Summary

“The Era,” takes place in a dystopian future in the “New Federation” (37) after the “Long Big War” and the “Big Quick War” (31). This society prizes honesty above all else and does not value emotions. Many children are genetically modified after conception (“opti-selected” (32-3)) to have these and other appropriate qualities. Everyone takes a drug called “Good” (35), and the individuals who do exhibit emotions are called “shoe lookers” (32) because they are always staring at the floor.

A boy named Ben sits in history class listening to his teacher explain how wrong and dishonest the old way of life was, blatantly insulting a few students in the process. Ben is not feeling well, so he goes to the nurse's office to receive an extra dose of Good, passing his sister Marlene in the process. Marlene was opti-selected to be an ambitious math...