The Space Merchants

novel by Pohl and Kornbluth

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July 19, 2026

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The Space Merchants is a satirical science-fiction novel by Frederik Pohl and C.M. Kornbluth. Published in 1953, it depicts a future world dominated by advertising agencies. The story follows Mitchell Courtenay, an advertising executive tasked with colonizing Venus to create a consumer market. The novel is a critique of consumerism and the pervasive influence of advertising on society. Pohl and Kornbluth were known for their science fiction that explored social issues and the consequences of technology.12

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Frederik Pohl
His most famous work, The Space Merchants (1953), was written in collaboration with Kornbluth. It tells the story of Mitchell Courtenay, a “copysmith star class” for a powerful advertising agency who is made head of a project to colonize Venus in order to create consumers in space. This chilling…
Read More
His most famous work, The Space Merchants (1953), was written in collaboration with Kornbluth. It tells the story of Mitchell Courtenay, a “copysmith star class” for a powerful advertising agency who is made head of a project to colonize Venus in order to create consumers in space. This chilling…
Read More