The Gods of Foxcroft

by David Levy, Paul Lehr (Illustrator)

Prisoners of everlasting life!

They fell in love on Planet Earth in the twentieth century, A.D.

Five hundred years later, miraculously returned to health but still human and vulnerable, they awoke to a man-made world that had ruled out love in favor of science. A world in space where no one was allowed to die and the only sin was attempted suicide.

Could they adjust to a second life that would never end?

Could they outwit the masters of outer space, The Gods of Foxcroft?

(Above description from book's back cover)

Genres: Science Fiction

231 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1970

Reviews

[Sarah Frog · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. The main character Steve wasn’t one I particularly related to. Julie wasn’t much better. Mac was just following orders but redeems himself towards the end. Julie ended up being a damsel in distress. I wish there would have been a chapter or two to sum up what happened to Delos and Tempus, and where Steve and Julie ended up. The problems earth faced in the book are similar to what we are facing now. Climate change, overpopulation, and tensions among nations which may bring about war. I liked the discussions among the characters about cloning and alterations of genetics. I also wish they would have revealed who Foxcroft was and their intentions. It couldn’t just be Delos because he was answering to someone. Overall the book asks do you want to live forever but not in the state you are currently in, but constantly undergoing surgery and alterations to survive the harshest environments because earth as you know it is dead and gone? Also all of the customs you have are gone and replaced with a sterile atmosphere where there is no need for emotions? Marriage and religion are considered relics of the past. Family and love are no longer needed you are just to serve foxcroft as an experiment to be a means to their end. Exploring the vast universe and undergoing constant change to adapt to where foxcroft sees fit. Is that a life worth living? When you can’t even choose to die? This books makes you think. I just wish there was a more thorough ending.

[Marcin Tokarz · Rating 1 out of 5]

David Levy was almost 60 when he wrote "The Gods of Foxcroft" and it shows. I got the impression that Levy wrote the book while struggling with a future shock, both coming to terms with his mortality, but also trying to escape it. Hence, the book reads like a long therapy session where Walker, the protagonist is processing his feelings about living out of his time, in a society he doesn't undetstand and doesn't want to accept. There is also of fair share of wish fulfillment, since the protagonist turns out to be unique and interesting to the people of the future not because of his actions (he does almost nothing and shows very little interest in his new circumstances) but due to a laten talent. He also immediately secures unconditional love from a young woman (even thoug he does nothing to win her over or to understand her) as well as interest from the etheral Tempus, woman from the future. In fact, the three women portrayed in the book, Julie, Sylvia and Tempus all revolve around the protagonist, showing very little agency and even then just asking Walker to take action for them. Even more creepily, Julie and Sylvia spend most of the book either unconcious or literally reduced to an object (a filament storing all the information about a person), while the men discuss what's best for them and take action on their behalf (assuming they know what's best for them). And finally, the authore seems to express a view that if a person sets their mind on commiting suicide, people who care about them should help and not try to stop them.
On the plus side, the book features great covers by Bruce Pennington and Paul Lehr.

[Alexandre Gràcia i Calvo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy buena distopía, con ideas geniales. Lástima del final, que es bastante pobre y poco aprovechado. Es como si el autor quisiera terminarlo rápido o cumplir un cupo de páginas:(

[Roguesnek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very exciting at the start but slows down towards the end.

[Lorena · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very 'talkative' book. Very well written with good dialogue. A couple of things that bother me: 1. The way McFarland speaks. I know it is meant as character trait, annoying. 2. The misogyny. This was obviously written in the 60's (published in 70) and was written by a man that didn't know women very well. The constant female stereotypes and how even an 'advanced' male only thinks of sex and an 'advanced' female only wants to fall in love, more annoying.

[Sebastian O'brien · Rating 2 out of 5]

A decent piece of dystopian sci fi heavy on ideas but light on story. More of a philosophical musing than a compellingly constructed piece of fiction. Characters sit around doing very little and speaking great reams of ponderous exposition. Still, if if that's what you're looking for, this will not disappoint.