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Kronk
HOW TO SAVE THE WORLD THROUGH SEX AND SIN!
It seemed that Gabriel Crome and his elegantly hippy girl friend had the answer—a new, highly communicable disease with the property of inhibiting aggression. And oh boy! was it fun to communicate!
But Gabriel had reckoned without the finely honed irony of whatever Prankster it is who governs human affairs.
As the Raven quoth, 'KRONK.'
It seemed that Gabriel Crome and his elegantly hippy girl friend had the answer—a new, highly communicable disease with the property of inhibiting aggression. And oh boy! was it fun to communicate!
But Gabriel had reckoned without the finely honed irony of whatever Prankster it is who governs human affairs.
As the Raven quoth, 'KRONK.'
189 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1970
About the author
Edmund Cooper
100 books47 followersExcerpted from wikipedia:
Edmund Cooper was born in Marple, near Stockport in Cheshire on April 30, 1926. He served in the Merchant Navy towards the end of the Second World War. After World War II, he trained as a teacher and began to publish short stories. His first novel, Deadly Image
(later republished as The Uncertain Midnight) was completed in 1957 and published in 1958. A 1956 short story, Brain Child, was adapted as the movie The Invisible Boy (1957).
In 1969 The Uncertain Midnight was adapted for Swiss television, in French. At the height of his popularity, in the 1970s, he began to review science fiction for the Sunday Times and continued to do so until his death in 1982.
Apart from the website mentioned above there was another Edmund Cooper website full of information about the author and his publications.
Known Pseudonyms:
Richard Avery
George Kinley
Martin Lester
Broderick Quain
Edmund Cooper was born in Marple, near Stockport in Cheshire on April 30, 1926. He served in the Merchant Navy towards the end of the Second World War. After World War II, he trained as a teacher and began to publish short stories. His first novel, Deadly Image
(later republished as The Uncertain Midnight) was completed in 1957 and published in 1958. A 1956 short story, Brain Child, was adapted as the movie The Invisible Boy (1957).In 1969 The Uncertain Midnight was adapted for Swiss television, in French. At the height of his popularity, in the 1970s, he began to review science fiction for the Sunday Times and continued to do so until his death in 1982.
Apart from the website mentioned above there was another Edmund Cooper website full of information about the author and his publications.
Known Pseudonyms:
Richard Avery
George Kinley
Martin Lester
Broderick Quain
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 25, 2026
As we can see, Son of Kronk is based on a delightful and delirious scenario; the complicit lovers gradually penetrate the layers of society, and their surprising crusade bounces from a burlesque event to a scathing farce - because, faithful to his pessimistic character, Cooper does not just make people laugh but gradually brings his story to become that of a very dark end of the world. Merciless and light, simultaneously hilarious and relaxing, "Son of Kronk" is a book anyone can read in a day. And humor is rare in science fiction.
August 25, 2025
Kronk was published in Great Britain in 1970 with a comic book page cover under the title Son of Kronk, then in the U.S. the next year with the abbreviated title and an unusual Paul Lehr cover. Set it the near future 1980s, it's a science fiction satire about sex and sin and suicide and a special STD that causes hunger to replace aggression and such. It's probably pretty badly dated in a number of ways but was pretty funny at the time. Cooper lampoons the counterculture, government and politics, religion, and everything else he can think of in a quick non-PC blend of humor with a tragic consequence.
April 6, 2016
Another Cooper book that takes place in a future dystopian society. Kronk (doth quoth the Raven) is a bizarre exposition and commentary on the counterculture, religion, government, media, the status quo, and ultimately human nature concerning the meaning or value of aggression.
This is an action-adventure story revolving around the idea of a highly-communicable venereal disease that eliminates any aggressive behavior in the individuals that contract it, and the consequences if it spread rampantly to the larger world.
Will peace last forever, or will there be a severe backlash?
