''Masters of Evolution'' is a 1959 science fiction novel by American writer Damon Knight. It first appeared in 1954 in '' Galaxy Science Fiction'' as the novella "Natural State". Knight subsequently expanded the text by about 5000 words, and the longer version was published by

Ace Books Ace Books is a publisher of science fiction (SF) and fantasy books founded in New York City in 1952 by Aaron A. Wyn. It began as a genre publisher of mysteries and westerns, and soon branched out into other genres, publishing its first scienc ...

in 1959 as ''Masters of Evolution'', in a dos-a-dos paperback that included

George O. Smith George Oliver Smith (April 9, 1911 – May 27, 1981) (also known by the pseudonym Wesley Long) was an American science fiction author. He is not to be confused with George H. Smith, another American science fiction author. Biography Smith was ...

's ''Fire in the Heavens'' (Ace Double D-375).

Synopsis

In the near future, the world is divided into two antagonistic groups: city dwellers and country dwellers, called "muckfeet". The muckfeet control most of the land area and have a much higher population. The mayor of New York convinces a popular actor, Alvah Gustad, to negotiate an agreement with the muckfeet: technology in exchange for their scarce metals. Alvah reluctantly agrees and is given a chance to present his wares at a fair in the Midwest. No one is interested; an altercation ensues and Alvah realizes that he is stranded. He is taken in by a pretty young woman named B. J.; gradually he comes to accept and understand the muckfeet way of life, which includes novel uses of genetic engineering in place of machines. Alvah falls in love with B. J. and when the cities launch an attack on the muckfeet, Alvah is forced to reexamine his beliefs about the superiority of the city way of life.

Reception

'' The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction'' considered that when "Natural State" was "expanded from (its original novella form)", it lost its "compressed drivenness".Knight, Damon
by

Malcolm Edwards Malcolm John Edwards (born 3 December 1949) is a British editor and critic in the science fiction field. An alumnus of The Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School, he received his degree from the University of Cambridge. He was Deputy CEO at the Orion ...

John Clute John Frederick Clute (born 12 September 1940) is a Canadian-born author and critic specializing in science fiction and fantasy literature who has lived in both England and the United States since 1969. He has been described as "an integral part o ...

and David Langford; updated April 4, 2017; retrieved February 1, 2018 ''

Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' (or ''Kirkus Media'') is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus (1893–1980). The magazine is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fic ...

'' was far harsher, calling it a "mediocre, tired comic's vision of city folk and country types in collision".Three Novels
reviewed at ''

'', originally published January 6, 1966; retrieved February 1, 2018

Origins

Mike Ashley has noted that the story was shaped by editor

Horace Gold Horace Leonard Gold (April 26, 1914 – February 21, 1996) was an American science fiction writer and editor. Born in Canada, Gold moved to the United States at the age of two. He was most noted for bringing an innovative and fresh approach to ...

, and that Knight "accepted that the end result was better than his original", but was disappointed that the original "had been still-born".Transformations: The Story of the Science-fiction Magazines from 1950 to 1970
by Mike Ashley; published 2005 by Liverpool University Press

References

External links

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1959 American novels Novels by Damon Knight American science fiction novels 1959 science fiction novels Works originally published in Galaxy Science Fiction Ace Books books {{1950s-sf-novel-stub