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The Trouble With You Earth People
Trouble with You Earth People (1968)Unhuman Sacrifice (1958)The Gambling Hell and the Sinful Girl (1975)Syndrome Johnny (1951)Trouble with Treaties (1959) with Tom ConditThe Origin of the Species (1953)Collision Orbit (1954)The Fittest (1951)These Truths (1958)Contagion (1950)Brain Wipe (1973)The Missing Man (1971)
275 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 17, 2015
4 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Katherine MacLean
147 books21 followersKatherine Anne MacLean (born January 22, 1925) is an American science fiction author best known for her short stories of the 1950s which examined the impact of technological advances on individuals and society.
Brian Aldiss noted that she could "do the hard stuff magnificently," while Theodore Sturgeon observed that she "generally starts from a base of hard science, or rationalizes psi phenomena with beautifully finished logic." Although her stories have been included in numerous anthologies and a few have had radio and television adaptations, The Diploids and Other Flights of Fancy (1962) is her only collection of short fiction.
Born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, MacLean concentrated on mathematics and science in high school. At the time her earliest stories were being published in 1949-50, she received a B.A. in economics from Barnard College (1950), followed by postgraduate studies in psychology at various universities. Her 1951 marriage to Charles Dye ended in divorce a year later. She married David Mason in 1956. Their son, Christopher Dennis Mason, was born in 1957, and they divorced in 1962.
MacLean taught literature at the University of Maine and creative writing at the Free University of Portland. Over decades, she has continued to write while employed in a wide variety of jobs -- as book reviewer, economic graphanalyst, editor, EKG technician, food analyst, laboratory technician in penicillin research, nurse's aide, office manager and payroll bookkeeper. photographer, pollster, public relations, publicist and store detective.
It was while she worked as a laboratory technician in 1947 that she began writing science fiction. Strongly influenced by Ludwig von Bertalanffy's General Systems Theory, her fiction has often demonstrated a remarkable foresight in scientific advancements.
Brian Aldiss noted that she could "do the hard stuff magnificently," while Theodore Sturgeon observed that she "generally starts from a base of hard science, or rationalizes psi phenomena with beautifully finished logic." Although her stories have been included in numerous anthologies and a few have had radio and television adaptations, The Diploids and Other Flights of Fancy (1962) is her only collection of short fiction.
Born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, MacLean concentrated on mathematics and science in high school. At the time her earliest stories were being published in 1949-50, she received a B.A. in economics from Barnard College (1950), followed by postgraduate studies in psychology at various universities. Her 1951 marriage to Charles Dye ended in divorce a year later. She married David Mason in 1956. Their son, Christopher Dennis Mason, was born in 1957, and they divorced in 1962.
MacLean taught literature at the University of Maine and creative writing at the Free University of Portland. Over decades, she has continued to write while employed in a wide variety of jobs -- as book reviewer, economic graphanalyst, editor, EKG technician, food analyst, laboratory technician in penicillin research, nurse's aide, office manager and payroll bookkeeper. photographer, pollster, public relations, publicist and store detective.
It was while she worked as a laboratory technician in 1947 that she began writing science fiction. Strongly influenced by Ludwig von Bertalanffy's General Systems Theory, her fiction has often demonstrated a remarkable foresight in scientific advancements.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 13, 2026
4. Syndrome Johnny - 4 stars
"Evolution as a theory is fine, but evolution if you can see it happening to you might well be a horror story."
-Katherine Maclean
An interesting story, although it is a bit clunky in presentation.
It's only about a third of the way in that we actually meet the true protagonists of the story. Before that, we meet a number of characters that just disappear and are forgotten about.
That aside, the story sets up an interesting conundrum.
Two nasty Plagues have struck Humanity, drastically thinning out the world population. But the Overall Health of Humanity as a whole has improved because of it. The equation being, less mouths to feed equals a better fed World Population.
It is discovered that the Plagues have been intentionally created by the Syndrome Johnny of the title. And now a Third Plague is being created.
Also, at the same time, Humanity is evolving into a new creature. One who is made up with as many Silicone Cells as Flesh and Blood Cells. Also thanks to the said Silicone Johnny of the title.
Thus Humanity is evolving into a Higher Form of Life. One that is tougher, more durable, stronger, healthier and capable of living for at least one hundred and fifty years or more.
