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1'''''Underkill''''' is a 1979 novel by the science fiction writer James White. White is best known for his ''Literature/SectorGeneral'' series of stories; this is a stand-alone novel, and is ''much'' darker.
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3The setting is a few decades after a world-wide energy crisis called the "Powerdown". Energy supplies are scarce - a major source of electricity is from adults and children "walking the wheels". Food is also strictly rationed, and the rations are often inadequate.
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5Large numbers of people die every year from violence, terrorism, sickness, starvation and suicide, and at the bottom of society things are particularly harsh. However for many people life is still fairly civilised, and the novel centres on a married couple, Ann and Malcolm, who are lucky enough to be medics in a hospital with a worldwide reputation.
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7As terrorist outrages escalate, Ann and Malcolm meet up with a police inspector called Reynolds. He is trying to make sense of why the terrorist groups exist and who is encouraging them. Reynolds suspects there is some kind of conspiracy at work - if you look really hard, so many government officials look ''very'' alike. Are they human?
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10!!Tropes
11* TheBeforeTimes - The hospital has some very sophisticated equipment dating back to pre-Powerdown times, but Reynolds is suspicious.
12* CrapsackWorld - Sadly, yes. This is a very dark setting compared with nearly all of the author's other works.
13* HospitalHottie - Professor Donnelly . Too bad he doesn't seem interested in romance.
14* TheLastDJ - Reynolds
15* PetTheDog - There's a ''lot'' of this. And it is really necessary for the persons concerned.
16* PostPeakOil - The setting for the whole novel.
17* SadistTeacher - The quietly spoken educator who isn't worried even if a child ''dies''.

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