Wednesday 1 June 2011

#90. CITY By Clifford D Simak

Published : 1952
Pages : 242
Overall Mark : 8/10

On a far future Earth, mankind's achievements are immense: artificially intelligent robots, genetically uplifted animals, interplanetary travel, genetic modification of the human form itself.

But nothing comes without a cost. Humanity is tired, its vigour all but gone. As the human race dwindles and declines, which of its great creations will inherit the Earth? And which will claim the star...?

CLIFFORD D. SIMAK (1904-1988)
Clifford Donald Simak was a regular contributor to John W. Campbell's Astounding Stories, and won the Nebula and multiple Hugo Awards. In 1977 he was the third writer to be named a Grand Master by SFWA.

VERDICT
This is a nice look at how natural selection and evolution can play a part in not only the progression od one species but also the collapse of another. As each story progresses to the next we are introduced to periods in time where humanity is slowly being replaced by dogs, and eventually humanity becomes something of a myth to the dominant species, with only their robot servants to serve as a reminder of past times.