Synopsis

Omelas is a town that has happiness and beauty, but at a price.

History

First publication: New Dimensions 3, ed. by Robert Silverberg, Nelson Doubleday / SFBC, October 1973

1974 Hugo winner for best short story.

Review

A great story. More of a fantasy despite winning a Hugo award. It is more of a fairy tale with a moral to it, speaking to the fact that beauty can’t exist without ugliness, light without darkness. But some people can’t accept that there should be an ugly side to the world that nobody does anything about. Recommended.