"Utopia? Never!"

A skeptical visitor arrives on New Katanga, a world so prosperous and orderly that its inhabitants insist it is a utopia. Crime, war, hunger, and political conflict have vanished; schools, hospitals, art, and public services are the envy of the galaxy. Yet the visitor remains unconvinced, certain that every perfect society conceals an injustice.

His suspicions are sharpened by the planet’s secretive monopoly on valuable gobbler-fleece and by the curious ease with which outsiders can become citizens. Seduced by excellent food, beautiful surroundings, and an unusually enthusiastic welcome, he renounces his former allegiance and settles into his new life. But even this seemingly flawless civilization has devised an unconventional way to manage its citizens’ darker impulses. Witty, strange, and gently cynical, this science-fiction tale invites listeners to look past polished civic monuments and ask what “perfection” might really require.