Logan's Run

by William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson

Book Overview

The bestselling dystopian novel that inspired the 1970s science-fiction classic starring Michael York, Jenny Agutter, and Richard Jordan. In 2116, it is against the law to live beyond the age of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B002J3BXEI
• Release Date: January 1976
• Publisher: BANTAM BOOK
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Fantastic book of ideas - definitely not the movie

I've read the other reviews for this book and have to chime in. I've read this book about two dozen times over the years and it continues to be one of my favorites of all time. The world of Logan's Run (the novel) is one in which the idea of a youth-centric culture exists to the point where growing old is outlawed. In fact, on your 21st birthday (Last Day) you must report to be put to 'sleep' (think Soylent Green). Those who want to live longer must 'run' away to a mythical place called Sanctuary, but are pursued by the police called Sandmen who put them to sleep (get it?), but using a special bullet called a 'homer' which burns out the victim's nervous system. Contrary to others here, the reason that Logan runs is to give meaning to his existence. The youth culture is all about fun, sex, drugs, and the like, and dying at 21 leaves little time to accomplish anything. Logan, being a Sandman on Last Day, believes that if he finds the legendary Sanctuary and destroys it, he will be remembered forever in song (no kidding). The book covers Logan's 'Run' through the complex maze toward Sanctuary put up by the underground that does not agree with the youth culture and wants things back the way they were. By the end of the book, Logan agrees. This book is fun, adventurous, lyrical, and shows a ton more promise and imagination than the movie of the same name, which borrows the most basic concepts from the book, and changes the fantastic journey that Logan goes through from staunch conformist to idealistic rebel with the lame idea that a computer controls the world. Read this book. The good news is that they've been planning a remake more true to the novel for some time. Hopefully we'll see Logan do a better Run in the near future.

SHORT BOOK THAT WILL STICK WITH YOU

This is the work that the movie/TV Series was made from. I am not sure how they did it from this work, but hey, the series was not all that bad, I suppose. The book though is one of those that will stick with you. It may not the best SiFi out there, but it certainly can be classified as a classic and it is more than worth the read. I must admit to have given this one a couple of reads over the years (the first was in 1980) and am still rather fascinated with the story (read other reviews for plot, etc.). If you like a good story, one that may, to some taste, be a bit over the top, then this one is for you. You certainly will not be injured in reading it and more that likely will be glad you to the afternoon it took you to do so.

Doesn't get more bizarre than this

Ok...most people over 30 (ironically) have seen "Logan's Run", and basically know what it's about.Now picture this...there are no domes, and the life expectancy of the citizens is 21. There is no carrousel, people just have to show up to the local 7-11 on the last day of their lives to die. Logan (3, not 5) visits a drug clinic (the opposite of what you're thinking of), a brothel made of glass, and a "fire gallery". To get the book started, Logan meets his contact at sort of a party for peeping toms.Sound bizarre? You're right, it is kinda strange, and it reads like it was written over a weekend. But it's compelling enough to option a script, and you can imagine how many rewrites it suffered to get to the screen. Keep running, Logan.

Youth Obsessed Society

This is a fast paced, well written story about where a youth obssesed culture could lead us. Using overpopulation and a nuclear war as a springboard the authors weave a tightly knit story about a society living in self-contained domed cities where everyone's favorite past-time is the pursual of pleasure. Sounds good until you realize that implanted at birth into the palm of every citizen is a life clock crystal that glows with a different color for each seven years of life. On your twenty-first birthday your life clock turns from red to black, it's time to volunteer to be put to sleep for the good of Society. Logan is a Sandman a modern day police officer who tracks down those citizens who have decided they want to live longer than 21, these are called "Runners". The myth whispered is that you can live to become 'old' in a place called Sanctuary. Logan's search for Sanctuary with a Runner named Jessica sets the pace for the rest of the story. Entertaining Sci-Fi at it's best.

Chilling and prophetic.

In a world suffering heavily from overpopulation, "Sleep" has become the "solution." As soon as the age of 21 is reached, the good citizen is expected to accept suicide for the benefit of society. Those that don't are known as runners and are viciously hunted down and killed. Logan used to be one of the hunters. Now he is one of the hunted.This book is a chilling look at the impact of overpopulation and way that will effect policies in the future. In a world where population numbers are spirling out of control, "Logan's Run" is a window into what our world might become. This book deserves a spot on the bookshelves of every SF fan and a place in the back of every mind as a firm warning of what the future could hold.