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Mallcity 14

by Shaun A. Saunders

230 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #04-1009; ISBN 1-4120-3182-6; US$19.99, C$25.00, EUR17.50, £12.00

Set in a world where private thoughts are dangerous and nothing can escape the eyes and ears of the Bureau of Consumer Confidence, and its affiliate, Eternitybank.

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about the book      about the author      excerpts      reviews      catalogue info

About the Book Mallcity 14 is an understated, thoughtful examination of a possible future for consumer-focused societies that should give any freedom-minded individual pause. Because Saunders refrains from polemics and hyperbole in crafting and spinning his story, it's also an excellent book for educating others. Tapping into topics including consumerism, privacy, and groupthink, Mallcity 14 is a short but deep exploration into a future that is quickly approaching--unless those of us who wish to avert it take action. Reading and sharing Mallcity 14 is an excellent first step to take." Sunni Maravillosa holds a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology. A former college professor, Sunni is a co-founder of the "http://www.libertyroundtable.org/", publisher of "http://www.doingfreedom.com/", and former Director of Operations for Free-Market.Net. Her personal web site and blog is at "http://www.sunnimaravillosa.com/" *** "Saunders amplifies some of the dominant trends of contemporary hyper-capitalist society and makes them the defining features of Mallcity, where consumption and economic 'progress' are paramount. The novel not only demonstrates some of the problems of living within such a society, but also of trying to live outside of it." Tim Kasser, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology at Knox College, Galesburg, IL, USA and author of "The High Price of Materialism." *** Mallcity 14 is set in a world where unbridled consumerism and perpetual debt is the only way of life, and nothing can escape the eyes and ears of the BCC - the Bureau of Consumer Confidence - and its affiliate, Eternitybank. "I read it and I loved it. You've hit on the nub of the contemporary problem by extrapolating Morris Berman's "commercial kitsch" to its logical next stage. Mallcity 14 exposes the mendacity of our consumer culture, which is the principal obstacle to our progress into a new paradigm. It exposes our imprisonment in a culture hooked on economic growth--well done, mate! I'm looking forward to a sequel." Dr Brian O'Leary Author, Scientist, Former Astronaut, International Speaker *** "I get lots of fiction sent to me (or should I say facts disguised as fiction in many cases) most of which I get no time to read, and thus cannot make comments. But... I started reading Mallcity 14, and found myself reading it all. I think it is great...I hope it goes well, and I hope lots of people read it." Duncan Roads Editor, Nexus Magazine "Australia's George Orwell" Oliver James, Author of 'Britain on the Couch' "I read Mallcity 14 cover to cover on a recent trip, and as soon as I put it down, a friend picked it up and devoured it, too. We both thought it was a great romp with a compelling story line and some keen insights into today's consumer culture and Federal Reserve-driven debt cycle. Highly recommended as a light reading treatment of a very serious subject." Katherine Albrecht, Director, CASPIAN "A chilling wake-up call for the unwary. A literary paradox that demands to be consumed but which forces us to call our way of life - as consumers - into question... Real questions about real problems. A story of a way of life, told with energy and compassion. Mallcity 14 does not put a spin on reality; it takes the spin away." Dr. A. Rolls, School of Language & Media, U. of Newcastle

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About the Author Shaun Saunders, PhD, is a Psychologist whose doctoral research examined the dark side of modern consumer society. A subsequent press release in London in 2001 made headlines around the globe, resulting in listings in Who's Who in the World as well as Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare, and Who's Who in Science and Engineering. This is his second book.

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Excerpt from Mallcity 14

Frustrated, and realising that he wasn't getting anywhere with his son, Joe decided to try a different approach. Setting his large frame down on the couch in the lounge room, he motioned to Jason to do likewise. In front of them, the ever-present three metre viewing screen, always turned on but now muted, watched over both of them like an arbiter, occasionally interrupting or objecting with flashes of light and gaudy colour.

"Son, very soon you've got some big decisions to make. When you turn seventeen later this year, there wa the issue of the FCL: your First Compulsory Loan. Now, for a moment, lets put aside these other problems and talk about that."

Inwardly, Jason trembled, but he strove hard to maintain a brave face.

Joe continued.

"Now, from our previous talks, and from what you've learned at school, you know that this is what we call a 'rite of passage', the first time that young men and women have an opportunity to demonstrate their readiness to be accepted as probationary adults by the general community. But don't let the word 'rite' confuse you: it's not some automatic privilege that's granted to everyone."

Back on familiar ground, Joe relaxed a little. Perhaps, he tried to convince himself, these recent episodes of disobedience by his son were just normal growing pains.

"Your mother and I have worked very hard to build a respectable debit rating so that we can act as guarantors on your first loan. You know," said Joe, emphasising his words with gestures, "not every boy or girl gets that sort of backing from their parents. Unable to qualify for their FCL, they have to go onto the social security loan list. In this day and age, you don't get very far on the small weekly loans they have to live on. And without taking responsibility for substantial loans, you can't get a good debit rating. Without that, you don't have voting rights- "

"But you can still go to war," said Jason.

Joe sighed. "Everyone has a responsibility to contribute, son. Surely you don't disagree with that?"

"But is it fair that only people with poor debit ratings- like the ones without FCLs- have to fight other people's wars?"

"Everyone has to consume son. Now, exactly how you choose to do so is up to you. But personally, I'd much rather do so from the comfort of this lounge," said Joe, pointing at the infomercial on the viewscreen. "But if it means drawing a uniform, extra medical coverage, weapons, ammunition, and transport vouchers so that you can front up to fight on foreign soil, then so be it. Society can't afford freeloaders."

