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“It was a good job that history books were hard to come by, that diaries were hidden or destroyed and that libraries put gentle obstacles in the way of research…”
In the dystopian future Ofnow, “WHAT HAPPENED, IF IT HAPPENED”, or TWITTERNACHT, is not for discussion. An act of genocide, of such tragic proportion occurred; society determined that everyone would change their names (“ …that great beneficent name change to which the people gave their wholehearted consent is that tracing lineage is not only as good as impossible, it is unnecessary. We are one big happy family now. “Ofnow encourages citizens to adopt a manner of apologizing profusely to everyone. “And generally, if not individually, the habit of delivering brisk, catch–all apologies is much to be preferred to morbid memory, which embalms the past in the Proustian fluids of the maudlin”. The past is to be hidden and Reading groups are licensed. Citizens are only allowed possession of one heirloom over 100 years old.
The Professor of the Benign Visual Arts, Densdell Kroplik is assigned by Ofnow to monitor solitary Kevern Cohen, a professor of woodcarving, at the same Academy. Spoiler Alert: So it would appear that Ofnow wishes Kevern and a new resident Ailinn to cohabitate and produce a child. Because the government has decided that they must bring back the race which was obliterated during “WHAT HAPPENED, IF IT HAPPENED, because they feel it is necessary to restore the necessary balance of societal antagonism. “I am who I am because I am not them, you tell yourself.”
Jacobson novel is compelling and very readable. I wanted so badly to love it. However, I did not and I loathe the ending, which may be a reference to Masada. But I don’t care anymore and will spend no more time trying to understand this novel. I would not however, compare it to 1984 or Brave New World.
Recommended for readers who enjoy titles from the Man Booker list.
