Make Us Happy

by Arthur Herzog III

A thousand years in the future, society is run by computers, with not a gesture or activity unnoticed by their all-seeing detectors. Spacescrapers-three miles high, 1,000 stories, 1,000 people per floor-house 1,000,000 people. The divorce rate having climbed to 100 percent, the computers have made marriage almost illegal but adultery compulsory, with a resultant zero divorce rate. In this setting, Bil and Alce meet, marry, and, their sense of history whetted by a few old books and photos, decide to rebel. They set out to find the central computer bank and pull the plug. Captured and imprisoned on a Floating Island (where the computers put criminals to get their just desserts), Bil and Alce escape. Their odyssey is gripping suspense and wonderful entertainment, with an ingenious depiction of man vs. machine.

Genres: Fiction

247 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Arthur Herzog III (April 6, 1927 – May 25, 2010) was an American novelist, non-fiction writer, and journalist, well known for his works of science fiction and true crime books. He was the son of songwriter Arthur Herzog, Jr..

His novels The Swarm and Orca have been made into films. His science fiction novel IQ 83 is being made into a film by Dreamworks.

Herzog was also the author of non-fiction books: The Church Trap is a critique of Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish church organization and institutions particularly in the U.S; 17 Days: The Katie Beers Story, is about the kidnapping and child sexual abuse of Katie Beers.

Reviews

[Erik Graff · Rating 2 out of 5]

A comedic dytopian science fiction satire. Not very good.

[Claire]

Weird 1970's SF that I read when I was 11 and never understood, but has always stuck in my mind. Redolent of egg-chairs and orange plush pile carpets.

[Matt Street · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this forever ago - like when I was 15. It's a pretty damn odd dystopian future kinda story.