02571cam a22003733u 4500 51288 UtSlPG 20260610134200.0 m cr n 260607r2016||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 PS Shaara, Michael, 1929?-1988 Man of Distinction Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2016 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Produced from Galaxy Science Fiction October 1956 Release date is 2016-02-23 Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net "Man of Distinction" by Michael Shaara is a science fiction novella written during the mid-20th century. The narrative explores themes of identity and notoriety through the life of Thatcher Blitt, who, despite being a successful businessman in the year 2180, questions the notion of personal significance derived from lineage and ancestry. The story critiques societal values placed on heritage and fame, highlighting the irony of being a wealthy figure without any notable ancestors to speak of. The plot follows Thatcher Blitt, the founder of Genealogy, Inc., a company that utilizes a time scanner to uncover family histories. As he amasses wealth and status, he becomes increasingly obsessed with discovering a prestigious lineage to validate his success. However, Blitt's relentless pursuit exposes a humbling truth: his ancestry is unremarkable, consisting of ordinary individuals. After a profound search that traces his lineage back 40,000 years, Blitt discovers that his bloodline has never produced anyone exceptional, culminating in the ironic realization that he is historically unique for his complete lack of distinguished ancestors. This twist serves as a poignant commentary on the human condition, raising questions about the worth of identity and self-importance in a world where everyone shares common ancestry. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Original publication data not identified Science fiction Short stories Businessmen -- Fiction Genealogy -- Fiction Francis, Dick Produced from Galaxy Science Fiction October 1956 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/51288 92126 92126