Colorful writing and characters, old ground. ( )

I have not seen either the original series or the remake. I saw this book at the library and thought at first it was the book that the series was based on. I rmemeber a friend telling me abou the series and about "Number Six".

After I checked out the book, I realized it was written after the series came out. I liked the book - up until the ending. The ending made no sense to me and was a disappointment because I was interested in the story up until that point.

Perhaps if I saw the series I would change my mind on that point but after reading the book, I have no desire to see the series. ( )

Well-written, and the plot is resolved at the end (no spoilers given here, in case you haven't seen the tv show or the new movie!).
Depends too much on the "mystery" and is more abstract than I personally prefer. ( )

I wanted to like this. Interesting premise, but with an ultimately disappointing lack of revelation. Also, this guy's writing style made me batty. Lack of dialog markers left me frequently wondering who the heck was talking, and while I suppose that probably cooperated with the theme of the story (which, as far as I could tell was "you can never trust anything"), it was awfully annoying. Meh.

Recommended by: Joe K. ( )

The Prisoner

By Thomas M. Disch

Publisher: Penguin Books

Published In: New York, New York

Date: 1967 / 2009

Pgs: 242

Summary:

A secret agent decides to retire from the great game. Only someone doesn’t want him to. Boarding a train to the little house he’s picked out for his retirement, he settles down for a nap. When he awakens, he is laid out in a train station at The Village. Try as he might, he can’t find out where the Village is or get a call out to anyone. The other people all act as if being trapped in the Village is just the most natural thing. He comes to understand that some are prisoners and some are guards, though the identities may be mixed up and hidden. Your friend may really be your friend…or they may be your jailer. No names…only numbers. Number 6 isn’t going to be broken.

Genre:

Spy, action, sci fi, prison

Main Character:

Number Six

Favorite Character:

Number Six

Least Favorite Character:

Number Seven…he’s just too much of an ingratiating prick. Though, he is a very well imagined ingratiating prick. And considering him in the context in which he appears and interacts with Six, he’s wonderful at it.

Favorite Scene:

Six’s confrontation with the Rover ball guardian that stalks the Village perimeter.

Plot Holes/Out of Character:

The relationship between Two, Seven, and Forty-One is clear as mud. And for that matter, Six and Fourteen.

Last Page Sound:

Hmmm…that’s alright. Not great. But alright. I should look up the original series and watch it. Maybe see if I can catch the AMC The Prisoner mini series.

Author Assessment:

I would love to read more of Disch’s stuff.

Disposition of Book:

Half price book it. ( )