The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas
"The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas (Variation on a Theme by William James)" by [Ursula K. Le Guin] was first published in 1973 in New Dimensions 3 edited by Robert Silverberg, and won the Hugo Award in 1974 for best short story.
The story concerns an affluent, artistic, comfortable town, full of beautiful, happy, comfortable people. The author rapidly makes it clear that the happiness of the town is based on the abject misery of one emotionally and physically starved child. Without a line of dialogue or a single named character, she opens a discussion on the moral quality of happiness based on the misery of others.
The story has spawned extensive attention and commentary, some of which can be found in the external links below. The name "Omelas," Le Guin says, came from driving by a sign that said, "Salem, Oregon" and reversing "Salem, O" in her head.
The story's extensive power and popularity can be judged by references to it in online venues such as The Huffington Post. It has also been adapted for dance.
External Links
[Category:Short stories] [Category:1973 Publications] [Category:Hugo Award winning short stories]