A young man’s decision to put career before family leads to chilling consequences
Jussi Valtonen is an author and psychologist from Helsinki, Finland. He studied neuropsychology in the United States and screenwriting in the UK. His previous works include two novels and a short story collection. Kristian London is an American translator who divides his time between Seattle and Helsinki.
‘Classy and engrossing drama.’
*Daily Mail*
'Smart, slightly futuristic, nicely plotted.'
*Mail on Sunday*
'A hugely ambitious book. Literary fiction meets sci-fi meets
thriller in a gripping exploration of animal rights, the light and
dark of new technologies, international academia, and the dynamics
within modern families. Excellent.'
*Will Dean, author of Dark Pines*
'Remarkable... Valtonen’s grip on plot and character is so
masterful that his storytelling easily contains his restless
speculation about influences on how we live now and where we might
end up as our old value systems begin to crumble.'
*Anna Paterson, World Literature Today*
'A contemporary novel that doesn’t lose sight of perennial
dilemmas.'
*Kirkus*
'Contemporary literature simply doesn’t get better than this. A
stunning work.'
*Helsingin Sanomat, Finland*
'Well-crafted... They Know Not What They Do is a
page-turner, skilfully translated by Kristian London.'
*Otago Daily Times (New Zealand)*
'They Know Not What They Do is neither indulgent, nor
self-satisfied, nor glib, but charts its own course toward an
understanding of contemporary society and the importance of
perspective. And a page turner to boot – huzzah!'
*Words Without Borders*
'A perfect novel for our time, They Know Not What They
Do is a satirical critique of our contemporary infatuation
with innovation, fuelled by corporate greed and a desire to do
everything faster. With a sympathetic hand, Valtonen skillfully
creates a perfect storm of ethical conundrums...all tied into a
cautionary tale about a man struggling with the consequences of his
decisions.'
*Shelf Awareness*
'This Scandinavian thriller is the perfect read for long winter
nights. Winner of the 2014 Finlandia Prize, They Know Not What
They Do weaves family drama and high stakes with chilling
results.'
*Paste*
'This hugely ambitious work of contemporary realism offers a
dramatic warning about the influence of digital culture.'
*Booklist*
‘An engaging and fascinating exploration of the difficulties of
modern parenting in the face of social media and technological
advancements.’
*Guy Bolton, author of The Pictures*
‘The novel addresses a multitude of themes wrapped up in a
carefully plotted story with a thread of suspense running through
it... The organisations whose tentacles are deeply embedded in so
many aspects of our lives are unsettlingly well drawn – step
forward Google – and the plotting is cleverly executed.’
*A Life in Books*
'A portrait of our society and a futuristic thriller, the Finnish
writer Jussi Valtonen draws a picture of our times as brilliant as
it is chilling.'
*L’Express, France*
'One of the most extraordinary books of recent times.'
*Könyvutca, Hungary*
'Valtonen creates a frightening dystopian suspense that keeps
readers spellbound, all the while inciting them to reflect on
ethics and morals.'
*L’Obs, France*
'An ambitious, nuanced plea for compassion.'
*De Standaard, Belgium*
‘This is one of the most satisfying literary thrillers I have read,
and I am not surprised it won the Finlandia Prize.’
*BookOxygen blog*
'A thrilling, full-fledged, revolutionary, well-crafted work.'
*Vilmos Csányi, Est Ujság, Hungary*
'They Know Not What They Do is a great novel that shows
ambition and the willingness to take risks.'
*Sand am Meer, Austria*
'They Know Not What They Do speaks to a large audience. There are
few contemporary novels that can address both adolescents and
middle-aged people, university professors and young green
activists, parents and children, Europeans and Americans. […]
Different opinions collide, but no one is right and no one is
wrong. They simply see things differently, as if they were living
in another dimension. That's what their tragedy is about.'
*Olvass bele literary blog, Hungary*
'They Know Not What They Do is an arresting study of the
relationship between science and ethics, and of people’s inability
to communicate with one another.'
*Finlandia Prize 2014 jury*
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