The Status Civilization
Robert Sheckley
Read by Gregg Margarite (1957-2012)
Will Barrent awakes without memories just before being deposited on Omega, a planet for criminals where the average life expectancy is 3 years. He’s listed as a murderer and released into the illicit society as a “peon” the lowest class imaginable. A mysterious girl gives him a weapon that starts him on his path to status, a path that requires constant brutality. But it must be borne if our hero is to discover the reason for his imprisonment; A reason that pits him against himself, and involves the sardonically similar but devoutly different creeds of Omega and Earth. - The Status Civilization was first published as “Omega!” in the August and September 1960 issues of Amazing Science Fiction Stories Magazine. (Summary by Gregg Margarite) (4 hr 57 min)
Chapters
| 1 – The Status Civilization (Chapters 1 - 4) | 49:08 | Read by Gregg Margarite (1957-2012) |
| 2 – The Status Civilization (Chapters 5 - 9) | 56:24 | Read by Gregg Margarite (1957-2012) |
| 3 – The Status Civilization (Chapters 10 - 15) | 50:27 | Read by Gregg Margarite (1957-2012) |
| 4 – The Status Civilization (Chapters 16 - 21) | 51:56 | Read by Gregg Margarite (1957-2012) |
| 5 – The Status Civilization (Chapters 22 - 26) | 42:06 | Read by Gregg Margarite (1957-2012) |
| 6 – The Status Civilization (Chapters 27 - 30) | 47:03 | Read by Gregg Margarite (1957-2012) |
Reviews
Well this is a hoot... maybe
mikezane
I so did not see the twist coming, completely unexpected, so I was very happy with it. Will is sent to the prison planet after having been found guilty of murder, and he is introduced to the complexities of the status civilization on the prison planet. There are hunts of new prisoners (one per day), and festivals where prisoners are hunted (but only the marked ones), oh and if you happen to earn a vacation, you can pick any one you want to go with you as a companion (adjoining rooms, no locks of course). Oh and the laws... Reader did an excellent job.
Too short but sweet
Tiffany-Louise Francis (Tiff)
An intelligent, meaty plot, well depicted protagonist and solid narration make for a great listen. It's just shame that the story ends so abruptly as the author has drawn you so far in that you, naturally, want to know the ultimate outcome. But, as other voxies have said, its left for the listener/reader to decide the outcome... Good stuff...
Bravo from Borneo
Lord Jim
Together with other reviewers, I felt this book was too short. Not a criticism, but instead a reflection of how much I was enjoying the book and its narration. I appreciated the thought provoking plot line. Sure, the ending could have been a tad stronger, but it was fine with a full resolution. Certainly worth a listen.
EXCELLENT!
Pyrodin123321
This was a pretty wld story, gives a good perspective on how apathetic humans can become and shows why not always doing what your told can be a good thing. I liked it a lot, dystopic but with a good hopefull ending. And of course the reader did a great job as Gregg Margarite always does.
second listen... just as loved!!!
A LibriVox Listener
Not often I find a story I can return to repeatedly and continue to love as much as the first time... this is one. Of course the wonderful narrator certainly helps much missed is he. RIP Gregg M.
Ended so suddenly I didn't realize the story had finished.
A LibriVox Listener
Great reading and interesting thoughts. In this world, at the beginning of AI technology, this could be a warning of things to come.
A great short, sci-fi, classic.
Seven Archers
This little sci-fi short pleasantly surprised me, the title was a little misleading. And of course Greg Margarite always does an excellent job in his performing/reading.
thoroughly enjoyable
Akku
An unusual story, some very interesting themes still relevant today on how we as a species are headed and how we deal with people who don’t conform…