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One (Valancourt 20th Century Classics)

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One (Valancourt 20th Century Classics)

By: David Karp
Narrated by: Keith Brown
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About this listen

In a dateless future, a seemingly benevolent totalitarian state has eliminated poverty, crime, war, and religious intolerance and brought the happiness of conformity to its people. Professor Burden thinks he too is a loyal citizen, but the Department of Internal Examination discovers that he secretly values his individuality. Believing Burden to be a threat to the continued existence of the State, an examiner named Lark decides to cure him of his heresy and return him to being a normal, productive member of society - by persuasion if possible but by complete obliteration of his identity if necessary.

First published in 1953, One earned critical comparisons to the great dystopian novels of Orwell and Huxley. It is both a gripping psychological thriller and an indictment of totalitarianism that is more relevant today than ever before.

©1953, 1981, 2018 David Karp (P)2018 Valancourt Books Classics Dystopian Fiction Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction

Critic reviews

"The publishers have bracketed this novel with Darkness at Noon, Nineteen Eighty-Four and Brave New World, which I at first thought presumptuous; but now, after reading it, I am inclined to agree." (Cyril Connolly, The Sunday Times)

"[P]erhaps even more terrifying [than Orwell’s 1984]." (Saturday Review)

"A thriller, though physical danger is rarely present; a detective story without a detective; a vibrant chase without physical movement; and a restatement of an important ethical point which probably badly needs to be restated now. Compared to it, most of the Utopian writing of this century...is mere science fiction." (The New York Times)
All stars
Most relevant
This book was a kind of precursor to 1984 by George Orwell. It is not as scary as 1984 in my opinion but is still a very worthwhile listen. Very good narration.

An absorbing classic

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The poor relation of mid 20th century dystopian futurist writing, 1984 and Brave New World being its peer group. The sense of menace never falters, the exquisite psychological torture and attempted unravelling of a sovereign human being in the name of an ideology speaks to us now in this age of heresy and conformism. The narrators voice grew on me, though initially irritating, I appreciated his detached style. Read this at age 12 and 50 years later it has only increased in relavance. Please give it a shot.

Essential reading

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