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The Trouble with You Earth People
Book by MacClean, Katherine
- GenresScience Fiction
237 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1980
2 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Katherine MacLean
147 books21 followersKatherine Anne MacLean (born January 22, 1925) is an American science fiction author best known for her short stories of the 1950s which examined the impact of technological advances on individuals and society.
Brian Aldiss noted that she could "do the hard stuff magnificently," while Theodore Sturgeon observed that she "generally starts from a base of hard science, or rationalizes psi phenomena with beautifully finished logic." Although her stories have been included in numerous anthologies and a few have had radio and television adaptations, The Diploids and Other Flights of Fancy (1962) is her only collection of short fiction.
Born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, MacLean concentrated on mathematics and science in high school. At the time her earliest stories were being published in 1949-50, she received a B.A. in economics from Barnard College (1950), followed by postgraduate studies in psychology at various universities. Her 1951 marriage to Charles Dye ended in divorce a year later. She married David Mason in 1956. Their son, Christopher Dennis Mason, was born in 1957, and they divorced in 1962.
MacLean taught literature at the University of Maine and creative writing at the Free University of Portland. Over decades, she has continued to write while employed in a wide variety of jobs -- as book reviewer, economic graphanalyst, editor, EKG technician, food analyst, laboratory technician in penicillin research, nurse's aide, office manager and payroll bookkeeper. photographer, pollster, public relations, publicist and store detective.
It was while she worked as a laboratory technician in 1947 that she began writing science fiction. Strongly influenced by Ludwig von Bertalanffy's General Systems Theory, her fiction has often demonstrated a remarkable foresight in scientific advancements.
Brian Aldiss noted that she could "do the hard stuff magnificently," while Theodore Sturgeon observed that she "generally starts from a base of hard science, or rationalizes psi phenomena with beautifully finished logic." Although her stories have been included in numerous anthologies and a few have had radio and television adaptations, The Diploids and Other Flights of Fancy (1962) is her only collection of short fiction.
Born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, MacLean concentrated on mathematics and science in high school. At the time her earliest stories were being published in 1949-50, she received a B.A. in economics from Barnard College (1950), followed by postgraduate studies in psychology at various universities. Her 1951 marriage to Charles Dye ended in divorce a year later. She married David Mason in 1956. Their son, Christopher Dennis Mason, was born in 1957, and they divorced in 1962.
MacLean taught literature at the University of Maine and creative writing at the Free University of Portland. Over decades, she has continued to write while employed in a wide variety of jobs -- as book reviewer, economic graphanalyst, editor, EKG technician, food analyst, laboratory technician in penicillin research, nurse's aide, office manager and payroll bookkeeper. photographer, pollster, public relations, publicist and store detective.
It was while she worked as a laboratory technician in 1947 that she began writing science fiction. Strongly influenced by Ludwig von Bertalanffy's General Systems Theory, her fiction has often demonstrated a remarkable foresight in scientific advancements.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 3, 2018
Wow. Most of these stories were written in the 50's, yet they seem just as relevant today. An excellent collection!
January 13, 2026
4. Syndrome Johnny - 4 stars
"Evolution as a theory is fine, but evolution if you can see it happening to you might well be a horror story."
-Katherine Maclean
An interesting story, although it is a bit clunky in presentation.
It's only about a third of the way in that we actually meet the true protagonists of the story. Before that, we meet a number of characters that just disappear and are forgotten about.
That aside, the story sets up an interesting conundrum.
Two nasty Plagues have struck Humanity, drastically thinning out the world population. But the Overall Health of Humanity as a whole has improved because of it. The equation being, less mouths to feed equals a better fed World Population.
It is discovered that the Plagues have been intentionally created by the Syndrome Johnny of the title. And now a Third Plague is being created.
Also, at the same time, Humanity is evolving into a new creature. One who is made up with as many Silicone Cells as Flesh and Blood Cells. Also thanks to the said Silicone Johnny of the title.
Thus Humanity is evolving into a Higher Form of Life. One that is tougher, more durable, stronger, healthier and capable of living for at least one hundred and fifty years or more.
