Gladiator-At-Law [Paperback]

Pohl and Kornbluth's's sharp satire of the consumer society and corporate corruption of government is as relevant today as when it was first published 50 years ago. "Gladiator at law" describes a possible future for the 1950s in which the working and middle classes are kept under control by the threat of losing their job and with it their tied housing--and the unemployed masses are kept quiescent with bread and circuses, Roman style. Reality tv may not have gone quite as far as the entertainment for the proles depicted in this novel, and science fiction is an exploration of possible futures rather than a prediction of an actual future, but Pohl and Kornbluth's depiction of one of those potential futures is uncomfortably close to present day reality.

There are some nicely drawn characters, and a realistic look at the hazards of battling powerful vested interests -- while there is a happy ending, it comes at a price. The novel is short by today's standards, but a good read, and well worth hunting down a copy at a reasonable price.

Unfortunately for sci-fi fans, Cyril M. Kornbluth had a very short life (1923-1958). Nevertheless he was able to deliver several very good novels.

"Gladiator-at-law" (1954) in collaboration with his friend Frederik Pohl is one of them.

First of all what an enticing title! You simply can't let it pass by unnoticed!

The story describes a dystopia with many traits in common with their previous successful novel "The Space Merchants" (1952). I think these similarities conspired against "Gladiator-at-law" relegating it to a more obscure place than it deserves.

The plot is as follows: this future world is ruled by Corporations that control economic and political power.

Population is roughly divided in three segments.

Top level is the Titans (industrial and/or financial).

Middle class (professionals, administrators, technicians) bonded to the Corporations by a contract. They live in permanent danger to loose their job AND housing. Being the housing the key issue of this nearly servitude status.

Finally at the bottom of the pyramid a huge mass of dispossessed are nourished and entertained by the state and lives into pauper neighborhoods without law.

A lawyer that is barely able to keep into the second class is contacted by a mysterious couple of siblings.

From there on action rage without respite allowing the reader to get in touch with a nightmarish world.

This book is a wonderful example of a turning point in sci-fi literature from traditional technological spaces operas to a more humanistic and sociological subjects.

Enjoy this somehow underrated sci-fi classic!

Reviewed by Max Yofre

I read this book when I was a teenager, nearly 50 years ago, and just finished re-reading it. It holds up surprisingly well for a half-century-old work of speculative fiction. Sure, the technology is dated, and you have to mentally multiply all dollar figures by a factor of 20, but as social commentary it's still readable and even engrossing. P&K's portrayal of a decaying, corporate-controlled America is well crafted, with vivid descriptions and dialog. Their grasp of economics is spotty, and Pohl's far-leftist sympathies are all too evident (he was a Communist in his younger days) but the narrative moves along briskly, and the characters are vivid and memorable. I hesitate to give this five stars; it's really more like a 4.5 star entry, but why quibble. GLADIATOR AT LAW is among the classics of mid-century SF.