The Good Seed by Mack Reynolds
In a future where genetic engineering has created a new class of super-soldiers, the government seeks to control the population by limiting access to the "good seed", a genetically engineered strain that guarantees superior offspring. The story follows a group of rebels who seek to overthrow the government and gain access to the good seed for themselves.
By Mack Reynolds · First published 1953 · Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Philosophical Fiction · 5,655 words
First lines
Written as Mark Mallory
They said -- as they have said of so many frontiersmen just like him -- that there must have been a woman in his past, to make him what he was. And indeed there had, but she was no flesh-and-blood female. The name of his lady was Victoria, whom the Greeks called Nike and early confounded with the Pallas Athena, that sterile maiden. And at the age of thirty-four she had Calvin Mulloy most firmly in her grasp, for he had neither wife nor child, nor any close friend worth mentioning -- only his hungry dream for some great accomplishment.
What this Textopian page supports
The Good Seed is listed on Textopian as a novel by Mack Reynolds, dated 1953 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Mack Reynolds
- Date: 1953 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Adventure, Philosophical Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Drama
- Length: 5,655 words
- Structure: 1 section, 132 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Good Seed by Mack Reynolds
- 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 The Good Seed?
- How does this novel by Mack Reynolds fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Science Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Status Quo by Mack Reynolds
- Revolution by Mack Reynolds
- The Common Man by Mack Reynolds
- Summit by Mack Reynolds
- Goslings by J. D. Beresford
- Subversive by Mack Reynolds
Genres
- Science Fiction — The narrative is set on an alien planet with intelligent flora, exploring themes of survival and communication between species.
- Adventure — The protagonist faces physical challenges and life-threatening situations while stranded on an island.
- Philosophical Fiction — The dialogue between the protagonist and the plant delves into existential themes, questioning the meaning of life and accomplishment.
- Speculative Fiction — The story speculates on the nature of life and intelligence beyond human experience, presenting unique biological concepts.
Tags
Science Fiction · Utopian · Dystopian · Social Commentary · Politics · Sociology · Future Studies · Speculative Fiction · Satire · Critique of Capitalism · Critique of Communism · Economic Systems