Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Welcome to Old North Australia, or Norstrilia, the only planet that has "stroon," a substance that indefinitely delays aging in humans. Stroon is cultivated from huge, deformed sheep farmed by the wealthiest estate owners to ever exist in all of humanity's existence.Rod McBan is the last of one of the oldest and most honorable families on Norstrilia. But he himself has shortcomings that would normally have led to his death under the strict laws governing population control on a planet where immortality is cheap and imperfect citizens are ruthlessly "culled" to make way for more productive members of society.But even McBan's vaunted stature in the society is not enough to save him from the basest of human emotions-jealousy- as the enmity of a former friend forces him to escape to Earth, where McBan's unprecedented fortune quickly makes him a magnet for all manner of crooks and revolutionaries.
Synopsis
Widely regarded as a true classic in science fiction
it remains extremely popular and influential. Neil Gaiman and Gene Wolfe have
both cited the influence of the book on their
fiction.
Nostrilia is often cited
as an important precursor to the cyberpunk movement of the 1980s, which was
characterized by its gritty, urban settings and its focus on the intersection
of technology and humanity. Additionally, Smith's unique style has been noted
as an influence on a number of other science fiction authors.
The
story takes place on an alien planet called Norstrilia, which is home to a
unique breed of sheep that produce an incredibly valuable substance known as
stroon. Rod McBan, the richest person on Norstrilia wants to circumvent the
strict export laws governing the trade of stoon and gets involved in a
complicated web of politics and bureaucracy in order to achieve his goal.
His ambition takes him to various places, and subjects him to various
adventures and he meets a woman named C'mell, who is a member of an alien race
that can shape-shift into human form. C'mell becomes a close ally of Rod's and
helps him to navigate the complex politics of the ruling Instrumentality.
Overall, Nostralia is a complex and engaging story that
explores many themes, including the nature of power and wealth, the importance
of personal relationships, and the dangers of unchecked bureaucracy and
politics. Through the character of Rod McBan, Cordwainer Smith offers a nuanced
and thought-provoking commentary on the human condition and the potential for
both good and evil in all of us which is as relevant today as it was when he first wrote the book .