The Primal Urge
by Brian Aldiss
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The Emotional Register is a gadget that prevents anyone from hiding any sexual attractions they feel for anyone else. Find out what happens to Britain and the rest of the world when the marvel sinks its teeth into the restrained status quo.Tags
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The Primal Urge is both more approachable that Cryptozoic! and has aged much less well. The story is about the revolution in 1961 Britain caused when everyone of adult age installs lights in their forehead which glow if they are sexually attracted to the person they are speaking to. (The book was banned in Ireland.) A few foolish people resist the compulsory modification to their bodies, but the population as a whole embraces it, and soon, each other. The humour is not exactly subtle - one of the protagonist's love interests is called Rose English, and there is a psychiatrist called Dr Croolter B. Kind. It's a long way down the list of Aldiss's novels, perhaps an attempt to break into the show more mainstream by writing a contemporary comic novel with an sfnal twist, and for that reason has dated very badly; but it's clearly written and you know where you are. show less
The Primal Urge is both more approachable that Cryptozoic! and has aged much less well. The story is about the revolution in 1961 Britain caused when everyone of adult age installs lights in their forehead which glow if they are sexually attracted to the person they are speaking to. (The book was banned in Ireland.) A few foolish people resist the compulsory modification to their bodies, but the population as a whole embraces it, and soon, each other. The humour is not exactly subtle - one of the protagonist's love interests is called Rose English, and there is a psychiatrist called Dr Croolter B. Kind. It's a long way down the list of Aldiss's novels, perhaps an attempt to break into the show more mainstream by writing a contemporary comic novel with an sfnal twist, and for that reason has dated very badly; but it's clearly written and you know where you are. show less
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563+ Works 27,387 Members
Brian W. Aldiss was born in Dereham, United Kingdom on August 18, 1925. In 1943, he joined the Royal Signals regiment, and saw action in Burma. After World War II, he worked as a bookseller at Oxford University. His first book, The Brightfount Diaries, was published in 1955. His first science fiction novel, Non-Stop (Starship in the United show more States), was published in 1958. He wrote more than 80 books including Hothouse, Greybeard, The Helliconia Trilogy, The Squire Quartet, Frankenstein Unbound, The Malacia Tapestry, Walcot, and Mortal Morning. His short story Super-Toys Last All Summer Long was the basis for the film A.I. Artificial Intelligence. He has received numerous awards for his work including two Hugo Awards, the Nebula Award, the John W. Campbell Memorial Award, and an OBE for services to literature. He was also an anthologist and an artist. He was the editor of 40 anthologies including Introducing SF, The Penguin Science Fiction Omnibus, Space Opera, Space Odysseys, Galactic Empires, Evil Earths, and Perilous Planets. He was an abstract artist and his first solo exhibition, The Other Hemisphere, was held in Oxford in August-September 2010. He died on August 19, 2017 at the age of 92. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title*
- Es brennt ein Licht
- Original title
- Primal urge
- Original publication date
- 1961
- Dedication
- This absurd attempt to popularize various sorts of morality is dedicated to EDDIE COONEY and OSCAR MELLOR because they were the first to hear about it in 'The Gloucester Arms' - and for better reasons.
- First words
- For London it was one of those hot July evenigns in which the human mind is englufed in a preoccupation with the moist palm, the damp brow, the armpit.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Arm in arm Alyson and Jimmy emerged after him into the London air, evening-calm, gasoline-sweet.
- Original language*
- Englisch
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
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- Members
- 161
- Popularity
- 202,719
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (2.86)
- Languages
- English, German, Italian
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 6
- ASINs
- 13
