Harold Mead (1910–1997)

This is an after-the-holocaust novel about the State, which controls all aspects of daily life. It is based on worshipping the Spirit of Man, and re-populating the devastated parts of the world.Everyone is committed to the success of the State; well, almost everyone.

John Waterville has just returned from an expedition to the (unnamed) Island, to see about possible colonization. Given some time off, he meets a young woman named Jenny. They go to the authorities, and agree to jointly take out a B License (permission to live together) and live at a local youth hostel. Waterville gets his next assignment, to be part of the official colonization of the Island. Preparation and training start immediately; he doesn't get a chance to say goodbye to Jenny. Ever since he returned from the Island, doubts have grown in his mind about the State.

Personnel for the colonization journey include Morality Officers, to make sure everyone acts and thinks "correctly," Colonists and Reconditioneds. These are citizens who have run afoul of the State for some reason. Severely brainwashed, their only purpose in life is now to serve the State. They are considered workers and beasts of burden, and have the same value as an animal. Just before leaving, John is dismayed to learn that Jenny will be part of the new colony - as a Reconditioned.

Life at the colony is hard, as if nature does not want to cooperate. Slowly, but surely, discipline is starting to break down; the Reconditioneds are starting to rebel. John is sent to make friends with the primitive inhabitants of the Island. The unspoken part, so says the State officers, is that the Islanders will join the State, or die. Waterville's doubts have grown into all-out rebellion. He grabs a couple of friendly Morality Officers, and Jenny, who, by this time, has got "herself" back, and flees to the Islanders. His only hope is to warn them about the imminent attack by the Colonists.

This is a really good story of "utopias" and one man against the system. It's not a very fast read, but it's a satisfying read.… (mer)