A Successful or Failed Social Experiment - An Invitation to Let the Readers Decide
Those who have read the novel Levels are invited to share their personal opinion as to whether or not the experiment to create and sustain a perfect society and ideal physical and psychological environment for its members has succeeded or failed.
Those wishing to participate may respond in the comment section at the end of this blog post, within any literary website's promotional thread for Levels or via the secure and private communication page of the book's website, created and maintained by the publisher. Please refrain from including spoilers, if possible.
With which, if any, of the prominent characters did you personally identify and why; perhaps saying to yourself: "Hey, that's me!"?
Cecil - Jonathan - Peter - Alfred - Robert - Clarence - Edward - Catherine - Andrew - Francis - Jade - Ronald - Phillip - Rose - Celeste - Lucille - Michael - Barbara - Dianne - Heather - Charlotte. (Listed in the order of their appearance in the story.)
Levels depicts the end result of a 300-year social experiment, during which institutions, philosophies and behavior believed to have contributed to the downfall of previous societies have been eradicated. Do you agree that all those selected had to be eliminated in order to achieve the ultimate goal or should some have been preserved?
Sensitive issues and relationships depicted and addressed throughout the story include attitudes and practices regarding deception, restrictions, death, spirituality, physical and mental impairment, sex loyalty and homosexuality. Do you believe they were handled appropriately and respectfully? If not, which do you think were not and why?
This exercise is not intended to incite passionate debate or question anyone's personal beliefs. It is simply a solicitation for input from those who have actually read the book. I personally would love to live in the world depicted in Levels, but understand why many would not.
I wish to thank those who have purchased and, presumably, read or listened to the novel and hope you enjoyed visiting the world of Levels as much as I enjoyed creating it.
Those wishing to participate may respond in the comment section at the end of this blog post, within any literary website's promotional thread for Levels or via the secure and private communication page of the book's website, created and maintained by the publisher. Please refrain from including spoilers, if possible.
With which, if any, of the prominent characters did you personally identify and why; perhaps saying to yourself: "Hey, that's me!"?
Cecil - Jonathan - Peter - Alfred - Robert - Clarence - Edward - Catherine - Andrew - Francis - Jade - Ronald - Phillip - Rose - Celeste - Lucille - Michael - Barbara - Dianne - Heather - Charlotte. (Listed in the order of their appearance in the story.)
Levels depicts the end result of a 300-year social experiment, during which institutions, philosophies and behavior believed to have contributed to the downfall of previous societies have been eradicated. Do you agree that all those selected had to be eliminated in order to achieve the ultimate goal or should some have been preserved?
Sensitive issues and relationships depicted and addressed throughout the story include attitudes and practices regarding deception, restrictions, death, spirituality, physical and mental impairment, sex loyalty and homosexuality. Do you believe they were handled appropriately and respectfully? If not, which do you think were not and why?
This exercise is not intended to incite passionate debate or question anyone's personal beliefs. It is simply a solicitation for input from those who have actually read the book. I personally would love to live in the world depicted in Levels, but understand why many would not.
I wish to thank those who have purchased and, presumably, read or listened to the novel and hope you enjoyed visiting the world of Levels as much as I enjoyed creating it.
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Christine wrote: "I'm one of those people who walk around humming "Imagine" by John Lennon. Depending on my frame of mind at the time, that song can make me cry. Your book was the literary equivalent of "Imagine" fo..."Christine,
Your astute observations are thought-provoking, sincere and honest, as your personal comments always are.
As you point out, human beings, at their current stage of development, would no doubt resist and attempt to sabotage such a social experiment. Even within the idealized setting described in Levels, very few of the inhabitants ever prove worthy of attaining the highest level. The only hope would be that, in some distant future, the process of evolution might eventually produce a being able to embrace the concepts promoted within the story.
Thank you for taking the time to comment. Never stop imagining. Some of mankind's greatest accomplishments began with someone thinking, "What if?" or "Why not?"
Jim Vuksic
I did not really identify with any particular character, but rather felt each provided different aspects of the human experience. Although many displayed some difficulty understanding, they accepted their fate with a very fatalistic attitude, and a nearly complete lack of emotion. Although required in your setting, I would definitely miss the passion and artistic creativity if it was gone from my world.
I thought the book was beautifully written and the story very interesting. The chance of this world existing, I believe is impossible. Regardless of the things removed, people are still people. On one hand, they are warlike and self-destructive, while on the other hand, they display artistic ability and passionate response. Despite my wishes to the contrary, I'm quite sure your world would have failed long before it hit the 300 year mark.
"LEVELS" allowed me to imagine a world I can only wish was real. Hopefully this is what you were looking for in a response.