espite the twentieth century’s torrent of technological advances, our civilization is in dire need of help. Since the advent of an atomic age which spawned the distinct possibility that all life on Earth could be extinguished at the push of a button, two generations have grown up under that specter. Partially in consequence, life in our society has taken many strange twists: Children are forcibly administered tranquilizing drugs in schools in the name of control; workers are taxed one hour’s wages for every three on the job; and our youth emerge from their schools unable to read or write. Through media manipulation, whole populations are directed what to think, what to believe or what attitudes to hold. Such is the world that would be encountered by a time traveler from the start of this century, and surely he would find it strange.