2 / 5 Stars‘The End Bringers’ (Ballantine SF, 1973), by Douglas R. Mason, features a striking orange-red cover illustration of a city’s destruction by well-known artist Chris Foss.
The UK's Douglas Rankine Mason (1918 - 2013), who also wrote under the name John Rankine, was a prolific author of science fiction novels and short stories during the 1960s and 1970s.
'The End Bringers' is set in the future, where, in the aftermath of some undescribed cataclysm, the remnants of mankind live in high-tech cities maintained by robots. Most of the robots are fashioned to have a quasi-human appearance, and, referred to as ‘androids’, they handle every function of the city’s operation.
'The End Bringers' is set in the future, where, in the aftermath of some undescribed cataclysm, the remnants of mankind live in high-tech cities maintained by robots. Most of the robots are fashioned to have a quasi-human appearance, and, referred to as ‘androids’, they handle every function of the city’s operation.
The human population is left to indulge in every pleasure they may desire. ‘Mood-control disks’ attached to each person’s wrist display their emotional state; if things get too upsetting, androids monitoring the disk intervene to reduce tension and send their human client back on their hedonistic way.
Mike Finnigan, who resides in the city of Wirral in what used to be Europe, is a malcontent among this society of lotus-eaters. Rather than taking part in orgies, drug parties, or simple leisure activities like sailing or swimming, Finnigan likes to ask questions about how the city came to be........and what, exactly, the robots gain from the unusual socio-economic arrangement.
Mike Finnigan, who resides in the city of Wirral in what used to be Europe, is a malcontent among this society of lotus-eaters. Rather than taking part in orgies, drug parties, or simple leisure activities like sailing or swimming, Finnigan likes to ask questions about how the city came to be........and what, exactly, the robots gain from the unusual socio-economic arrangement.
One day a large segment of the city’s population is summoned to be carted off for ‘medical treatment’ related to an outbreak of disease. Mike Finnigan is one of the selectees, but instead of going along with the group, he covertly leaves the roundup and observes from a distance as the monorail-load of people travels to the vast agricultural districts outside the boundaries of the city.
There, he discovers that the androids’ rule is not entirely benevolent...........
‘The End Bringers’ is a workmanlike production from author Mason. Its 208 pages don't reflect the innovative mindset of the New Wave era then dominating sci-fi writing, but rather are more in keeping with the standard tropes (such as the 'Rule of the Robots') of the genre.
‘The End Bringers’ is a workmanlike production from author Mason. Its 208 pages don't reflect the innovative mindset of the New Wave era then dominating sci-fi writing, but rather are more in keeping with the standard tropes (such as the 'Rule of the Robots') of the genre.
While the potting is reasonably well handled, I can’t say Mason's writing is stylistically impressive. ‘Bringers’ has too many passages where he employs a breezy, future-sounding argot that instead comes across as stilted and contrived:
“That Alex has a point. You’d be a hard case to share a pillow with. Questions, questions. It’s just a feeling. A sense of obligation. The again bite of inwit.”
***
Wanda said, “I hope to God these zombies aren’t just playing dumb and waiting for us to get well in before they do their thing.”
***
Finnigan said, “Where would the entrances be ? In squares like this, for a monkey.”
I can't declare 'The End Bringers' a classic of 70s sci-fi, but those looking for a fast-paced, pulpish SF adventure may want to give it a try.
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