Trying to find the name of a sci fi anthology book, or just the titles of one or more stories

Question

Okay, so here it goes. Over a decade ago I read a sci fi anthology book from my grade school's library. I would guess it was written in the 50's or early 60's but I could be wrong. There are 3 stories I vaguely remember.

1. I remember this one the most. Most kids are born really smart through some type of enhancements. But the protagonist, while not dumb, is born like a normal person. Normal people tend to be looked down on or stigmatized in this society and he grows up and despite having average intelligence, leads a revolution against the government that has been promoting these kinds of genetic mutations.

2. The only thing I know is that this story is set in the year 2000 on New Years Day. The title includes "the Year 2000" in it I'm fairly sure. But that's all I can remember about it.

3. The final story is the most vague in my mind. But it's a story about cars and possibly racing? The title might be a two word title, the something. That something being the title of the name of the people that drive/race? Like the Langoliers, although obviously not that. I've read that one.

I know the last 2 are really vague, but any info on the first one at least might lead me to find different collections it's been in if I can track it down.

Thanks for everything!

Answer 1

I believe the collection you are looking for may be The Other Side of Tomorrow, published 1973, editor Roger Elwood.

The stories you would be thinking of may be:

1. "Let My People Go" by Joseph Green (see below)
2. "Night of the Millennium" by Edward D. Hoch (previously asked and answered here)
3. "The Speeders" by Arthur Tofte (previously asked and answered here)

In fact, there appear to have been two other questions (in Feb and Aug 2013) for this same collection, though neither has a formally-accepted answer.

"Let My People Go" does not appear to be available online but is described in an online review as:

[T]he story of the last few genetic throwbacks in a future of perfect people. These normal children in a world of super-normals resort to their only weapon -- emotional manipulation -- to win their freedom.

A different online review (from a blog called "My Reader's Block") provides summaries of all three stories:

"Let My People Go" by Joseph Green: In this story humanity has been selecting for super intelligence. However there are always some throwbacks born--"norms" as they are called. The norms are always at a disadvantage, not just because of their lower intelligence quotient but also because of the restrictions and discrimination that they face. One norm, a poet, rises up as a voice for the oppressed and becomes a Moses for his kind--asking "Pharaoh" (the government of the su-norms) to build spaceships so he and his people can leave Earth and have place where they can be free. Will the World Council agree? Or will the norms be second-class citizens forever?

and

"Night of the Millennium" by Edward D. Hoch: As the world prepares to celebrate the onset of the 2000s, a young man faces decisions about his career choice. As he tries to decide between becoming a laser surgeon like his father or a high-paying, high-profile job in communication engineering. The man who is trying to recruit him gets caught up in a plot to cause a revolt at the millennium celebrations and Tommy (the young man) comes to his rescue....this causes Tommy to think about a third career choice.

and

"The Speeders" by Arthur Tofte: In the world of the future, the government has supposedly ensured that vehicles will be safe--no speeding and no accidents. But there are always the young joyriders who will find their way around the laws and restrictions. These young men find that when thy joyride and manage to break the speeding laws one too many times that they are incarcerated--not in prison, but in Traverse Park. In what seems like a speed-demon's paradise, all bets are off. The speeders can go as fast as they want and drive as recklessly as they want. Is it really the freedom from restrictions that it appears? Or is there a more chilling motive behind the speeder's park?

Other questions about this collection have also referred to the following stories (these summaries also from "My Reader's Block"):

"The Others" by J. Hunter Holly: Emelen and his friends have a very small world. They are restricted to four walled areas and are instructed by the Voice. The Voice teaches them everything they need to know and tells them exactly what to do and when to do it. But Emelen is curious--where does the food they eat come from? How did they get where they are? Why do all of his friends look different (different number of hands or eyes or mouths or legs...etc)? One day he discovers the Others and the world changes. Emelen finds a way to get a whole new world for his friends--and all the people who are like him.

and

"A Bowl of Biskies Makes a Growing Boy" by Raymond F. Jones: Probably the darkest and most chilling of the stories. A young man who hopes to be a biochemist one day makes a disturbing discovery about the additives in his morning breakfast cereal...and just about every other food item in his family's pantry. He soon realizes that the chemicals have been added to allow the population to be controlled. Those in power can't afford for him (and others who have discovered various other means of controlling the public--from subliminal messages to a secret organization that runs everything) to follow up on his knowledge and so he is quarantined with the other "troublemakers." But what will be his fate?