MockingbirdMockingbird
Score Classic
What it's about
In a far-future New York, robots run everything and humans live sedated, drugged and alone, unable to read, and no children have been born in years. Robert Spofforth, the most advanced robot ever made, who longs to die but can't, takes an interest in Paul Bentley, a man who has taught himself to read. When Paul meets a young woman named Mary Lou, the three of them begin to change everything.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Nebula finalist. Walter Tevis, author of The Queen's Gambit, wrote a quiet, moving dystopia about reading and loneliness.
You'll love it if you liked
Brave New World
Never Let Me Go
The Lord of the RingsGood to know
It's slow and melancholy. There's drug use and suicide.
By the numbers
- Readers72 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics24 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller14 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #134 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #409 of the 762 classics we rank
- #1401 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking, Adventurous, Dark
If you like this, read next
Foundation
Ficciones
Rendezvous with Rama
The Left Hand of Darkness
The Gods Themselves
UbikExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Mockingbird worth reading?
Yes. It was a Nebula finalist. It ranks #1,401 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 69.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Mockingbird about?
In a far-future New York, robots run everything and humans live sedated, drugged and alone, unable to read, and no children have been born in years. Robert Spofforth, the most advanced robot ever made, who longs to die but can't, takes an interest in Paul Bentley, a man who has taught himself to read. When Paul meets a young woman named Mary Lou, the three of them begin to change everything.
How long does it take to read Mockingbird?
About 7 hours (288 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Mockingbird?
If you liked it, try Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro or The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien.