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Blind Faith [Paperback]

Ben Elton
3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (107 customer reviews)
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Book Description

16 May 2008 0552773905 978-0552773904 Reprint

Imagine a world where everyone knows everything about everybody. Where 'sharing' is valued above all, and privacy is considered a dangerous perversion.

Trafford wouldn't call himself a rebel, but he's daring to be different, to stand out from the crowd. In his own small ways, he wants to push against the system. But in this world, uniformity is everything. And even tiny defiances won't go unnoticed.

Ben Elton's dark, savagely comic novel imagines a post-apocalyptic society where religious intolerance combines with a sex-obsessed, utterly egocentric culture. In this world, nakedness is modesty, independent thought subversive, and ignorance is wisdom.

A chilling vision of what's to come? Or something rather closer to home?


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Product details

  • Paperback: 368 pages
  • Publisher: Black Swan; Reprint edition (16 May 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0552773905
  • ISBN-13: 978-0552773904
  • Product Dimensions: 12.7 x 2.2 x 19.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (107 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 59,343 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

Book Description

A dark, savagely comic novel from the bestselling author of Chart Throb.

From the Inside Flap

Imagine a world where everyone knows everything about everybody. Where what a person ‘feels’ and ‘truly believes’ is protected under the law, while what is rational, even provable, is condemned as heresy. A world where to question ignorance and intolerance is to commit a Crime against Faith. Imagine it. Or just wait until After The Flood. On a hot Sagittarian morning in the year 56 ATF, Trafford Sewell struggles to work through the usual crowds of near-naked commuters. He is confronted by the intimidating figure of his Parish Confessor. Why has Trafford not been streaming his every moment of sexual intimacy on to the community website like everybody else? Does he think he's different or special in some way? Better than his fellow man and woman? Does he have something to hide? Ben Elton’s dark, savagely comic novel imagines a post-apocalyptic society where religious intolerance combines with a confessional sex -obsessed, egocentric culture to create a world where nakedness is modesty, ignorance is wisdom and privacy is a dangerous perversion. A chilling vision of what’s to come? Or something rather closer to what we call reality? --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars a dark, dark dystopian satire 11 Aug 2008
Format:Paperback
Purely by chance, I read this novel shortly after completing The Book Of Dave by Will Self. Both novels use an imagined dystopian future England, decimated after severe flooding covers half the country, for a satire about the state of the nation today. As both novels appeared around the same time, this is clearly a coincidence; both Self and Elton aim at many of the same targets, but while Self's satire is like the point of a dagger skilfully skewering his targets, Ben Elton prefers the repeated hammering over the head with a blunt instrument.

Not that there is anything wrong with this. Elton has addressed the vacuousness of modern life before, and he doesn't spare his anger here. Ben Elton, like Will Self, sets his aim squarely at religious dogmatism. He is clearly horrified by the rise in creationism in the USA, which is starting to make its presence felt in the UK, and takes this to its logical conclusion, where science and rationality are rejected in favour of the titular 'blind faith' and a 'me' culture.

The first thing you should know about this novel is that it isn't funny. At all. Anyone familiar with Ben Elton's work will know that he uses comic situations to address serious issues; there is precious little to laugh about in Blind Faith, just a growing horror as the fast-paced plot drags you in.

It is about 100 years in the future. After a flood, Britain has become a much smaller country. People not only live and work in extraordinary proximity to one another, but are ruled by a religious fanaticism where privacy is frowned upon and belief in evolution- in reason of any kind- is banned. Furthermore, every aspect of one's life is required to be posted online. But Trafford, our protagonist, has the makings of a dangerous subversive- he has a secret.
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26 of 29 people found the following review helpful
By H
Format:Hardcover
Many of the other reviewers have compared this book with Orwell's 1984 and without a doubt there are parallels. But what Elton also brings into play is an analysis of the current rise of religious fundamentalism and its rejection of science and logic. As well as being set in a post apocalypse police state this novel is also set in a world that has reverted to the dark ages where science is outlawed and faith is all that is to be believed.

