| Author |
Miller, Walter M., 1923-1996 |
| Illustrator |
Stone, David |
| Title |
Conditionally Human
|
| Note |
Reading ease score: 87.4 (6th grade). Easy to read.
|
| Credits |
Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
|
| Summary |
"Conditionally Human" by Walter M. Miller, Jr. is a thought-provoking science fiction novella written in the early 1950s. The narrative revolves around a future society where genetic engineering has produced synthetic humanoid creatures known as neutroids, designed to emotionally satisfy couples unable to have children. The story delves into moral dilemmas surrounding creation, affection, and the value placed on life in a world governed by strict population control and societal norms. The plot follows Terrell Norris, a bio-agent in charge of overseeing neutroid populations, as he grapples with his role in the destruction of these beings, whom society views as mere property. As Norris struggles with the emotional impact of his duties, his life becomes further complicated when he encounters Peony, a deviant neutroid with unexpected intelligence and the ability to speak. Faced with the harsh realities of his job and the impending destruction of Peony due to her deviation from standard characteristics, Norris fights against the ethics of his world. The novella explores themes of humanity, the nature of love and attachment, and the cost of societal conformity, ultimately leading to a climactic and morally ambiguous resolution. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
|
| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
|
| Subject |
Science fiction
|
| Subject |
Spouses -- Fiction
|
| Subject |
Parent and child -- Fiction
|
| Subject |
Pets -- Fiction
|
| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
51651 |
| Release Date |
Apr 3, 2016 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
321 downloads in the last 30 days. |
|
Project Gutenberg eBooks are always free!
|
