SOJALS rating:

Mediocre (2/5)

I first read this in 1978 and most recently on the 2nd October 2005

Vulcan 3 is the computer that runs the world. Its giant processors are hidden underground, and underground it continues to grow, building its own tools to dig deeper and enhance itself further.

It knows every detail about every event that takes place on the planet Earth. It manages society rationally and scientifically and where the people (who are neither rational nor scientific) object, it enforces its rule.

Day after day, the normal people, the working class of this future world continue to face the evil boot of this unfeeling government.

And among these normal people, the revolution foments. The revolutionary groups, called The Healers, is active, growing and cannot be ignored.

Yet the omniscient Vulcan 3 appears incapable of recognising the existence the Healers, fixedly ignoring all of their actions.

Director William Barris is one of the eight most powerful men in the world. He's puzzled by Vulcan's growing blind spot. He is going to find out why this is. It might have better for him if he'd simply ignored it.

Ho, ho! Lovely stuff, but nothing special for Dick. Director Barnes wrestles with his morality and we have an enjoyable read.