User:NorwegianBlue/refdesk/art and literature
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[edit] Please identify this science-fiction short story (Art and literature)
When I was a child I read a short story that has affected me greatly. I'd like to reread the story now that I'm an adult, but can't locate it. Here's a plot synopsis...
The planet has been entirely overrun by humans. The society measure it's progress in kilograms of brain mass, and everyone lives in very dense cities. Human waste is shipped out to sea, and kelp is harvested to eat. As a hobby, a man keeps alive the last remaining patch of grass, a bird or other small animal, maybe a lizard or something, in his apartment. One day he receives a notice form the government that his building will be torn down to construct an even larger housing complex, and he is order to vacate. He can't take his pets with him, so he destroys everything and then commits suicide.
I read this story about 25 years ago, but I think it was in an anthology of science-fiction short stories from the mid-1960s. I thought it was by Heinlein, but after searching through many of his works, I'm not so sure anymore.
Thanks for your help, Andy 216.98.254.8 19:25, 12 June 2006 (UTC)
- I think it's by Isaac Asimov -- if memory serves, it was one of a pair of stories dealing with the "last living non-human thing", one glorifying and the other lamenting the concept. However, I don't recall the titles. — Lomn Talk 19:51, 12 June 2006 (UTC)
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- I can confirm Asimov. Political Mind 20:38, 12 June 2006 (UTC)
- It actually sounds rather un-Asimov-like to me, and I've read many (but not all) of his short stories. But if others confirm, disregard this. :-) zafiroblue05 | Talk 00:33, 13 June 2006 (UTC)
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- I think maybe I found it: 2430 AD? Didn't get a very good review at this website, though. --NorwegianBlue talk 19:07, 16 June 2006 (UTC)
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- Thanks much for everyone's help! I'll check out the Asimov stories... Andy216.98.255.107
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