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| Hamlyn paperback, 1981. Cover artist uncredited. |
"The Earth is long since dead, blasted in a self-sustaining chain reaction. Human survivors settled on Venus have organised themselves into a static, class-ridden society living in huge citadels buried beneath the Venusian seas.
The rulers are Immortals, genetic mutations who live a thousand years or more. Their subjects are the ordinary people with normal life spans.
Sam Reed's insane father had him mutilated as a baby so that he doesn't realise he's an Immortal until he reaches the age of eighty.
Then he goes looking for revenge..."
funny how the rocket pops out really close to the naked guys crotch. ha
ReplyDeleteI totally did not see that until now!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the great forgotten classics of science fiction. Kuttner wrote it in conjunction with his wife, Catherine Moore, and their styles mesh together seamlessly. The characters are engaging, and there is a strong theme, suggesting that humankind does not progress through noble aspirations and visionaries, but often must be dragged forward via the darker, more visceral motivations of society's malcontents (hence, the title).
ReplyDeleteIf you can overlook the idea that Venus is covered in oceans and jungles, this is a book well worth hunting down.
Kuttner himself never got the recognition he deserved, except perhaps amongst his peers. Bradbury looked up to him as a mentor. Dying young didn't help much, either.