So the question is:
Do you stop the Plagues from killing "weaker" Individuals in the short term and halt Humanity's evolution onto a higher being?
Or
Do you murderer billions of people now so that in the long term Humanity can evolve and survive as a Superior Species?
Something to think about.
Quotes from the story:
"I'm turning into Silicone Plastic myself."
"Thise who survived The Plague were very durable."
"Individual deaths are not important in the long run. I'm dedicated to improving the Average Life, the Average Health."
Syndrome Johnny: "I'm a Community, a Construction. The Cells that carry on the Silicone Metabolism in me are not Human."
"Mice were staring at him with beady eyes, waiting in the cage to be experimented on."
"He'd find out what [plague[ was in the Box by dying if it."
"His fist was enough like a stone to crush a skull."
7. Collision Orbit - 4 stars
A fun little story about Frontier Life out in the Astroid Belt, where Justice and Legality are concepts that are still up for debate. At least as far as Earth standards go.
Sam runs a hugely popular Tading Post and Supply Goods Store out in The Belt. He is resourceful and has a bit of a hard edge to him, like most settlers in The Belt.
One day his store is invaded by four criminals on the run from Earth Justice, looking to steal everything they can get their hands on, and to swiftly kill anyone who gets in their way. Including, of course, Sam.
I have to admit, at this point, I clued in to something that was going to happen soon in the story. Sam starts the story dressed only in his Jockey Shorts. He asks if he can at least put some pants on. The criminals laugh and say, "Sure." So Sam slips into a coverall that covers him from head to foot and is a shiny silvery colour. Ha! I thought. I grew up watching Lost In Space on the a b&w t.v. I knew what the overall was about and what was more-or- less likely to happen. Was I right? Well, read the story and see. (I was btw.)
So a fun story, enjoyable and a recommended read.
10. Contagion - 4 stars
Good story.
I've always thought that most Sci-Fi stories, that take place on other planets, neglected the most obvious peril to Humans settling into a foreign, interstellar environment. The likelihood that human physiology could survive in an environment that had a different genetic heritage is, probably, statically close to 0%. That's just my theory though.
This story finds a way to overcome that challenge.
"Adapt or die." -- Leon C. Megginson
-----SPOILERS-------
It's a fun story in that it doesn't just have a twist at the end, it has a double twist.
Seeing how the story was written by a woman, I found the twist where all the men transform into Patrick Mead quite funny. I would have loved to read how the new Colonists worked out the Social Intricacies of that relationalship problem.
But then we find there is a Patricia Mead waiting outside to bless the Women Colonialists with a simular transformation. At that point things get creepy and it becomes a Horror story.
The story was a fun, entertaining thought experiment.
Think I'll go and check out "The Stepford Wives" now. I've never read the book but have seen parts of the movie.
"Evolution as a theory is fine, but evolution if you can see it happening to you might well be a horror story."
-Katherine Maclean
An interesting story, although it is a bit clunky in presentation.
It's only about a third of the way in that we actually meet the true protagonists of the story. Before that, we meet a number of characters that just disappear and are forgotten about.
That aside, the story sets up an interesting conundrum.
Two nasty Plagues have struck Humanity, drastically thinning out the world population. But the Overall Health of Humanity as a whole has improved because of it. The equation being, less mouths to feed equals a better fed World Population.
It is discovered that the Plagues have been intentionally created by the Syndrome Johnny of the title. And now a Third Plague is being created.
Also, at the same time, Humanity is evolving into a new creature. One who is made up with as many Silicone Cells as Flesh and Blood Cells. Also thanks to the said Silicone Johnny of the title.
Thus Humanity is evolving into a Higher Form of Life. One that is tougher, more durable, stronger, healthier and capable of living for at least one hundred and fifty years or more.
So the question is:
Do you stop the Plagues from killing "weaker" Individuals in the short term and halt Humanity's evolution onto a higher being?
Or
Do you murderer billions of people now so that in the long term Humanity can evolve and survive as a Superior Species?
Something to think about.
Quotes from the story:
"I'm turning into Silicone Plastic myself."
"Thise who survived The Plague were very durable."
"Individual deaths are not important in the long run. I'm dedicated to improving the Average Life, the Average Health."
