''All Flesh is Grass'' is a

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...

novel by American author

Clifford D. Simak Clifford Donald Simak (; August 3, 1904 – April 25, 1988) was an American science fiction writer. He won three Hugo Awards and one Nebula Award. The Science Fiction Writers of America made him its third SFWA Grand Master, and the Horror Wr ...

, published in 1965. The book follows a small town in

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

that is closed off from the outside world by a mysterious barrier, placed by extraterrestrial beings.

Plot

The book is set in the town of Millville, Wisconsin, in the

midwestern The Midwestern United States, also referred to as the Midwest or the American Midwest, is one of four census regions of the United States Census Bureau (also known as "Region 2"). It occupies the northern central part of the United States. I ...

the United States. Simak was born in Millville, which formed the setting for many of his stories. The book begins with the town being suddenly enclosed by a mysterious barrier. The barrier has been placed by an extraterrestrial intelligence that wants to collaborate with humans as it has with other alien races, but the town's inhabitants -- as well as, eventually, the world in general -- react to it fearfully. The extraterrestrials, a form of hive mind or superorganism, have the form of purple flowers. The book follows the experiences of Brad Carter who, unlike most of his childhood friends, has remained in the slowly declining town, and who is chosen by the alien intelligence as its

spokesperson A spokesperson, spokesman, or spokeswoman, is someone engaged or elected to speak on behalf of others. Duties and function In the present media-sensitive world, many organizations are increasingly likely to employ professionals who have receiv ...

. Eventually, he meets the extraterrestrial beings and agrees to speak for them on Earth though still being suspicious of their motives.

Publication

''All Flesh is Grass'' was first published by Doubleday in 1965. It has since been published in at least 21 more editions.

Awards and reception

The novel was nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1966. A review of the book in ''Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Review'' stated that "Simak's great forte is the creation of sympathetic non-humans who patiently attempt communication with distrustful mankind." The review also stated that Simak's work accurately reflected the concerns of 1960s. Reviewers of

Stephen King Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, crime, science-fiction, and fantasy novels. Described as the "King of Horror", a play on his surname and a reference to his high s ...

's book '' Under the Dome'' have pointed out the previous use of the plot device of a mysterious barrier in ''All Flesh is Grass''.

References

{{Clifford Simak Novels by Clifford D. Simak 1965 science fiction novels 1965 American novels Novels set in Wisconsin Novels about extraterrestrial life Doubleday (publisher) books Grant County, Wisconsin