So the question is:
Do you stop the Plagues from killing "weaker" Individuals in the short term and halt Humanity's evolution onto a higher being?
Or
Do you murderer billions of people now so that in the long term Humanity can evolve and survive as a Superior Species?
Something to think about.
Quotes from the story:
"I'm turning into Silicone Plastic myself."
"Thise who survived The Plague were very durable."
"Individual deaths are not important in the long run. I'm dedicated to improving the Average Life, the Average Health."
Syndrome Johnny: "I'm a Community, a Construction. The Cells that carry on the Silicone Metabolism in me are not Human."
"Mice were staring at him with beady eyes, waiting in the cage to be experimented on."
"He'd find out what [plague[ was in the Box by dying if it."
"His fist was enough like a stone to crush a skull."
7. Collision Orbit - 4 stars
A fun little story about Frontier Life out in the Astroid Belt, where Justice and Legality are concepts that are still up for debate. At least as far as Earth standards go.
Sam runs a hugely popular Tading Post and Supply Goods Store out in The Belt. He is resourceful and has a bit of a hard edge to him, like most settlers in The Belt.
One day his store is invaded by four criminals on the run from Earth Justice, looking to steal everything they can get their hands on, and to swiftly kill anyone who gets in their way. Including, of course, Sam.
I have to admit, at this point, I clued in to something that was going to happen soon in the story. Sam starts the story dressed only in his Jockey Shorts. He asks if he can at least put some pants on. The criminals laugh and say, "Sure." So Sam slips into a coverall that covers him from head to foot and is a shiny silvery colour. Ha! I thought. I grew up watching Lost In Space on the a b&w t.v. I knew what the overall was about and what was more-or- less likely to happen. Was I right? Well, read the story and see. (I was btw.)
So a fun story, enjoyable and a recommended read.
10. Contagion - 4 stars
Good story.
I've always thought that most Sci-Fi stories, that take place on other planets, neglected the most obvious peril to Humans settling into a foreign, interstellar environment. The likelihood that human physiology could survive in an environment that had a different genetic heritage is, probably, statically close to 0%. That's just my theory though.
This story finds a way to overcome that challenge.
"Adapt or die." -- Leon C. Megginson
-----SPOILERS-------
It's a fun story in that it doesn't just have a twist at the end, it has a double twist.
Seeing how the story was written by a woman, I found the twist where all the men transform into Patrick Mead quite funny. I would have loved to read how the new Colonists worked out the Social Intricacies of that relationalship problem.
But then we find there is a Patricia Mead waiting outside to bless the Women Colonialists with a simular transformation. At that point things get creepy and it becomes a Horror story.
The story was a fun, entertaining thought experiment.
Think I'll go and check out "The Stepford Wives" now. I've never read the book but have seen parts of the movie.
"Evolution as a theory is fine, but evolution if you can see it happening to you might well be a horror story."
-Katherine Maclean
An interesting story, although it is a bit clunky in presentation.
It's only about a third of the way in that we actually meet the true protagonists of the story. Before that, we meet a number of characters that just disappear and are forgotten about.
That aside, the story sets up an interesting conundrum.
Two nasty Plagues have struck Humanity, drastically thinning out the world population. But the Overall Health of Humanity as a whole has improved because of it. The equation being, less mouths to feed equals a better fed World Population.
It is discovered that the Plagues have been intentionally created by the Syndrome Johnny of the title. And now a Third Plague is being created.
Also, at the same time, Humanity is evolving into a new creature. One who is made up with as many Silicone Cells as Flesh and Blood Cells. Also thanks to the said Silicone Johnny of the title.
Thus Humanity is evolving into a Higher Form of Life. One that is tougher, more durable, stronger, healthier and capable of living for at least one hundred and fifty years or more.
So the question is:
Do you stop the Plagues from killing "weaker" Individuals in the short term and halt Humanity's evolution onto a higher being?
Or
Do you murderer billions of people now so that in the long term Humanity can evolve and survive as a Superior Species?
Something to think about.
Quotes from the story:
"I'm turning into Silicone Plastic myself."
"Thise who survived The Plague were very durable."
"Individual deaths are not important in the long run. I'm dedicated to improving the Average Life, the Average Health."
