Love Conquers All

by Fred Saberhagen

In a world where zero population growth is strictly enforced and sexual permissiveness is the chief means of control, a young woman's decision to bear her third child makes her the target of concerted oppression

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Dystopia

284 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

Fred Saberhagen was an American science fiction and fantasy author most famous for his ''Beserker'' and Dracula stories.

Saberhagen also wrote a series of a series of post-apocalyptic mytho-magical novels beginning with his popular ''Empire of the East'' and continuing through a long series of ''Swords'' and ''Lost Swords'' novels. Saberhagen died of cancer, in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Saberhagen was born in and grew up in the area of Chicago, Illinois. Saberhagen served in the [[U.S. Air Force]] during the Korean War while he was in his early twenties. Back in civilian life, Saberhagen worked as an It was while he was working for Motorola (after his military service) that Saberhagen started writing fiction seriously at the age of about 30. "Fortress Ship", his first "Berserker" short shory, was published in 1963. Then, in 1964, Saberhagen saw the publication of his first novel, ''The Golden People''.

From 1967 to 1973, he worked as an editor for the Chemistry articles in the ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' as well as writing its article on science fiction. He then quit and took up writing full-time. In 1975, he moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

He married fellow writer Joan Spicci in 1968. They had two sons and a daughter.

Reviews

[J.k · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you think the sexual revolution was the greatest thing since sex, don't read this book. If you think debates about the morality of abortion are so passe as to be offensive, don't read this book. If you can only stand iconoclasm when its directed at the stuff you already sneer at, then don't read this book. But if you have an open mind. . . . if you want a fun exploration of a world turned mirror opposite, then read this little known book of Fred Saberhagen. Saberhagen is known for his Swords series of swashbuckling post-apocalyptic fantasies. This is not one of those. The story is about Art Rodney a chess master searching for his pregnant wife who has gone into hiding from a world that is very strange indeed. Sex is ubiquitous. It is literally worshiped. The Church of Eros has a pope who sports a giant codpiece. People have sex in public. Prom is a rite of passage where students sleep with their teachers. The entire world has adopted a China-like Two child policy. Abortion is mandatory for any third. Chastity (or monogamy) is the worst social taboo. If you want to be a really kinky you sublimate your lust and just look at the stars with someone. Prostitutes are paid to cover up and its rude not to pinch or cup a breast in greeting.
Be forewarned. it is about as subtle with its agenda as Brave New World or Atlas Shrugged. It's preachy in the same way. The characters are descent. The science-fiction world-building and technology is subtle but plausible.
Saberhagen uses Art Rodney's search for his wife, who has illegally opted to have a third child in some back alley birthing clinic, to ridicule the excesses of sexual liberation and the attitudes of abortion on demand. What is remarkable is that this book was first published in 1974, a year after Roe v. Wade. The point at which a fetus is viable out side of the mother is now just a few weeks because of artificial womb technology. Don't read this book for the science-fiction technology. The tropes will seem banal compared to the likes of Clarke, Baxter, and Gibson but read it for the conversations about how sex can become banal and procreation can become mechanical. Read it because its a jab at Stranger in a Strange Land. Read it for the sheer reversal of modernity where freedom is a prison and the rebels are the Christian prudes.

[Grady Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting twist - imaginative distopia

[hotsake (André Troesch) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing was good, the characters were fine but I just didn't care about the story.

[Jeff Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting story with a good pace. A man's wife has run off to prevent her third pregnancy from being forcefully terminated by the government. He just wants her back home and the problem dealt with. Written only two years after Roe v. Wade, this novel presents a dystopian world where the pursuit of lust is a basic tenant of life. A well-written story that avoids preachiness.

[Brian Marshall · Rating 2 out of 5]

A rare misstep for Saberhagen. This premise was intriguing, but the execution didn't quite gel for me.

[Eddie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to admit this was WAY out of the norm for what I've read from this author. This almost felt like a political book, attempting to reveal frailties of our own civilization to an extreme fault. It reminded me a lot of Brave New World. Chastity and Virtue are seen as offensive and sex is not just casual, but expected of civilized people with everyone. The crux of the book revolves around an (anti)abortion debate that seems to have been pretty decently represented. Realistically the books isn't that great, I didn't enjoy It much, it is very slow and I don't feel much draw to most of the characters. I'll stick with the Fred Saberhagen Berserker Series instead.

[Phil Favre · Rating 2 out of 5]

The whole idea of chasteness being an irresistible impulse and frowned upon by society was very hard to swallow. I usually love Saberhagen but apparently only when he’s writing about Berserkers and swords. Hard to get through this one. Didn’t find the characters engaging.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I have read this.