by C. M. Kornbluth (Author)
There have been a thousand tales of future Utopias and possible civilizations. They have been ruled by benevolent dictatorships and pure democracies, every form of government from extreme right to absolute left. Unique among these is the easy-going semi-anarchistic society ruled by THE SYNDIC. Syndic versus Mob! The Syndic operates as a protective league in what was once the eastern U. S. It is a totally hedonistic society, moral inhibitions are gone. The corrupt old North American government has been driven back to Europe.... West of the Mississippi is Mob territory. Mob is a society with values totally opposed to the Syndic. The Mob is morally ruled but with an iron hand. When a wave of assassinations break out it is clear that it is time to take.