Harmony

by Marjorie B. Kellogg

mass market paperback book

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction

464 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 1, 1991

Reviews

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this one in high school, and after I sold my copy realized it's out of print! Near future science fiction where in a domed world a lone open and artistic society exists, and the pressures to close that society to outsiders. Excellent commentary on xenophobia and the nature of art.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I watch as the rich and powerful do their best to destroy the earth in the name of profit, I wonder what is enough? What will they do when the air is unsafe everywhere...when you can't drink the water? I suspect this is what the rich and powerful would love: A closed system where they can easily control the populace, with those of little or no value, in their opinions, out and on their own.

[Science and Fiction · Rating 2 out of 5]

The concept of this book is interesting enough, but unfortunately the writing style was a real chore to get through. I’d say a good 25% of this book should have been edited out. Lots of unnecessary and tiresome detail that has no relevance to our “buy in” of the story. Lots of tangential dead-ends with no purpose in character development. This writer is an expert in theatrical set design and she fell into the trap of indulging her rather esoteric knowledge once too often. Another problem is the obvious gender-specific perspective such that the reader knows only a women could be the teller of the tale. Yes, some highly-regarded writers such as Hemingway, or Joe Haldeman, write in a manner and a perspective that is clearly masculine in orientation, especially references to military experiences. But with the best writers you can’t really tell the gender of the author by the way the story is told. Kellogg is always making references to certain kinds of perfume, or details about a dress, or motherly affections that male readers will just have to gloss over. I give the idea four stars, but the writing brings the score way down. Put in the donation box.

[Colvet · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

The setting was 2002 and was wildly off from the start. I thought the initial concept was interesting....what happens to art in terms of its value and function in modern futurism? However, I only made it about 120 pages in and then had to stop. Let me know if I should revisit or what.

[H. R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Forget Revenge of the Nerds, this novel is Revenge of the Liberal Arts Majors. The concept of a post-apocolyptic world, survivors bonded by art and creativity, is better done with Pat Murphy's _The City, Not Long After_. _Harmony_ read like a first attempt, choppy characterization and plotline. Still, not a bad read.

[EL · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book enough to read it twice, but it is not up to the level of the author's other science fiction. Still, it is okay and depicts some of the problems that can occur between politics and art when greed enters the picture.

[Justaskibum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read, politics and the arts.