The Anti-Death League (1966)

Kinglsey Amis at very near the top of his game, which means several laugh-out-loud moments, numerous nimble linguistic constructions, twists and turns of all sorts, and shameless manipulation of character and reader. I hope it won't be considered spoiling for me to mention the author's characteristic and thoroughgoing nastiness tinging toward sadism. Nearly all of Amis' characters, even the army chaplain, have lost their faith, and one has taken his spiritual crisis so far as to write poems titled "To A Baby Born Without Limbs," and to concoct an association dedicated to eradicating death. And it is true, of course, that we live in a world full of the most appalling situations. But a character in a Kingsley Amis novel lives in one that is just that little bit worse, since he or she has to contend with a creator who makes it his business to thwart any and everyone in his little world and to offer moments of pleasure or good cheer only in order to administer a particularly nasty fly swat. ( )

סאטירה אנטי מילחמתית של אמיס​ ( )

Great writing, great characterization, plot good. ( )