Cynical novel that describes an America ruled by the media, arms manufacturers, and ethnic figureheadsA book that describes 7 layers of existence, we are living in the 3rd one and we know heaven as the 5thNovel set in Roman ruled BritainSearching for novel involving space pilots with multiple armsSeeking boneless legs and arms storyRecent sci-fi novel: ancient spaceship found in South AmericaNovel that draws from Eastern European (Romanian?) folkloreFantasy novel with lighthouse keeper and his daughterNovel about a tattoo that comes to life and jumps off the person's bodyNovel that features the ultra wealthy able to buy body parts of poor for self enhancementTrilogy with giant (6') earthworm like aliens in the first novel and, cannibalistic people in the second novel

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Cynical novel that describes an America ruled by the media, arms manufacturers, and ethnic figureheads


A book that describes 7 layers of existence, we are living in the 3rd one and we know heaven as the 5thNovel set in Roman ruled BritainSearching for novel involving space pilots with multiple armsSeeking boneless legs and arms storyRecent sci-fi novel: ancient spaceship found in South AmericaNovel that draws from Eastern European (Romanian?) folkloreFantasy novel with lighthouse keeper and his daughterNovel about a tattoo that comes to life and jumps off the person's bodyNovel that features the ultra wealthy able to buy body parts of poor for self enhancementTrilogy with giant (6') earthworm like aliens in the first novel and, cannibalistic people in the second novel













11















The timeline was only about ~20-30 years out. It takes place mostly NYC and has a huge emphasis on the influence of the media, guns, and race relations in the US.



One of the protagonists hosts a radio show and has significant influence. A major driver of the plot is this guy's daily broadcast that focuses on gossip. Another protagonist is a performer with some superhuman ability to connect with people emotionally. The final protag is a soldier of some kind that turns out to be an AI housed in a man's body.



South Africa is a huge political influence on what happens in the States. It seems like this was written in the apartheid era because race is at the forefront. Other major players are the mental health institution (who planned on literally institutionalizing everyone) and an megacorp that makes weapons, tech, and sells arms (from guns up to Ironman-esque power suits) door to door. There is even a section where riot control and suppressing the poor with violence is described as a casual civic duty like jury duty.



I really have no idea how popular this book was/is or when it was published. There was a common pattern of Dr. Seuss naming where common things became "widgets" and "gidgets" that made it a more difficult read than it had to be. So far I've had no luck with searches or other forums. Overall it was very enjoyable and I'd recommend it if you guys happen to find out the title.










share|improve this question

















  • 2





    "So far I've had no luck with searches or other forums." Did you ever find anything it might be that you can rule out?

    – TheLethalCarrot
    Mar 26 at 16:41






  • 1





    @5AM - A list of things that it isn't would be very helpful

    – Valorum
    Mar 26 at 16:47






  • 1





    Wow I just found it while trying to answer your questions. It's The Jagged Orbit by John Brunner. Thanks guys! Do I just uhh close this question now?

    – 5AM
    Mar 26 at 16:53






  • 6





    Don't close it! Someone else might have the same question someday. You can answer your own question and then we will have a record of it.

    – DavidW
    Mar 26 at 16:55






  • 1





    @5AM Post your own answer to the question and accept it, if you're feeling helpful. This site works as a Q&A database, so although now you don't really need the answer, having it posted as an answer is useful for future readers (the answer should explain how the details match, see other identification questions)

    – JMac
    Mar 26 at 16:55















11















The timeline was only about ~20-30 years out. It takes place mostly NYC and has a huge emphasis on the influence of the media, guns, and race relations in the US.



One of the protagonists hosts a radio show and has significant influence. A major driver of the plot is this guy's daily broadcast that focuses on gossip. Another protagonist is a performer with some superhuman ability to connect with people emotionally. The final protag is a soldier of some kind that turns out to be an AI housed in a man's body.



