The Status Civilization

by Robert Sheckley

"The Status Civilization" by Robert Sheckley is a science fiction novel published in 1960. Will Barrent awakens on a prison ship bound for Omega, stripped of his memories and convicted of murder. On this brutal planet, survival depends on committing crimes—the law itself demands evil. With a three-year life expectancy, Barrent must navigate this inverted society while uncovering the truth about his conviction. His quest leads him back to Earth, where he discovers shocking secrets about both worlds and their interconnected systems of control.