This Crowded Earth [Paperback] Robert Bloch

Harry is tired of his life. The overcrowding and the repetition of his job take its toll on his mind to the point where he attempts to take his own life. When he wakes up, he finds himself in a small compound that he didn't think existed in the world anymore. I'm not going to say much more, I found that the little reveals were pretty rewarding in this book.I think the first thing to keep in mind is this was written in 1958. Even though years are mentioned in here that have passed, I'm definitely not complaining that he got it wrong. I think the author did a good job describing the mentality and consequences of what would happen in the world he built.Overall, I did enjoy this book. It's on the short side, but I think it ended when it needed to. I was impressed with the creativity and thoroughness of the world the author built with zero knowledge of the future. The end caught me by surprise, and it was a good read!

Great book

Robert Block is one of the best American story-tellers of the 20th Century. Mostly remembered for the writer of the novel Psycho, upon which Hitchcock based his masterpiece film, this is only a faint shadow of the body of work. A writer of novels, short stories and screenplays, Robert Bloch was a magnificent, original voice of horror and science fiction.

Robert Bloch offers a disturbing and chilling look at the consequences of overpopulation. This book came out in 1958, so parts of it were outdated, but other aspects were surprisingly prescient.In Bloch's version of the future (which covers our present day), the population has grown until their is basically no more room for people to live. Draconian laws are enacted to deal with the problem, and the book covers a time span as these laws take effect.Where the book works is how the author is able to put a human touch on what is happening. He is able to show us, through his characters' eyes, just what would be the physical and emotional ramifications on the steps governments take. A general feeling of hopelessness is very well conveyed.Where it doesn't work is on the technical aspects. In Bloch's turn of the century, he as the world's population is correct at about 6 billion, but for him, this means 63 million in Philadelphia and 35 million in Chicago alone. And with 6 billion, there is literally no room for anyone to live. While overpopulation is an issue today, the numbers given don't justify the extreme measure taken. And with organic food at such a premium, his vision of hobo-turned cowboys to herd cattle makes little sense, as one example of his food vision not being up to par.His main vision, which he calls the "Leff Laws," would have no ability to rectify the problems given how they were implemented. I won't give too much way here, but the math just doesn't work out.One surprising mistake, given that the author is quite famous and had the advantage if numerous editors, is that he made numerous errors in math with regards to age. Each chapter was titled with the main character of the chapter's age and the year in which it took place. However, quite often, the age given for the character and the year in which the chapter took place did not match. This was an annoying lack of paying attention to detail.However, Bloch is a skilled writer, so while it goes against my grain, I have to give him a pass on much of the science and just grant him broad poetic license. The bottom line is that this is a gripping and engrossing tale which is just as enjoyable now as it must have been when it was first written.

Welcome to a world where all your needs are not only met, but have been analyzed to the nth degree to assure that you get no more than your fair share. Equal housing, equal medical care, equal education, equal jobs (where appitude is the only consideration to set your life course), equal (synthetic) food, equal pay and if all this "equalness" gets to be a bit too much, there's an equal allotment of little pillls called yellowjackets to, well, bring back your equillibrium.Ah, you may ask, how is all this "equalness" maintained? By the government, my friend, you now live in a nanny state, where all the information you need is scripted and beamed over telescreens. Forget, books, magazines and newspapers. All gone. Forget asking your neighbor, you probably don't know them and if you do, they only have access to the same information as you. Forget travel, the roads are overcrowded, speed limit is regulated to 15 miles an hour and what makes you think you qualify for a car to begin with?The only thing not regulated (it seems) is the right to breath in and out (but the air quality is questionable) and reproduction. Reproduction is still viewed as a given right and that the human instint to recreate is too strong for any restrictive measure to be affective.Therefore the world has become overpopulated. No disease or war, combined with an ever lenghtening lifespan, has everthing bursting at the seams. What's a man to do in this crush of humanity, where every footfall is measured and every turn brings you in contact with more and more people? Join Harry Collins as he goes sideways in This Crowded Earth. Highly recommend.