South Africa is a huge political influence on what happens in the States. It seems like this was written in the apartheid era because race is at the forefront. Other major players are the mental health institution (who planned on literally institutionalizing everyone) and an megacorp that makes weapons, tech, and sells arms (from guns up to Ironman-esque power suits) door to door. There is even a section where riot control and suppressing the poor with violence is described as a casual civic duty like jury duty.



I really have no idea how popular this book was/is or when it was published. There was a common pattern of Dr. Seuss naming where common things became "widgets" and "gidgets" that made it a more difficult read than it had to be. So far I've had no luck with searches or other forums. Overall it was very enjoyable and I'd recommend it if you guys happen to find out the title.










share|improve this question

















  • 2





    "So far I've had no luck with searches or other forums." Did you ever find anything it might be that you can rule out?

    – TheLethalCarrot
    Mar 26 at 16:41






  • 1





    @5AM - A list of things that it isn't would be very helpful

    – Valorum
    Mar 26 at 16:47






  • 1





    Wow I just found it while trying to answer your questions. It's The Jagged Orbit by John Brunner. Thanks guys! Do I just uhh close this question now?

    – 5AM
    Mar 26 at 16:53






  • 6





    Don't close it! Someone else might have the same question someday. You can answer your own question and then we will have a record of it.

    – DavidW
    Mar 26 at 16:55






  • 1





    @5AM Post your own answer to the question and accept it, if you're feeling helpful. This site works as a Q&A database, so although now you don't really need the answer, having it posted as an answer is useful for future readers (the answer should explain how the details match, see other identification questions)

    – JMac
    Mar 26 at 16:55













11












11








11


3






The timeline was only about ~20-30 years out. It takes place mostly NYC and has a huge emphasis on the influence of the media, guns, and race relations in the US.



One of the protagonists hosts a radio show and has significant influence. A major driver of the plot is this guy's daily broadcast that focuses on gossip. Another protagonist is a performer with some superhuman ability to connect with people emotionally. The final protag is a soldier of some kind that turns out to be an AI housed in a man's body.



South Africa is a huge political influence on what happens in the States. It seems like this was written in the apartheid era because race is at the forefront. Other major players are the mental health institution (who planned on literally institutionalizing everyone) and an megacorp that makes weapons, tech, and sells arms (from guns up to Ironman-esque power suits) door to door. There is even a section where riot control and suppressing the poor with violence is described as a casual civic duty like jury duty.



I really have no idea how popular this book was/is or when it was published. There was a common pattern of Dr. Seuss naming where common things became "widgets" and "gidgets" that made it a more difficult read than it had to be. So far I've had no luck with searches or other forums. Overall it was very enjoyable and I'd recommend it if you guys happen to find out the title.










share|improve this question














The timeline was only about ~20-30 years out. It takes place mostly NYC and has a huge emphasis on the influence of the media, guns, and race relations in the US.



One of the protagonists hosts a radio show and has significant influence. A major driver of the plot is this guy's daily broadcast that focuses on gossip. Another protagonist is a performer with some superhuman ability to connect with people emotionally. The final protag is a soldier of some kind that turns out to be an AI housed in a man's body.



South Africa is a huge political influence on what happens in the States. It seems like this was written in the apartheid era because race is at the forefront. Other major players are the mental health institution (who planned on literally institutionalizing everyone) and an megacorp that makes weapons, tech, and sells arms (from guns up to Ironman-esque power suits) door to door. There is even a section where riot control and suppressing the poor with violence is described as a casual civic duty like jury duty.



I really have no idea how popular this book was/is or when it was published. There was a common pattern of Dr. Seuss naming where common things became "widgets" and "gidgets" that made it a more difficult read than it had to be. So far I've had no luck with searches or other forums. Overall it was very enjoyable and I'd recommend it if you guys happen to find out the title.







story-identification books






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked Mar 26 at 16:35









5AM5AM

1947




1947







  • 2





    "So far I've had no luck with searches or other forums." Did you ever find anything it might be that you can rule out?

    – TheLethalCarrot
    Mar 26 at 16:41






  • 1





    @5AM - A list of things that it isn't would be very helpful

    – Valorum
    Mar 26 at 16:47






  • 1





    Wow I just found it while trying to answer your questions. It's The Jagged Orbit by John Brunner. Thanks guys! Do I just uhh close this question now?

