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Title: The World Inside

Author: Robert Silverberg

Narrator: Paul Boehmer

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 51 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-24-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 36 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Welcome to Urban Monad 116. Reaching nearly two miles into the sky, the 1,000 stories of this building are home to over 800,000 people living in peace and harmony. In the year 2381 with a world population of over 75 billion souls, the massive Urbmon system is humanitys salvation. Life in Urbmon 116 is highly regulated, life is cherished, and the culture of procreation is seen as the highest pinnacle of gods plan. Conflict is abhorred, and any who disturb the peace face harsh punishmenteven being sent down the chute to be recycled as fertilizer.

Jason Quevedo, a historian, searches records of the 20th century hoping to find the root of his discontent with the perfection of Urbmon life. Siegmund Kluver, a young and ambitious administrator, strives to reach the top levels of the Urbmons government and discovers the civilizations dark truths. Michael Statler, a computer engineer, harbors a forbidden desire. He dreams of leaving the buildingof walking in the open air and visiting the far-off sea. This is a dream he must keep secret. If anyone were to find out, hed face the worst punishment imaginable. The World Inside is a fascinating exploration of society and what makes us human, told by a master of speculative fiction. The World Inside is a 1971 Hugo Award Nominee for Best Novella.

Members Reviews:

Could humans live like this?

What did you like best about The World Inside? What did you like least?

In the year 2381, the Earth contains 75 billion people. Despite the dire warnings of 20th century prophets, humans have not exhausted the Earths resources. There is plenty of food for everyone, but because 90% of the land must be covered in farms, most of the people live in Urban Monads 1,000-story skyscrapers housing 800,000 people each. Citizens arent allowed out of their building, and many aspects of society are rigidly monitored. Everyone is married at age 12 and each couple is encouraged to have as many children as they can because fertility and children are blessings from god.

In such a close community, its dangerous for people to be protective of private property or possessive of their mate, so sharing is actively encouraged. Thus, everyone has sexual access to everyone else and men are expected to go night walking to find other partners while their wives stay home and make themselves accessible to any man who opens their door. There is no war, crime, privacy, jealousy, or sexual restrictions, and the citizens of the Urban Monads are happy. The few who express dissatisfaction are sent to Moral Engineers for reprogramming, or may be thrown down the chute where their bodies make fuel for the building.

The World Inside (1971) is the story of several people who become dissatisfied with their lives in Urban Monad 116. Its a thoughtful look at what life on Earth might be like if our population ever reaches the level where we need to grow vertically instead of horizontally. I was fascinated by Silverbergs Urban Monads where everything thats necessary for life is in one building, and where blocks of floors represent different classes and cultures.

But what I liked best about The World Inside was the idea that, because dissidents are sent down the chute, possessiveness, rebellion, jealousy, and other forms of social strife have been selectively bred out of the human population.