The Clean and Wholesome Land
by Ralph Sholto
- Free to read
- 10 min read
- Reading level: 7th grade
"The Clean and Wholesome Land" by Ralph Sholto is a science fiction novella written in the early 1950s. The book explores themes of totalitarianism and identity through a dystopian narrative that unveils the darker aspects of an ostensibly perfect society where dissent is brutally suppressed. With a focus on the manipulation of power and the lengths individuals will go to secure their positions, the book presents a chilling exploration of the human condition under oppressive regimes. In the story, Neal Pardeau, the Director of Public Security, discovers that his Deputy, Emil Hillerman, has been compromised by the resistance leader, Karl Lenster, through the use of a lethal chemical transformation process. As the plot unfolds, Pardeau strategizes to turn Hillerman-Lenster into an unwitting informant within the government. The tension escalates as Pardeau navigates a web of deceit, betrayal, and the desire for vengeance against those who threaten the "New State." The novella culminates in a dark twist that highlights the themes of identity and power, showing how easily one can lose their own sense of self in the pursuit of control over others.
- Science fiction
- Short stories
Read the opening
_Utopia had been reached. All the problems of mankind had been
solved. It was the perfect State. If you doubted it, you died._
The Clean and Wholesome Land
By Ralph Sholto
While Professor Cargill lectured from the rostrum, Neal Pardeau prowled the dark auditorium. This, he knew, was the place to find them. Here was where they whispered and plotted and schemed—feeling safe in this pure, hard core of patriotism.
Safe because Cargill was the Director of Education in the New State, just as Pardeau was the Director of Public Security. Safe because Cargill's lectures were given before a commanded audience, with attendance strictly mandatory.
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About this edition
This free edition of The Clean and Wholesome Land by Ralph Sholto comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #30405, released 2009-11-05. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Science-Fiction & Fantasy, Novels.
Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).
