Thanks to brutal electro-shock treatments at adolescence, no one in the city of Veritas can tell a lie. For the first part of this short novel, this is used to satirize advertising and branding, very much in the model of classic Galaxy magazine. Then the story shifts into more emotional territory as the main character gains a very personal and sad reason for needing to be able to lie. As with the old Galaxy novels, it's not clear how we might get from here to there, but once the premise is established, it's handled well.

Recommended as a good example of Morrow's ability to mix satire, humor, and pathos. A good counterpoint to his longer historical novels such as The Last Witchfinder. ( )

City of Truth is the first of what I hope will be many great book recommendations (she has Good Opinions) from my new book-best friend Lauren (as she's the only other person I interact with in a regular basis that reads books).

James Morrow's premise of a city where only the truth can be told starts as a satiric comedy. The cars have names like “Plymouth Adequate”; the protagonist's son attends “Camp Ditch-the-Kids”. However, a few chapters in, the transition to a tragedy begins. Suffice to say that nothing in fiction cuts me emotionally like fathers grieving for their children (see *Lost Boys*, *Pet Semetary*).

Morrow accomplishes a great feat of narrative also. Similes are used only as an examples of lies in chapter one, but by the fourth chapter, the narrator has passed from narrative similes to using full metaphors in his speech. His tight mask of truth has cracked, and he hasn't yet caught on.

The book is short (at under 175 pages), but Morrow packs so much in that its brevity is an asset. Lesser authors might have expanded the last few pages to a full chapter, but Morrow understands that after an emotional roller-coaster (yes, I cried, for the first time in a long while at a book) readers can connect many implied dots from action to action. It's my first book by Mr. Morrow, but I'll definitely be back (likely with Galapagos Regained; it's the one Lauren has been hyping). ( )

Amusing tale about the Veritas, the city where everyone is compelled to speak the truth. And no lying by omission, either. As the narrator points out after many awkward social moment, it's tough to be a citizen.

Despite milking the truth-in-advertising gag for all it's worth, I think Morrow missed a narrative opportuniy here. The Dissemblers, for of course there are some, could have supported the narrator's campaign to save his son via the Placebo Effect in order to create some effective nti-Veritas propaganda. Think of it: a subversive campaign to win hearts and minds by proving that Lying Saves Lives.

Instead, well, we're left with a rather underwhelming resolution. ( )

A story that is both satire and brulat at the same time. ( )

Unsubtle, but probably one of the sadder stories I’ve ever read. ( )