Death in Florence

by George Alec Effinger

Utopia 3 is a movement spreading through the world, a project designed to mold everyone into people devoted to brotherhood and peace. A large portion of Europe is set aside for members of the pilot program. Each member is permitted to travel anywhere within the project, do anything, take anything without limit. Each person undergoes an indoctrination designed to prevent destructive or harmful acts. This is the meaning and hope of Utopia 3.This story focuses on three people: Eileen Brant, a weary young woman escaping the dead-end life she was leading; Justin Benarcek, a man who tries either too hard or not at all; and Bo Staefler, who, accompanied by a silent Arab boy, accidentally joins Utopia 3 by standing too near the genuine members at the wrong moment. These three people are caught up in a growing scheme, a deadly and evil plan that threatens to destroy the project and, ultimately, the entire world. A conflict greater than any war in history is about to be unleashed and only Brant, Benarcek and Staefler can hope to prevent it.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

185 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Death in Florence (which was printed with the title Utopia 3), is another absurdist science fiction novel in which Effinger depicts humanity existing in a world of uncaring bureaucratic forces that are impossible to oppose successfully or even to fully comprehend. (I think... I'm not sure I fully comprehended it fully...) In it, much of Europe has been designated as a lab where people who have been conditioned a la Clockwork Orange can develop a devotion to brotherhood and peace. It's all rather nebulous and not too rigorously explained; it's mostly a character study of the three people followed by the narrative, a depressing young woman in a dead-end situation, a hard-luck not-terribly-smart man, and another man caught up in it all (with his young Arabian sidekick) simply because he was standing too closely to the others when the operation kicked-off. There's also an underground nefarious evil plan they have to unravel. There are quite a few humorous exchanges and situations, and no real sense of menace or consequence arises because the humor tends to overtake and re-route it all. I did love the last page, which states that the end of the novel has been reached, thanks the reader for choosing George Alec Effinger, asks that everyone remains seated while the author brings the novel to a complete stop, and hopes that if the reader ever plans to read another novel that they will consider Effinger again. I left feeling amused, bemused, and confused; it was nice once, but not one I'll read again.

[Science and Fiction · Rating 1 out of 5]

I first read this in 1982 before having actually traveled to Europe and the travelog aspect of it had me practically drooling with desire to see the places where the great artists and writers and musicians had trod. But the concept, no doubt inspired by an evening of marijuana-inspired spit-balling, is, of course, quite ridiculous: that one third of Europe would be given over to a Utopian experiment were only a few hundred designated individuals could live and travel freely without any responsibilities. Having read it a second time after all these years, I find the writing style juvenile and often tongue-in-cheek, and the ending is not very well resolved. Put it in the donation box.

[Stephen Rowland · Rating 3 out of 5]

2½. Interesting, original enough. But the premise barely holds up and the entire undertaking is basically pointless.

[John Loyd · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dr. Waters has conceived the idea of Utopia 3 and somehow made it happen. A large tract of Europe has been vacated and a few people have been selected to live there. The idea is that these people will learn love and peace and that this will propagate not just throughout Utopia 3, but extend to the entire world.

We follow three of these people, Bo Staefler [and the Arab kid], Norman Moore and Eileen Brant as they travel through and set up homes in Utopia 3.

Let me start out by saying the writing is mildly entertaining, so reading it was not a complete waste of time. Now for the inexplicable, first of all relocating tens of millions of people is just logistically impossible. Getting them to leave behind all their worldly goods is unimaginable (except by the author). The Utopiates rather than cluster together or travel in pairs choose to live by themselves. It has to be a dreary existence. The need to scavenge for food, no electricity leading to a lot of dark nights, gloomy interiors, no air conditioning or even fans in the summer, relying of fire for heat in the winter. Without constant maintenance the infrastructure is going to lose out to nature. If the eventual plan is to bring in lots of people, that way of living is not sustainable. How many vehicles filled with gas can there be?

Basically preposterous, but the characters were likable enough that I easily read the whole book. If you're thinking some great payoff at the end, nope. 2 1/2 stars.

[Joe Santoro · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually like Absurdist stuff, and I've read and enjoyed George Alec Effinger before, but this one is just too much. Dr. Waters has come up with the path to peace.. by emptying out a city, and have a small amount of people move in and live off the remains. With no money and posessions, there should be no strife? It works on a small scale in America, so the world ends up agree to empty the great cities of Central Europe to try it out.

The book follows 3 people in the expiriment, who seem to be the only ones there, though it's implied there are others. None of them are likable in the least. It ends up the Dr. Waters is just a dictator, and one of the main character figures out the experiment is alot like communism.

The trick is, I'm not sure what Effinger is trying to say... he clearly doesn't like Standardized tests, or psychology, but otherwise, it's all just over the top stuff. Perhaps I missed something?

[Bill Ramsell · Rating 4 out of 5]

G.A. Effinger is one of my favorite authors. This novella is sort of allegory told with great bitter humor. Definitely recommended.