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The Psyman: Freedom is the prison we built for ourselves
In our oxygen-soaked future, the three F's of Fear, Freedom and Fame reign supreme, surveillance is a way of life, and the Gobblers are tightly controlled by the Sharps.In this dystopian, post-apocalyptic world, Necker experiences a war like no other, Bock lives through the peaks and troughs of transient fame and becomes a revolutionary, and Biz is drafted into the ranks of the Sharps, destined to rule.But Biz is different to the other Sharps, and when he learns why, he also learns the key to restoring true Freedom to the people. Will he liberate the minds and change the lives of the Gobblers, or does fate have something else in store for him?Nick Bruechle's dark vision of a fame-obsessed society wreathed in war and propaganda is by turns wry, terrifying and sad. His world is beautifully realised, chillingly authentic, and far too close to our own reality for comfort. The Psyman will have you questioning the nature of freedom, the art of propaganda and the dangerous distractions of fame.
248 pages, Paperback
Published June 21, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 19, 2023
I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed The Psyman.
From its veiled commentary on today’s reality TV, to its surprising, and satisfying, conclusion. Reading it sometimes gave me a sense of Orwell’s 1984 (although not as dark) crossed with Sachar’s HOLES. In particular, I liked the unique and memorable names given to its characters. Names like Biz, Bock, Flaunch, Pinion, Particle and Necker have a certain ring to them that fits the tone and place of the story.
In the near-future, people are classified as either Gobblers or Starks. Gobblers live sedate lives tied to their TV-enabled cocoons, waiting for their turn to be selected as the next YouStar famers. This is the chance each one craves for their moment of stardom, before they are replaced next month by new famers and instantly relegated to the forgotten. Sharps, unlike Gobblers, are smart and resourceful, essentially the brains of the operation. Without giving away any spoilers, I liked the differentiation between the two and the causation based on O2 and CO2, or lack of.
The Psyman follows the stories of Biz, Bock, and Necker, first as children under the guidance of their teacher Gneiss, then as adults embarking on their own journeys in that strange world; some as Gobbler, some as Sharp. I liked the premise of Necker volunteering to go to war, but not the kind of war as we know it (although it would be the kind of war we’d prefer – no spoilers here).
In all, the story of The Psyman flowed nicely and was easy to follow.
From its veiled commentary on today’s reality TV, to its surprising, and satisfying, conclusion. Reading it sometimes gave me a sense of Orwell’s 1984 (although not as dark) crossed with Sachar’s HOLES. In particular, I liked the unique and memorable names given to its characters. Names like Biz, Bock, Flaunch, Pinion, Particle and Necker have a certain ring to them that fits the tone and place of the story.
In the near-future, people are classified as either Gobblers or Starks. Gobblers live sedate lives tied to their TV-enabled cocoons, waiting for their turn to be selected as the next YouStar famers. This is the chance each one craves for their moment of stardom, before they are replaced next month by new famers and instantly relegated to the forgotten. Sharps, unlike Gobblers, are smart and resourceful, essentially the brains of the operation. Without giving away any spoilers, I liked the differentiation between the two and the causation based on O2 and CO2, or lack of.
The Psyman follows the stories of Biz, Bock, and Necker, first as children under the guidance of their teacher Gneiss, then as adults embarking on their own journeys in that strange world; some as Gobbler, some as Sharp. I liked the premise of Necker volunteering to go to war, but not the kind of war as we know it (although it would be the kind of war we’d prefer – no spoilers here).
In all, the story of The Psyman flowed nicely and was easy to follow.
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October 2, 2017I'm not rating Aurealis entries (unless I read them before they were submitted).
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews