Citadel of the Green Death

"Citadel of the Green Death" by Emmett McDowell is a science fiction novel written in the mid-20th century. The story centers on Joel Hakkyt, a man facing a dire choice between slavery on a distant planet, Asgard, or a horrifying death back on Earth. The narrative unfolds as Joel finds himself in a frightening justice system, where he struggles with family disapproval, personal identity, and a sense of foreboding regarding his fate. At the start of the story, Joel is on trial for malfeasance, surrounded by his unsupportive family and facing a psychologist who determines his immediate commitment to an experimental facility. As he grapples with this bleak outcome, he experiences strange encounters, such as with an alien guard and fleeting glimpses of the peculiar world of transgressors and the futuristic society that regards him as an expendable asset. The opening sets up a rich tapestry of tension and intrigue, hinting at complex relationships and unsettling discoveries about both Joel’s identity and the nature of the society he is thrust into, ultimately leading him towards a dangerous alien world where much more than survival is at stake.