"The Happy Breed" is a short story by American writer

John Sladek John Thomas Sladek (December 15, 1937 – March 10, 2000) was an American science fiction author, known for his satirical and surreal novels. Life and work Born in Waverly, Iowa, in 1937, Sladek was in England in the 1960s for the New Wave ...

, originally published in

Harlan Ellison Harlan Jay Ellison (May 27, 1934 – June 28, 2018) was an American writer, known for his prolific and influential work in New Wave speculative fiction and for his outspoken, combative personality. Robert Bloch, the author of '' Psycho'' ...

's anthology ''

Dangerous Visions ''Dangerous Visions'' is a science fiction short story anthology edited by American writer Harlan Ellison and illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon. It was published in 1967. A path-breaking collection, ''Dangerous Visions'' helped define the New ...

'' (1967). It is Sladek's first published story.

Synopsis

The last five adults discuss how their lives have improved ever since the computers took over the world and made everything better for everyone all the time.

Reception

Graham Sleight Graham Sleight (born 1972) is a British writer, editor and critic, specialising in healthcare and science fiction. He is Head of Governance and Contracts at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, and editor of the science fiction pee ...

called it "fine and cutting", Maps: The Uncollected John Sladek
reviewed by

Infinity Plus ''Infinity Plus'' (sometimes stylized as ''infinity plus'' and ''infinityplus'') was a science fiction webzine active from 1997 to 2007,

; published March 15, 2003; retrieved August 15, 2017 and

Keith Brooke Keith Brooke is a science fiction author, editor, web publisher and anthologist from Essex, England. He is the founder and editor of the infinity plus webzine. He also writes children's fiction under the name Nick Gifford. Biography and publishin ...

described it as "grimly dystopian" and evidence that Sladek is "a true satirist". The Steam-Driven Boy, by John Sladek
reviewed by

, at Infinity Plus; published April 29, 2006; retrieved August 15, 2017

Algis Budrys Algirdas Jonas "Algis" Budrys (January 9, 1931 – June 9, 2008) was a Lithuanian-American science fiction author, editor, and critic. He was also known under the pen names Frank Mason, Alger Rome (in collaboration with Jerome Bixby), John ...

said that "this is not an exactly new idea, nor is it newly proposed, nor does it go to any new place", published in ''Dangerous Visions'' "when Harlan got desperate for material".

References

External links

* 1967 short stories Science fiction short stories Dystopian literature Dangerous Visions short stories {{1960s-sf-story-stub