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Level 7 Library of American Fiction Mordecai Roshwald David Seed 9780299200640 Books

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Level 7 Library of American Fiction Mordecai Roshwald David Seed 9780299200640 Books

This review is for Level 7 by Mordecai Roshwald. It is a hardcover book club edition published in 1959.

Unlike many of the other reviewers here, I did not like this book.

This is a story in the post-apocalyptic genre of science fiction. It is also a pre-apocalyptic story. What I mean by that is that a large part of the story takes place before the events that lead to the world being devastated. Perhaps the last third of the story deals with the aftereffects.

PLOT SUMMARY: This book is written from the perspective of a military employee. He is deep underground and the story you are reading is his diary.
It starts off with an introduction which is really a diary entry about a third of the way through the book. It explains the writer's purpose in writing this diary even though he suspects that nobody will ever read it.
We learn that the name of the person writing the diary is X-127. He lives several thousand feet below the ground in a government facility on Level 7. This is the lowest level. The 500 people who live down here no longer have names but just use a prefix and a number. For instance if you are a psychiatrist your prefix will be P. The last digit indicates what level you are on. X-127's job is simply to push buttons on a keypad if given the orders. The buttons are linked to nuclear missiles of different types. However all are offensive weapons. He works just 6 hours a day but his job consists of just sitting there and waiting.
The most important levels start on the bottom and work there way up from there. Level 7 is for offensive weapons. Level 6 is for defensive weapons and has 1000 people. From here the population of each level jumps dramatically. Level 5 consists of the most important people of the human species. The most intelligent in different fields of study, along with the richest people. It also has government leaders. From here each level gets bigger and declines in comfort levels and can sustain life for shorter periods of time underground.
Even though level 7 is the safest level and has the highest level of comfort, the people are permanently sealed in and can never leave.
Inevitably the doomsday event occurs and the remainder of the story deals with how the people on Level 7 lead their lives even though they no longer serve any purpose. They have communications with other levels and are very interested in finding out what the result of the world war is.

THOUGHTS/CONCLUSIONS: As I stated at the top, I did not like this story. I feel like this is more of a philosophical story than a good science fiction story. X-127 spends lots of time just thinking about things and philosophical ideas. I became very bored about half way through. Not a lot happens and when it does, it still isn't all that interesting. I felt that the premise of the story was not realistic but it wasn't that important because the purpose of the story was explore how people would react to their predicament.
This book will appeal to people who enjoy philosophical discussion as opposed to hardcore science fiction fans.

I did not like how it ended and in a way it reminded me of 'On the Beach.'

My rating is 2 stars and that is my rating as a science fiction story. If you were to judge this book in a different genre other than sci-fi then you can give it a higher score.
If you are looking for a good end of the world story, I'd look elsewhere.


Tags : Level 7 (Library of American Fiction) [Mordecai Roshwald, David Seed] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. <DIV><P><I>Level 7</I> is the diary of Officer X-127, who is assigned to stand guard at the "Push Buttons,Mordecai Roshwald, David Seed,Level 7 (Library of American Fiction),University of Wisconsin Press,0299200647,Science Fiction - General,Civilization, Subterranean,Civilization, Subterranean;Fiction.,Life on other planets,Life on other planets;Fiction.,Nuclear bomb shelters,Nuclear bomb shelters;Fiction.,Nuclear warfare,Science fiction,Underground areas,War stories,FICTION General,FICTION Political,FICTION Science Fiction General,Fiction,Fiction - General,Fiction-Science Fiction,General Adult,Political,UNIVERSITY PRESS,United States

Level 7 Library of American Fiction Mordecai Roshwald David Seed 9780299200640 Books Reviews

