The Status Civilization - Sheckley, Robert

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Résumé :
Will Barrent had no memory of his crime . . . but he found himself shipped across space to a brutal prison-planet. On Omega, his only chance to advance himself - and stay alive - is to commit an endless series of violent crimes. The average inmate's life expectancy from time of arrival is three years. Can Barrett survive, escape, and return to Earth to clear his name? Yes sir. Well, there are three men outside trying to kill me.... Quite right, Mr. Frendlyer said. And today is Landing Day. You came off the ship that landed today, and have been classified a peon.... I'm happy to say that everything is in order. The Landing Day Hunt ends at sundown. You can leave here with the knowledge that everything is correct and that your rights have not been violated. Leave here? After sundown, you mean. Mr. Frendlyer shook his head and smiled sadly. I'm afraid not. According to the law you must leave here at once. But they'll kill me! That's very true. Unfortunately it can't be helped. A victim by definition is one who is to be killed.... We protect rights, not victims.

Biographie:
Robert Sheckley (1928-2005) was an American science fiction writer celebrated for his wit, imaginative concepts, and satirical approach to speculative fiction. Emerging during the golden age of science fiction magazines, Sheckley became known for short stories and novels that combined humor, philosophical insight, and inventive storytelling.Among his most notable works are The Status Civilization, Immortality, Inc., and numerous short stories that appeared in magazines such as Galaxy and The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. His writing often explored themes of social conformity, technology, and the absurdities of modern life through imaginative speculative settings.Sheckley's distinctive voice helped shape the satirical and philosophical branch of modern science fiction....

Sommaire:
Robert Sheckley's The Status Civilization is a sharp and imaginative science fiction novel exploring a society built upon crime, power, and the strange logic of status. Will Barrent awakens with no memory of his past on the distant prison planet of Omega, a world where convicted criminals are transported from Earth and left to survive under brutal conditions. On Omega, the social order is inverted: the most ruthless criminals rise to positions of power, while compassion and cooperation are considered weaknesses. As Barrent struggles to understand the harsh rules of this strange civilization, he gradually climbs the social hierarchy while questioning the moral foundations of the world around him. The deeper he goes into Omega's culture of violence, ritual, and twisted prestige, the more he begins to suspect that the system itself hides a deeper secret. Blending dark satire with inventive world-building, Sheckley crafts a provocative exploration of justice, conformity, and the nature of civilization. The Status Civilization remains one of the most memorable works of mid-twentieth-century science fiction....