[Circle V]

I enjoyed this story.

The social commentary, other than the rather heavy-handed depiction of the corruption of the local government, struck me as similar to that in Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. This was likely no mistake, as one of the books mentioned in the story is another of Bradbury's. While the basic premise was revealed much too easily for my tastes (in fact, repeated in no uncertain terms several times), it appealed to me in a similar fashion as Bradbury's main message from 451 did.

It makes me very glad that literature of the more subtle sort-- of small darkness and quiet tragedies-- can still survive among the throngs of hamfisted, pretentious pieces that have consumed much of Gothic literature. It is for this reason-- that so few modern dark writers are capable of subtlety and simplicity in their writing-- that I tend to avoid the Gothic genre. I am not saying that this is a truly Gothic piece-- if it was, I likely wouldn't have enjoyed it-- but it does have a darkness of character that is quite suitable for the black-clad masses.

Thou shalt read this story. Thou shalt also read the books that have inspired it.