Summary Of Desertion By Clifford D Simak

In Desertion, Clifford D Simak explores the theme of the human experience not being a superior one by making it his main speculative “what if” premise. Once Fowler and Towser transform into Lopers they do not want to go back home, even though it is their duty to return to the dome. What if “. . . the brains of the Earth things are naturally slow and foggy [? What if] . . . we are the morons of the universe [? What if] . . . we are fixed so we have to do thinks the hard way [?]” (Simak 48). Simak is questioning the sentiment that everything revolves around mankind through Fowler, his main character. This premise also further contributes to the science fiction concepts of transformation and discovery. It is only when Fowler transforms he begins
to question the superiority of humanity, later he discovers that he prefers being a Loper.