These Savage Futurians

by Philip E. High

Don't think new thoughts, don't improve anything, don't wander over the next hill. These were the commandments for the men and women of the experimental village - one of those careful nurtured settlements established after the collapse of world civilization. The rules were made by the benevolent Masters of the Island - and they had to be obeyed. To disobey was to be destroyed. But Robert Ventnor, villager with a dangerously high quotient of curiosity, was the exception. He fled - and evaded liquidation. But he fled right into the hands of THESE SAVAGE FUTURIANS and thereby supplied the key that could blast apart civilization's second chance and destroy the world once and for all.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

136 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1967

Reviews

[Steve LaForest · Rating 3 out of 5]

Truth in Goodreading - I read the Ace Double - but I only read half of it - These Savage Futurians by Philip E. High. All I know about it is that I read it in the summer of 1969, and that I rated it "B -". But that was my teenage self, way back in an SF-drenched alternate adolescent suburban universe (my neighbour Marilyn subscribed to the Doubleday SF Book-of-the-month Club!!!).

Weren't those Ace doubles wonderful? Just turn it over, and you had a whole new book!

My rating system:
Since Goodreads only allows 1 to 5 stars (no half-stars), you have no option but to be ruthless. I reserve one star for a book that is a BOMB - or poor (equivalent to a letter grade of F, E, or at most D). Progressing upwards, 2 stars is equivalent to C (C -, C or C+), 3 stars (equals B - or B), 4 stars (equals B+ or A -), and 5 stars (equals A or A+). As a result, I maximize my rating space for good books, and don't waste half or more of that rating space on books that are of marginal quality.

When I read this novel, I rated it "B - ". This would translate to a Goodreads score of 3 stars. Perhaps 2 1/2 stars would be more accurate, but Goodreads thinks half-stars are no more important than half-touchdowns.

[Darren High · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite novel of my grandad's by far, more than a cut above the other four novels that came before it. Looking forward to seeing what the other novels have in store.

[Michel Clasquin-Johnson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Semi-coherent post-apocalyptic tale. After the fall of civilization, technology survives in a fascist state on an artificial island, and among scattered bands of scientists masquerading as savages. Add tho this a completely unnecessary diversion in the form of a society of virus-sized alien intelligences and you have a really strange mishmash of a story.