Robert Silverberg

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by
ROBERT SILVERBERG

ACE BOOKS
A Division of A. A. Wyn, Inc.
23 West 47th Street, New York 36, N. Y.

MASTER OF LIFE AND DEATH

Copyright 1957, by A. A. Wyn, Inc.
All Rights Reserved

For Antigone—
Who Thinks We're Property

Printed in U.S.A.

[Transcriber's Note: Extensive research did not uncover any
evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]

THE MAN WHO RATIONED BABIES

By the 23rd century Earth's population had reached seven billion. Mankind was in danger of perishing for lack of elbow room—unless prompt measures were taken. Roy Walton had the power to enforce those measures. But though his job was in the service of humanity, he soon found himself the most hated man in the world.

For it was his job to tell parents their children were unfit to live; he had to uproot people from their homes and send them to remote areas of the world. Now, threatened by mobs of outraged citizens, denounced and blackened by the press, Roy Walton had to make a decision: resign his post, or use his power to destroy his enemies, become a dictator in the hopes of saving humanity from its own folly. In other words, should he become the MASTER OF LIFE AND DEATH?

CAST OF CHARACTERS

ROY WALTON

He had to adopt the motto—the ends justify the means.

FITZMAUGHAM

His reward for devoted service was—an assassin's bullet.

FRED WALTON

His ambition was to fill his brother's shoes—but he underestimated their size.

LEE PERCY

His specialty was sugarcoating bitter pills.

PRIOR

With the pen as his only weapon, could he save his son?

DR. LAMARRE

He died for discovering the secret of immortality.

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