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266th out of 493 books
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326 voters
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City of Truth
In Veritas, people have been conditioned to always tell the truth, no matter how unnerving the truth may be. Jack Sperry must learn to lie in order to save his son in this witty science fiction novella. Recipient of a 1992 Nebula Award.
Paperback, 160 pages
Published
May 7th 1993
by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
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Although clever, I did not find this book funny, or scary. It provided good social commentary.
A simple premise; if you lived in a land where you were conditioned to tell no lies, could you lie to your dying son and tell him he was going to be OK? While funny at times, the story is so very heart-wrenching and sad: James Morrow just knows how to write great books.
In the city of Veritas people cannot lie, which also results in truthful product names and advertising. Products like the Plymouth Adequate and the Ford Sufficent are great, and a sign hanging on an elevator says "...more
In the city of Veritas people cannot lie, which also results in truthful product names and advertising. Products like the Plymouth Adequate and the Ford Sufficent are great, and a sign hanging on an elevator says "...more
[from my book lover's journal at the time of reading:]
I read this in one day, so obviously it's an easy read. Strangely, the diction changes about 1/3 through, when Morrow decides to use a large number of "vocabulary words." As with Mary Doria Russel's The Sparrow, the ending couldn't possibly be as big as the subject, but i rate The Sparrow as more satisfying and appropriate.
Morrow's satire lost its punch soon after Jack Sperry's son Toby gets sick. Leaving Veritas ...more
I read this in one day, so obviously it's an easy read. Strangely, the diction changes about 1/3 through, when Morrow decides to use a large number of "vocabulary words." As with Mary Doria Russel's The Sparrow, the ending couldn't possibly be as big as the subject, but i rate The Sparrow as more satisfying and appropriate.
Morrow's satire lost its punch soon after Jack Sperry's son Toby gets sick. Leaving Veritas ...more
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Started off great, but as it went on I found the concept harder and harder to buy into. I get that the people of Veritas had to tell the truth, but telling the truth is much different than always saying exactly what is one one's mind. I mean, there is a difference between a woman asking you if you want sex, and then answering "yes," or "no" truthfully, than just walking up to a woman and telling her you want to have sex with her. One is being truthful, the other is just be...more
It's been over a decade since I have read this. However, after reviewing The Truth Machine, I felt I should mention this one, as well. From the few books of his that I have read, it seems that James Morrow comes up with a unique twist on something and then runs it with as long as possible.
For example, the idea in this book is that everyone must tell the truth all of the time. Unfortunately, I don't think that worked as well with this story as some of his others. One could argue th...more
For example, the idea in this book is that everyone must tell the truth all of the time. Unfortunately, I don't think that worked as well with this story as some of his others. One could argue th...more
This book is okay and it is a quick read. I read two books by Morrow that I loved so much, I went on line and bought all of his books. I have been pretty disappointed. The idea is clever enough, but Morrow goes overboard with the examples of what would happen if we could only speak the truth and it is predictable overall. It is a perfectly fine way to spend a few hours, but I can't say you should run right out and buy it.
I really liked this little novelette about a city where people are conditioned (think Clockwork Orange-conditioned) not to lie and how that affects their lives. I even, umm, teared up at the end, because I am lame. A very quick read.
This is the book that introduced me to Morrow and a better introduction couldn't have been made. It sets down a good premise and runs with it while introducing you to the clever and slightly twisted mind of the author.
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Really interesting concept and good ideas, a little lightweight in the execution but a quick, fun read. I'd give it 3.5 if there were half stars in this rating system.
As soon as I read the summary of what this book was about, it instantly reminded me of Ricky Gervais' The Invention of Lying. This book is so short and easy to read. I think I'll enjoy where this story takes me.
The premise was better than the execution. I read Morrow out of order, and he definitely develops as an author.
Very good little fable about truth, fantasy, and the dangers of extremes. My first Morrow.
Scifi Museum: Wow. Funny for the first half, heartbreaking for the second. Great stuff.
was a good read was intresting plot.. and a easy read.. morrow is a good sci fi writter
An awesome, quick little read.
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Like 1984, this is an anti-utopian book. However, it starts from a premise that everyone would like to believe would work: everyone has to tell the truth. It shows how even an often-wished reality would really, once again, be worse than expected. Read it. As an honesty junkie, I enjoyed it and appreciate the lies in the world that much more.
this came highly recommended. it's about a backward science fiction world where everyone tells the truth. i couldn't get into it. clever, yes. interesting, no.
but then it takes some pretty good science fiction (or magical realism) to overcome my aversion to the genre.
but then it takes some pretty good science fiction (or magical realism) to overcome my aversion to the genre.
In theory, I should really like this book. It's a good idea, and it was even executed passably well. I was just so bothered by so many people considering things to be lies that obviously weren't lies.
Sort of an interesting science-fiction writer with a philosophical soft-touch. If I remember correctly, the author has lived and worked in the town where I went to college.
Clever with the flying and pigs and the money that grows on trees. I'm a sci-fi fan so this was a quick and fun read with lots of ties to Brave New World.
A fun, quick story about a man who goes out of his way to try to save his son from a fatal disease. Funny and touching all at the same time.
The jacket summary of this book is far more entertaining than the book itself. Great idea, not particularly well executed.
interesting satire - everyone has been conditioned to tell the truth - always. one can only imagine!
Good novella that explores the importance of truth and the usefulness of lies. A quick evening read.
A simple, quick read, yet funny, tragic and very smart. The "burn" scene was chilling.
if you like a formula that works, you will love this book half as much as i did
A good lesson in reality and perception.
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