BookFilter: The War Of Forgetting?

August 25, 2009 5:42 PM

Yet-Another-Bookfilter - I'm trying to find an 80s-ish sci-fi book that I want to think was called "The War of Forgetting". The premise was something along the lines of: two warring factions get devices, described as "battery powered, about the size of a pocket calculator, with three antennae" which can take large cubic sections of space ( hundreds of feet on a side ) and "store" them in the device, removing them from our reality. The problem is that when something is removed, people's memories of the area/thing are removed as well - so everyone forgets what was removed and why. Later in the book, as reality gets more swiss-cheesed, people try randomly restoring these blocks and the results aren't pretty. I've been trying to find this book off and on for years, now I come to you good folk for help. Yes, it's somewhat ironic that I can't remember the title. :-)
posted by HannoverFist to media & arts (9 comments total)

Wow, sounds fascinating! Gonna set this as a favorite til the mystery is solved!
posted by newfers at 6:08 PM on August 25

I don't know this book but I'll recommend the Abe Books book sleuth forum, these guys helped me figure out a book that my mother had been looking for since the mid-80s.

It is also entertaining to look at the books other people are looking for.
posted by sciencegeek at 6:09 PM on August 25

Thanks for the tip re: the book sleuth forum. I'll head over there and get them in on the fun!
posted by HannoverFist at 7:43 PM on August 25

Drat... I know I've seen the cover of this book, the device and all. This is going to drive me nuts!
posted by GJSchaller at 7:54 PM on August 25

"War of Omission" by Kevinn O'Donnell Jr
posted by The otter lady at 7:59 PM on August 25

War of Omission
posted by The otter lady at 8:00 PM on August 25 [2 favorites has favorites]

Huzzah! Thank you! *scurries away to book shop*
posted by HannoverFist at 8:07 PM on August 25

On Amazon for 1 cent (plus shipping).
posted by w0mbat at 8:09 PM on August 25

I drew the map inside that book. I get credited as a co-author sometimes, but that's wrong.
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 9:28 AM on August 26 [1 favorite has favorites]