Mockingbird – Walter Tevis

Description

Mockingbird by Walter Tevis is a haunting and thought-provoking science fiction novel set in a dystopian future where humanity is teetering on the brink of extinction. In this bleak world, people drift through their days in a drug-induced haze, or else choose a quick, state-approved suicide to escape the emptiness of their existence. Society has lost its ability to read, dream, or hope — and it seems inevitable that humankind will quietly fade away.

At the heart of this unforgettable story is Spofforth, an android weary of immortality, burdened by memories, and desperate for release. Alongside him are Paul Bentley, a man who dares to rediscover the forbidden art of reading, and Mary Lou, a rebellious woman unafraid to feel and hope. Together, they embark on a fragile quest to rekindle what it means to be truly human in a world that has forgotten how.

Originally published in 1980, Mockingbird remains a powerful, deeply human novel about resilience, freedom, and the enduring power of knowledge and love in even the darkest times.