larryc's review against another edition
4.0
The Mind Game is likely to appeal to fans of the classic novel by John Fowles, The Magus. Since then, there have been a whole series of books and films dealing with a similar premise: an individual is in a situation where he can't determine what's real while sinister external forces manipulate reality. Examples of this include The Matrix series, Pleasantville, The Game (a movie starring Michael Douglas) and The Stunt Man (directed by Richard Rush and my favorite movie in this category). However, it is clearly The Magus that most influences The Mind Game. Both novels take place (at least partly) in warm beach climates. In both novels, a young and rather naive Englishman is thrown into a world of deceit, romance, and danger.
In The Mind Game, the protagonist, Ben, is manipulated by his tutor, a renowned but controversial researcher named Fielding who's conducting scientific experiments on emotions. He persuades Ben and his new girlfriend Carisa to travel to Kenya on a paid vacation. The huge catch is that Ben has to wear a high-tech device that measures his every emotion. This trip turns out to be anything but a relaxing beach holiday, with Ben experiencing everything from romantic betrayal to serious encounters with the law (I don't want to give too much away).
The main theme of the novel is who is pulling the strings and who, if anyone, can Ben trust? The novel opens with a game of Truth or Dare, which sets the stage. Fielding discusses Game Theory with Ben as well, which turns out to be another ongoing theme. Game Theory, of course, takes a very conflict-driven look at life where you see yourself as pitted against other "players."
The novel raises interesting questions about scientific research. It remains ambiguous until close to the end what exactly the nature of the scientific research is or if the whole thing really is about science at all. Either way, it opens up the question of what is and isn't justified in service to science.
It's also interesting to read, in 2018, a tech-oriented novel written around 2000. This was the early days of the Internet and just before the Dot.com crash. This was before Google, smartphones, and social media. So we have people looking up information online but we have to keep remembering they can't just Google it. Even the premise of a gadget that can read emotions no longer seems nearly as futuristic as it did a mere 18 years ago.
The Mind Game is by no means the literary masterpiece that The Magus is. It reads more like a Hollywood film and adds all kinds of scientific and technological topics to the mix. The Mind Game is written in a fast-paced style that's popular today, full of twists and turns. As I read it, I could easily visualize it as a film, though, as far as I know, none has been created yet. To me, that's not really a compliment. Many popular authors are clearly thinking of a movie deal as they write their novels, which keeps things moving fast but on a rather superficial level.
While The Mind Game is always engaging, it doesn't have a great deal of emotional impact (sort of ironically, considering the subject) because the characters are mostly types who fill certain fairly predictable roles. Ben is the nice guy in over his head. Carisa is the femme fatale whose loyalty is always in question. Fielding is the master manipulator.
As in most twisty novels and films, the plot doesn't necessarily hold up to scrutiny if you really think about it. However, it's interesting and thought-provoking as it unfolds. The scientific and philosophical questions raise it above the level of mindless action.
With the references to the Dot.com revolution and people doing their pre-Google searches online, The Mind Game is a bit dated. At the same time, it's not quite deep enough to be a true period piece. Still, it's a worthy addition to the fascinating individual-caught-in-a-vast-web genre.
In The Mind Game, the protagonist, Ben, is manipulated by his tutor, a renowned but controversial researcher named Fielding who's conducting scientific experiments on emotions. He persuades Ben and his new girlfriend Carisa to travel to Kenya on a paid vacation. The huge catch is that Ben has to wear a high-tech device that measures his every emotion. This trip turns out to be anything but a relaxing beach holiday, with Ben experiencing everything from romantic betrayal to serious encounters with the law (I don't want to give too much away).
The main theme of the novel is who is pulling the strings and who, if anyone, can Ben trust? The novel opens with a game of Truth or Dare, which sets the stage. Fielding discusses Game Theory with Ben as well, which turns out to be another ongoing theme. Game Theory, of course, takes a very conflict-driven look at life where you see yourself as pitted against other "players."
The novel raises interesting questions about scientific research. It remains ambiguous until close to the end what exactly the nature of the scientific research is or if the whole thing really is about science at all. Either way, it opens up the question of what is and isn't justified in service to science.
It's also interesting to read, in 2018, a tech-oriented novel written around 2000. This was the early days of the Internet and just before the Dot.com crash. This was before Google, smartphones, and social media. So we have people looking up information online but we have to keep remembering they can't just Google it. Even the premise of a gadget that can read emotions no longer seems nearly as futuristic as it did a mere 18 years ago.
The Mind Game is by no means the literary masterpiece that The Magus is. It reads more like a Hollywood film and adds all kinds of scientific and technological topics to the mix. The Mind Game is written in a fast-paced style that's popular today, full of twists and turns. As I read it, I could easily visualize it as a film, though, as far as I know, none has been created yet. To me, that's not really a compliment. Many popular authors are clearly thinking of a movie deal as they write their novels, which keeps things moving fast but on a rather superficial level.
While The Mind Game is always engaging, it doesn't have a great deal of emotional impact (sort of ironically, considering the subject) because the characters are mostly types who fill certain fairly predictable roles. Ben is the nice guy in over his head. Carisa is the femme fatale whose loyalty is always in question. Fielding is the master manipulator.
As in most twisty novels and films, the plot doesn't necessarily hold up to scrutiny if you really think about it. However, it's interesting and thought-provoking as it unfolds. The scientific and philosophical questions raise it above the level of mindless action.
With the references to the Dot.com revolution and people doing their pre-Google searches online, The Mind Game is a bit dated. At the same time, it's not quite deep enough to be a true period piece. Still, it's a worthy addition to the fascinating individual-caught-in-a-vast-web genre.
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