Normally, when writing a review of a book, or film, or whatever, I put a very brief outline at the beginning. However, in the case of the novel, THEY by Kay Dick, I think the lines on the image above are sufficient.

THEY was originally published in 1977. At the time it was considered a flop. The book seemed to disappear. Apparently, in 2001 after the author died, the executors of her will tried to get the book reissued but publishers declined, only when a literary agent came across a copy of the book in a charity shop and interest was sufficient that THEY was published by Faber.

The book is more a collection of short stories than a novel, but all based around the idea of a society where a group, only known as THEY, who are travelling the country, destroying works of art or culture, books, paintings, statues and such. Living alone is considered suspicious. Music is effectively banned and displays of emotion are seriously frowned upon and those who resist in any way, are taken to towers where they are changed to fit in the world better and in some cases killed if they resist too much. In one story a painter is taken away to be blinded, a poet has her arm held over a fire trying to save her own work. And there are other disturbing examples throughout the book.

The events in the book are told through the eyes of an unnamed narrator. In the brilliant introduction by Carmen Maria Machado, the narrator/writer could be anyone, male/female, straight or gay. The author is described as a ‘queer writer’ and when I read the book, I imagined the narrator as just that.

While the book might be set in a dystopian Britain, no year is revealed. As I said the book was written in 1977 and even now in 2022, there’s nothing that really dates the tale. It could be set in the year you read it, or one or two years ahead.

The stories and events in the book are very well written as those who are involved in culture try to survive this group who travel the country destroying lives and culture that THEY deem is wrong. The book never says it outright, but there is an implication the Government has either been taken over the this group, or works for them.

THEY is a frightening, disturbing book that asks question about what culture can survive if society, or a very large part of it, turns against it. If you can’t read a book or hear music, is it enough to try and remember it?

I haven’t read The Handmaid’s Tale or 1984. They are considered classics in what might be called Dystopia fiction. THEY by Kay Dick should sit right alongside them.

It’s a book that will disturb and frighten and will linger long in the memory after. It is one of the best books I’ve ever read.

A classic.

Rating: ***** out of 5