"But dad, why does it have to be this way?" Joe worked hard to suppress a smile. He had made a point of memorising the public information advertorials so that he'd be prepared for questions like this.

"Well son, for a market-driven society such as our own which is dependant upon securing loans at interest, continued economic growth will always be imperative. To put it simply, we have to keep the economy healthy by buying as much as possible. Now, this is where the First Compulsory Loan comes in. Lending young adults like you one hundred thousand dollars helps to ensure economic stability while instilling civic responsibility. And, as you know, it's also the first step towards earning yourself a decent debit rating and the right to vote."

Ignoring the last, Jason muttered, "You mean civic obedience."

"And what would be wrong with that?"

"Only that everyone has to have the same opinion," said Jason.

"Look son, you really don't know what you're talking about. Where exactly is it stated that you have a god-given right to hold and express an opinion? You're a little young to have an 'opinion' of your own anyway. I still remember my grand parents describing what it was like growing up during the great depression."

Staring off into space, Joe added softly, "You've never had to worry about where your next meal's coming from. All they're asking- all I'm asking of you- is that you start acting a little more responsibly and take the first steps to being a conscientious consumer. That helps boost the consumer confidence rating you hear about on the news, which makes everyone feel a little bit better about what they're doing. And opinions? Look, you can demonstrate your own opinions any time by exercising your right of choice as a consumer."

With measured smugness, Joe concluded, "And last time I checked, that was still in the constitution."

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Reviews "What can a freedom-lover do to point out the creeping encroachment of government and corporate information-seekers in this post-'1984' world, where so many of the gov-indoctrinated masses apparently think of Big Brother as something that either "can't happen here" (despite the growing evidence that it is indeed happening, right under their noses) or is necessary for society's security? (Never mind for the moment that that construct isn't possible--security is first and foremost an individual's concern and responsibility.) Fortunately, we have a new novel to point to as a cautionary tale of the path the consumer-database worshippers and RFID-taggers would have individuals tread. Mallcity 14, by Australian psychologist Shaun Saunders, is on its face an interesting story of a teenage boy coming of age in a consumer-centric world. He begins to question many of its assumptions--and the school's teachings--and then, to balk at taking his place in that debt-driven world. Saunders deftly weaves elements of today's information society--and the not-too-distant future--into both the setting and action as well. The result is a semi-dystopian world that many citizens of the western, modern world could easily imagine themselves in. While some who'd embrace the coming Database Nation would likely be comfortable with that vision, many more will likely find elements of it objectionable. That appears to be Saunders' goal in writing Mallcity 14, and it's no small feat that he succeeds. Many privacy activists are written off as cranks or Luddites, when neither is necessarily accurate. Valid uses of radio-frequency identification (RFID) tagging exist, and the technology will be a boon to minimizing companies' losses through the shipping and stocking lines. However, tagging individual items, and keeping the tag active after an item's sale for the purposes of tracking the purchaser, is an enormous violation of privacy--one that is coming, despite the denials of companies at the forefront of RFID adoption. Tagging individuals--implanting RFID chips, ostensibly for security reasons--was at first pooh-poohed even in the RFID industry as something that was "years away". However, it's happening now--and not just on the voluntary level. In the U.S. the FDA recently approved RFID chips for use in humans, apparently clearing the way for its use in hospital patients. Is this the first step toward mandatory chipping of all humans at birth? If so, Saunders' novel is especially relevant right now. Mallcity 14 is an understated, thoughtful examination of a possible future for consumer-focused societies that should give any freedom-minded individual pause. Because Saunders refrains from polemics and hyperbole in crafting and spinning his story, it's also an excellent book for educating others. Tapping into topics including consumerism, privacy, and groupthink, Mallcity 14 is a short but deep exploration into a future that is quickly approaching--unless those of us who wish to avert it take action. Reading and sharing Mallcity 14 is an excellent first step to take." Sunni Maravillosa holds a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology. A former college professor,ĘSunni is a co-founder of the "http://www.libertyroundtable.org/", publisher of "http://www.doingfreedom.com/", and former Director of Operations for Free-Market.Net. Her personal web site and blog is at "http://www.sunnimaravillosa.com/" With Mallcity 14 Shaun Saunders puts a new perspective on an age-old truth: the future always has a baleful edge, and that future is never very far away. The reader is bound to be reminded of any number of dystopian classics (Zamyatin's We and Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 spring straight to mind), and an intertextual resonance with 1984 is deliberately and manifestly sought by the author. To read 1984 is to realise that our own lives are only time away from the nightmare that is Orwell's vision; Mallcity 14 takes this realisation as its starting point...Saunders' novel is a chilling wake-up call for the unwary, a reminder that to seek to engage with society from the inside is, ineluctably, to fall into patterns that are beyond our control. There is a pleasure/pain dichotomy at work here: as Saunders pulls his readers inside, enjoining them to absorb his message, he simultaneously repels them, calling for them to read anew, with objectivity. A literary paradox, therefore, that demands to be consumed, but which forces us to call our way of life - as consumers- into question. This is a story about learning to read, not so much between the lines, but story lines that are so close that we can, and do, touch them every day. Perhaps one of the most haunting parallels to be drawn is that to Edgar Allan Poe's <The Purloined Letter, in which the key to the enigma is placed where no one would ever dream to look: in full view. Real questions about real problems. A story of a way of life, told with energy and compassion. Mallcity 14 does not put a spin on reality; it takes the spin away. Dr. Alistair Rolls, School of Language & Media, University of Newcastle, Australia Catalogue Information About Trafford Publishing: Our books are manufactured one-at-a-time to fill individual orders -- part of an innovative process we invented, called "on-demand publishing." Authors and organizations from 120 countries are using Trafford for their publishing needs. 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