"And That's How It Was, Officer"

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

32562

Title

"And That's How It Was, Officer"

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In this whimsical science fiction satire, newlywed Homer Nicholas and his vibrant bride Joy attend a wedding reception that descends into chaos when their eccentric scientist uncle, Peter Nicholas, uses a revolutionary serum to instantly vaporize a violent mob. Blending slapstick humor with absurd scientific concepts, the story explores themes of social class, the nature of reality, and the unpredictable consequences of genius, culminating in a surreal journey to Tibet.

Summary up to 500 words

In Ralph Sholto's satirical science fiction short story, "And That's How It Was, Officer," newlyweds Homer and Joy Nicholas attend a wedding reception hosted by Homer's snobbish Aunt Gretchen. The event is a clash of cultures, pitting the family's wealthy, elitist circle against Homer's working-class friends, notably the boxer Bag Ears Mulligan. The peace is shattered by the arrival of a masked gunman threatening the guests with a sub-machine gun. However, the threat is neutralized not by police force, but by Homer's eccentric uncle, Peter Nicholas, a brilliant scientist. Peter reveals he has perfected a serum that instantly vaporizes undesirable individuals, relocating their physical matter to a monastery in Tibet. He uses the serum to eliminate the gunman and his violent mob, who simply "pop" into dust without bloodshed. Following the chaos, Homer, Joy, and Bag Ears chase Peter and his assistant, Cora, who flee in a car. They track the fugitives to a tavern where Peter attempts to poison a criminal named Hands McCaffery with the serum. During the confrontation, Joy unexpectedly utilizes her martial arts skills to incapacitate the tavern's bouncer. Hands McCaffery, refusing arrest, drinks the serum and vanishes, choosing death over jail. Peter explains that his serum elevates human vibration, relocating the dead to Tibet to meet yogis. Despite the apparent murders, Peter insists he is merely conducting a scientific experiment to clean up the underworld. Realizing the absurdity and danger of his uncle's methods, Homer decides to turn Peter over to the police. However, Peter refuses to face jail, packing his bags to travel to Tibet to verify his work. The story concludes with Homer writing a letter to the police chief, explaining the bizarre events and preparing to leave for his honeymoon, leaving the fate of the city and its new laws of physics in the hands of a man heading for the Himalayas. The narrative blends slapstick comedy with science fiction tropes, satirizing both social snobbery and the unchecked ambition of scientific progress.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Fiction
• Science Fiction