Pollony Undiverted

"Pollony Undiverted" by Sydney J. Van Scyoc is a science fiction novel written in the early 1960s. The book explores themes of dissatisfaction and the pursuit of identity within a futuristic setting, where technology simplifies daily life but also numbs personal experiences. The narrative delves into the struggles of the protagonist, Pollony, as she grapples with her mundane reality and dreams of a more exciting existence. The story follows Pollony, a young woman feeling suffocated in her repetitive life with her husband, Brendel, as they drift through society heavily reliant on government allowances and technological convenience. Pollony's dissatisfaction with Brendel and her life escalates when she encounters Latsker Smith, a carefree driver who embodies the excitement she craves. As Pollony seeks to break free from her monotonous life and forge a new identity, she must confront the superficiality of her relationships and the emptiness of her surroundings—contrasting her desire for adventure with the mundane realities she wishes to escape. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Sydney J. Van Scyoc was an American science fiction writer. Her first published story was "Shatter the Wall" in Galaxy in 1962. She continued to write short stories throughout the 1960s and in 1971, published her first novel, Saltflower. Other novels followed until 1992, when she abandoned writing to make and sell jewelry. Gordon Van Gelder, editor of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction published her first story in more than 20 years in the December 2004 issue. He stated in an introduction to the story that: "in June 1992, after years of writing fiction, she became obsessed with jewelry making and spent a decade selling earrings and bracelets in the San Francisco Bay area. Last year she retired from that trade and now spends most of her time gardening and conferring with her cats...and, yes, writing again." Van Gelder would publish one more story in the December 2005 issue of his magazine and at that time stated in the introduction: "Joyce Van Scyoc lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and spends all summer gardening until the October rains drive her inside."