Syndrome Johnny: "I'm a Community, a Construction. The Cells that carry on the Silicone Metabolism in me are not Human."
"Mice were staring at him with beady eyes, waiting in the cage to be experimented on."
"He'd find out what [plague[ was in the Box by dying if it."
"His fist was enough like a stone to crush a skull."
7. Collision Orbit - 4 stars
A fun little story about Frontier Life out in the Astroid Belt, where Justice and Legality are concepts that are still up for debate. At least as far as Earth standards go.
Sam runs a hugely popular Tading Post and Supply Goods Store out in The Belt. He is resourceful and has a bit of a hard edge to him, like most settlers in The Belt.
One day his store is invaded by four criminals on the run from Earth Justice, looking to steal everything they can get their hands on, and to swiftly kill anyone who gets in their way. Including, of course, Sam.
I have to admit, at this point, I clued in to something that was going to happen soon in the story. Sam starts the story dressed only in his Jockey Shorts. He asks if he can at least put some pants on. The criminals laugh and say, "Sure." So Sam slips into a coverall that covers him from head to foot and is a shiny silvery colour. Ha! I thought. I grew up watching Lost In Space on the a b&w t.v. I knew what the overall was about and what was more-or- less likely to happen. Was I right? Well, read the story and see. (I was btw.)
So a fun story, enjoyable and a recommended read.
10. Contagion - 4 stars
Good story.
I've always thought that most Sci-Fi stories, that take place on other planets, neglected the most obvious peril to Humans settling into a foreign, interstellar environment. The likelihood that human physiology could survive in an environment that had a different genetic heritage is, probably, statically close to 0%. That's just my theory though.
This story finds a way to overcome that challenge.
"Adapt or die." -- Leon C. Megginson
-----SPOILERS-------
It's a fun story in that it doesn't just have a twist at the end, it has a double twist.
Seeing how the story was written by a woman, I found the twist where all the men transform into Patrick Mead quite funny. I would have loved to read how the new Colonists worked out the Social Intricacies of that relationalship problem.
But then we find there is a Patricia Mead waiting outside to bless the Women Colonialists with a simular transformation. At that point things get creepy and it becomes a Horror story.
The story was a fun, entertaining thought experiment.
Think I'll go and check out "The Stepford Wives" now. I've never read the book but have seen parts of the movie.
November 11, 2024
Solid collection of shorts!
The gambling Hell and the sinful girl - space, the wild west.
Syndrome Johnny - plastic plague was interesting
Collision orbits - space, the wild wild west cont'd.
These truths - dark.
Brain wipe - darker.
The missing man - gave me serious incal vibes.
The carnivore - our sad fate?
The gambling Hell and the sinful girl - space, the wild west.
Syndrome Johnny - plastic plague was interesting
Collision orbits - space, the wild wild west cont'd.
These truths - dark.
Brain wipe - darker.
The missing man - gave me serious incal vibes.
The carnivore - our sad fate?
August 26, 2022
An assortment of decent stories by the only women author that John Campbell published back in the Astounding days. They have aged better than many of their contemporaries.
Currently reading
February 14, 202613 stories
(7/13 read)
**** The Trouble with You Earth People (1968)
**** Unhuman Sacrifice (1958)
The Gambling Hell and the Sinful Girl (1975)
Syndrome Johnny (1951)
Trouble with Treaties (1959)
*** The Origin of the Species (1953)
**** Collision Orbit (1954)
The Fittest (1951)
These Truths (1958)
Contagion (1950)
**** Brain Wipe (1973)
**** The Missing Man (1971)
**** The Carnivore (1953)
(7/13 read)
**** The Trouble with You Earth People (1968)
**** Unhuman Sacrifice (1958)
The Gambling Hell and the Sinful Girl (1975)
Syndrome Johnny (1951)
Trouble with Treaties (1959)
*** The Origin of the Species (1953)
**** Collision Orbit (1954)
The Fittest (1951)
These Truths (1958)
Contagion (1950)
**** Brain Wipe (1973)
**** The Missing Man (1971)
**** The Carnivore (1953)
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews