Official Blurb
Robert Bloch (1917 – 1994) was a prolific writer in many genres. As a young man he was encouraged by his mentor H. P. Lovecraft, and was a close friend of Stanley G. Weinbaum. Besides hundreds of short stories and novels he wrote a number of television and film scripts including several for the original Star Trek. In 1959 Bloch wrote the novel Psycho which Alfred Hitchcock adapted to film a year later. He received the Hugo Award, the World Fantasy Award, the Bram Stoker Award, and he is a past president of the Mystery Writers of America. Published in Amazing Stories in 1958, This Crowded Earth is a thriller set on an overpopulated Earth of the future.
My Review
Well, having read the official blurb I'm sure you know what the story is about. No? Its in the last line, read it again. Done? Set in the very near future where human breeding has lead the world into a crisis of tremendous over population. Everyone feels the pressure and the protagonist seems to feel it more than most... or does he? the givernment are forced into passing draconian laws to handle the lack of space and resource and out hero finds himself a bit of an outsider.
This is not a straight through story with a beginning middle and end, as it follows nearly the entire life of one man as he lives through the tremendous changes wrought upon mankind and society. Whole chapters are occasional dropped in that break from the story to let you know whats happening in the rest of the world.
I wasn't overly enamoured of by this book. I was interested enough to keep listening, I was basically intrigued, wondering where and what the author was going to do next. Sadly the lack of a consistent narrative left me a little cold.
So it's of interest to the sci fi fan, but not a really engaging story. The reader Gregg, does an outstanding job ( he's one of my fave' readers).
Reading 3
Production 2
Story 1
Total : 6/9
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Listen to the first chapter
