The Country of the Kind
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"The Country of the Kind" is a science fiction short story by Damon Knight, the founder of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. It was first published in 1955 and later collected in The Science Fiction Hall of Fame Volume One, 1929-1964, published in 1970.
[edit] Plot
The story revolves around a mutant who, although rejected by society, still considers himself "the king of the world." The "humane, permissible" society in which he lives has adopted a threefold solution to deal with him. The first is excommunication - no one is to interact with him or even acknowledge his existence. The second and third involve alterations made to the mutant himself. He is thrown into an epileptic seizure whenever he attempts to commit a violent act, and his body gives off a highly offensive odour.
The story ends with the realisation that the mutant is desperately trying to persuade someone - "anyone" - to join him in his rebellion against society.
