THE WORLD OF NULL-A

A.E. Van Vogt's SF masterpiece is back on shelves in trade paperback

By Chris Wyatt     November 29, 2002

Readers who like science fiction for pure entertainment escapism should stay well away from this brilliant book. THE WORLD OF NULL-A has it's moments of action and adventure, but it's also a highly intellectual, very though provoking book. You can't shut your brain down on this one.

The "Null-A" in the title refers to "non-Aristotelianism". For those who didn't wind up taking a philosophy class in undergrad, Aristotle was a Greek philosopher who founded many of the principles of linear thought, by imposing mathematical ideas over various non-mathematical subjects. In NULL-A society is shifting away linearity, finding that as civilization advances, being about to think non-linearly allows for a form of multi-tasking. But not all humans are able to make the mental leap to Null-A thinking.

The novel is an example of form equaling content. While Van Vogt had some important things to say about non-linearity, he also matches his philosophies with the plot of the book. At the beginning of the novel the main character, Gilbert, is about to be tested by the "Games Machine". This machine has been developed to help control human events by testing each and every person on the planet and then setting a course for their lives.

Gilbert is a normal guy, with no reason to question is identity, on his way to be tested. But by page five the blanket is pulled out from under him. Despite the fact that Gilbert remembers his life, the way we all do, he's accused of presenting a false identity. When Gilbert honestly insists that he is who he says he is, he is presented with incontrovertible proof that his identity is false. Suddenly Gilbert is on the run, and on a mission to discover who he really is. A mission that peters out as the waves of events crash over him.

One of Aristotle's most important contributions to human though was his idea that every story should have three parts: a beginning, a middle and an end, and that these parts should come in order and flow into one another. Vogt shatters this principle, in the same way that his characters choose to shatter other elements of Aristotelianism. There is no real beginning to the book, no clear middle, and only a vague stab at a climax. Many times the narrative shifts completely. At one point, just when the plot is starting to make sense, suddenly, and without any pre-able whatsoever, Gilbert is teleported to a different planet. Why? How? Those questions aren't important inside the narrative.

It's this abstract narrative that will turn off many readers. Those people who find abstract art to be just a bunch of nonsense lines that even a child could do, will similarly conceive of NULL-A as meaningless.

Acute, open-minded readers however, will be stunned by a classic of SF literature.

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