A preview of a post global-warming world. The possible conclusion of today's FaceBook/You Tube and reality TV fixation. And a total denunciation of the mindlessness of reactionary religion. All in an easy to read and fast paced novel.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Very different 19 Sep 2008
Format:Paperback
Having just read a very turgid novel, it was a relief to read Blind Faith as a flowing original view on a futuristic society. It is a great comment on modern paranoia transgressing into a fake plastic society based on the Internet generation hooked on reality TV and dismissive of inoculation as evil. Some great Ben Elton humour throughout and another original offering - Ben's only ever written 1 book that I have not enjoyed to date (Dead Famous)
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Oh Brave New(ish) World 26 Dec 2012
Format:Paperback
When God gave out "subtlety" Ben was at the end of the queue. However, he didn't have to wait long at the "cynicism" line, and he uses both to maximum effect in "Blind Faith". Elton sets this book in the future so that he can take a swipe, or a sledgehammer, at the way our current society is going. He invents a world that takes Orwell's 1984, crosses it with Big Brother (TV version), Jerry Springer, the Evangelical Right, the X Factor, our fast food culture, the self-help industry....you name a small annoyance in our current shallow and vacuous Western World and Elton pours bile and scorn over the lot if it. And entertaining it is too, but it's a bit of a Curate's Egg. It's not difficult to believe that in the near future the Virgin Mary will be replaced by Lady Diana in the religious canon, nor that parents will name their kids something like Caitlain Happymeal, but the relentless succession of such constructs begins to irritate after a while. So does his portrayal of the rebellion against this society. Guess what? Intelligent people like real books, revere science above religion, hate mindless television and prefer solitary reflection to the crush of crowd.
If you're thinking of reading this, then you probably know what to expect from the author. Ben Elton, it seems to me, would like to write a modern day "Crime and Punishment" or "Brave New World" but just wouldn't be able to resist slipping in a few fart and knob gags. He also lays on his message with a trowel, and it's a trowel the size of a football pitch. If you can forgive him this, then you'll enjoy "Blind Faith".
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By AK TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
First of all, if you are expecting comedic writing, or laugh out loud moments, you will be disappointed. The book works as a satire - a slight exaggeration of social developments of say the last 15 years - and as such it might at best produce a wry grin at the mastery of it, or thoughtfulness about where it is all going.

Still, that does not detract from the book's other qualities. Ben Elton paints a pretty damning picture of today's society - transported about 80 or so years ahead in time, into a fictional, post ice cap melting England, characterised by a 1984 meets Jerry Springer / Ricky Lake meets Big Brother (not the 1984 variety) meets Facebook meets self help guru and televangelism. All this combined with a complete breakdown of public services and transport, as well as practically disappearing medical services. Basically a sinking down to the lowest common denominator, to an existence intellectually not much above that of Middle Ages.

In a way the author is holding up a mirror to today's society (and the picture is far from pretty), at the same time exaggerating somewhat for effect and placing it sufficiently out of the here and now so as not to antagonise too many readers. Shockingly, reading something like Wrong: Why Experts* Keep Failing Us-And How to Know When Not to Trust Them: Scientists, Finance Wizards, Doctors, Relationship Gurus, Celebrity Ceos, demonstrates that Elton is much closer to the truth than one would at first assume.

Without giving too much away, the book is rather dark (especially so towards the end) and while a glimmer of hope is shown just before the end, this is not a feel good book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars Steamy Windows or NesTea Whopper?
Trafford Sewell has a secret. Actually, that is only one of his secrets. In a post-diluvian London, flooded circa 2029 - give or take - things have changed. Read more
Published 4 months ago by P Newman
4.0 out of 5 stars Should be made mandatory reading for 17 year olds
Everybody is offered the illusion of fame. Everybody is expected to keep up a blog. But the Government don't really care enough about the people even to offer their children the... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Ms. Sarahjane Mackenzie
2.0 out of 5 stars Ok read
I enjoyed this book. Its different however had a political message that talks to the current hedonistic lifestyle people pursue. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mr P Knowles
5.0 out of 5 stars Blind Faith - a nightmare 1984.
This was a truly dark and sinister view of what our not-too-far future might look like. These are signs we see clearly in this country too, and being a rational and non-religious... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Lisbeth Wigdahl
5.0 out of 5 stars Conform or Perish
Ben Elton
Blind Faith

`The Lord made Heaven and Earth. The Lord made us. The Lord does this, the Lord wants that. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Mr. D. James
5.0 out of 5 stars In the footsteps of a classic
While taking nothing away from Ben Elton's ability or inventiveness, there are some obvious influences in this excellent novel whose main theme appears to be the modern worship of... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Barry Lees
5.0 out of 5 stars Ben Eltons blind faith
I bought this book to share. Written ten years ago it is easy to see things moving in the direction he has written about. It starts slow but then i had to keep reading. Read more
Published 9 months ago by iinfrequent reader
2.0 out of 5 stars Rip Off
Do not read this book before you have read George Orwell's 1984. I foolishly made that mistake. It is a forgery of Orwell's genius, only lacking the originality, detail and... Read more
Published 11 months ago by gileo
5.0 out of 5 stars Should appear on the secondary school syllabus
Every century should have its dystopian novel. The 21st century now has its. Addressing the very issues which are eroding the accomplishments of civilization, Elton's novel is a... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Bibliomage
2.0 out of 5 stars No gags here
And not much analysis either. Pretty grim all round. Not Ben at his best. Too much rant and not enough thought.
Published 18 months ago by William Best
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