About this book
Lester Del Rey's Badge of Infamy is a gripping science fiction novel that explores the collision between personal conscience and institutional power. Set in 2100, the story follows Dr. Daniel Feldman, a principled physician whose act of compassion—performing unauthorized surgery to save a friend's life—transforms him into a marked man. Stripped of his medical license and cast out by society, Feldman faces abandonment from colleagues and family alike, with no path forward except desperation.
Desperate for survival, Feldman stows away on a spacecraft bound for Mars, only to be discovered and brutally beaten. Rescued by a colonist, he accepts a dangerous position as a doctor in the Martian settlements, believing he has nothing left to lose. But this decision sets off a chain of events far greater than his personal redemption. While conducting medical research, Feldman uncovers evidence of a deadly plague threatening all of humanity—a discovery that forces him to become a fugitive while racing to find a cure.
Del Rey masterfully weaves themes of justice, ethics, and political corruption throughout this intense narrative. Through Feldman's journey across two worlds, the novel examines how institutions prioritize control over human welfare and questions whether individual morality can triumph against systemic oppression.
Perfect for readers who crave thoughtful science fiction that challenges moral boundaries, Badge of Infamy delivers both visceral drama and philosophical depth.
