Sense of Obligation by Harry Harrison

The novel explores the concept of a society where people are genetically engineered to be sterile and infertile, with the goal of reducing overpopulation and resource depletion. The story follows a young man who begins to question this societal norm and eventually discovers that he has been secretly engineered to be fertile. He must then navigate the complexities of his newfound identity and the implications it has on his relationships and place in society.

By Harry Harrison · First published 1977 · Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Space Opera · 19 chapters · 63,301 words

First lines

_A man said to the universe: "Sir, I exist! " "However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation. "_ Stephen Crane

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What this Textopian page supports

Sense of Obligation is listed on Textopian as a novel by Harry Harrison, dated 1977 CE.

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

• Work type: Novel
• Author: Harry Harrison
• Date: 1977 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Science Fiction, Adventure, Space Opera, Political Fiction, Action
• Length: 63,301 words
• Structure: 19 chapters, 1,070 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for Sense of Obligation by Harry Harrison
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

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• D 99 by Horace Bowne Fyfe
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• Med Ship Man by Murray Leinster
• Letem Breathe Space by Lester Del Rey

Genres

• Science Fiction — The book is set in a futuristic universe with advanced technology and space travel, central to the plot and themes.
• Adventure — The narrative follows a journey filled with challenges and exploration, typical of adventure stories.
• Space Opera — The story involves large-scale space battles and complex interstellar politics, characteristic of space opera.
• Political Fiction — The plot includes significant political intrigue and the manipulation of power structures.

Tags

Science Fiction · Space Opera · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Utopia · Dystopia · Future Society · Alien Invasion · Human Evolution · Evolutionary Biology · Genetic Engineering

Contents

• CHAPTER I
• CHAPTER II
• CHAPTER III
• CHAPTER IV
• CHAPTER V
• CHAPTER VI
• CHAPTER VII
• CHAPTER VIII
• CHAPTER IX
• CHAPTER X
• CHAPTER XI
• CHAPTER XII
• CHAPTER XIII
• CHAPTER XIV
• CHAPTER XV
• CHAPTER XVI
• CHAPTER XVII
• CHAPTER XVIII
• CHAPTER XIX

More by Harry Harrison

• The Repairman (1958)
• The Velvet Glove (1956)
• Planet of the Damned (1962)
• The K-Factor (1946)
• The Misplaced Battleship (1960)
• Toy Shop (1979)
• Deathworld (1960)
• Arm of the Law (1961)
• All works by Harry Harrison