Inverted World

[Foxbat]

By Christopher Priest
Published 1974

Helward Mann lives in Earth City and, at the age of six hundred and fifty miles, has just been accepted as an apprentice within the Futures Guild. Emerging from the safety of the city that has always been his home, Mann discovers a world that is not as it should be. It is a world that seems prone to visual distortion….a world in which Earth City must constantly move northwards. To stop is to invite destruction.

As Helward begins his apprenticeship, he slowly begins to comprehend the nature of the world in which he lives….a world of infinite size within a finite universe.

A well written and imaginative book that begins slowly but soon gains momentum, drawing the reader into this very original and thought provoking novel. I found it always intriguing and never boring. There are moments of confusion – the descriptions of the effects of distortion and centrifugal force I found a bit difficult to get to grips with – but I think that is more a failing of my own comprehension rather than the writing itself.

The simple fact is that this book is a bit different. It has an edge, and Priest writes with enough intelligence and clarity to give it a level of credibility. All I can say is that it won’t be too long before I give this book another read. Good stuff!

I don’t know if this novel is still in print but it can be picked up pretty cheaply second-hand….and that lack of expense makes this book a must have for anybody looking for some decent, inexpensive Science Fiction.