Master of Life and Death

"Master of Life and Death" by Robert Silverberg is a science fiction novel that paints a grim picture of Earth in the 23rd century, where overpopulation has led to extreme measures. Roy Walton, who works for the Bureau of Population Equalization, finds himself at the center of a moral battle as his job requires him to make life-or-death decisions for the sake of societal control. The story kicks off with Walton wrestling with the ethics of his position, especially when he meets a desperate father whose baby is slated for euthanasia. This encounter sparks a profound internal conflict in Walton, forcing him to question the dehumanizing policies he enforces and consider risking everything to challenge a heartless system, leading to a gripping exploration of compassion versus control in a world pushed to its limits.