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"[Science fiction] is the only kind of writing that allows you to look at the world we live in and change one piece at a time."
- Frederik Pohl
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| Mental Radio-Handicap | ||
| A device that destroys concentration. |
In the world of Harrison Bergeron, if a man were to have, let's say, exceptional mental acuity that makes him stand out from the average personal, it's a problem. No one should have to feel bad that they aren't as focused and smart - therefore, his ability to concentrate must be destroyed for the good of society.
| But he didn't get very far with it before another noise in his ear radio scattered his thoughts. George winced. So did two out of the eight ballerinas. Hazel saw him wince. Having no mental handicap herself, she had to ask George what the latest sound had been.
"Sounded like somebody hitting a milk bottle with a ball peen hammer," said George. "I'd think it would be real interesting, hearing all the different sounds," said Hazel, a little envious. "All the things they think up." "Um," said George. |
| Technovelgy from Harrison Bergeron,
by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.. Published by The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction in 1961 Additional resources -
|
Thanks to Connor Lawrence for contributing this item.
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Tech news articles related to works by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
| Robot Preachers Found To Undermine Religious Commitment |
| Gaia - Why Stop With Just The Earth? |
| Splendid View Of Eclipse From Orbit Visualized And Repurposed By Arthur C. Clarke |
| SensorWake Scent-Based Alarm Clock |
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'Tell me your torments,' the Padre said, in an elderly voice marked with compassion.
'...a slender-legged tripod surmounted by a spherical body no larger than a football.'
'... making the point that their likenesses, every move they made, were being transmitted.'
'But the stars are only atoms in larger space, and in that larger space the star-atoms could combine to form living matter, thinking matter, couldn't they?'
'...to build up a video picture would require, say, ten million decisions every second. Mike, you're so fast I can't even think about it. But you aren't that fast.'
'The area affected was five hundred kilometres across, and perfectly circular.'
'Hasan always pitched a Gauzy - a one-molecule-layer tent, opaque, feather-light, and very tough.'
