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"It was [H.G. Wells'] adolescent fiction, his imaginative stories, that live forever - and yet are not acknowledged in literature classes as being great literature. So to hell with the academics!"
- Greg Bear
 |
| Government Lethal Chamber | ||
| A legal suicide booth. |
A very early reference to the idea of an automated suicide booth.
| "The Government has seen fit to acknowledge the right of man to end an existence which may have become intolerable to him, through physical suffering or mental despair."
(...) He paused, and turned to the white Lethal Chamber. The silence in the street was absolute. "There a painless death awaits him who can no longer bear the sorrows of this life." |
| Technovelgy from The Repairer of Reputations,
by Robert W. Chambers. Published by Not known in 1895 Additional resources -
|
The same phrase is used in The Man Who Knew Too Much, by John D. Swain, in The Black Mask, a popular fiction magazine, in 1921.
"This is my lethal chamber," he explained. "One who enters this steel chest and throws this switch, ceases to exist. He disappears. More scientifically, since in our universe nothing can be destroyed, he is transmuted into material not identifiable by our imperfect senses. Simply open the door five minutes after I enter, and you will see. Or rather, you will not see!"
Compare to the government lethal chamber from The Repairer of Reputations (1895) by Robert W. Chambers, the Ethical Suicide Parlor from Welcome to the Monkey House (1958) by Kurt Vonnegut, the Sleepshop from Logan's Run (1967) by Nolan and Johnson.
Slade crossed over to where, apparently, a huge steel safe was set in the wall, and opened the thick door. It swung easily and noiselessly upon its oiled pinions, revealing a closet the height of a tall man, with a perforated disc upon the floor, and a grill of shining rods extending to the top. Overhead was an oblong box thickly wound with heavy copper wire. A number of dials, indicators and gauges were attached to a heavy plate screwed to the inside of the door. Slade turned to the silent physician.
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More Ideas
and Technology from The Repairer of Reputations
More Ideas
and Technology by Robert W. Chambers
Tech news articles related to The Repairer of Reputations
Tech news articles related to works by Robert W. Chambers
Government Lethal Chamber-related
news articles:
- Soulaje Self-Administered Euthanasia Wearable Prototype
| Who First Thought Of A Tin Foil Hat? |
| Robot Baristas Learn Their Trade Without Paying Royalties |
| Vesuvius Challenge Accepted - Ancient Burnt Scroll Read! |
| Humans Love Helping Other Species |
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'...Anything was possible in my imaginary environment.'
'Somewhere in space, a chrome and blue automobile raced the green light of Earth.'
'That explains how it was so easy for me to remain motionless in midair...'
'We had discovered that metal was relatively impervious to the telepathic effect.'
'Detailed plans for the construction of the Gundstetter-Halone warp drive were flowing.'
'Do not waste your priceless company on the unappreciative folds of a sleep pod...'
'...so we've promised him a generous pension from the royalties.'
'Hocus-pocus religions and archaic weapons are no substitute for a good blaster at your side.'
