Level 7 (Library of American Fiction) by Mordecai Roshwald
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Book Reviews of Level 7 (Library of American Fiction)
Book Review: dated badly.
Summary: 3 Stars
I really wanted to like this one, but the premise of the book is rather dated, very Dr Strangelove with (spoiler warning) the missile command crew and their support staff (and children to be) being forcibly incarcerated in a bunker for 500 years. And they all have stupid names like X-127 instead of real names. And with the exception of a couple of souls, everyone seems quite happy to be there and no one seems at all perturbed that they are locked underground. The characters all act in an extremely unrealistic manner and to cap it all, there is a pre-quel involving visitors from a Martian archaeological expedition (groan). I think I might be over hard on the style of sci-fi from that date because it will inevitably date, but this book could be re-written too much better effect, it could make an excellent film as well in an updated version as there is much to discuss in the premise. I can see the importance of this book in terms of a historical and social capture of a time, and also in the context of awareness raising for the issue (as the author explains in his interesting preface) but I couldn't get away from the dated style. Sorry. :-(Book Review: Level 7
Summary: 3 Stars
An interesting book, but the ending left something to be wished for. In fact, the book became more and more interesting as I read and then just stopped. Also, the introduction about Martian exploration was pointless.Book Review: Moral Equivalency ruined this story for me
Summary: 2 Stars
I am a fan of "end of the world" stories. I read them regularly and enjoy them immensely. I came across "Level 7" while exploring a string of "other customers also bought" recommendations on Amazon, and decided to give it a try.
"Level 7" was first published in 1959. It is constructed as the diary of Officer X-127 - a military officer who is part of the country's nuclear weapons program. X-127 is deployed to Level 7 of a vast underground complex. Level 7 is responsible for the offensive capabilities of the nuclear arsenal (Level 6 is defensive, Level 5 is living quarters for the elite and political classes, etc.). You learn about life underground, the eventual start of a full scale nuclear war, and the aftermath for the survivors - all through the eyes of X-127.
"Level 7" was written at a time when the nuclear arms race was in full swing. Roshwald has said that he intentionally removed as many cultural and situational cues as he could, so that any reader; American, Russian, etc. could project themselves in to the story and see things through X-127's eyes. To me, that is what ultimately proved to be the book's fatal flaw, and where the story lost its hold on me. That sense of moral equivalence, while perhaps useful as a literary device, is a dangerously naïve way to look at the world. The - "they may be bad but we're no better, we all need to change" mantra is one shared by many. Yes, on a basic human level "we" are all the same; but to think that, in a world of political ideology and governments of men, there is essentially no difference between democracy and communism is foolish at best, dangerous at worst.
Books like these try to use a clever literary device or unique perspective to "open the mind" of the reader and show them the futility of war. I'm not buying it. To think that we could solve all of the world's problems if we could just get rid of all of the weapons is a laudable outcome, supported by a foolish plan of action. To paraphrase a great man, who paraphrased many before him - the path to peace lies through strength.
I have to give this book 2 stars. For some it may present a very nuanced and thoughtful look at the subject of global warfare. For me, it was too simplistic and too naïve. To be clear, I don't agree with the political viewpoint of story - but I've read plenty of other science fiction that took a contrary political viewpoint from me, but still delivered an engaging and entertaining story. Thankfully, much like war it described, this book was short. Unlike X-127, however, I survived - now I'm moving on.