I found this to be an enjoyable and interesting read of Coopers, the book, of course is complete with sex, violence, drugs and the good old 'horrorshow.' There are a few very fun characters in the book, especially the international spy twins the Karamazov brothers. The later pages of the book definitely add a touch of absurdism and a healthy sprinkling of satire, then, finally resting where the book started.
I'm apt to rate Kronk a 3.5/5, with some reservations. It is a book with good story, writing, character, and concept, although its appeal may be limited to the few true derelicts out there. It's also a lot to take in for its brevity. Thus, I'll give this one: 3/5.
This is an action-adventure story revolving around the idea of a highly-communicable venereal disease that eliminates any aggressive behavior in the individuals that contract it, and the consequences if it spread rampantly to the larger world.
Will peace last forever, or will there be a severe backlash?
I found this to be an enjoyable and interesting read of Coopers, the book, of course is complete with sex, violence, drugs and the good old 'horrorshow.' There are a few very fun characters in the book, especially the international spy twins the Karamazov brothers. The later pages of the book definitely add a touch of absurdism and a healthy sprinkling of satire, then, finally resting where the book started.
I'm apt to rate Kronk a 3.5/5, with some reservations. It is a book with good story, writing, character, and concept, although its appeal may be limited to the few true derelicts out there. It's also a lot to take in for its brevity. Thus, I'll give this one: 3/5.
October 1, 2015
Kronk!
This was a surprising good novel; an entertaining story in action-adventure style. And at the same time satirical, funny at times, becoming interesting in its later parts. Containing quite a high amount of carnal knowledge and also some ideas which I thought were weird indeed, it paid off for all that it made me think.
While I could have given the book a 3-stars, it was in its final-third that made me really like the book more.
A venereal disease becomes the cause of inhibition of aggression, and the story imparts in various ways as to what could be its repercussions.
This provides us to contemplate on how aggression, although which could be harmful can also be important and needful, without which a man could not quite be a man, and life could [maybe] become eventually boring.
At the same time, the story also calls for understanding the implications of bio-technologically, badly created 'germs'.
Having read this book, written by Edmund Cooper [and him being a Brit (I love British SF)], and also considering that his writing was neat and to the point, I would love to read more of his works. :)
This was a surprising good novel; an entertaining story in action-adventure style. And at the same time satirical, funny at times, becoming interesting in its later parts. Containing quite a high amount of carnal knowledge and also some ideas which I thought were weird indeed, it paid off for all that it made me think.
While I could have given the book a 3-stars, it was in its final-third that made me really like the book more.
A venereal disease becomes the cause of inhibition of aggression, and the story imparts in various ways as to what could be its repercussions.
This provides us to contemplate on how aggression, although which could be harmful can also be important and needful, without which a man could not quite be a man, and life could [maybe] become eventually boring.
At the same time, the story also calls for understanding the implications of bio-technologically, badly created 'germs'.
Having read this book, written by Edmund Cooper [and him being a Brit (I love British SF)], and also considering that his writing was neat and to the point, I would love to read more of his works. :)
July 10, 2024
I'm not really sure how to rate Kronk by Edmund Cooper. I've read three other books by Cooper, one of them a collection of short stories, the other two interesting Sci - Fi novels. So I kind of knew what to expect when I started this... So I thought.
I'm probably being unfair with my rating as the story was interesting and readable, but it's a bit out there.. Like OUT THERE!
Let's see. A scientist invents a form of venereal disease that turns people peaceful, after they go through various stages; one that involves highly sexual desires and activity, then eating and then sort of a tranquil peaceful attitude. Gabriel Crome and the scientist's wife, Camilla; they were on a one year contract, decide to infect the world to cause world peace. Oh yes, the scientist had previously injected Camilla with the virus so she's already infected. She passes it on to Gabriel by, yes, having SEX with him... lots of it.
Simple right? Well, there are other story lines. There are the two twin brother spies, Peter and Ilyich Karamazov, one working for the Russians, one working for the US but actually working together. They hear about the scientist's experiments on wild animals and decide to kidnap some peaceful tigers and lions, etc. Of course, they realize they no longer trust each other.
