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"I suspect that religion is a necessary evil in the childhood of our particular species. And that's one of the interesting things about contact with other intelligences: we could see what role, if any, religion plays in their development."
- Arthur C. Clarke
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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 Harrison Bergeron
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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'The pitiless M rays pierced Earth and steel and densest concrete as if they were so much transparent glass...'
'Pina2bo would have to operate full blast for many years to put as much SO2 into the stratosphere as its namesake had done in a few minutes.'
'Nanny is different,' Tom Fields murmured... 'she's not like a machine. She's like a person.'
'We made a crude , small cell and were delighted - and, I admit, somewhat surprised - to find it worked.'
'...we've promised him a generous pension from the royalties.'
'The clothes and jewelery drew their tiny power requirements from her movements.'
'At the end of each appendage's eight fingers there are tinier appendages...'
'We want to do something to help those who are suffering from tooth loss or absence,' said lead researcher Katsu Takahashi.
