The Sheep Look Up

by John Brunner

The enteritis epidemic was declared officially over for the fourth time.

in spite of the evidence around them, in spite of what their eyes and ears reported—and sometimes their flesh, from bruises, stab wounds, racking coughs, weeping sores—these people believed their way of life was the best in the world, and were prepared to export it at the point of a gun.

Steam cars? Why cars at all? Ground is there to be walked on.

the people who made that poison gas: they’re still there, and they’ll be there until the stink gets so bad they move to New Zealand. They’ll be able to afford to. You and I can’t. That’s what we’ve got to put right!”