This Perfect Day

By: Ira Levin

Narrated by: Kevin T. Collins

Length: 11 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

By the author of Rosemary's Baby, a horrifying journey into a future only Ira Levin could imagine...

Considered one of the great dystopian novels - alongside Anthony Burgess's A Clockwork Orange and Aldous Huxley's A Brave New World - Ira Levin's frightening glimpse into the future continues to fascinate listeners even 40 years after publication.

The story is set in a seemingly perfect global society. Uniformity is the defining feature; there is only one language and all ethnic groups have been eugenically merged into one race called "The Family". The world is ruled by a central computer called UniComp that has been programmed to keep every single human on the surface of the Earth in check. People are continually drugged by means of regular injections so that they will remain satisfied and cooperative. They are told where to live, when to eat, whom to marry, when to reproduce. Even the basic facts of nature are subject to the UniComp's will - men do not grow facial hair, women do not develop breasts, and it only rains at night.

With a vision as frightening as any in the history of the science fiction genre, This Perfect Day is one of Ira Levin's most haunting novels.

©1970 Ira Levin (P)2014 HarperCollins Publishers

Not Levin's best

This story was disappointing. Levin is usually an amazing writer, but this time not so much. Also, the reader uses a simple, child-like voice throughout the novel, so it's tiresome to listen to. If you wish to rrad Ira Levin, try any of his 3 other novels, that are brilliant & well read.

Warning

There is a rape scene, which in 1970 would possibly not have been the horrific event it is now (and should have always been). However, I’ve chosen to skip over that short but violent scene because it’s so disturbing. I had forgotten the rape altogether when I read the book as a teenager; we were very sheltered in those decades, I don’t believe I even knew what it meant at that time.

That said, I love the story and the narrator was great! Unfortunately, the topic has become more relevant and even possible, given the world political climate.

This perfect day

I have always loved this book. I have read it at least four times. Thank you

A well written Dystopian Story

I love a good Dystopian Story, only ruined by a poor reader , too much monotony or too much reliance on a predicted formulas which can happen in this genre. I was not disappointed. The reader was good. Nor magical, but good and the plot had enough twist and turns to keep this audio book worm happy.

Hits Too Close To Home

An almost too real story that frighteningly-accurately mirrors our modern ideologies, and grips you all-the-way-through!

Great story far ahead of its time

great story and just can’t imagine why this has not been made into a movie.

As a dystopia it could definitely be more dystopic

Plot-wise, it's not that bad. But as a dystopia, it could definitely be more dystopic. I don't want to go into any details now so as not to spoil anything, but this is one of those rare books that I believe should have been 50 pages shorter (not necessarily literally 50 pages, but you get what I mean). I felt that many details were nicely written and incorporated into the plot, but the general, darker, dystopic aspects of the book seem to be lacking originality. Otherwise, the book is easy and pleasant to read, at least as pleasant as dystopias go.

Perfect

Perfect Life in this SiFi book. How life shows up ...and if course there are surprises.

Wanderfal world it is

Wanderfal book.
Age-less story.
Grate narrator.
Another Sci-Fi classic added to my collection.
I will read it again in 30 years. and i wonder...

A Perfect Dystopian

This book was excellent from beginning to end. The storyline was intriguing. The characters were well written and were believable with respect to the society in which they lived. There is a graphic rape about 2/3 in, which can be skipped; you won't miss anything. The narrator did an outstanding job and distinguished the voices of the characters well.