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A Planet Called Utopia
Utopia had been completely separated from the rest of the galaxy for 300 years. It had taken six decades to finalise the agreement and conditions that would permit a visitor from the Other Worlds to come there. Hardy Cronyn from Washington IV was the first arrival.The sensuous, young beauty who was to be his guide greeted him with a kiss. But it only took moments for Cronyn to learn the no marriage. It was illegal. The two million inhabitants of Utopia were immortal. If there were marriage, there would be the desire for children, and that was seldom allowed.The only deaths were accidental; petty crime was non-existent. Cronyn believed Utopia was paradise - until he discovered one paralyzing fear that consumed them all - PAIN! For if life was eternal pain would last a long, long, time...
- GenresScience Fiction
166 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
1 person is currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
J.T. McIntosh
132 books5 followersJ. T. McIntosh is a pseudonym used by Scottish writer and journalist James Murdoch MacGregor.
Living largely in Aberdeen, Scotland, MacGregor used the McIntosh pseudonym (along with its variants J. T. MacIntosh, and J. T. M'Intosh) as well as "H. J. Murdoch", "Gregory Francis" (with Frank H. Parnell), and "Stuart Winsor" (with Jeff Mason) for all his science fiction work, which was the majority of his output, though he did publish books under his own name. His first story, "The Curfew Tolls", appeared in Astounding Science Fiction during 1950, and his first novel, World Out of Mind, was published during 1953. He did not publish any work after 1980.
In 2010, following his death in 2008, the National Library of Scotland purchased his literary papers and correspondence.
Along with John Mather and Edith Dell, he is credited for the screenplay for the colour feature film Satellite in the Sky (1956).
Living largely in Aberdeen, Scotland, MacGregor used the McIntosh pseudonym (along with its variants J. T. MacIntosh, and J. T. M'Intosh) as well as "H. J. Murdoch", "Gregory Francis" (with Frank H. Parnell), and "Stuart Winsor" (with Jeff Mason) for all his science fiction work, which was the majority of his output, though he did publish books under his own name. His first story, "The Curfew Tolls", appeared in Astounding Science Fiction during 1950, and his first novel, World Out of Mind, was published during 1953. He did not publish any work after 1980.
In 2010, following his death in 2008, the National Library of Scotland purchased his literary papers and correspondence.
Along with John Mather and Edith Dell, he is credited for the screenplay for the colour feature film Satellite in the Sky (1956).
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 10, 2020
At its best, science fiction explores themes and theories that wouldn't otherwise be able to be explored. J T McIntosh is not the most well known science fiction writer, but he's one of the best. In this excellent novel, McIntosh explores the possibilities of immortality. The thesis is what would happen if there was one planet where the secret to immortality was discovered. What would that society be like? One of the immediately obvious problems to immortality is overpopulation. Utopia solves that by making the population artificially infertile, vastly limiting births, and making marriage just about illegal. Of course, in this world, with everlasting life, no marriage, and no children, sex is easy and plentiful.
The story involves the first visitor in 300 years to Utopia, Hardy Cronyn, and his introduction to this strange new world that boasted such positives but also so many new and strange customs. It also involves him in quite newsworthy events that he sort of stumbled into.
It is a well-crafted story, easy to read, and quite captivating.
The story involves the first visitor in 300 years to Utopia, Hardy Cronyn, and his introduction to this strange new world that boasted such positives but also so many new and strange customs. It also involves him in quite newsworthy events that he sort of stumbled into.
It is a well-crafted story, easy to read, and quite captivating.
August 4, 2013
Okay, blatant sex aside (grin) this was a lovely take on what a "utopia" actually entails. It was my second look into dystopia as a genre and I've always wanted to read more by this author, but his work is not readily available here. I only managed to read this one by buying at the Half Price Books clearance sale.
Key themes: happiness, freedom, what punishment means when your race has a longer life span, and politics.
Lovely Scifi/Dystopia, and if you can get your hands on a copy, I say definitely put in the time to read it!
Key themes: happiness, freedom, what punishment means when your race has a longer life span, and politics.
Lovely Scifi/Dystopia, and if you can get your hands on a copy, I say definitely put in the time to read it!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews