A review by elwirax
They by Kay Dick

dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5


"The grief tower is for those who refuse to deny. Love is unsocial, inadmissible, contagious.’ He grinned. ‘It admits communication. Grief for lost love is the worse offence, indictable. It suggests love has value, understanding, generosity, happiness."

They is a collection of loosely linked stories focusing on life in a society where there are those who eradicate and suppress artistic and emotional expression in favour of conformity. The majority of their control comes from everyday people who become informants which enforced the idea that any one of us can be one of "them". As in any dystopia, They showcased resistance despite knowing the harsh consequences which added a minute sense of hope to an overall dreary story.

"Destruction doesn’t count. One can always create again"

The driving force of this novella lies in its ambiguity and lack of explanations, leaving interpretation up to the reader. This isn't something I usually enjoy but it worked well in this story. The chapters were short and many ended abruptly perhaps highlighting 'their' ideology, one which ropes the reader in aswell as it stops them from getting overly invested in the lives of the characters which is frowned upon in this book. The fragmented writing in some of the vignettes does well to show strong emotions and the fears of the characters that run through the whole novella (perhaps in some of them they're too scared to properly articulate themselves). My favourites by far were The Visitants, Pocket of Quietude and The Fairing. I thought these were the strongest in terms of characterisation and suspense. 

Though I appreciated the darker tone in this novella, the themes/ideas and the eeriness of being roped in, the inability to become invested in these characters really hindered by investment in the novella. The world-building also left much to be desired. Ultimately, I left with opinions no different than those I went in with; censorship is damaging. Although this novella didn't work for me as much as I'd hoped, it definitely piqued my interest in the author. After all, it's not every day I come across a "radical, queer author" of the 20th century. It might be one of those "it's not you, it's me" novellas or one which needs a re-read to fully appreciate. Either way, an interesting piece of writing.
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