Mungo Park

In a near future United States where the subliminal power of television has been boosted to irresistible levels, Dodd Corely is a man increasingly at odds with the world. His live-in girlfriend, Sheila, is addicted to the popular Travels television station, which features 24-hour-a-day viewing of a hypnotically seductive sphere bouncing on an endless, surreal journey through a variety of unspoiled natural environments. His friend and fellow veteran of the South American War, Danny Marauder, has joined the Anarchists, a disreputable group dedicated to the overthrow of the established order. His best friend, Toby, is so busy watching the Travels station's #1 rival, Jesus TV--which has just announced the greatest live special in television history: the Second Coming of Jesus Christ--that he fails to notice his own daughter is pregnant . . . a crime punishable by sterilization in this overpopulated society.

A fascinating account of Park’s two journeys of exploration to West Africa. In the first of these, in 1795, he charted the course of the Gambia River for 200 miles before heading into the interior. During a perilous journey he was held captive by a tribe of Moors for several months before managing to escape and then, on his return, fell extremely ill and was cared for by a village chief for many months more, finally returning to the coast two years after setting out. Park began his final journey in 1805, intending to explore the Niger River but over half of his expedition team died within six months of fever or dysentery. Pushing on, Park and the remaining members of his team died some months later, apparently drowning when their canoe was attacked by hostile tribesmen. They had travelled roughly three quarters of the length of the Niger.