There is also the goings on at the British Ministry of International Security and Peregrine Perrywit and Dr. Slink. Both were sort of aware of the experiments but now realize the possible impact on the world and .....
So all of these people are in the scene, plus a documentary group working for NaTel that set up situations to make documentaries of. Like hiring young thugs to attack and rape Gabriel and Camilla... This world which Cooper has created is dystopic to say the least. But interesting.
I don't think I got the story, but it was engrossing. The ending was kind of neat. Like I say, I may be unfair with my rating but I give it a 2.5 stars. Check it out, though as Cooper is a strange but engrossing Sci Fi author.
I'm probably being unfair with my rating as the story was interesting and readable, but it's a bit out there.. Like OUT THERE!
Let's see. A scientist invents a form of venereal disease that turns people peaceful, after they go through various stages; one that involves highly sexual desires and activity, then eating and then sort of a tranquil peaceful attitude. Gabriel Crome and the scientist's wife, Camilla; they were on a one year contract, decide to infect the world to cause world peace. Oh yes, the scientist had previously injected Camilla with the virus so she's already infected. She passes it on to Gabriel by, yes, having SEX with him... lots of it.
Simple right? Well, there are other story lines. There are the two twin brother spies, Peter and Ilyich Karamazov, one working for the Russians, one working for the US but actually working together. They hear about the scientist's experiments on wild animals and decide to kidnap some peaceful tigers and lions, etc. Of course, they realize they no longer trust each other.
There is also the goings on at the British Ministry of International Security and Peregrine Perrywit and Dr. Slink. Both were sort of aware of the experiments but now realize the possible impact on the world and .....
So all of these people are in the scene, plus a documentary group working for NaTel that set up situations to make documentaries of. Like hiring young thugs to attack and rape Gabriel and Camilla... This world which Cooper has created is dystopic to say the least. But interesting.
I don't think I got the story, but it was engrossing. The ending was kind of neat. Like I say, I may be unfair with my rating but I give it a 2.5 stars. Check it out, though as Cooper is a strange but engrossing Sci Fi author.
September 18, 2018
Kronk was recommended to me by someone in a writing group, because I mentioned liking the idea of a "sexually transmitted cure," having read (now) two such stories. Kronk was decidedly not a third. Yes, there is a sexually transmitted disease intended to cure violence. There are essentially four stages of this disease. First, promiscuity. It spreads itself as fast as it can. Second, appetite. No obesity, though, as it overlaps promiscuity and folks need those extra calories. Third is the non-violent phase. Nobody can bear to hurt another.
The fourth phase is foreshadowed by a news team being torn to tiny pieces by rabbits, when they went to investigate a story about rabbits misbehaving. I wondered if this was the inspiration for the scene in Monty Python's Quest for the Holy Grail. Alas, the newsies had no holy hand grenades from Antioch.
I do not like my endings dystopian, without hope at the least.
The fourth phase is foreshadowed by a news team being torn to tiny pieces by rabbits, when they went to investigate a story about rabbits misbehaving. I wondered if this was the inspiration for the scene in Monty Python's Quest for the Holy Grail. Alas, the newsies had no holy hand grenades from Antioch.
I do not like my endings dystopian, without hope at the least.
September 17, 2023
*Knowledge, especially the "carnal kind", is power (the power to spread a venereal disease that eliminates all aggression & violent tendencies) in this
*Randy, uninhibited, irreverent comedy
*Of errors. Set in a farcical 1980s dystopian future, my third Edmund Cooper SF
*Novel of the year was not only entertaining & fast-paced, but offered a religious critique, a sociopolitical commentary of its day & an impressive prescience for a book published in 1970. Cooper has the
*Knack for being unabashedly controversial, misogynistic & sexist in most of his books, & it was difficult to pass a blind eye over this unfortunate tendency in KRONK. However, in spite of this – & though it wasn't as good for me personally as SEED OF LIGHT & ALL FOOL'S DAY – I enjoyed the wordplay, satire & wit; & look forward to reading more SFs by Edmund Cooper.
