The Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter

The play is a tense, psychological drama that unfolds in a single room where two hitmen, Ben and Gus, are waiting for their next assignment. As they engage in mundane conversation and bicker over trivialities, the underlying power dynamics and their dependence on unseen forces become apparent. The arrival of mysterious messages through a dumbwaiter further heightens the suspense, as the orders they receive become increasingly absurd and their mission's purpose grows more ambiguous. The play explores themes of communication, existential dread, and the human condition, culminating in an unsettling, unresolved conclusion that leaves the audience questioning the nature of control and the fate of the characters.

The 10397th greatest book of all time

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Total Points: 15

Since this book was first published in 1957, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 15.0.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.