Project Gutenberg
2016-04-03
Public domain in the USA.
166
Miller, Walter M.
1923
1996
Miller, Walter Michael
Miller, W. M. (Walter M.)
Stone, David
Stone
Stone, D.
Conditionally Human
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"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.)
en
Science fiction
Spouses -- Fiction
Parent and child -- Fiction
Pets -- Fiction
PS
Text
Science Fiction
Browsing: Literature
Browsing: Parenthood & Family Relations
Browsing: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
Browsing: Fiction
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