Wolfbane by C.M. Kornbluth (1951)

Name: Wolfbane
Author: C.M. Kornbluth

Wolfbane by C.M. Kornbluth: Plot Summary: Wolfbane is a science fiction novel by C.M. Kornbluth, published in 1951. The story follows the journey of a young man named John Dearborn, who is sentenced to a penal colony on the planet Rossem. Dearborn is part of a group of criminals who are tasked with terraforming the planet and making it habitable for human colonization. However, things take a turn when they discover that the planet is already inhabited by an alien race known as the Rossemians. The novel explores themes of colonialism, power dynamics, and the clash of cultures.

By C.M. Kornbluth · First published 1951 · Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Adventure · 15 chapters · 42,414 words

First lines

Appallingly, the Earth and the Moon had been kidnapped from the Solar System -- but who were the kidnappers and what ransom did they want?

Roget Germyn, banker, of Wheeling, West Virginia, a Citizen, woke gently from a Citizen's dreamless sleep. It was the third-hour-rising time, the time proper to a day of exceptional opportunity to appreciate.

What this Textopian page supports

Wolfbane is listed on Textopian as a novel by C.M. Kornbluth, dated 1951 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novel
Author: C.M. Kornbluth
Date: 1951 CE
Language: English
Genres: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Adventure
Length: 42,414 words
Structure: 15 chapters, 1,102 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Wolfbane by C.M. Kornbluth
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering Wolfbane?
How does this novel by C.M. Kornbluth fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Science Fiction first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Science Fiction — The book is set in a future where the Earth is dominated by an alien race and the story features technology and elements characteristic of the science fiction genre.
Dystopian — The future Earth in the Wolfbane is characterized by bleak, oppressive, and dehumanising circumstances, typical of dystopian fiction.
Adventure — The storyline involves the protagonists embarking on a daring mission, which includes elements of adventure.