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Cover of Masters of Evolution

Masters of Evolution

Damon Knight (1959)

SubgenreSoft SF / Social SF
Age groupAdult 18+
Content ratingPG-13
Pages ()
SettingFar-Future Earth
CSM age14+
Goodreads5.0

Content levels

ViolenceMild
Sexual contentNone
LanguageMild

Trigger warnings

Not yet tagged

Synopsis

SHOWDOWN WITH MONSTERS!Alvah Gustad was typical of New York City's twenty million citizens. He took for granted such luxuries as synthetic food and robot-servants, and he knew beyond a doubt that the Cities offered the only acceptable way of life for civilized Man!But roaming the vast plains between the continent's five Cities, ever growing and expanding, were the dreaded tribes of Muckfeet. In direct antithesis to the City dwellers, these illiterate savages actually _grew_ food and _raised_ animals. And how they smelled! It was so bad that Alvah could feel his stomach churn at the mere mention of their name.There was one thing in the Muckfoot territory that the Cities did need, though--metal ores. And Alvah, faced with the job of liaison to the tribes around New York, had to somehow make his patriotism outweigh his nausea. If he succeeded, the Cities would be monuments to eternity; if he failed, the dreaded Muckfeet would become the MASTERS OF EVOLUTION.Alvah Gustad:The fate of an empire rested on the condition of his stomach.Beej Hofmeyer:She looked like a woman, but she smelled like a Muckfoot!Doc Bither:When he raised a kitten, you couldn't be sure if it would turn out to be a cat or a tiger.Manager Wytak:Bravery was something he always looked for in other people, but never in himself.Artie Brumbacher:He couldn't read or write, but nevertheless he was a scholar.Jerry Finch:To his way of thinking, there was nothing unusual about being a gardener in an Iron Pit.(Note: Is an expansion of the novelette "Natural State.")

Tags

social satirecultural conflictevolutionary biology

Is Masters of Evolution appropriate for my child?

Suitable for most readers 14 and up.

A mid-century SF novel exploring class conflict between urban and rural societies with no explicit sexual content or graphic violence. Themes involve prejudice, cultural superiority, and political intrigue.

What to know going in

This book has mild violence, no sexual content, and mild language.

Publisher age: Teen and Adult·Our content rating: 14+

Publisher ages reflect reading level; our rating reflects content maturity — they can differ.

Who'll love this

A thought-provoking social science fiction tale about overcoming prejudice and finding common ground between two very different worlds.