All Flesh is Grass (novel)

All Flesh is Grass is a science-fiction novel published in 1965 by American author Clifford D. Simak. The book follows a small town in Wisconsin that is closed off from the outside world by a mysterious barrier, placed by benign extraterrestrial beings.

Plot

The book is set in the town of Millville, Wisconsin, in the midwestern United States. Simak was born in Millville, which formed the setting for many of his stories.^[2]

The book begins with the town being suddenly enclosed by a mysterious barrier. The barrier has been placed by an extraterrestrial intelligence that wants to impose harmony and cooperation on all the species in the universe, but the town's inhabitants react to it fearfully. The extraterrestrials take the form of a patch of purple flowers.^[3]

The book follows the experiences of Brad Carter, a man whose business is about to go bankrupt. Brad has to deal with the local lawman, who becomes a bully, and also the presence in town of his childhood sweetheart. Eventually Brad meets the extraterrestrial beings, and agrees to speak for them on Earth.

Publication

All Flesh is Grass was first published by Doubleday in 1965. It has since been published in at least 21 more editions.^[4]

Awards and reception

The novel was nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1966.^[5] A review of the book in Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Review stated that "Simak's great forte is the creation of sympathetic non-humans who patiently attempt communication with distrustful mankind." The review also stated that Simak's work accurately reflected the concerns of 1960s.^[6]

Reviewers of Stephen King's book Under the Dome have pointed out the previous use of the plot device of a mysterious barrier in All Flesh is Grass.^[7]

References