Name: Kallocain
Rating: 3.923076923076923 (26 reviews)
ISBN: 9780299038946

Karin Boye

Kallocain

Leo Kall is a zealous, middle-ranking scientist in the totalitarian World State who has just made a thrilling discovery: a new drug, Kallocain, that will force anyone who takes it to tell the truth. At last, criminality will be dragged out into the open and private thought can finally be outlawed. But can the World State be trusted with Kallocain? For that matter - can Kall himself be trusted? Written as the terrible events of the Second World War were unfolding, Karin Boye's classic dystopian novel speaks more clearly than ever of the dangers of acquiescence, and the power of resistance, no matter how futile.

Maximus

Leo Kall is an ambitious scientist who develops a truth telling drug called Kallocain. It inevitably unveils its consumer's hidden and private thoughts and brings them to the surface. A highly efficient tool for the interrogations made on behalf of the World State. 

Is this a positive and prime example of a "fellow soldier" acting to enhance his beloved World State... Or does it open to the door to one's own moral questioning and irresolvability?

This acclaimed novel of Boye’s home country is said to be an underrated gem on par with dystopian works published by the likes of Orwell, Zamyatin & Huxley. It was written shortly after the beginning World War II and truly highlights an early prophetic insight into Nazi Germany (I feel) and what may have been the new norm if alternative history would have unfolded and Axis powers had their way. Unfortunately, Boye died by suicide in 1941 (a year after this was published) and did not get to see her work celebrated.

This is undoubtedly a well written and decent read. However, I remain somewhat ambivalent. Whilst understanding and appreciating that this is certainly a good book, I had hoped to connect more deeply with it. It was missing a certain je ne sais quoi. However, my admiration for Boye remains unsullied.

(I was not under the influence of Kall's drug when writing this review).

very interesting allusions and metaphors to WW2. very nice to see Karin Boys thoughts on the totalitarian society at that time and how she perceived herself. 

Carolina Fischer Camelier 

Irem

“Düşünce ve duygular, söz ve eyleme sebep olur. Öyleyse bu düşünce ve duygular nasıl bir kişiye mahsus olabilir? Bütün silahdaşlar Düzen’e ait değiller mi?”


Yazıldığı dönem dikkate alınarak değerlendirildiğinde çok güzel bir kitap. İnsanın izole bir hayata mahkum edildiğinde önlerine konulan, en saçma ve delilik seviyesindeki kuralları/şartları normalleştirip doğru kabul etmesini çok güzel anlatıyor. Aynı şekilde yazarın -kitabın başlangıcında- karakterin ağzından “kendini ifade etme zorunluluğu hissedip ne olursa olsun yazmalı anlatmalıyım” demesi ve kitabı tamamladıktan bir süre sonra da intihar etmesi savaşın sonunda kitabında anlattıklarının gerçek olabilme ihtimalini çok düşündüğünü hissettiriyor insana. Okurken yazım yılının 1940 olduğunu atlamadan okuyun. 

“Kırk yaşının üzerindeki hiçbir silahdaşın vicdanı temiz olamazdı."

Kallocain

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