    – 5AM
    Mar 26 at 16:53






  • 6





    Don't close it! Someone else might have the same question someday. You can answer your own question and then we will have a record of it.

    – DavidW
    Mar 26 at 16:55






  • 1





    @5AM Post your own answer to the question and accept it, if you're feeling helpful. This site works as a Q&A database, so although now you don't really need the answer, having it posted as an answer is useful for future readers (the answer should explain how the details match, see other identification questions)

    – JMac
    Mar 26 at 16:55












  • 2





    "So far I've had no luck with searches or other forums." Did you ever find anything it might be that you can rule out?

    – TheLethalCarrot
    Mar 26 at 16:41






  • 1





    @5AM - A list of things that it isn't would be very helpful

    – Valorum
    Mar 26 at 16:47






  • 1





    Wow I just found it while trying to answer your questions. It's The Jagged Orbit by John Brunner. Thanks guys! Do I just uhh close this question now?

    – 5AM
    Mar 26 at 16:53






  • 6





    Don't close it! Someone else might have the same question someday. You can answer your own question and then we will have a record of it.

    – DavidW
    Mar 26 at 16:55






  • 1





    @5AM Post your own answer to the question and accept it, if you're feeling helpful. This site works as a Q&A database, so although now you don't really need the answer, having it posted as an answer is useful for future readers (the answer should explain how the details match, see other identification questions)

    – JMac
    Mar 26 at 16:55







2




2





"So far I've had no luck with searches or other forums." Did you ever find anything it might be that you can rule out?

– TheLethalCarrot
Mar 26 at 16:41





"So far I've had no luck with searches or other forums." Did you ever find anything it might be that you can rule out?

– TheLethalCarrot
Mar 26 at 16:41




1




1





@5AM - A list of things that it isn't would be very helpful

– Valorum
Mar 26 at 16:47





@5AM - A list of things that it isn't would be very helpful

– Valorum
Mar 26 at 16:47




1




1





Wow I just found it while trying to answer your questions. It's The Jagged Orbit by John Brunner. Thanks guys! Do I just uhh close this question now?

– 5AM
Mar 26 at 16:53





Wow I just found it while trying to answer your questions. It's The Jagged Orbit by John Brunner. Thanks guys! Do I just uhh close this question now?

– 5AM
Mar 26 at 16:53




6




6





Don't close it! Someone else might have the same question someday. You can answer your own question and then we will have a record of it.

– DavidW
Mar 26 at 16:55





Don't close it! Someone else might have the same question someday. You can answer your own question and then we will have a record of it.

– DavidW
Mar 26 at 16:55




1




1





@5AM Post your own answer to the question and accept it, if you're feeling helpful. This site works as a Q&A database, so although now you don't really need the answer, having it posted as an answer is useful for future readers (the answer should explain how the details match, see other identification questions)

– JMac
Mar 26 at 16:55





@5AM Post your own answer to the question and accept it, if you're feeling helpful. This site works as a Q&A database, so although now you don't really need the answer, having it posted as an answer is useful for future readers (the answer should explain how the details match, see other identification questions)

– JMac
Mar 26 at 16:55










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















14














The book is The Jagged Orbit by John Brunner.




The novel is set in the United States in 2014, when interracial tensions have passed the breaking point. A Mafia-like cartel, the Gottschalks, are exploiting this situation to sell weapons to anyone able to buy them. A split develops within the cartel, between the conservative old men and ambitious underlings prepared to use new computer technology to pull off some spectacular coups.



There are several separate strands of narrative following particular characters. James Reedeth is a young psychologist at New York's major mental health institution who is disenchanted with his job and his employer, the revered Elias Mogshack. Lyla Clay is a "pythoness," a young woman capable of metabolising certain psychedelic drugs to enter a trance in which she makes unconscious predictions. Matthew Flamen, a "spoolpigeon" (a variety of investigative journalist), is struggling to hold onto his job, and by his obsessive behaviour has driven his wife into Mogshack's asylum.



