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No. It is set in a very post-apocalyptic Wales in which the ability to see certain wavelengths of color is a prized genetic ability, ranging from those who can see a combination of Red and Blue (and are thus Purple) at the top, to those who can see no color at all (and are thus Grey) at the bottom. The percentage of cones dedicated to each wavelength is measured at adulthood and determines each individual's caste, and the magnitude of the predominance determines social status within that caste. In theory, someone who could see all colors would also be Grey (and thus at the absolute bottom, caste-wise), but there are no people like that.
Ruthless breeding has eliminated almost all rod cells from people's eyes, and control over pupil size has been lost; consequently, night blindness is a major concern. More importantly, this is a future in which something called synthetic color exists, and which strongly affects the people who see it; certain wavelengths induce strong mental and/or physiological effects, to the point that Lincoln Green is a controlled substance due to its intoxicating effects and Chromatologists not given the proper respect might expose someone briefly to a specific shade of pink for amusing effect.
Also: every living thing known has a barcode on it; the Head Office that ruthlessly runs the dystopia keeps pushing the frontiers of technology further and further back to promote the primary virtue of their society, which is Stasis; a color shortage means that many small towns must base their economy on scrap color collection; megafauna, including giraffes and carnivorous swans, roams freely -- except across the semi-sentient roads left behind by the Previous, which are so desperate to maintain themselves that they will consume anything that isn't made of bronze; and our protagonist is not once but twice eaten by a tree.
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quote:Originally posted by TomDavidson: I recommend it to you. That is all.
Already on my to-read list. I'm mostly waiting for the paperback (or for it to show up in GR's bookswap).
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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quote:Originally posted by TomDavidson: You may also be interested in this Viagra.
I knew those new facebook information sharing applications were far reaching, but this is ridiculous.
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This book blew me away, I really can't wait for the next two to come out. If you check out his site, he had a sleuthing game going on during the first few months after it came out - you can avoid the answers if you don't scroll down too far.
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I'm glad you elaborated, Tom. Your description makes me want to read it much more than whatever review I just glanced at previously and said "yawn."
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