Synopsis

A biological weapon has caused spores of an engineered fungus to run rampant and made the surface of the Earth uninhabitable to anything but plant life, so humanity has moved underground and lives under strict rules, with very limited freedom. One man attempts to find the key to turn vegetation back to being beneficial.

History

First publication: Wonder Stories, February 1934

Featured on the cover of Wonder Stories.

Review

This story has an interesting idea and a potentially cool world. But Binder fails to do much with it, instead focusing on a fight between two men over a woman which turns the protagonist into an outlaw. The characterization is pretty basic and uninteresting. Overall the story is a failure. But the original Frank R. Paul art in Wonder Stories where this appeared is awesome.