A Stone and a Spear

"A Stone and a Spear" by Raymond F. Jones is a science fiction story that looks at big ideas like right and wrong, the effects of new science, and what war might look like when biology is used as a weapon. The story happens in a world still dealing with the aftermath of war, and it spends time looking at what the characters think and feel, especially focusing on scientists' struggles when their work can lead to terrible destruction. The book tells the story of Dr. Curtis Johnson and his wife as they visit Dr. Hamon Dell, a former biochemist who has fled a life of military research to live on a truck farm. Dell is burdened with guilt over the deadly substances he made. The story uncovers a secret plot involving people from the future trying to stop a war that has already ruined humanity. As Dell gets sicker, his ideas challenge Johnson's views on science and ethics, leading him to oppose the harm caused by scientists. Johnson is forced to choose between his old life and a new one as a farmer, hoping to prevent the future Dell has warned about through agricultural means. The story is a thrilling look at how science, morals, and human survival all connect.