Twenty Twenty

by Nigel Watts

First published in 1995, Twenty Twenty eerily foretells the events of the year 2020. An ageing writer infected with a deadly virus and despairing of mankind’s continuing damage to the planet retreats to a derelict factory in the icy wastes of northern Canada. Meanwhile, at a remote research institute in the Californian desert, William Morrison, a virtual reality test pilot, and Julia O’Brien, a British anthropologist, are working on a VR simulation of the Amazonian Kogi tribe. William and Julia appear to have little in common, until they discover an uncanny connection that finds them being drawn towards a derelict factory in northern Canada...As the story escalates to its dramatic conclusion, Watts powerfully manipulates our perceptions of reality, whilst blurring the boundary between creator and created.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

245 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Ian]

With a few exceptions, I’ve only ever reviewed books that I’ve read since joining Goodreads. I read this one though in the mid-90s when it first came out. It was set in 2020 which at the time of writing was a quarter-century into the future.

I decided to post a review now because, from what I can recall of the novel, people had to wear masks to go outside to avoid catching an infectious disease, although the infectious agent was carried in rainwater rather than passed from human-to-human. There was also mass unemployment, and those who still had jobs were proud of their status as “earners”. I think in the book the mass unemployment was a permanent condition rather than the (hopefully) temporary one of today, but still…

Beyond that I remember the novel had some fluffy Gaia/Mother Earth stuff, which didn’t appeal to me that much, and the characters participated in Virtual Reality far more than we actually do today. If I had reviewed the book last year, I would probably have commented on how its vision of 2020 was laughably inaccurate. Sadly, it’s proved more accurate than I thought.

I recall that at the time I didn’t think the book was that great, but I have to give credit to any novel where the details have stayed in my mind for 25 years.

[Mark]

Like Ian I picked my copy of this off the shelf a couple of months ago to check how accurate it was and I couldn't believe it. There is so much that the author got spot on: global viral pandemic, face masks decorated with patterns for fashion (was in the news this morning even), video conferencing, environmental deterioration... it's mad. Orwell's 1984 was published 35 years before the date it was set, this was published 25 years before and this got more right. It looks like it's been republished this year too, so my friends will be getting a copy for Christmas I think!

[Martin]

“Sometimes when I look inside myself, I see nobody there. I am an automaton, a wind-up toy. I keep realising I've just done something - eaten a can of spaghetti for instance - and have no memory of it. Even with the taste of tomato sauce still on my tongue the meal is less of a recollection than a conclusion. Sometimes I catch myself in the middle of an action - brushing my teeth, shaving my eyebrows, shovelling snow into a bucket - and force myself to concentrate. This is a lifetime I'm shovelling away. And do I care? Sometimes yes, sometimes no.”

[Ken]

I have just begun rereading Twenty Twenty -as my first read last week was a bit rushed, driven by the mystery of the characters connections and then the unfolding of the story. There is so much more to the writing, that even knowing the ending I am enjoying my second reading as much or more than the first. I won't repeat the basics of the novel - I assume you have read those in the blurb and reviews. (Science fiction future 2020 world of pandemic etc. originally published 1995)
But as fascinating as the similarities to today of a book set in 2020 written 25 years ago are, I am as much intrigued by the way Nigel Watts in a basically simple story without a convoluted or complicated plot manages to slowly unwind one's sense of reality. It is, it seems to me even more prescient how this dissolving of a ground reality mimics our current collapse of a shared factual framework ,as social media virtual realities shatter and fragment more and more. What is real? What does "real" even mean- and how or why does it matter? (Anyone else feeling a bit psychically adrift these days?)
So I recommend savoring this one. Taking ones time and being open to minding bending mystery and heart opening emotion.

[Bob Rosenbaum]

Disappointing. A better beginning than a middle or end. Aside from the prescience of a book that in 1995 correctly assigned the year of a global pandemic, there's little to recommend this novel. The story line fizzled halfway through, and ultimately the theme proved to be about the relationship between a writer and his characters - interesting, perhaps, if one is more interested in the writer's process than the product. I slogged through it because it was short. But in another six months I'll have forgotten I ever read it.

[Gus Scott-Exley]

I felt like the book was a slow burn and then really started to take off in the third act only to leave me say "wait, what!?" After the last page has turned. I may read it again keeping in mind all the things I now know and maybe it'll be a better read with that in mind. I too picked up the book because of the parallels drawn between the book and the year but felt that part of things was only mildly coincidental.

All in all it was just OK.

[Marianne Citraro]

I don’t normally read this genre (Science Fiction) but I was intrigued by the fact that this was written in 1995 about the futuristic year 2020. The author did get it close. I enjoyed the preface from his wife and the original way that the story was told. But it was rather depressing and hard to read and follow.

[Dan Chapman]

The twist wasn't the twist I was expecting.
And I certainly wasn't expecting the other twist.

Also I'm calling ebooks "digibacks" from now on because it's obviously the superior term.

[Mark P. Downey]

Not a prophesy, but..

Much more than an apocalyptic work. This is a deep dive into the meaning of existence. It’s a good read.

[Linda]

Just didn’t grab me after 2 1/2 chapters. Too sci-fi, too boring. Too many other books to read.

[Neil Moulding]

Weird.

[Shirley]

Great premise but weak execution. I would not recommend since it's kind of boring and has no true character development. Flat.