Mack Reynolds – författare

"Status Quo" is a science fiction short story written by Mack Reynolds.?The story of the book is set in a future in which humanity has achieved a form of utopia through the establishment of a unique and unconventional government system, and it tackles the challenges and consequences of preserving such a society. Every inhabitant in this future society is assigned a certain position and profession through a computerized system known as the "Planning Board." To promote a balanced and peaceful community, the Planning Board distributes employment, resources, and even life partners. This highly regulated and computerized framework, however, comes at a cost: individual freedom and choice are sacrificed in the sake of stability and equality. The narrative follows Carl, the protagonist, as he gets disillusioned with the lack of individual liberty and predictability in this system. Carl struggles with the problems of fighting the current system and its implications for the society he lives in as he strives to break free from the Status Quo.

The author, a top science fiction writer who proves equally adept in the mystery field, says of this novel: “The detective isn’t tough and he isn’t even smart and he doesn’t prove the case against the killer. And the boy doesn’t get the girl, either. Otherwise, this story is just about like a good many others you’ve read. At least it starts to read the same way . . . We can’t help it if it dissolves into men from Mars, people who believe in spaceships and flying saucers, murders without motive, and heat rays fired by little green men (or were they?).”The publishers disagree about its being and ordinary baffler, even at the outset. Rather, they are of the opinion that its humor, colorful characterizations, fast tempo and sustained suspense make it a must for murder addicts, science fiction fen (the plural of fan in science fictionese), and any other men or Martians with a taste for homicide-cum-fantasy.

Here is a saucy, realistic ovel of a group of pleasure-seeking expatriates living it up in the Paris that few tourists see . . .Shelley Halliday, who made a living showing the seamy side of Parisian night life to Americans . . .Felicity Patterson, twice wed and many times brought to bed, who wanted Shelley but would marry only . . .Michael Brett-James, a titles Englishman, who preferred “men” but was willing to settle for a mere woman if she had money . . .Bigelow Warren, who could be virile with a “bad” woman but was always impotent with a “good” one until he met . . .Connie Lockwood, Shelley’s childhood sweetheart, still a virgin, but dying to start living.Paris was a powerful experience to all of them, adding salt to their wounds, balm to their spirits and spice to their lives.

She had coolly planned a campaign to settle her difficulties. A trip to the French Riviera. A stranger - an attractive man without strings. One who would welcome an affair with an American girl.The first man she ran into was expatriate Steve Cogswell. Good! Just right, thought Nadine.Until Gerald Silletoe followed her from the States and tried to force her to marry him, using every method from blackmail to mayhem . . .Until Steve’s luscious ex-wife, Fay, showed up. And Mart Gunther, his ex-business partner . . .Until Steve was robbed of the money he needed to pay off gambler Constantin Kamiros . . .And until Nadine got into Steve’s bed and begged for what she didn’t want . . .

There were things about Rome that Max Fielding would always remember: the titles ladies who acted like tramps, the tramps who acted like ladies, and the movie starlets intent on parlaying a big chest and a small talent in stardom.He could never forget the movie studios of Rome where, for a few months, he became part of the inner circle and learned to play the internationally famous games called Musical Beds.That’s how he met elfin Nadine Barney, a bundle of energy, who learned that sometimes you can catch up with a man by not running after him.This was Rome, City of Eternal Lust, where Bacchanalia was a morning, noon, and night proposition.