Underground Man (Dover Doomsday Classics)

After the sun turns red and the rivers become solid ice, the planet freezes and many of its people slowly starve. Survivors, seeking a source of heat, dig deep into the earth. Their catastrophe ultimately gives birth to a triumph of human ingenuity and spirit when the subterranean civilization develops labor-saving technology that frees citizens to focus on artistic endeavors.
Given the appropriate environment, people can do anything, according to this 1905 novel by a noted sociologist. Gabriel de Tarde wrote Underground Man to illustrate the concept that humans are creatures of their social environment. An intriguing mix of the post-apocalyptic and the utopian, the story combines satirical and ironic points of view with an optimistic perspective on the possibility of overcoming the failings of human nature to develop a thriving culture of intellectual and artistic achievement. H. G. Wells, a noted admirer of the novel, provides a wide-ranging Preface.

French sociologist, criminologist, and social psychologist Gabriel de Tarde (1843–1904) developed influential theories regarding collective behavior, public opinion, and personal influence. Underground Man reflects his belief that under the right circumstances, people possess a virtually unlimited potential for achievement.