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The Inverted World

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About this listen

A uniquely powerful novel of a society in decay. On a planet whose very nature is a mystery a massive decrepit city is pulled along a massive railway track, laying the line down before it as it progresses into the wilderness.

The society within toils under an oppressive regime, its structures always on the point of collapse, the lives of its individuals lived in misery. No one knows where they are going, why they are going or what they will find when they get there. The ending of the novel provides one of the most profound twists in SF.

©2012 Christopher Priest (P)2012 Audible Ltd Science Fiction
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A great story that kept me intrigued from the get go. The technical descriptions helped to create a very believable world, although this did cause a lull in attention. The characters are well fleshed out and are always interesting. A good listen, great narrator.

Curiouser and curiouser

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an intriguing hypothesis, very original, though story seemed to drag a little. Nice clear diction by tbe narrator.

interesting, though a little laboured

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Brilliant and amazing and excellent. must read...well must listen. great narration and a great story. I need to read it again right now

Wow

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I loved The Prestige by CP and have waited for this one to come on Audible. It is a peculiar and very original story that has been praised for capturing the essence of what Science Fiction should be about. I found the slow progress of the city on wheels interesting and really wanted to know why the world within the book was as it was, forcing me to listen with rapt curiosity and when the denouement came, I was satisfied.



The opening phrase "I had reached the age of six hundred and fifty miles" has been described as "one of the most famous in science fiction" (Critic Paul Kincaid, Wiki) and to me it beautifully and succinctly captures the terrible situation of the ensuing story in just a few words.



Very interesting and enjoyable SF listen. Well read.

Interesting concepts

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What did you like best about The Inverted World? What did you like least?

The story opens and continues with an intriguing and fascinating take on a culture, but is let down by the authors need to try and find some sort of twist ending.

The reading is good, and the narrators scottish accent works surprisingly well. Would happily try some of his other narrations.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?


The twist is unsatisfactory, unnecessary, and rather betrays the rest of the book, making the reader feel they've wasted their time with the preceeding 2/3rds of the book. It is almost like a second author took over the story and decided to scrap the concept.

Having looked at some of Christopher Priests other books, it seems he is rather too hooked on the concept of an unreliable narrator, and in this case its to the books detriment.

If this book were a film would you go see it?

Not knowing the ending, no.

Intriquing concept ruined by final third

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