Trouble on Triton

Trouble on Triton: An Ambiguous Heterotopia is a 1976 science fiction novel by American author Samuel R. Delany. Set in the distant future on a human-populated Triton (Neptune’s largest moon), the novel delves into the psychology of Bron, an inhabitant who is driven mad by the conformity, complacency, and order of its utopia. The novel responds to another utopian sci-fi novel, The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia, by Ursula K. LeGuin. The distinguishing feature of Delany’s title is “heterotropia,” a word coined by mid-twentieth-century social philosopher Michel Foucault to represent the uncannily comforting, uniform, and hollow idealizations of society that tend to emerge when people try to imagine what a utopia should look like. The novel is skeptical of certain virtues taken for granted as features of utopias; namely, compassion, individuality, constructive dissent, and joy. The novel won the 1976 Nebula Award for Best Novel.

Trouble on Triton begins by introducing its protagonist, Bron. Bron was born on Mars and moved to Triton when he became an adult. Neptune is embroiled in an interplanetary war, and its primary adversary is Earth. The other satellite colonies, including Mars and Neptune’s moons, have declared neutrality, but the common sentiment is that they will soon have to pick sides. The impact of the war is physically felt on Triton when its colony temporarily loses gravity during an attack that passes near the moon. Delany describes Triton’s government and social structure as fluid and hands-off, compared to the governments of Mars and Earth.

Like most of Triton’s people, Bron lives in a commune in which individuals are grouped together by aspects of their identities, including sexual orientation, political views, education, job, and gender. This sorting method facilitates a peaceful coexistence between most people. However, Bron has not found a group where he feels belonging. He has no romantic partner or friends; having given up on the possibility of finding any, he spends his time playing strategic war games with an old man named Lawrence; talks about politics with Sam, a government official; and life coaches a boy named Alfred.



Spike, a street performer who belongs to a troupe of artists, visits Bron’s community. Bron is enamored by each artist’s earnest individuality. During one of her performances, Spike incorporates Bron on the fly as a guest performer, piquing Bron’s interest. The two have a fling before the troupe leaves Triton to continue on their interplanetary tour. When the war between Neptune and Earth intensifies, Sam, ordered to Earth on a diplomatic mission, asks Bron to come along. When they land on Earth, Bron is detained and tortured without explanation or due process. Sam secures his release, but they are forced to keep silent about the ordeal, lest it worsens tensions between Triton and Earth. Bron and Sam travel to Mongolia to lay low. Bron is elated to learn that Spike’s troupe is performing in Mongolia. He invites her on a date but has a hard time relating to her, and it ends poorly.

Bron and Sam travel back to Triton. When they land, Bron receives a message from Spike saying she doesn’t want to see him again. Before he can process the message, the main city of Triton is attacked. The defense shields are quickly destroyed, severe damage is inflicted on parts of the colony, and the death toll is high. Bron returns to his co-op and finds it in ruins. Alfred is one of the casualties. He and Lawrence take the lead evacuating the surviving members. The evacuation effort fails due to the many collapsing buildings. Bron and Lawrence turn their attention to a neighboring co-op that has sustained less damage, rescuing many of its members.

In the aftermath of the attack, Bron learns that the attack ended the war against Earth. Mars sustained much destruction, but Neptune’s counterstrike on Earth decimated its population forcing it to surrender. Amid all of these changes, Bron cannot stop thinking about Spike. He finally understands that he needs to strive to become a unique individual, not a cog in a machine if he wants to feel proud and fulfilled.