#153 Scarcity and abundance: Ring Around the Sun (1953) by Clifford D. Simak

A tall tale of impossible products, mutants, and parallel Earths

Clifford D. Simak explores the parallel worlds theme to intriguing, energetic effect in his 1953 novel Ring Around the Sun. In this tall tale, originally serialised in Galaxy magazine, a young writer discovers that he has the power to visit many alternate versions of the Earth, each unsullied by human hands. 

One of these worlds is already in use, however, to make seemingly impossible products that threaten to topple the world economy. The protagonist must discover the secrets about himself, and protect our world from devastating retaliation by the big business interests that depend on scarcity. 

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