Topic 8, Our Contemporary World: Problems and Issues, in a theme issue on Teaching World History Through Science Fiction, presents this short story to motivate discussion on dehumanization, resulting in a society where the single driving force is order and unity and promptness and clocklike precision. (JB)

Topic 5, Expanding Horizons of Science, asks students to question the expansion of the human element and reaction to the environmetal changes brought about by advancing technology. The story is taken from the 1954 book, Nightfall and Other Stories. (JB)