Only ForwardOnly Forward
Score Modern
What it's about
A strange, playful city is divided into neighborhoods with their own rules: in Colour everyone matches their surroundings, and in Sound silence is required except for one hour a day of screaming.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It's a wildly inventive mix of science fiction, satire and surreal comedy.
You'll love it if you liked
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Snow Crash
NeuromancerGood to know
It has strong language and an anarchic sense of humor.
By the numbers
- Readers80 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller10 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #113 of the 333 science fiction books we rank
- #616 of the 1,648 modern books we rank
- #1190 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking, Adventurous, Dark
If you like this, read next
A Deepness in the Sky
Parable of the Sower
Blindness
Good Omens
Doomsday Book
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Quick answers
Is Only Forward worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #1,190 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 71.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Only Forward about?
A strange, playful city is divided into neighborhoods with their own rules: in Colour everyone matches their surroundings, and in Sound silence is required except for one hour a day of screaming.
How long does it take to read Only Forward?
About 8 hours (310 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Only Forward?
If you liked it, try The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson or Neuromancer by William Gibson.