| | |   Review © 1998 T. M. Wagner. Book cover art © 1976 Metro-
Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc.   Since this novel was out of print until
early 2001, its existence thoroughly usurped by the 1976 film,
it has become a fascinating subject for rediscovery. Though it
is of course interesting to compare novel to film, noting where
plot points deviate (yeah, the book is better), the most
intriguing thing to note about the novel is how it was very
clearly a product of its time in a way that the film simply
could not communicate.  The premise was inspired directly by the
social upheavals, particularly the youth demonstrations, going
on at its time of publication. Panic about an overpopulated
earth, war and unrest, and a general revolt against the old
(establishment) by the young lands the Earth in a situation
where by the end of the 20th century, the entire world is
governed by an enormous computer called Thinker and human
lifespans are restricted to 21 years (not 30 as in the film).
The palms of people's hands are implanted wit