Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

This is the most bizarre book that I’ve ever read and honestly I couldn’t give it anything less than 5 stars! We start this book with a tour guide pamphlet and technical note, I knew straight away that this book was going to be something completely different to my regular reads.
This is both hilarious and terrifying look at the near future where algorithms take away our ability to make our own decisions. I loved Peter Jobless and his band of automated misfits, they take on the most successful company in the world TheShop. At the same time we also have the first Android running for presidency under the slogan “Machines don’t make Mistakes”.

Qualityland is such an extremely consumer driven world that we have a children’s rhyme which goes: “To make the markets fly, we just have to buy! So never share and don’t repair!” We actually have adverts written in between the chapters which fit perfectly with the themes in the book.

I could carry on but I guess I should leave it here, this book is intelligent, fascinating and definitely unique.

This story is told from multiple perspectives, sharing the lives of very different but interesting characters. The main character of this book would be Peter, a regular guy, who doesn’t really have many goals in life. He kind of goes with the flow, until he receives an item, that he didn’t want. There is this cloud of sadness surrounding Peter, he seems boring, however, he is witty and really kind man, and I really enjoyed his adventures. I did like the other characters in this novel as well, they portrayed different angles of this messed up country, and I really enjoyed their thoughts about machinery and consumerism.

I really liked the narrative of this book, it is constantly changing, diverse, and absolutely absorbing. This novel has a political spice to it, that some people might not like, but I think the rich vs. poor theme suited this book very well. This novel doesn’t have major twists in it, but all the turns and adventures were really interesting and entertaining.

I loved the writing style of this book, it is very thought-provoking, very well researched and educational. I am truly wondering, how Marc-Uwe Kling produced this wonderful book, how he came up with all this. The whole story is quite surreal but makes sense at the same time. 😀 This book analyses a lot of computing things, such as code, AIs, algorithms, robotics, and to write a book that actually makes sense to an average person like myself, the author has to love all that and understand how it all works. I think to fully enjoy this book, a reader should have basic knowledge about what is a code or an algorithm. The chapters are quite short and the pages just flew by for me. I liked the ending of this novel, it was surprising but rounded this story very nicely.

So, to conclude, it is a very intriguing and complex novel, filled with great, diverse and amusing characters as well as a very indulging and entertaining plot. I loved the topic it analysed, and I am scared of how realistic this dystopian book is. I need this book in my life because I want to reread it after 20 years, to see how accurate Marc-Uwe Kling actually was. 🙂 I strongly recommend this book to everybody, the internet and consumerism are taking over our lives, and I hope it will show what we could gain or lose with that.

QualityLand by German author Marc-Uwe Kling is a remarkable dystopian satire that once started I could not put down! Skilfully translated by Jamie Lee Searle, it is an hilarious but uncomfortable look at a future in which technology has taken over everything. The news is delivered tailor made to each person’s individual needs, people are sorted into levels with fluctuating ranks… and algorithms reign supreme.

In QualityLand an android is running for president for the first time ever, with his opponent being a mega rich reality star (like THAT could ever happen!). Everything you buy comes from TheShop (and I mean EVERYTHING), with no need to order as the algorithms already know what you want! Delivered by a drone that automatically takes an unboxing video, you then have to rate your delivery before the drone flies away.

This is a satirical sci-fi novel unlike anything I’ve ever read before – and I loved it! It’s the 1984 for a new generation, an uncomfortable look at a world that, even as hilarious and ridiculous as it sounds, isn’t actually as far fetched as it seems. Which is a scary realisation to have to come to!

With memorable characters, fake news, an upcoming election – and a pink vibrator shaped as a dolphin (yes, you did read that right!), hilarity ensues as Peter, who believes he’s received the vibrator in error, tries to track down the man who runs TheShop, Henryk Engineer.

Marc-Uwe Kling’s writing is outstanding, with a serious undertone to the hilarious satire that really does make you think. QualityLand is a unique, clever, hilarious and occasionally sad book that’s so relevant to the world we live in today. This is a book that took me by surprise at how good it was; the writing is ingenious and the story a chilling premonition (maybe?) of what could come to pass if we remain on the technological path we’re on at the moment. It’s so, so good!

