Review: Shadrach in the Furnace

Shadrach in the Furnace Shadrach in the Furnace by Robert Silverberg
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

I came across this book completely by chance, and I decided to read it because I was intrigued by two attributes. The first was the title, and the second the fact that is a post-dated science fiction novel written in the seventies about 2012.

In the book by 2012 humanity had undergone a catastrophic crisis and the remaining 2 billion people are ruled by a single dictator, the Mongolian leader Genkins II Mao IV Khan. He is incredibly old and he is kept in good health by the unceasing efforts of his personal physician Shardach Mordecai. Shadrach has a bunch of electronic implants, wirelessly linked to the Khan that provide him with real time biometric information, so he can monitor his sole patient continuously. The whole world is plagued by an infectious disease called the rot, that everyone gets sooner or later, with the exception of the ruling elite in Ulan Batar who have access to a scarce antidote. The first half of the book sets the stage and introduces the characters of the drama. It is well written and, though action is scarce, I did not find it boring. The aristocrats surrounding the Khan have access to various forms of entertainment including, in true seventies style, sex and psychedelic escapades.

The crisis in the narrative occurs at the midpoint of the book. At this point the reader, at least I, expect the pace to pick up and action to kick in. In the dystopic narratives of our time, such as the Hunger Games, we expect the beleaguered hero to spring into action, take up arms, and single-handedly bring down the repressive regime. Shadrach doesn't. The reader, even the other characters in the book, grow frustrated with his persistent inaction. Shadrach surprises us by not being the impulsive action hero we've come to expect, but a stoically serene individual who likes to examine things from all angles. He adheres to his principles with integrity and takes his Hippocratic Oath seriously. The protagonist's lengthy introspection made the book a bit slow at times, but I found the novelty of the narrative refreshing. Even though I do not count it among my favorite books, I quite enjoyed reading it.



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