*Randy, uninhibited, irreverent comedy
*Of errors. Set in a farcical 1980s dystopian future, my third Edmund Cooper SF
*Novel of the year was not only entertaining & fast-paced, but offered a religious critique, a sociopolitical commentary of its day & an impressive prescience for a book published in 1970. Cooper has the
*Knack for being unabashedly controversial, misogynistic & sexist in most of his books, & it was difficult to pass a blind eye over this unfortunate tendency in KRONK. However, in spite of this – & though it wasn't as good for me personally as SEED OF LIGHT & ALL FOOL'S DAY – I enjoyed the wordplay, satire & wit; & look forward to reading more SFs by Edmund Cooper.
September 19, 2020
An impulse pulp purchase I'm glad I made. Cooper is legitimately funny here, and his satire biting and prescient, while roasting both the pearl clutchers and flower children of the 70s in the way that absurd SF can at its best.
Kronk is as madcap as it is messy, though, and the "jaunty" sexual violence is intensely uncomfortable, even if the purpose is clearly using satire to point out one of many inevitable outcomes of state control over bodies.
Kronk is as madcap as it is messy, though, and the "jaunty" sexual violence is intensely uncomfortable, even if the purpose is clearly using satire to point out one of many inevitable outcomes of state control over bodies.
March 8, 2022
A mix of sex comedy and grim, dystopian science fiction.
The setting is less pronounced than the effects of the disease. The most grim sections can just about be justified by the disease itself, and less the predilections of the author, who it seems wasn't a terribly nice chap.
It's all remarkably pessimistic, taking 'shit happens' as a philosophy to the extreme. But, at the same time, that thread of dark humour.
The setting is less pronounced than the effects of the disease. The most grim sections can just about be justified by the disease itself, and less the predilections of the author, who it seems wasn't a terribly nice chap.
It's all remarkably pessimistic, taking 'shit happens' as a philosophy to the extreme. But, at the same time, that thread of dark humour.
August 5, 2019
This book was completely nutty. Enjoyed it though. Fun ending.
May 23, 2020
That was brilliant.
July 10, 2020
Read this as a teenager and found it a very witty satirical dystopian novel. Reading it again many years later just found it a chore to read and nowhere near as good as I remember.
February 12, 2021
Wanted to read some of classic sci-fi - it has not aged well.
February 19, 2022
I really liked reading this one. It is refreshing because it offers a unique and fresh solution to a bleak world gone even worse. Still works today.
November 19, 2025
Is this Cooper's best novel? Probably not. But it's a good one.
February 13, 2026
The only thing I enjoyed about this book was the storyline following the Karamasow brothers. Other than that the story was just unnecessarily disgusting.
September 7, 2025
First published in 1972, and read by me shortly after, I shall never forget the rampant sexuality/sexism that runs through this satirical, dystopian futurist novel. It features a highly contagious venereal disease that brings on rampant promiscuity, ravenous hunger and then perfect tranquility, thereby inhibiting all violent tendencies. The hero and heroine of this story, Gabriel and Camilla, set out on a mission, to infect as many people as possible and so bring about world peace in the process. As I said, this novel is deeply satirical, taking aim at religion, government institutions, and pretty much anything Edmund Cooper could think of. I'm sure he had great fun writing it, as there is a passion here for destroying all the ideosyncrasies and hypocrisies of modern life that Cooper clearly detests. It's a short novel at 189 pages and I read it in two days, but I shall never forget it. A dated but brilliant 70s classic.
June 20, 2011
Very, very... odd.
May 19, 2012
Found this book in a list in my 5 year diary from 1975-1980, just said it was ok, I suppose that equates to a 3 star rating?
January 27, 2016
Cooper writes like Vonnegut
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews