 First edition | |
| Author | Robert C. O'Brien |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Publisher | Atheneum Books |
Publication date | March 1972 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Hardcover |
| Pages | 223 in hardcover |
| ISBN | 9780689104459 |
A Report from Group 17, published in 1972,[1] is a science-fiction thriller written by Robert Leslie Conly under his pen name Robert C. O'Brien.[2] Set in Washington, D.C., during the Cold War, the story deals particularly with the danger of developing bioweapons. The potential cause of conflict is a resurgence of Nazism in Europe. A 12-year-old girl who lives near a Soviet estate in Maryland becomes a victim of intrigue when she is kidnapped for use as an experimental subject. Themes include the threat of modern war to human survival, the moral responsibility of scientists, and the importance of both individual freedom and sympathetic instincts. Following two novels for children, A Report from Group 17 was the first of two dystopian novels that O'Brien wrote for adults.[1] His last novel, Z for Zachariah (1974), depicts a conflict between two survivors of a nuclear war and deals with similar themes.
- ^ a b O'Sullivan, Emer. Historical Dictionary of Children's Literature. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 2010. ISBN 978-0-8108-6080-3
- ^ Kirkus Reviews (March 1, 1972)