The Golden Man

The Golden Man is a 1954 science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick. The story is set in some post-apocalyptic future, where the existence of potentially powerful mutants has become a reality. The mutants are seen as dangerous and have been hunted to death by human beings for years. When a golden-skinned mutant called Cris is captured by the government who try to execute him. However his appearance and abilities to see into the future allow him to escape. The obvious message at the end is that this golden mutant race will replace mankind.

Related Topics:
1954 - Science fiction - Philip K. Dick - Post-apocalyptic - Mutants

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Dick wrote the story in a time when mutants were being depicted in science fiction as benign and in charge - the future leaders of our species. Dick said in an interview in 1979:

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"I intended to show that (1) the mutant might not be good, at least good for the rest of mankind, for us ordinaries; and (2) not in charge but sniping at us as a bandit would, a feral mutant who potentially would do us more harm than good".

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This view was loathed by John W. Campbell, the editor of Analog, and he refused to publish the story.

Related Topics:
John W. Campbell - Analog

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The story first appeared in If magazine, April 1954.

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A movie based on this story is said to be in pre-production, to be released on 2006. The movie will be directed by Lee Tamahori, with Nicolas Cage as Cris and Julianne Moore as the woman Cris knows will bear his child. The movie will use the title Next.

Related Topics:
2006 - Lee Tamahori - Nicolas Cage - Julianne Moore - Next

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