© James Pyles
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Half Past Human is a dystopian novel by T.J. Bass (Thomas Joseph Bassler) that I found recommended on social media by science fiction writer Neal Asher. The prolific Asher seems to read as much science fiction as he produces and I’ve followed a number of his suggestions in the past.
This 1971 story starts out as a typical “after-the-end-of-the-world” dystopic tale where much of humanity lives in a series of worldwide underground cities collectively known as “the Hive.” They follow an ultimate authority called the “Big-ES” and their lives are programmed by that authority for various functions. They only reproduce when Big-ES sanctions certain citizens to be “polarized” or to develop sexually as male and female. Otherwise, they are neutered four-toed Nebishes.
On the surface, vast crops are grown to support the Nebish population, tended to and harvested by intelligent machines. Also on the surface are large groups of five-toed “Buckeyes” who live a stone age level of existence. Where the Nebishes value community and compliance above all else, the Buckeyes cherish individuality and freedom (you see where this is going?).
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