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The Prisoner Omnibus
Three classic Prisoner novels, each based on the extraordinary cult TV series.
The Prisoner; He's a top-level agent, but he wants out. They won't let him quit, but he quits anyway. Then suddenly there comes the dawn when he wakes up in captivity. He is a prisoner is a pleasant old-style village that's packed solid with electronic hardware. Is he good enough, sharp enough to escape the men who've chained his life to the wall?
Who is Number Two; Free to busy himself or to do nothing. Free to ask questions. Free even to try to escape. But not to leave. The Guardians saw to that. Intercepted him, and shepherded him back. Left him to try and fail again. Would giving up be the only true rebellion he could muster?
A Day in the Life; In this sinister wonderland for show who know too much ever to know freedom, the average day is just a trip to the grocer's, a conversation with a Number...and a chance to escape...
The Prisoner; He's a top-level agent, but he wants out. They won't let him quit, but he quits anyway. Then suddenly there comes the dawn when he wakes up in captivity. He is a prisoner is a pleasant old-style village that's packed solid with electronic hardware. Is he good enough, sharp enough to escape the men who've chained his life to the wall?
Who is Number Two; Free to busy himself or to do nothing. Free to ask questions. Free even to try to escape. But not to leave. The Guardians saw to that. Intercepted him, and shepherded him back. Left him to try and fail again. Would giving up be the only true rebellion he could muster?
A Day in the Life; In this sinister wonderland for show who know too much ever to know freedom, the average day is just a trip to the grocer's, a conversation with a Number...and a chance to escape...
- GenresScience Fiction
396 pages, Paperback
First published April 2, 2002
32 people want to read
About the author
Thomas M. Disch
379 books320 followersThomas Michael Disch was an American science fiction writer and poet. He won the Hugo Award for Best Related Book—previously called "Best Non-Fiction Book"—in 1999. He had two other Hugo nominations and nine Nebula Award nominations to his credit, plus one win of the John W. Campbell Memorial Award, a Rhysling Award, and two Seiun Awards, among others.
His writing includes substantial periodical work, such as regular book and theater reviews for The Nation, The Weekly Standard, Harper's, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Times Literary Supplement, and Entertainment Weekly.
As a fiction writer and a poet, Disch felt typecast by his science fiction roots. "I have a class theory of literature. I come from the wrong neighborhood to sell to The New Yorker. No matter how good I am as an artist, they always can smell where I come from".
Following an extended period of depression after the death in 2005 of his life-partner, Charles Naylor, Disch stopped writing almost entirely, except for poetry and blog entries, although he did produce two novellas. Disch fatally shot himself on July 4, 2008, in his Manhatten (NYC) apartment.
Naylor and Disch are buried alongside each other at Saint Johns Episcopal Church Columbarium, Dubuque, Iowa. His last book, The Word of God, which was written shortly before Naylor died, was published a few days before Disch's death.
His writing includes substantial periodical work, such as regular book and theater reviews for The Nation, The Weekly Standard, Harper's, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Times Literary Supplement, and Entertainment Weekly.
As a fiction writer and a poet, Disch felt typecast by his science fiction roots. "I have a class theory of literature. I come from the wrong neighborhood to sell to The New Yorker. No matter how good I am as an artist, they always can smell where I come from".
Following an extended period of depression after the death in 2005 of his life-partner, Charles Naylor, Disch stopped writing almost entirely, except for poetry and blog entries, although he did produce two novellas. Disch fatally shot himself on July 4, 2008, in his Manhatten (NYC) apartment.
Naylor and Disch are buried alongside each other at Saint Johns Episcopal Church Columbarium, Dubuque, Iowa. His last book, The Word of God, which was written shortly before Naylor died, was published a few days before Disch's death.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 23, 2020
A collection of three novels set in the Prisoner universe. The Prisoner, Who is Number Two?, and A Day in the Life. Each of the novels is loosely connected and are all set after the final episode of The Prisoner "Fall Out". They offer very little new information to that show's setting, but they all that unmistakably weird element that makes a good Prisoner story. A fun collection, but only for fans of the show. If you haven't seen it, then you will be lost.
