The Golden Man

The Golden Man is a science fiction story by Philip K. Dick, written in 1953 and first published in the April 1954 issue of If: Worlds of Science Fiction. Set in a post-apocalyptic future, the story explores human evolution, genetic mutation, and the struggle for survival in a world where extraordinary individuals are considered a threat to humanity.

In this future society, the government systematically hunts down and eliminates mutants possessing unusual physical or mental abilities. When authorities discover Cris Johnson, a mysterious young man with golden skin and an almost supernatural appearance, they realize that he possesses an extraordinary gift: the ability to see into the future and anticipate the consequences of his actions. Unlike other mutants, Cris seems virtually impossible to capture because he can foresee danger and instinctively choose the safest course.

Determined to prevent a possible threat to human supremacy, a government agency launches an operation to capture and study the golden-skinned mutant. However, the investigators soon discover that his remarkable powers extend beyond precognition. As Cris challenges their attempts to control him, the authorities must confront the disturbing possibility that he represents a new stage of evolution, one in which human intelligence may no longer guarantee survival.

Combining suspense, evolutionary speculation, and philosophical science fiction, The Golden Man questions what truly determines the superiority of a species. Through its exploration of natural selection, instinct, and the limitations of human reasoning, the story challenges conventional ideas about intelligence and progress. It later inspired the 2007 science fiction film Next, starring Nicolas Cage, although the adaptation differs considerably from the original narrative.

""Is it always hot like this?" the salesman demanded. He addressed everybody at the lunch counter and in the shabby booths against the wall. A middle-aged fat man with a good-natured smile, rumpled gray suit, sweat-stained white shirt, a drooping bowtie, and a Panama hat."

Copyright status: This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was legally published there before 1964 and its copyright was not renewed.