Garbage World by Charles Platt
Release Date: July 1977
Publisher: Leisure Books
Audience: Everyone
Pages: 120
Buy the Book: Amazon
Book Rating: 5/5
I suppose I should start this by stating that I am perhaps bias in my rating of this book as it is one of those guilty pleasure novels for me. I know its probably not a top shelf novel, but I still enjoy reading it, which is the point of books. I stumbled across this book at a small used book store years ago for a dollar (which is now a place that sells liquor and cigarettes...sigh).
The basic story is that a solar system obsessed with cleanliness exports all of their garbage to a defunct asteroid. However, the planet is also home to the descendants of the people who attempted to terraform the asteroid, exiles, and convicts. A group of surveyors sent to update the asteroids artificial gravity equipment are faced not only with the filth and garbage that is an anathema to them, but the citizens who have learned to live in their surroundings and have developed a culture set in opposition to that of the 'civilized' asteroids.
Oliver, a low-ranking member of the expedition is tasked with the job of ambassador to the 'natives' and the driving force behind the plot is Oliver's attempts to come to terms with...well...dirt, and also how the 'natives' view themselves and the world around them. As Oliver does his own job, he notices that the 'surveyors' are not who they claim to be and perhaps the civilized asteroids have other plans for the garbage world and its population.
Probably a harder pulp novel to come across nowadays but, if you find a copy, I recommend picking it up as it will provide you with a fun afternoon of sci-fi, anthropologists, and garbage.
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