I honestly can’t recommend this brilliant satire highly enough!

Well where do I start?

Qualityland is a country renamed to fit with its ethos. Everything is the bestest it can be (yes I know that’s not a word), it’s the greatest, the loveliest, the beautifulist….language is now in the superlative…..always.

Peoples surnames have changed too, they now reflect the occupation of your father or mother, from Peter Jobless to Monica Sex-Worker and so, so many more.

Also every consumerist need is fulfilled automatically by TheShop, before you know you need them (or not in some cases). Technology now runs the world, Androids are real people and have rights, they can even run for president! With drones and bitter driverless cars it’s non stop mayhem..

When Peter receives an item he doesn’t need or want he tries to return it and this is where some true hilarity begins. All he wants is to return an item and get some autonomy back into his life….is that too much to ask?

This reminded me a little of the humour in Incompetence by Rob Grant(he of Red Dwarf and Courgette leather shoe fame) and the dystopia of Rob Hart’s The Warehouse, but this has its own remarkable humour and it’s totally bonkers, hilarious and utterly terrifying in its plausibility. Brilliant.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this for free.. This is my honest, unbiased review.

This is such a clever and thought provoking book. Whilst under the banner of dystopian future we are faced with themes that take us back to a rigid caste system used hundreds of years ago. These systems were used to launch so and pigeon hole people. We see a near future world where Big Business Consultants take control over the economy and politics. 'The Shop' is likened to Amazon but with more invasion on everyday life. In this world all decision making and the element of choice is taken away from the individual and in its place algorithms make your decisions for you. They calculate your online data and profile these against the individual. They predict your every wish and drones simply drop off your beers , groceries and other material items. This system only works when the algorithms work smoothly but what do you do when there is a glitch. Peter Jobless, is on the lowest rung of societies ladder and after being wrongly delivered package it's up to Jobless to start questioning this created life. The story highlights our dependency on technology, the things we share online. The story pokes fun at social structure, politics and I do hope the rumours are true and this being adapted by HBO for the small screen. Fascinating read.

I am to technology what a snowman is to sunbathing, and I consider myself quite behind in this digital age. So imagine a place so forward thinking it even orders and delivers items before you realise you need or want them. Then imagine it goes wrong when a dolphin shaped pink vibrator is delivered and your name is Peter Jobless.

Much hilarity ensues when Peter tries to return said vibrator, the algorithm predicted he wanted it and the algorithm is never wrong after all.

This book is far from my usual reads but I was fascinated by the premise and I’m trying to push my reading boundaries and leave my comfort zones. However, before I got stuck in my reading habits, when I was younger I used to read Ben Elton books. This was highly reminiscent of his satirical writing and political humour.

Talking of politics Kling has very sharply taken the idea of politics being rebranded along with everything else and not just run with it he has Usain Bolted it. War is now called Security Operation for the protection of trade routes and natural resource supply. But like the opposition says “call it whatever you want, it doesn’t change what it is”.

I’ve always said we have gone backwards in going forwards. Social media use on phones contradicts the term social when people are ignoring each other, preferring the company of virtual strangers on a handheld device. This book is a parody of where we could end up with technological advances and it’s a scary thought. Although the idea of books being delivered without me thinking about it seems like a win. The shop is obviously based on a famous internet retailer so are we already close to it becoming reality? I will ask Alexa what she thinks.

So if you fancy something a little different, something that makes you question where we are heading. Enjoyable characters and a slightly daft at times plot. If you enjoy Douglas Adams or as I mentioned previously Ben Elton then give this book a read. I guarantee it will put a smile on your face and like the algorithm I am never wrong …….

I know it is only February but I wouldn’t say this unless I meant it. But Qualityland is currently my best read of 2020 and I am really confident that come December, it still will be (or at least in my Top 5…!).

Qualityland is equally terrifying and hilarious. And I do mean laugh-out-loud funny. It takes us into the future, where after years of being unchecked, huge corporations have taken over our lives. You receive goods before you even know you want them and jobs have been taken over by artificial intelligence.

As a result, humans now have to qualify for levels. Your level defines everything in your life, from how long you wait to speak to a customer service advisor (if you can find a human one, that is) to who your life partner is.

The way in which Kling takes us into the future is absolutely mind-blowing. His observation of our current ways of life induces reflection in the reader but in a way that makes you want more of it and not to shy away from the harsh realities.

If I possibly could, I would make everyone read Qualityland. Not just because it is a wonderfully written book but because Kling is showing us the future. And it’s really quite dark out there.

I can’t recommend this book highly enough. Go get it.

Welcome to a world where free will is an illusion and reality is created by algorithms. Welcome to QualityLand where Peter Jobless, scrapyard owner and robot rescuer lives a perfectly curated consumer-centric life.

“Everything here is run by infallible algorithm – our economy, our traffic, our shopping, even our relationships. We’re measurably the happiest, most productive and prosperous country on Earth.”

But as Gloria Estefan (almost) said “The algorithm’s gonna get you!” I wish I could claim that line, but it’s only one of many in Marc-Uwe Kling’s repertoire of witticisms. Kling excels at one-liners and razor-sharp social commentary – he is a stand-up comedian after all. QualityLand is tightly packed with humour and eccentric characters, both human and robotic.

The full review is posted on my blog at https://wanderingwestswords.wordpress.com/2020/02/22/qualityland-marc-uwe-kling/

I don’t usually read dystopian books but I was so intrigued with the plot of Qualityland that I couldn’t resist to enter to this “unreal” world and let me be honest, I loved every page! Because even if Qualityland is a dystopian world it has some reminiscence that we all could relate to! So, be prepared, this is the book you’ll talk this year, a satire of our world, and possibly the book which will make you laugh more!
The story is based in Peter Jobless, the main character, who works “throwing up” the robots that are not perfect, remember that we live in a dystopian world and everything is robot controlled. As you can imagine he cannot bring himself to destroy the robots, so he has created his own group of imperfect robots. They will help him on his mission, to discover who is the owner of The Shop, the only store where you can “buy” your needs. But it’s not so easy, because The Shop works with an algorithm created to send you the products you need without you having to look/search for them, yes I can understand if this is weird, but if you take a look at all the advertising that is linked to you every day, we have to understand that in the future this cannot seem so strange, they know what we need, when and how. The problem is that Peter has received a product that he doesn’t need or want, so his research will be to discover the why and why now.
I am not sure if I’ve made the review more difficult to understand the story or easier, but if you want to read something different, this is the book you need, Qualityland will not disappoint you, it will simply entangle you on its net! Ready?

Reading the synopsis for this book I was inclined to think 'nope, this can't be a mix of 1984 and Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy' however, i'm pleased to say, it really was. Satirical, amusing and of our time, this is a great read and definitely recommended if you're a fan of the two novels mentioned - get to it!

As soon as I read the blurb for Quality land I was sold on the idea! A seemingly perfect future where everything is provided...whether you want it or not. QualityPartner will find you the perfect man/woman, TheShop delivers everything to your doorstep using an extremely helpful (and somewhat needy) drone and there is a robot available to fulfil everything you might need. Sex bot? You got it! Combat robot? Yours! The perfect politician - well you'll see about that!

I have to admit to not being sure at first but once you get into the language and style of the story it's hilarious. The humour and satire reminded me of Douglas Adams and Charlie Brooker (creator/writer of Black Mirror) and you can't go far wrong with that.

Although this book is set in the future it feels like one that we are not too far away from. In this digital age anything seems possible and in my *whispers* 42 years, technology has evolved so much! In a world where people make their wants and desires so available it's easy to imagine that we'll all happily and thoughtlessly be under the control of some massive corporation, some would say we are already...

Our protagonist Peter Jobless begins to question the whole idea of this world and indeed his place in it and so we join him on his quest to find the truth behind the shiny advertisements and pointless products. With his raggedy army of dysfunctional robots (that he should have destroyed but didn't have the heart to) he aims to take on "the man" and correct the problems within the system.

Highly recommend!

Welcome on this QualityBlog, sponsored by QualityCompulsiveReaders. This is Meggy BookBlogger, and I am your host today.

Have you ever dreamed of a system who knows yourself better than you? Applications ready to find the ideal dating partner or the object you most want, even if you’re not aware of it? A world in which AI decides who you are in the society? Who you can be friend with, what you can or can’t do? Me neither.

No more need to drive, intelligent cars take you where you want to. Follow the system’s rules and you may up levels, gain credits, and therefore more options. Doesn’t it sound fabulous?

I know, I find it dreadful too. But guess what! Qualityland may be our future! You can’t tell me you don’t believe it, just look at the elections in every country. The world is sick.

Marc-Uwe Kling deserves applauds. I am all for dystopian worlds, places that make me pray hard that the universe won’t ever turn this way. But with Qualityland, I have reached the summit! I can’t think of a better representation of my nightmarish future.

Now, all is not gloomy. In fact, the book is actually quite funny. QualityHilarity around! Because in the middle of this dreadful satire lives John Jobless. John is a man. John is jobless. Hence the name. And my own name above. I much prefer mine, by the way! Anyway, John has inherited a machine scrapper company, where robots and other machines are sent when they don’t fit the system or a flaw is discovered. His business is… small and not very successful, hence the jobless surname. Machine scrappers are not really trendy. At the beginning of the book, John has a girlfriend. He is somewhat bored by the life he is leading. It is quite a ride to follow him to get acquainted with his surroundings. A crazy, ‘what on earth’ kind of ride. The more I read, the more horrified I was. And yet, I couldn’t stop reading. An intense and sick urge to see how far the author had gone in my nightmare spurred me to spend time in QualityLand. But you know what? I don’t regret a minute of it.

An AI running for president? A very powerful country that should remain unnamed got an orange monkey elected, so why not? Home-delivery of whatever is in your mind? Yes, please. Well, John is not happy with his gift. A lovely… pink dolphin sex toy. Yes, you read this right.

So, you get used to a digital place where humans are made to believe technology is here to help them when in fact jobs are cuts, people are tricked into losing their free will and opinions, but hey, they have nice tailored ads! And then, the glitch happens.

Can humans beat the system? Helped by his unconventional army, John Jobless embarks on a quest: return the sex toy, and shout to the world that whatever computers think they know about him, they are wrong. HE DID NOT WANT THE DOLPHIN!

To be honest, the dolphin itself is not the problem. The problem is when you are surrounded by algorithms narrowing your life to such a tiny tiny tiny tunnel that you lose the essence of who you are.

Did I say I loved the book? Because I did.
Did I say why? It is bloody brilliant!!!!

John & Co settle to have the last work and get the unwanted object return, despite TheShop’s insistence there is no mistake. That’s the limit to binary and cold technology awesomness. It takes a mind, a bit of courage, a dose of luck, and nothing much to lose, to stand against a big machine and say ‘No’ That’s what humans do!

I won’t divulge anything about John’s friends, John’s love life, or the weirdly familiar and very important politic race of the book, because that would take away the QualityFun of discovering how beautiful and cleverly forked-up this book is.

I adored it. Simple at that. It’s different, it’s hilarious even when it shouldn’t be, it’s irreverent. It raises the question of technology as improvement, or as a threat. Where is the line?

The idea might be far-fetched for some, but the more you read, the more real it becomes and you become part of QualityLand. This book has all I love, great lines, good and bad guys, weird situations, weirder moments, and a soul.

Sharply satirical, this speculative fiction novel cuts closer to the truth than is comfortable. Terrifying truths wrapped up in an extremely funny and entertaining story. This is a must read for 2020.

Never has dystopia been so hilarious!

The author has done an amazing job of raising some really important issues which will make you think long after you've stopped laughing.

I tried really hard to like this. The reviews were so good, the marketing was really clever, even the look of the book was fantastic. But the story itself? Not for me. Maybe it's a satire I'm just not getting, or maybe it's just badly written. Either way, I'm afraid I won't be finishing it.