The plot is contrived to bring the strands together and resolve matters by a lengthy discussion between Flamen, Reedeth, Lyla Clay, Pedro Diablo (Flamen's African-American counterpart), Xavier Conroy (a long-time critic of Mogshack), and Harry Madison (a former patient at Mogshack's asylum).




I was way off in my date estimation, it's crazy how well the tech was predicted. I found it from a "top X dystopian sci-fi novel" list. Thanks for the probing questions






share|improve this answer




















  • 3





    If you could add how any details from the story might match your question, it would make it far easier for future readers to determine if this is what they are looking for.

    – JMac
    Mar 26 at 17:06






  • 1





    An excellent and underrated novel. Or maybe not underrated, just never heard of.

    – davidbak
    Mar 26 at 21:19











Your Answer








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1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes








1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









14














The book is The Jagged Orbit by John Brunner.




The novel is set in the United States in 2014, when interracial tensions have passed the breaking point. A Mafia-like cartel, the Gottschalks, are exploiting this situation to sell weapons to anyone able to buy them. A split develops within the cartel, between the conservative old men and ambitious underlings prepared to use new computer technology to pull off some spectacular coups.



There are several separate strands of narrative following particular characters. James Reedeth is a young psychologist at New York's major mental health institution who is disenchanted with his job and his employer, the revered Elias Mogshack. Lyla Clay is a "pythoness," a young woman capable of metabolising certain psychedelic drugs to enter a trance in which she makes unconscious predictions. Matthew Flamen, a "spoolpigeon" (a variety of investigative journalist), is struggling to hold onto his job, and by his obsessive behaviour has driven his wife into Mogshack's asylum.



The plot is contrived to bring the strands together and resolve matters by a lengthy discussion between Flamen, Reedeth, Lyla Clay, Pedro Diablo (Flamen's African-American counterpart), Xavier Conroy (a long-time critic of Mogshack), and Harry Madison (a former patient at Mogshack's asylum).




I was way off in my date estimation, it's crazy how well the tech was predicted. I found it from a "top X dystopian sci-fi novel" list. Thanks for the probing questions






share|improve this answer




















  • 3





    If you could add how any details from the story might match your question, it would make it far easier for future readers to determine if this is what they are looking for.

    – JMac
    Mar 26 at 17:06






  • 1





    An excellent and underrated novel. Or maybe not underrated, just never heard of.

    – davidbak
    Mar 26 at 21:19















14














The book is The Jagged Orbit by John Brunner.




The novel is set in the United States in 2014, when interracial tensions have passed the breaking point. A Mafia-like cartel, the Gottschalks, are exploiting this situation to sell weapons to anyone able to buy them. A split develops within the cartel, between the conservative old men and ambitious underlings prepared to use new computer technology to pull off some spectacular coups.



There are several separate strands of narrative following particular characters. James Reedeth is a young psychologist at New York's major mental health institution who is disenchanted with his job and his employer, the revered Elias Mogshack. Lyla Clay is a "pythoness," a young woman capable of metabolising certain psychedelic drugs to enter a trance in which she makes unconscious predictions. Matthew Flamen, a "spoolpigeon" (a variety of investigative journalist), is struggling to hold onto his job, and by his obsessive behaviour has driven his wife into Mogshack's asylum.



The plot is contrived to bring the strands together and resolve matters by a lengthy discussion between Flamen, Reedeth, Lyla Clay, Pedro Diablo (Flamen's African-American counterpart), Xavier Conroy (a long-time critic of Mogshack), and Harry Madison (a former patient at Mogshack's asylum).




I was way off in my date estimation, it's crazy how well the tech was predicted. I found it from a "top X dystopian sci-fi novel" list. Thanks for the probing questions






share|improve this answer




















  • 3





    If you could add how any details from the story might match your question, it would make it far easier for future readers to determine if this is what they are looking for.

    – JMac
    Mar 26 at 17:06






  • 1





    An excellent and underrated novel. Or maybe not underrated, just never heard of.

