Level 7

First off, let me say that this copy, which I got for under a dollar from The Paperback Rack, is the proud winner of Worst Cover Yet. Click on that thing and really check it out. It's like they summarized the plot for a seven year old, gave her glue and round-end scissors, and said, "do it up, kid."

Just had to say that, because it's sort of been bugging me.

With that out of the way, I did enjoy the book. It's a quick read, fairly slim, but nice and creepy in that nuclear-war-leading-to-the-complete-loss-of-human-life 1950s way. It's interesting in that the enemy isn't the Soviets (or even us, from their point of view), but the nuclear arms themselves. A 2 hour war is set off by a glitch in the system, and it wipes us out from top to show more bottom.

The whole thing is done diary-style, by a military man living 7 levels below the earth, where he should be among the safest people on the planet. His daily life, food, air, and social needs are met without worry. He has only to do his duty and stand the fact that he'll never be above ground again. It's the loss of sunshine, more than anything, that preys on him. You know, I suffer from a fear of being trapped underground, and I could feel the weight of all that rock and soil the whole time I was reading.

The style was a little dated, but what do you expect? It was written 50 years ago. My main complaint has to be the sexism that permeated the narrative. The main female character, although a psychiatrist and one of the chosen few living in the deepest, safest level, giggles and flirts and generally acts like a manipulative female stereotype. Frankly, even Heinlein does a better job writing women, and that ain't saying much.

final thought: Worth reading, but more as a blast from the past than a warning for now. show less

In the subgenre of apocalyptic nuclear war novels, this is one of the most disturbing, darkest and yet best-written of them all. The beauty of it is that at the end, you not only do not know the main character's name, you don't even know what side he was on, yet you weep with the knowledge that the last man left on earth is dying.

This book, a contemporary of On the Beach, was for some reason categorized as 'science fiction,' rather that as 'literature'' as was On the Beach, and so perhaps has not had the respect it deserved. It has, however, been continously in print, and J. B. Priestly called it 'easily the most powerful attack on the whole nuclear madness.'

The story takes place in a bunker that was built to protect people in the event of nuclear war. The country in which the bunker is located is unnamed. The more 'valuable' a particular group of people is determined to be, the lower the level in the bunker they will occupy. Level 7 is the deepest and most sacrosanct level, and it is reserved for the people who will 'push the button' to launch the nuclear show more warheads. They have received extensive training to obey orders without question.

This book was written near the height of the cold war, and is perhaps dated in its concept that a world-wide nuclear war between super-powers is the most likely scenario in which such weapons would be deployed. What has not changed, however, is the effect such nuclear exchanges will have on humanity, and the folly of believing that putting people in bunkers is a solution. show less

Written in 1959 Level 7 is in a similar vein to Alas, Babylon, a novel of atomic war written in the looming threat of atomic war, it's interesting albeit with a simplistic diary style of narration. Yet this doesn't take away from the slow looming horror that slowly unfolds.

It's not a very cheery book and I can't imagine it did much for the outlook of people who read it in 1959 & the 1960s, but it nonetheless is a good story, I also do find myself wondering if Hugh Howey got some of his inspiration for the Silo series (Wool, etc) from this or whether that's just a mere coincidence.

Bleak. With no chance of redemption whatsoever. If you like happy endings, you might want to stay away from this book.

This book is quiet similar to [b:On the Beach|38180|On the Beach|Nevil Shute|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327943327s/38180.jpg|963772] and [b:Alas, Babylon|38169|Alas, Babylon|Pat Frank|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347633133s/38169.jpg|37962], both in the era in which they were published and the primary subject matter with which they deal: nuclear apocalypse. While I personally found [b:On the Beach|38180|On the Beach|Nevil Shute|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327943327s/38180.jpg|963772] totally unimpressive and a drag, [b:Alas, Babylon|38169|Alas, Babylon|Pat show more Frank|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347633133s/38169.jpg|37962] became one of my favorite novels.

So where does "Level 7" stand?

Well, while it may not become one of my favorites, it comes very close to being one. I found it scientifically more accurate than "Alas, Babylon" and "On The Beach". But in one department, "Level 7" truly is way better than both these classics. And that is: Depicting Human Psychology about War. Roshwald has described the human psychology about war with total (and so, quite discomfiting) accuracy, which is the most unsettling as well as interesting aspect of the book.

There are no names. No names at all. Enemy is called just the "enemy" and allies "allies". Even people living in the bunker are not known by what might be their original names. For example, the protagonist is known only as X-127 from whose personal diary "Level 7" takes form. He lives in a bunker named "Level 7" with 500 people which is 4400 feet underground. He is a "Push-Button" officer, the one that pushes buttons to launch nuclear missiles and annihilate the world when such orders are received.

This book is a scathing satire on war and the mentality which prevailed especially during the Cold War era.

A must read for anyone who liked books such as [b:Alas, Babylon|38169|Alas, Babylon|Pat Frank|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347633133s/38169.jpg|37962] and even dystopian classics like [b:1984|5470|1984|George Orwell|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348990566s/5470.jpg|153313] and [b:Brave New World|5129|Brave New World|Aldous Huxley|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327865608s/5129.jpg|3204877], as apart from the apocalyptic scenario, there is also a strong dystopian feel to "Level 7".

4.65 Stars. show less

Even though it has been a six decades since I read this book it is both a story and book that has stuck we me for years. Growing up in the shadow of a possible global nuclear war this hit home with a couple of other books and I will never forget how they impacted me. The one thing I so clearly remember is the chill that went through me as I read the last diary entries. Tears in my eyes knowing there were those among us who believed we could survive a nuclear war.

There is so much more that I want to say but believe everyone should read this book and see the potential result of the nuclear option.

I read this book in high school. Interesting depiction of life in a multi-level bunker after a nuclear attack. Level 7 being the most protected level. In the end, kind of depressing.