Frigid Fracas

"Frigid Fracas" by Mack Reynolds is a novel written in the early 1960s. The story is set in a future society where caste systems prevail, leading to a status-driven culture defined by public perception rather than personal merit. Major Joseph Mauser, the main character, navigates this complex social hierarchy as he grapples with his ambitions to rise to a higher caste, facing the realities of his profession as a mercenary in a world obsessed with televised violence and heroic personas. At the start of the narrative, the reader is introduced to Major Mauser, who finds himself inebriated at a military club, contemplating his social standing and ambitions. A conversation with the Telly reporter Freddy Soligen reveals a cynical commentary on how media portrayals shape public perception of heroism. Mauser's desire for recognition and advancement leads him to forge a dubious partnership with Soligen, who proposes a plan that involves risking his life in a dangerous fracas to gain fame. The opening sets the stage for a critique of the intersection between media, militarism, and the pursuit of status, while exploring themes of ambition, identity, and societal class distinctions. (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.