Level 7 does a great job of slapping readers in the face with the reality surrounding nuclear weapons and war. The book is written in the style of a diary which keeps things refreshing and and interesting. It not only greatly goes into detail about the feelings of Officer X-127 but those around him and his process of being assimilated into Level 7 life. It seems like this book would start to get boring; people get used to living 4,400 feet underground eventually and their life becomes very strictly routine. However, things start to get shaken up and eventually all the preparation for fighting a nuclear war becomes put into action. Officer X-127 continues to document every event surrounding him including the succeeding aftermath of the very short but deadly war. The illusion of safety that is provided from the levels slowly start to fade when the truth sets in about protection from the radiation that was omitted during the war.
Although it is science fiction, there is nothing fictional about the repercussions of nuclear weapons. The ramifications that followed the launching of the weapons are exactly what would happen in terms of health for civilians affected by the radiation. This book perfectly portrays the dangers of a nuclear war. Despite being written in 1959, the gist of this book is still applicable to what is happening in our world today. That is why Level 7 by Mordecai Roshwald has stood up against the test of time and still holds the interest of many.
It came earlier than expected and I sat up all night rereading it. I read and enjoyed this when I was in High School as part of an English assignment. I found it as compelling now as it was fifty years ago. I enjoy this particular genre and have read many of the classics. Alas Babylon by Pat Frank and Heinlein's Farnham's Freehold were great stories but they presented the view that such a war can be survived. Later in history films like The Day After and it's more graphic British cousin Threads carry that same message. Level 7 and On the Beach by Neville Shute present a much different view and perhaps a warning. I believe that good science fiction should do more than entertain, it should carry a message. Level 7's message is clear, that a global nuclear war could be disasterous for the human race and perhaps that is a better message than one in which man survives a total nuclear conflict. Perhaps it will make us a bit more careful. This story is a relevant now as it was during the height of the Cold War because such weapons are in the hands of, in some cases radical powers and the specter of such weapons being used is with us once more. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys science fiction without wizards and the like.
I have read literally hundreds of Sci-fi books. I found this one to be one of the most imapactful. Level Seven is one of those classic stories that is so accurate in defining something significant about the human condition that it stays with you for the rest of your life, and changes something in you. Stories such as these seem to transcend being merely a story. They almost rise to the level of a sacred text. They have that sacred truth feel to them, and you find yourself becoming a follower of the writer almost as if they were some sort of holy-man. Stories about nuclear holocausts are often dated. This one is absolutely not dated. M Roshwald focused upon the psychological responses to a situation in which the hope of survival is gradually stripped away. There is something larger is this very entertainingly told story than just an end of the world tale. There is something in the story that makes you question your own clinging to safety, and the vanity of doing so. Most readers will likely not view with as much of a philosophical eye as I, and they won't feel any less in awe of it than I do. It is a fabulous tale.
This review is for Level 7 by Mordecai Roshwald. It is a hardcover book club edition published in 1959.

Unlike many of the other reviewers here, I did not like this book.

This is a story in the post-apocalyptic genre of science fiction. It is also a pre-apocalyptic story. What I mean by that is that a large part of the story takes place before the events that lead to the world being devastated. Perhaps the last third of the story deals with the aftereffects.

PLOT SUMMARY This book is written from the perspective of a military employee. He is deep underground and the story you are reading is his diary.
It starts off with an introduction which is really a diary entry about a third of the way through the book. It explains the writer's purpose in writing this diary even though he suspects that nobody will ever read it.
We learn that the name of the person writing the diary is X-127. He lives several thousand feet below the ground in a government facility on Level 7. This is the lowest level. The 500 people who live down here no longer have names but just use a prefix and a number. For instance if you are a psychiatrist your prefix will be P. The last digit indicates what level you are on. X-127's job is simply to push buttons on a keypad if given the orders. The buttons are linked to nuclear missiles of different types. However all are offensive weapons. He works just 6 hours a day but his job consists of just sitting there and waiting.
The most important levels start on the bottom and work there way up from there. Level 7 is for offensive weapons. Level 6 is for defensive weapons and has 1000 people. From here the population of each level jumps dramatically. Level 5 consists of the most important people of the human species. The most intelligent in different fields of study, along with the richest people. It also has government leaders. From here each level gets bigger and declines in comfort levels and can sustain life for shorter periods of time underground.
Even though level 7 is the safest level and has the highest level of comfort, the people are permanently sealed in and can never leave.
Inevitably the doomsday event occurs and the remainder of the story deals with how the people on Level 7 lead their lives even though they no longer serve any purpose. They have communications with other levels and are very interested in finding out what the result of the world war is.

THOUGHTS/CONCLUSIONS As I stated at the top, I did not like this story. I feel like this is more of a philosophical story than a good science fiction story. X-127 spends lots of time just thinking about things and philosophical ideas. I became very bored about half way through. Not a lot happens and when it does, it still isn't all that interesting. I felt that the premise of the story was not realistic but it wasn't that important because the purpose of the story was explore how people would react to their predicament.
This book will appeal to people who enjoy philosophical discussion as opposed to hardcore science fiction fans.

I did not like how it ended and in a way it reminded me of 'On the Beach.'

My rating is 2 stars and that is my rating as a science fiction story. If you were to judge this book in a different genre other than sci-fi then you can give it a higher score.
If you are looking for a good end of the world story, I'd look elsewhere.