    – davidbak
    Mar 26 at 21:19













14












14








14







The book is The Jagged Orbit by John Brunner.




The novel is set in the United States in 2014, when interracial tensions have passed the breaking point. A Mafia-like cartel, the Gottschalks, are exploiting this situation to sell weapons to anyone able to buy them. A split develops within the cartel, between the conservative old men and ambitious underlings prepared to use new computer technology to pull off some spectacular coups.



There are several separate strands of narrative following particular characters. James Reedeth is a young psychologist at New York's major mental health institution who is disenchanted with his job and his employer, the revered Elias Mogshack. Lyla Clay is a "pythoness," a young woman capable of metabolising certain psychedelic drugs to enter a trance in which she makes unconscious predictions. Matthew Flamen, a "spoolpigeon" (a variety of investigative journalist), is struggling to hold onto his job, and by his obsessive behaviour has driven his wife into Mogshack's asylum.



The plot is contrived to bring the strands together and resolve matters by a lengthy discussion between Flamen, Reedeth, Lyla Clay, Pedro Diablo (Flamen's African-American counterpart), Xavier Conroy (a long-time critic of Mogshack), and Harry Madison (a former patient at Mogshack's asylum).




I was way off in my date estimation, it's crazy how well the tech was predicted. I found it from a "top X dystopian sci-fi novel" list. Thanks for the probing questions






share|improve this answer















The book is The Jagged Orbit by John Brunner.




The novel is set in the United States in 2014, when interracial tensions have passed the breaking point. A Mafia-like cartel, the Gottschalks, are exploiting this situation to sell weapons to anyone able to buy them. A split develops within the cartel, between the conservative old men and ambitious underlings prepared to use new computer technology to pull off some spectacular coups.



There are several separate strands of narrative following particular characters. James Reedeth is a young psychologist at New York's major mental health institution who is disenchanted with his job and his employer, the revered Elias Mogshack. Lyla Clay is a "pythoness," a young woman capable of metabolising certain psychedelic drugs to enter a trance in which she makes unconscious predictions. Matthew Flamen, a "spoolpigeon" (a variety of investigative journalist), is struggling to hold onto his job, and by his obsessive behaviour has driven his wife into Mogshack's asylum.



The plot is contrived to bring the strands together and resolve matters by a lengthy discussion between Flamen, Reedeth, Lyla Clay, Pedro Diablo (Flamen's African-American counterpart), Xavier Conroy (a long-time critic of Mogshack), and Harry Madison (a former patient at Mogshack's asylum).




I was way off in my date estimation, it's crazy how well the tech was predicted. I found it from a "top X dystopian sci-fi novel" list. Thanks for the probing questions







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited Mar 26 at 17:20









FuzzyBoots

94.9k12292453




94.9k12292453










answered Mar 26 at 17:02









5AM5AM

1947




1947







  • 3





    If you could add how any details from the story might match your question, it would make it far easier for future readers to determine if this is what they are looking for.

    – JMac
    Mar 26 at 17:06






  • 1





    An excellent and underrated novel. Or maybe not underrated, just never heard of.

    – davidbak
    Mar 26 at 21:19












  • 3





    If you could add how any details from the story might match your question, it would make it far easier for future readers to determine if this is what they are looking for.

    – JMac
    Mar 26 at 17:06






  • 1





    An excellent and underrated novel. Or maybe not underrated, just never heard of.

    – davidbak
    Mar 26 at 21:19







3




3





If you could add how any details from the story might match your question, it would make it far easier for future readers to determine if this is what they are looking for.

– JMac
Mar 26 at 17:06





If you could add how any details from the story might match your question, it would make it far easier for future readers to determine if this is what they are looking for.

– JMac
Mar 26 at 17:06




1




1





An excellent and underrated novel. Or maybe not underrated, just never heard of.

– davidbak
Mar 26 at 21:19





An excellent and underrated novel. Or maybe not underrated, just never heard of.

– davidbak
Mar 26 at 21:19

















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