conversations about the subject since that seemed like the point of the book, but instead it was only talked about a few times, and only in a superficial way. The end was a total copout, taking the easy way of dealing with the problem instead of leaving you thinking about it like a really good novel should.
I was really disappointed with how it ended, and with how little the question of what exactly makes something a living thing was actually dealt with. I was expecting some in-depth conversations about the subject since that seemed like the point of the book, but instead it was only talked about a few times, and only in a superficial way. The end was a total copout, taking the easy way of dealing with the problem instead of leaving you thinking about it like a really good novel should.
June 30, 2015
I am watching the Humans series on TV about synthetic human beings not quite as dark as Blade Runner but reminded me of how much I loved this book as a youngster. In this more modern world and in the Humans series the full impact of what synthetics can do is being explored. This book a post apocalyptic world that needed synthetics to help it rebuild is a great insight into what is good and bad about such a world. Its a really good read despite its age and in light of modern changes and series like Humans very relevant.
July 15, 2014
An awesome post-apocalyptic look at the fears and attitudes of the 1950s.
January 27, 2016
Androids Alive! Good but poor last chapter
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews