Intrusion (novel)

Intrusion is a 2012 science fiction novel by British writer Ken MacLeod.

Intrusion
First edition
AuthorKen MacLeod
Cover artistNico Taylor
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
GenreScience fiction
PublisherOrbit Books
Publication date
March 2012
Media typePrint (Hardcover and Paperback)
Pages387
ISBN1-84149-939-0

Plot summary

The protagonists are Hugh and Hope Morrison, a couple with a young son in a near-future, post-climate change London during the "Warm War". The United Kingdom is governed by the Labour Party in a technocratic government that pursues a policy of a "free and social market" by, in the words of one of its MPs, intervening to allow people to make the choices they would have made if only they had had all the information. In practice, this amounts to an attempt to create a conformist dystopia, "strongly encouraging" its citizens to make "the right choice". This brings the pregnant Hope into conflict with the state when she decides that she does not want to take "the Fix", a single-dose pill that would correct genetic errors in her unborn child. This draws her, Hugh and the state into a moral dilemma as she struggles against the pressure to conform.

Reception

Cory Doctorow reviewed Intrusion as "a new kind of dystopian novel: a vision of a near future "benevolent dictatorship" run by Tony Blair-style technocrats who believe freedom isn't the right to choose, it's the right to have the government decide what you would choose, if only you knew what they knew."[1]

The SFX review concluded "Intrusion is a finely-tuned, in-your-face argument of a novel that will annoy just about every reader (including this reviewer!) at some point. Whichever end of the political spectrum you fall, on MacLeod will push your buttons – and make you think."[2]

The novel made it onto the Locus Recommended Reading List for 2012[3] and is one of five novels nominated for the 2013 BSFA Award for Best Novel.[4] It has also been shortlisted for the 2013 Arthur C. Clarke Award.[5]

gollark: WHAT HAPPENED
gollark: WHY IS THERE RUST ADVOCATE 6
gollark: I see.
gollark: Wait, are you working on ZIRCONIUM DECEPTION too?
gollark: No, esobot okay?

References
  1. "Ken MacLeod's Intrusion: a surveillance and bioscience dystopia with the best of intentions". BoingBoing. Retrieved 2013-03-08.
  2. "Intrusion by Ken MacLeod". SFX. Retrieved 2013-03-08.
  3. "2012 Recommended Reading List". Locus. Retrieved 2013-03-08.
  4. "2012 Award Winners & Nominees". Worlds Without End. Retrieved 2013-03-08.
  5. "Arthur C Clark Award 2013 Shortlist Announced". SFX. Retrieved 2013-04-09.


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