Syndrome Johnny: "I'm a Community, a Construction. The Cells that carry on the Silicone Metabolism in me are not Human."
"Mice were staring at him with beady eyes, waiting in the cage to be experimented on."
"He'd find out what [plague[ was in the Box by dying if it."
"His fist was enough like a stone to crush a skull."
7. Collision Orbit - 4 stars
A fun little story about Frontier Life out in the Astroid Belt, where Justice and Legality are concepts that are still up for debate. At least as far as Earth standards go.
Sam runs a hugely popular Tading Post and Supply Goods Store out in The Belt. He is resourceful and has a bit of a hard edge to him, like most settlers in The Belt.
One day his store is invaded by four criminals on the run from Earth Justice, looking to steal everything they can get their hands on, and to swiftly kill anyone who gets in their way. Including, of course, Sam.
I have to admit, at this point, I clued in to something that was going to happen soon in the story. Sam starts the story dressed only in his Jockey Shorts. He asks if he can at least put some pants on. The criminals laugh and say, "Sure." So Sam slips into a coverall that covers him from head to foot and is a shiny silvery colour. Ha! I thought. I grew up watching Lost In Space on the a b&w t.v. I knew what the overall was about and what was more-or- less likely to happen. Was I right? Well, read the story and see. (I was btw.)
So a fun story, enjoyable and a recommended read.
10. Contagion - 4 stars
Good story.
I've always thought that most Sci-Fi stories, that take place on other planets, neglected the most obvious peril to Humans settling into a foreign, interstellar environment. The likelihood that human physiology could survive in an environment that had a different genetic heritage is, probably, statically close to 0%. That's just my theory though.
This story finds a way to overcome that challenge.
"Adapt or die." -- Leon C. Megginson
-----SPOILERS-------
It's a fun story in that it doesn't just have a twist at the end, it has a double twist.
Seeing how the story was written by a woman, I found the twist where all the men transform into Patrick Mead quite funny. I would have loved to read how the new Colonists worked out the Social Intricacies of that relationalship problem.
But then we find there is a Patricia Mead waiting outside to bless the Women Colonialists with a simular transformation. At that point things get creepy and it becomes a Horror story.
The story was a fun, entertaining thought experiment.
Think I'll go and check out "The Stepford Wives" now. I've never read the book but have seen parts of the movie.
March 11, 2022
Unfortunately Ms. MacLean is not as well known among the general SF readership as she is among her colleagues in the field—primarily because the time she takes to finely craft her stories prevents her output from being voluminous enough to keep her name constantly before the average fans admittedly short attention span and also because her personal habits are sufficiently reclusive to prevent her from making the kind of psychological splash with which some of the more outgoing genre writers impress themselves indelibly on the mind.
— Hank Stine
The mountain men who opened up the frontier in the west weren’t settlers, they weretrappers, traders, fighters and gunmen—the men who didn’t fit back home. The kind of men who will be needed on the frontier of space… — Katherine MacLean
Contents:
The Trouble With You Earth People
Unhuman Sacrifice
The Gambling Hell and the Sinful Girl
Syndrome Johnny
Trouble with Treaties
The Origin of the Species
Collision Orbit
The Fittest
These Truths
Contagion
Brain Wipe
The Missing Man
The Carnivore
Fans of old school SF are sure to enjoy this classic 1980 collection from forgotten SFWA favorite Katherine MacLean, with a variety of stories ranging in tone from horrific to humorous.
— Hank Stine
The mountain men who opened up the frontier in the west weren’t settlers, they weretrappers, traders, fighters and gunmen—the men who didn’t fit back home. The kind of men who will be needed on the frontier of space… — Katherine MacLean
Contents:
The Trouble With You Earth People
Unhuman Sacrifice
The Gambling Hell and the Sinful Girl
Syndrome Johnny
Trouble with Treaties
The Origin of the Species
Collision Orbit
The Fittest
These Truths
Contagion
Brain Wipe
The Missing Man
The Carnivore
Fans of old school SF are sure to enjoy this classic 1980 collection from forgotten SFWA favorite Katherine MacLean, with a variety of stories ranging in tone from horrific to humorous.
April 14, 2022
Excellent stuff. A whole range of ideas crafted into entertaining tales!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews