Blind Faith

by Ben Elton

Book Overview

Imagine a world where everyone knows everything about everybody. Where 'sharing' is valued above all, and privacy is considered a dangerous perversion. Trafford wouldn't call himself a rebel, but he's... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0593058003
• ISBN13: 9780593058008
• Release Date: July 2008
• Publisher: Bantam Press
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.

Customer Reviews

1984! Innit!

London, One Hundred Years Hence: Trafford Sewell ekes out an existence with wife Chantorria and newborn, Caitlin Happymeal, in a repellant, crowded, postdiluvian London which has been consumed by religious fundamentalism, tabloid culture and a rampantly prurient culture of egocentric self-involvement. Privacy is viewed as an aberration, fiction has been outlawed and the majority of the populace are largely unable to communicate in (or relate to) anything beyond the clichéd wooden spoon platitudes of tabloid newspapers and inane reality television shows. But Trafford nurses a secret and in a world in which the keeping of secrets is viewed as an affront to God-the-love himself, this will set him on a collision course with the corrupt orthodoxies that police this feculent dystopia... Its been about twenty years since I last read a Ben Elton novel and reading "Blind Faith" was something of a reintroduction to what I used to enjoy about his writing. It must be said, whilst I was never much of a fan of him as a left-wing stand-up comedian and a vanguard of the politically correct alternative comedy establishment during the Thatcherite eighties, "Blind Faith" seemed to me in many ways to be an act of atonement for past sins: age, living through ten years of disastrous new labour government and bearing witness to the encroaching "dumbing-down" of popular culture has clearly removed the scales from his eyes and invested his writing with a righteous indignation and affront at the increasingly bovine nature of modern life. Whilst the plot of "Blind Faith" is essentially a reinvention and a grand satire of Orwell's 1984 (Signet Classics) and Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, what raises it above the level of a facile pastiche are Elton's vitriolic broadsides at the moronic nature of much of the internet; government surveillance; peer pressure; philanthropic celebrities; the death of literacy and reason; 'touchy-feely' office culture and religious fundamentalism and its incipient hypocrisy. In the best tradition of Wellsian science fiction, he is not really purporting a realistic speculative future, so much as asking us to look at the lunacy of our present through a glass darkly. Upon first cracking the spine of this book, I considered it to be a three star effort as best, but upon reflection, I can't find it in my heart to give it anything less than five; the plot may be predictable and the characters may be trite, but it's message is just far too important.

A masterpiece from the always wonderful author

I was surprised to see a Ben Elton book getting one stars. I just finished the book...and it is really awesome. I easily rate it as the best book I have read this month...and I read a lot. It is Elton's take on a post apocalyptic dystopian, panoptic society, with his typical, always entertaining humor. I also know the reason for some people giving it poor reviews. It takes religion, faith and creationism head on. The book is about how in the society of the future God and blind faith has replaced science. Unfortunately, we live in a world where there are still a lot of people who deny evolution. These are the people who won't like this book. If you are a man of science, and like Elton's quirky humor.....don't miss this book.

Back to the future - scary

Ben Elton accuractely and satirically captures many of the trends of the 'herd mentality' of our society today. This is a thought-provoking tome for those not afraid to take a look at themselves. So much of what he portrays can be seen in the developments of our techno age - particularly among the younger of us. The future Ben portrays in this gripping novel could all-too-easily become frighteningly real. So read on - for reading is a "subversive" and thoughtful activity. Having done so, you will never be the same. But take care! You may want to throw away your mobile phone, and head for the wilderness!!!

Wow- Great Find!

I'm amazed at the poor reviews on this book. It's like Farenheit 451 - only modernized. I mean, really- that's almost exactly what this book is. I noticed several comparisons while reading. It's set in the future, where privacy is against the law. Literally every moment of your life is televised- kind of like now, how facebook is updated every 3 minutes so you don't miss out on your best friends mothers boyfriends second cousin going to the washroom. Yes, the idea is far fetched- but really, how far off are we? Think about that as you read. I have never read a Ben Elton novel before, and I was very surprised. I go through about 5 novels a week, which is quite a bit. I couldn't put this book down! I was anxious to get back to it when I needed a break. It was quite different from anything else I've read this year, and i'm going to make sure I read some more of his books. Good find!

Quirky and Thought Provoking

This is a very quirky take on a post apocalyptic world with some typical Ben Elton touches. The message is clear that on paper this is a living nightmare but in this new intrusive technological world we are already half way there.