No. It starts with the world as-is.
Discussion
There’s an outsider character who is brought into the world but rejects it. I recommend giving the book a try. It’s actually a fun read.
Outsider different from the main?
I know the book has the main character commit suicide after making a public spectacle whipping the woman he loves, eventually realizing he cannot save anyone from their hell.
The show turned it into a communist uprising because they wanted a second season.
I must read it but I have little time and many other things in the backlog as well.
I haven’t watched enough of the show to compare fully. But IIRC, the show actually gives more background on the world outside than the book does. The book spends more time describing the soma world than the external environment or its origins.
Well the book had the World State and the show has a city state. The show allowed for more to exist for future seasons and in the book the World State already controlled everything, from what I gather.