Cinematic Point Of View

Published in 1967, Reality Forbidden, by Philip E. High, is a fast paced, idea-driven science fiction novel about a dystopian future where an oppressive government controls every aspect of daily life using a fantastical advanced technology to squash individuality and enforce conformity.

The story takes place after a “Dream Device” has been invented that turns people’s dreams into a reality of sorts. As you can imagine, it becomes incredibly popular, so much so, that the majority of the world becomes addicted to this tech. This addiction eventually leads to the fall of civilization and war.

This is just the setup, as the story follows Kieron, an ordinary man who begins to see through the illusion of his society and discovers a hidden reality beyond what the government allows people to perceive.

“Forget it, let go, cry your damned eyes out, shut yourself up in your room and scream blue murder. Tear your sheets to bits and don’t fight self-pity, wallow in it until it sickens you. No one will know, only you; crack before tension cracks you; only you think you have to be so damn perfect and so damn self-controlled.”

Reality Forbidden‘s themes of addiction, technology, mental health, propaganda, mass media, mind control, reality, religious belief, social class, and power are just as relevant today, if not more so, then when he wrote it.

Every time I finish reading another Philip E. High book, I think “Oh, this is my favorite one.” I had that same feeling with this one. I think I might have an addiction.

And for some reason, whenever I review a book from this era, I always like to mention that, yes the execution of the story and characters can feel a bit dated, but to me that’s part of the charm of any book. It speaks from when it was written, giving you an extra layer to dissect and enjoy.

If you’re looking for a fast, fun, and thought provoking science fiction escape, give Reality Forbidden a shot.

Also, this book was an Ace Double, a series published with two stories in one book. I know people are always curious what the other book in the double was and, in this case, it was Contraband From Otherspace by A. Bertram Chandler. I have not read that one yet.