Farmer

by Mack Reynolds

"Farmer" by Mack Reynolds is a science fiction novel written in the early 1960s. It explores themes of environmental restoration and the complex interactions between modern agricultural techniques and traditional nomadic lifestyles. The narrative is set against the backdrop of the Sahara Desert, where a project aimed at reforestation encounters significant challenges posed by local tribes and their livestock. The story centers on Johnny McCord, an American involved in the Sahara Reforestation Commission, who grapples with the destruction caused by nomadic herds of goats and the sabotage of crucial water pumps. As McCord navigates the bureaucratic and logistical hurdles of the reforestation effort, he faces conflicts with local tribes and a visiting journalist, Hélène Desage, whose perspective threatens to undermine their work. As tensions escalate, it becomes evident that external forces are manipulating the situation for their gain. The plot weaves together themes of environmentalism, cultural conflict, and geopolitical intrigue, culminating in a confrontation that challenges McCord’s efforts to secure the future of the desert ecosystem while upholding the rights of the nomads.