The winner and new...

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

78073

Title

The winner and new...

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In a 1956 science fantasy tale, TV host Bob May oversees a high-stakes quiz show where contestants face impossible questions inside an impenetrable force field. When challenger James Burton selects Mars as his category, he faces off against philatelist Charles Monroe. As questions escalate in difficulty regarding Martian flora and history, Monroe falters on a stamp trivia question, leading to a shocking twist that redefines the winner's identity.

Summary up to 500 words

Set within the gleaming, futuristic confines of the Capitol Coliseum, Ib Melchior's science fiction tale "The Winner and New..." presents a satirical vision of mid-century America where the presidency is decided not by election, but by a televised trivia contest known as "Quizz Night." Hosted by the effervescent Bob May, the event draws an audience of over one hundred million viewers. The stakes are absolute: the last contestant standing inside a transparent, impenetrable force field becomes the new President of the United States. The finalists are Charles Monroe, the forty-nine-week incumbent and a meticulous philatelist, and James Burton, the challenger who boldly selects "The Planet Mars" as his category. The questions are generated by the Univac Cybernetic Brain, ensuring no human bias and increasing in difficulty with each round. The contest begins with manageable inquiries; Burton correctly identifies Jonathan Swift's *Gulliver's Travels* as the source of a fictional prediction regarding Martian moons, while Monroe answers complex questions about former presidents and obscure postage stamps. As the match progresses, the tension mounts. The contestants are interrupted only by commercials for "REJUVENATION" Plasti-Form Spray, a product promising to alter one's physical form. The questions become increasingly obscure, testing knowledge of Martian lichens and rare historical postal items. Monroe struggles with fatigue, his glasses sliding down his nose, while Burton maintains his composure despite the strain. The narrative reaches its climax during the final rounds. Burton answers a difficult question about the rarest Martian plant, identifying the "Lizard Cactus" and its parasitic reproduction methods. Monroe, however, faces a fatal blow. Asked about the color and portrait on a specific three-cent stamp from the Presidential Series, he confidently answers that it features George Washington. The host, Bob May, immediately corrects him, stating the portrait was actually Thomas Jefferson. The error is fatal. Monroe stands ashen-faced as the communicator before him sinks into the floor. The shimmering force field around him intensifies and then implodes with blinding speed, causing him to vanish instantly. The audience erupts in ecstasy as May declares James Burton the winner and the new President. The story blends classic sci-fi tropes with a sharp critique of television culture, highlighting the absurdity of high-stakes trivia and the surreal nature of a reality where knowledge alone dictates political power.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Short Stories
• Science Fiction
• Television Game Shows