Level 7 (Library of American Fiction) by Mordecai Roshwald
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Book Reviews of Level 7 (Library of American Fiction)
Book Review: Simple. Powerful. Timeless.
Summary: 5 Stars
Powerful. If only because its related in such a simple matter-of-fact way up until the buttons are pushed. And then the mounting sense of ?? as you realise level by level that all humanity will die when level 7 dies.
Maybe I read too much into it, but the 7th level in Dante's inferno is populated by the violent, the assasins (Push Button Technicians who will release the bombs?) . The 7th level is also overwhelmed by a powerful stench (X127 thought he could smell the dried waste that took up space beside the dried 'food'.) Dante's 7th level had woods of stunted gnarled trees (the emotionally stunted inhabitants of level 7 unable to make real emotional connections to others? Willing suicides of the 7th level are perhaps equivalent to level 7's willingness to be dead to the outside world?)
Level 5's politicians and important men that fall into civil disorder (killing those believed responsible for the End) before their own end is reminiscent of Dante's level of wrath where they tear at each other with their teeth.
Except, no levels 8 & 9 in Roshwald's Hell.
Afterthought:
Once the people had gotten down to level 7, the level was permanently cut off from the rest of the levels and the surface. My question? How were they going to get back up to the surface after the 500 years and food ran out? And was ther no way to override this mechanism after the damaged reactor was discovered? Move up to level 6 or 5 (presuming it *was* just the water that was contaminated) and remain there until the reactor was fixed?
Though the impact would not have been nearly as tragic...
Book Review: Creates a lasting impression
Summary: 5 Stars
I first read this book in 1966 when I was an Air Force Lieutenant working at the Combat Operations Center inside Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado. I was writing software for the SPACETRACK system which tracked all satellites.
The level 7 bunker and the Cheyenne Mountain site have a lot in common. The Combat Operations Center is deep underground at the end of a one quarter mile long tunnel drilled into the solid granite of Cheyenne mountain. Inside the mountain are massive blast doors that lead to large buildings mounted on giant coil springs. The site was designed to manage a nuclear war and to withstand direct hits by nuclear weapons.
When I worked there, the Public Relations literature said it was "invulnerable to nuclear attack". Years later the literature said "highly resistant to nuclear attack." Technology marches on...
Both the level 7 bunker and the Cheyenne mountain site were designed to sustain life after nuclear war. Both had large supplies of fuel, food, etc., to allow life to continue until the radiation levels outside subsided sufficiently to venture outside again.
Fortunately, the Cheyenne Mountain site inhabitants have not yet experienced the events that the Level 7 inhabitants experienced.
I loaned the book to a co-worker and never saw it again! I assume it made the rounds of many of my colleagues working in the mountain. The book made a VERY lasting impression. I am glad to see that it is available again.
Book Review: 1959 Version is a Fast and Good Read
Summary: 5 Stars
The book I read was published in 1959-before I was even born. I hesitated reading it but was glad I did.
Some people are "selected" to be permanently moved underground to "survive" IF there is ever a nuclear war. Depending on "who" they are, they can be placed on one of 7 Levels with the lower you go down the more important you are. Level 7 people are safer and more important than level 1 people and the humanity up top are apparently worthless.
People below are named after their jobs like TN-237m for Teacher/Nurse number 237 married instead of just Jack or Joe. If you worked in Air Supply your name would be AS-your number in your job, etc. People get married over an intercom and break up just as easily. The book is about the psychological aspects of people being treated like a number and how they feel after the nuclear war (there is one) and being stuck down in the different levels and how they feel as the levels die.
I enjoyed the book even if it was written in 1959. I didn't miss the characters not having cell phones and lap tops because the book was about the characters behavior. Human nature hasn't changed because people would act the same way today.
Book Review: One of my favorite Sci Fi books
Summary: 5 Stars
What makes sci-fi and fantasy fun is the ideas. What makes great sci fi are those works that are still meaningful after decades of technical and social change.
Level 7 is one of those books. I read it for the first time 30+ years ago, and it's still scary. Nuclear winter may be less on our minds these days, but this tale will stick with you.
I have the the original hard back edition, but it's available in paperback now.
Book Review: Gripping...
Summary: 5 Stars
The diary of the PBX officer was compelling. I could not put it down. I became absolutely engrossed in the day to day entries. Although set in the 50's, the tale itself is timeless. My only criticism would be that I would've rather the diary stood on its own without the essays before and after it. They were tedious and unnecessary as the story itself speaks volumes.