Logan's Run by George Clayton Johnson
"Logan's Run" is a science fiction narrative set in a dystopian future Greater Los Angeles, where citizens live under strict age guidelines signified by a color-coded handprint flower. From ages fourteen to twenty-one, individuals wear yellow, blue, and red, culminating in black at their Lastday, the point at which they must voluntarily enter a Sleepshop to die. The story follows Logan 3, a Sandman tasked with hunting down those who attempt to escape this fate. As he nears his own Lastday, Logan discovers a path to the rumored Sanctuary, a place where runners hope to find safety. Alongside Jessica 6, a fellow runner, he embarks on a dangerous journey filled with thrilling encounters, including a murderous gang of drug-addicted cub scouts and an arctic prison from which escape seems impossible. Throughout their adventure, Logan must confront his growing feelings for Jessica while simultaneously evading his partner, Francis, who is determined to capture them. The quest ultimately leads them to the Thinker, a central computer that holds the keys to their survival. The plot explores themes of freedom, love, and the struggle against a controlling society, making it a compelling tale of rebellion and hope.
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Subject Terms
Logan's Run
First published: 1967
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Science fiction—dystopia
Time of work: After 2072
Locale: Various locations on Earth and an escape ship
The Plot
Logan’s Run is set in Greater Los Angeles, where life is publicly erotic and secretly violent. All the world’s inhabitants are supposed to follow the color code of a personal handprint flower designating their age. It is first yellow, then blue, then red (from the ages of fourteen to twenty-one), and finally black, which designates Lastday. At that time, the citizen must voluntarily enter a Sleepshop to die. Those who rebel and run for the fabled Sanctuary are regarded with hatred by the populace and are pursued by Sandmen with weapons. Each Sandman has a gun loaded with six types of weapon: homer, tangler, vapor producer, nitro, ripper, and blister.
Sandman Logan 3 is close to his own Lastday when he finds a key to Sanctuary left by a runner, Doyle 10. Doyle’s twin, Jessica 6, is about to reach her Lastday. Logan’s partner Francis pursues both Logan and Jessica when they run for Sanctuary. Logan’s original motive is to find the route to Sanctuary and then destroy it to become a world hero. Jessica does not trust him, but he protects her through many adventures.
Eventually Logan’s own Lastday arrives, and he falls in love with Jessica; together, with the unexpected assistance of Francis, they reach an escape rocket. First they must pass the world’s oldest man, Ballard, in the jungle-surrounded ruins of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. On the way, they encounter a murderous gang of cub scouts who use Muscle, a drug that speeds reactions tenfold. A party leads them to a surgeon who disguises runners, but he sets his Table against Logan when he discovers the Sandman’s position.
Logan and Jessica are almost killed in Molly, a wrecked city deep underwater, but Jessica rescues the imprisoned Logan. By accident, they travel to an arctic prison, Hell, from which escape is supposed to be impossible. There they find a half-android sculptor who teaches them how to reach the Thinker, the world computer, which is inside Crazy Horse Mountain near Custer, South Dakota. Francis almost finds them there, but they escape with a gang of gypsies who ride “devilsticks.” Their leader, Rutago, a champion flier, subjects Logan to several orgasms by his women and tries unsuccessfully to make Jessica enjoy his own favors. They escape on a flying broomstick and are pursued by Rutago, but Logan manages to win this battle. Next, they are involved in a re-creation of the American Civil War that uses programmed androids. Logan hides in a Re-Live parlor, which brings back his memories. He and Jessica then flee to Washington, D.C.