The Common Man

"The Common Man" by Mack Reynolds is a science fiction novel written in the early 1960s. The story revolves around a group of scientists who conduct an experiment on a typical American man, searching for the essence of the "Common Man" by testing an invisibility serum on him. Through their interactions and the ensuing chaos, the narrative explores themes of morality, power, and human nature, ultimately questioning whether the common person can be trusted with absolute freedom. In the novel, the main character, Donald Crowley, is recruited by scientists Dr. Frederick Braun, Patricia O'Gara, and Ross Wooley to undergo tests with an invisibility serum. As he experiences life without the constraints of visibility, Crowley embarks on a series of adventures, revealing his true character and a desire for power. The experiment quickly spirals out of control as Crowley begins to use his newfound abilities for personal gain, forming a criminal alliance and plotting political aspirations. This leads to a realization for the scientists that the so-called "Common Man" may not be as innocent as they hoped, prompting a tense exploration of ethics and societal implications of unchecked human behavior through the lens of Crowley's transformation from an everyday man into a figure of potential chaos. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Dallas McCord "Mack" Reynolds was an American science fiction writer. His pen names included Dallas Ross, Mark Mallory, Clark Collins, Dallas Rose, Guy McCord, Maxine Reynolds, Bob Belmont, and Todd Harding. His work focused on socioeconomic speculation, usually expressed in thought-provoking explorations of utopian societies from a radical, sometime satiric perspective. He was a popular author from the 1950s to the 1970s, especially with readers of science fiction and fantasy magazines.