One Man's Poison by Robert Sheckley
The novel explores the concept of a society where people are genetically engineered to be perfect, but at the cost of their individuality and free will. The protagonist is a defective who has been deemed unfit for society due to his imperfections. He embarks on a journey to find a cure for his condition, which leads him to question the nature of perfection and the true meaning of humanity.
By Robert Sheckley · First published 1953 · Genre: Science Fiction, Humor, Adventure · 5,812 words
First lines
Hellman plucked the last radish out of the can with a pair of dividers. He held it up for Casker to admire, then laid it carefully on the workbench beside the razor.
"Hell of a meal for two grown men," Casker said, flopping down in one of the ship's padded crash chairs.
What this Textopian page supports
One Man's Poison is listed on Textopian as a novella by Robert Sheckley, dated 1953 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: Robert Sheckley
- Date: 1953 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Humor, Adventure, Satire, Fantasy
- Length: 5,812 words
- Structure: 1 section, 248 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for One Man's Poison by Robert Sheckley
- 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 One Man's Poison?
- How does this novella by Robert Sheckley fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Science Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Science Fiction — The narrative explores themes of survival in an alien environment, featuring extraterrestrial beings and technology.
- Humor — The dialogue and situations often contain absurdity and wit, highlighting the characters' comedic misadventures.
- Adventure — The plot revolves around the characters' quest for food and survival on an uncharted planet.
- Satire — The story critiques human assumptions about food and survival, using humor to reflect on broader societal norms.
Tags
Science Fiction · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Absurdism · Philosophy · Existentialism · Psychological Thriller · Mind Games · Identity Crisis · Alien Invasion · Government Conspiracy