Kallocain
Kallocain
Book Brief
220
Novel • Fiction
Urban Dystopia • Future
1940
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Set in a post-World War totalitarian Worldstate, Karin Boye’s dystopian novel, Kallocain (1940), follows chemist Leo Kall, who invents a truth serum called Kallocain that compels people to speak the unfiltered truth. Initially believing his serum will benefit society, Kall becomes conflicted when it is used to prosecute thoughts. Further tensions arise when he suspects his wife, Linda, of infidelity and uses the drug on her.
Dark
Mysterious
Unnerving
Contemplative
Melancholic
Reviews & Readership
13,593 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Karin Boye's Kallocain is praised for its compelling portrayal of a dystopian world marked by totalitarian surveillance and psychological manipulation. Readers admire the philosophical depth and Boye's insightful critique of state power. Some criticize the narrative's bleakness and occasional lack of character development, yet it remains a haunting and thought-provoking read.
Who Should Read Kallocain?
A reader who would enjoy Kallocain by Karin Boye is likely a fan of dystopian literature, interested in themes of surveillance, state control, and individual freedom. This book will appeal to those who appreciated George Orwell's 1984 and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World for their exploration of totalitarian regimes and personal autonomy.
13,593 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Kallocain by Karin Boye was published in 1940 and is a classic example of dystopian literature, often compared to George Orwell's 1984 and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World for its portrayal of a totalitarian society.
The novel was inspired by Boye's own experiences in Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia, reflecting her deep concerns about the rise of surveillance states and suppression of individual freedoms.
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Kallocain won the Tidningen Vi award in 1940, which was awarded by the Swedish cultural magazine Tidningen Vi, in recognition of its significant impact on literature.
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220
Novel • Fiction
Urban Dystopia • Future
1940
Adult
18+ years
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