The Man Who Ate the World

by Frederik Pohl

Science Fiction/Essays. A very nice vintage collector's item. Number # 397 K. Originally 35 cents.

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

Frederik George Pohl, Jr. was an American science fiction writer, editor and fan, with a career spanning over seventy years. From about 1959 until 1969, Pohl edited Galaxy magazine and its sister magazine IF winning the Hugo for IF three years in a row. His writing also won him three Hugos and multiple Nebula Awards. He became a Nebula Grand Master in 1993.

Reviews

[Brian Clegg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fred Pohl was a truly imaginative science fiction writer. Perhaps his best books were his collaborations with Cyril Kornbluth, but solo he was capable of some remarkable work too. This collection of 6 long short stories from the late 1950s is amongst his most original writing. Like many writers of the period, what we get here needs a small health warning - this was the Mad Men era, and women rarely get a totally fair treatment in these stories - were things different, the book would have received five stars.

What Pohl did so well was turn aspects of modern society on its head. This is never more obvious than in the brilliant title story, The Man Who Ate the World, which describes a society recovering from a position where consumption has become a requirement - the poorer you are, the more you are expected to consume (not just food, but all kinds of consumer society goods). Although the ending is a little facile, the concept is breathtaking.

Another highlight is The Day the Icicle Works Closed Down, which combines the impact of a colony losing the value of its only export with a Dollhouse-like (for Joss Whedon fans) scenario where humans rent their bodies out for cash. We return to regular Pohl themes of the dangers of consumerism and advertising in the final two linked stories, The Wizard of Pung's Corner and The Waging of the Peace, which see a small town in America take on the might of an advertising-driven post-apocalyptic society where more and more updated products are released from self-powered and protected AI underground manufacturers, which seem impossible to stop from flooding the world with unwanted products.

One thing is clear - how much Pohl's thinking was ahead of its time. The America of the late 50s might have been in full Mad Men mode of emphasising novelty and pushing products far beyond what would now be acceptable - but Pohl was able to see beyond this and do what science fiction does best: examine the future consequences of today's actions.

Sadly, but not surprisingly, this is now out of print in the UK, but is available in the US.

[Theresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

These weren't particularly bad stories, they just didn't seem to age very well.

I got sucked in by the title though, what can I say.

[Vincent Konrad · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some curious concepts, but it’s pretty dated and there are no real bangers

[Alien · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eigentlich mag ich Pohl ganz gern. Allerdings wohl eher die späteren Sachen (v.a. "Gateway"). Diese Collection mit 5 längeren Stories hat mir leider gar nicht gefallen.

Vier der Stories sind ziemlich grotesk und absurd. Drei davon wiederum sind Satire auf Werbung und Konsumgesellschaft. Pohl hat da wohl seinen ursprünglichen beruflichen Background als Werbemensch "verarbeitet".

Eigentlich mag ich humoristische SF, aber diese Stories waren nicht meine Art von Humor.

Der Titel der letzten Story "Als die Eiszapfen-Fabrik geschlossen wurde" klingt auch nach absurdem Humor, ist es aber nicht. Es geht um einen Rechtsanwalt, der auf einer vor die Hunde gegangenen Erdkolonie einen Betrug aufdeckt. Ich fand die Story leider unausgegoren und unglaubwürdig. Sie wirkt, als ob er den Entwurf für einen Roman zu einer Story verarbeitet hätte.

[Tbfrank · Rating 1 out of 5]

Frederik Pohl is one of my favorite authors but I prefer his longer fiction. The five short pieces in this anthology are not his best work though representative of his general focus (the blurb on the back states: "contemporary urban society and its chain of production and consumption"). The title story is a rather lengthy tale about psychological trauma resulting from dysfunctional social and family pressures. The next two are connected and represent a rosy cold-war era view of "the day after" when automated factories first saved the war then nearly destroyed the peace. Of modest interest are the final two stories which have a rather 'Dr. Who' air about them. "The Snowmen" set in the far future when humans having drained nearly all the energy from the earth, live far below the snow and ice-covered surface. Naturally, they deny climate change. "The Day the Icicle Works Closed" set on Altair 9 crosses economic and political shenanigans with the ability to transfer consciousness to a mechanical device and from one body to another - a tourist industry and virtual slave labor. Pastel colored snow was processed in the named factory and zeppelin-like fish soared in the sky. The tale seemed similar to "The Seven Deadly Virtues" published the previous year, though it was set on Venus and used a form of hypnotic control to manage the work force.

[Doug Brunell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Science fiction authors are often cited as having supernatural powers to see into the future. I just think they are very astute at connecting dots, reading society, and drawing a map of where we are headed. Frederik Pohl is no different, though after reading these five short stories from the late 1950s (including one with a decidedly "Infinity Pool" type vibe) I can see why someone would think he had powers beyond a mere human. He gives a grim vision of humanity's future, and in many cases we are already there.

Some will say these stories are a little dated, with callouts being mentioned for sexism. I would contend that context is everything, including the context of the times the stories were written in. The stuff we find acceptable in stories today will be gasped at fifty years from now . . . if we make it that far.

Humor, tragedy, hope. Those are things that drive Pohl's stories here. He may not think we are always headed in the right direction, but he believes we can always change course.

[Nora Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars for the subject matter and it is well written too. This book opened my eyes to the potential outcome of our rapidly increasing consumption back in the day. Unfortunately we have gotten worse instead of better. Even though it is dated, I would suggest you read the title story soon.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Six short stories from Frederick Pohl. These are intelligent stories, and Pohl shows his famed narrative ability.

These are stories that will make you think. Such is the gift Pohl has in his writing.

[Dan Crowley · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was fun reading some retro sci-fi and, honestly, a lot of Pohl’s critiques of consumerism still hold, but man does the prose leave something to be desired. Titular story was definitely the best.

[Tad Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book! It's only one of a series of two.