Gridlock (novel)
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Founder | Ben Elton |
| Products | Book |
Gridlock is a novel written by Ben Elton and published in 1991.
Plot
The story takes place in a near-future version of London, where extreme traffic jams threaten to bring the city to a standstill. To address this issue, the government proposes an extensive road construction initiative, deliberately avoiding funding for public transportation systems such as railways due to ideological convictions. The narrative critiques this strategy, emphasizing that increasing road capacity often leads to greater traffic volumes, thereby exacerbating congestion over time.
At the story's peak, secretive groups—potentially with government support—engineer multiple simultaneous accidents that immobilize London's traffic network for several days. This manufactured disorder is then exploited to legitimize the proposed expansion of road infrastructure.
Allusions/references to actual history, geography and current science
The novel serves as a satire of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's policies, which prioritized road traffic over investment in public transit.
An important subplot centers on a character with cerebral palsy who invents a hydrogen-powered vehicle system, symbolizing early advancements in green energy. This breakthrough faces opposition from entities representative of the oil industry. The depiction of disability is forthright and empowering, as the character reclaims the term 'spastic', which was commonly used pejoratively in the UK at that time.
Reception
Graham Nowland of the Bucks Free Press commended the novel for its wit and recommended it to readers familiar with Elton's earlier works. In contrast, Adrienne Hunter writing for The Northern Echo recognized the book's significant themes but criticized its overt delivery.