In Henry Porter''s critically acclaimed novel The Bell Ringers,
England in the near future is eerily familiar. There are concerns
about terrorism, the press is feisty, and the prime minister is
soon to call a general election. But quietly--largely unknown to
the public or even most in government--things have become
undeniably Orwellian. Cameras with license-plate recognition
software record the movements of every car. A sophisticated
top-secret data-mining system known as Deep Truth combs through
personal records, identifying violators of minor laws as well as
those disposed to "antigovernment" beliefs. In the interest of
security, the divide between private and public has crumbled.
Freedom has given way to control.
David Eyam was once the prime minister''s head of intelligence.
He was one of those who knew about Deep Truth, but he suffered a
fall from grace. Then, while on vacation in Columbia, he was killed
by a terrorist bomb. Now his former lover, Kate Lockhard, has been
named as the benefactor of his estate. But Eyam has left her more
than just wealth; Kate is also heir to his dangerous secrets.
Chilling, absorbing, and unsettlingly realistic, The Bell
Ringers is a fearless work from a talented novelist at the top of
his game.
關於作者:
JOHN LEE is a well-known herbalist, who practices in North
Carolina and lectures widely.