September 24, 2014
When I first watched The Prisoner as a kid, and indeed when I watch it back now, I was/am simply blown away by the sheer insanity of the whole thing. I didn't understand the paranoia completely it has to be said, but the main character, known as Number Six, seemed awesome. No matter what those who ran The Village put him through, he bounced back. He began with a campaign of aggressive resistance, trying to escape at every opportunity, and then he decided to put his effort into destroying The Village from within.
For anyone who hasn't seen the series, I’m not going to spoil it for you. If you have only seen the 2009 “remake” starring Jim Caviezel and Ian McKellen, well… I’m sorry, but was NOT “The Prisoner”.
There are three books in this one omnibus. So what was I expecting from this collection of stories? I was hoping for some of the same madness and intrigue that this highly original series brought to our television screens. Did I get it? Hummmm, I’m not sure. Did I like the books? Yes, I have to say I did.
The first one The Prisoner written by Thomas M Disch is a nice amalgam of various episodes from the series, not word for word but it does have the essence of each episode it references. It begins in a similar style to the (original) TV series. A top level intelligence agent is disillusioned by his life and decides he needs to get out. His bosses (or are they?) have other ideas. He prepares for a trip, but never makes it to his final destination, waking up instead in the mysterious and strangely European looking Village where his captors designate him Number Six. Where is this place? Apart from “In the Village”, he has no idea. Who runs it? It could be anyone of the major powers. What do they want from him? Information as to why he resigned. Will he give it to them? Not if he can help it. Being a huge fan of the series, there is some of the essence of the program that sprang from the slightly twisted genius minds of Patrick McGoohan and George Markstein that I rather liked, and as such is worth reading.
The second book The Prisoner: Who Is Number Two? by David MacDaniel sees our hero, actually more of an anti-hero, Number Six free to do anything he likes. He can do whatever he feels. He can ask any question. He can go anywhere he likes… except outside the village. Again there is some of the essence of the series that I rather liked, and again it does come across as a book that is worth reading.
The third and final book in the omnibus The Prisoner: A Day in the Life by Hank Stine gives us a chance to see the everyday routine of Number Six as he goes to the shops, has meals, speaks to other residents and… makes a break for freedom. In a way, it’s very like watching The Matrix. It has that feel about it. Like Neo, Number Six must escape from the unreality of his “normal” surroundings and rebel against those that oppress not only him but the other prisoners of The Village. Will he do it? You’ll have to read the book/books to find out.
For anyone who hasn't seen the series, I’m not going to spoil it for you. If you have only seen the 2009 “remake” starring Jim Caviezel and Ian McKellen, well… I’m sorry, but was NOT “The Prisoner”.
There are three books in this one omnibus. So what was I expecting from this collection of stories? I was hoping for some of the same madness and intrigue that this highly original series brought to our television screens. Did I get it? Hummmm, I’m not sure. Did I like the books? Yes, I have to say I did.
The first one The Prisoner written by Thomas M Disch is a nice amalgam of various episodes from the series, not word for word but it does have the essence of each episode it references. It begins in a similar style to the (original) TV series. A top level intelligence agent is disillusioned by his life and decides he needs to get out. His bosses (or are they?) have other ideas. He prepares for a trip, but never makes it to his final destination, waking up instead in the mysterious and strangely European looking Village where his captors designate him Number Six. Where is this place? Apart from “In the Village”, he has no idea. Who runs it? It could be anyone of the major powers. What do they want from him? Information as to why he resigned. Will he give it to them? Not if he can help it. Being a huge fan of the series, there is some of the essence of the program that sprang from the slightly twisted genius minds of Patrick McGoohan and George Markstein that I rather liked, and as such is worth reading.
The second book The Prisoner: Who Is Number Two? by David MacDaniel sees our hero, actually more of an anti-hero, Number Six free to do anything he likes. He can do whatever he feels. He can ask any question. He can go anywhere he likes… except outside the village. Again there is some of the essence of the series that I rather liked, and again it does come across as a book that is worth reading.
The third and final book in the omnibus The Prisoner: A Day in the Life by Hank Stine gives us a chance to see the everyday routine of Number Six as he goes to the shops, has meals, speaks to other residents and… makes a break for freedom. In a way, it’s very like watching The Matrix. It has that feel about it. Like Neo, Number Six must escape from the unreality of his “normal” surroundings and rebel against those that oppress not only him but the other prisoners of The Village. Will he do it? You’ll have to read the book/books to find out.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews