The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner

“The name for what we’re doing wasn’t coined by any kind of radical.”

“It has a name?”

“Sure it does,” Kate said firmly. “Agonizing reappraisal.”

Nick nodded. “During all my time at Tarnover it was drummed into me that I must search for wisdom. It’s the beginning of wisdom when you admit you’ve gone astray.” The coley dancers dissolved into discords and laughter. As they scattered in search of fresh drinks they complimented one another on the length of time they had managed to keep dancing. An impatient exhibitionistic youth promptly jumped up and conjured a specialty number from the invisible beams. After the complexities of the nine-part dance it seemed thin and shallow in spite of being technically brilliant.

“Sweedack,” Freeman said eventually, his face glistening with sweat. “I guess now we hold tight and wait for the tsunami.”

THE RACE BETWEEN GUNS AND ARMOR On the tree of evolution, last season’s flowers die, and often the most beautiful are sterile.

While Triceratops sported his triple horns, while Diplodocus waved his graceful tail, something without a name was stealing their tomorrow.

AN ALARMING ITEM TO FIND ON YOUR OVERNIGHT MAIL-STORE REEL

Origin: Tarnover Bioexperimental Laboratory Reference: K3/E2/100715 P Subject: In-vitro genetic modification (project #38) Nature: Controlled crossover in gamete union Surgeons: Dr. Jason B. Saville, Dr. Maud Crowther Biologist i/c: Dr. Phoebe R. Whymper Mother: Anon. volunt. GOL ($800 p.w., 1 yr.) Father: Staff volunt. WVG ($1,000, flat pmt.) Embryo: Female Gestation: — 11 days Survival time: appx. 67 hr.

Description: Typical class G0 and G9 faults, viz. cyclopean eye, cleft palate, open fontanelle, digestive system incomplete, anal-vaginal fusion, pelvic deformities and all toes absent. Cf. project #6.

Conclusion: Programed inducement of crossover only partially successful employing template solution #17K.

Recommendation: Repeat but attempt layering of template on crystalline substrate (in hand) or use of gel version (in hand).

Disposition of remains: Authorized (initialed JBS).

AN ALARMING ITEM TO FIND ON YOUR CREDIT-RATING STATEMENT

Inspection of computerized records has revealed that over half the credit standing to your name derives from nonlegal undertakings, details of which have been forwarded to the Attorney General of the United States. In anticipation of criminal proceedings your permissible credit is limited to the Federal Supportive Norm, viz. $28.50 per day.

The Commission on Poverty has held this insufficient to provide an adequate diet; however, upgrading to the proposed norm of $67.50 per day still awaits presidential approval.

This is a cybernetic datum for the public service.

AN ALARMING ITEM TO FIND ON YOUR DESK COME MONDAY MORNING To all employees of Marmaduke Smith Metal Products Inc. The decision taken to commission the building and launching of an orbital factory for your company by Ground-to-Space Industries Inc. (contract noncancelable) was reached as the result of a warning from the chief accountant Mr. J.J. Himmelweiss that the corporation faces certain bankruptcy.

At the same meeting of the Board which confirmed the placing of the G2S contract all officers were voted an additional 100 percent of their respective holdings of stock to dispose of at temporarily inflated prices prior to the company’s voluntary liquidation which is scheduled for the end of next month.

This is an unauthorized cybernetic announcement.

AN ALARMING ITEM TO FIND ON A COSMETICS PACKAGE

This product contains a known allergen and a known carcinogen. The manufacturers have expended over $650,000 in out-of-court settlements to avoid legal suits by former users. This is a cybernetic datum imprinted on the wrapper without the manufacturers’ knowledge or consent.

AN ALARMING ITEM TO FIND ON A PACK OF “HONEST-TO-GOODNESS”® BEEF STEW

Despite being advertised as domestic, this stew contains 15 to 35 percent imported meat originating in areas where typhus, brucellosis and trichinosomiasis are endemic. Authority to label the contents as domestic produce was obtained following the expenditure of appx. $215,000 in bribes to customs and public-health inspectors. This is a cybernetic datum derived from records not intended for publication.

AN ALARMING ITEM TO FIND ON A MONTHLY AUTO-DEBIT NOTICE

Advice to clients of Anti-Trauma Inc.

A status check of the first one hundred juveniles treated according to this corporation’s methods, all of whom are now at least three years past termination of their courses of therapy, reveals that: 66 are receiving prescribed psychotropic drugs; 62 are classed educationally subaverage; 59 have recently reported nightmares and hallucinations; 43 have been arrested at least once; 37 have run away from home at least once; 19 are in jail or subject to full-time supervision orders; 15 have been convicted of crimes of violence; 15 have been convicted of theft; 13 have been convicted of arson; 8 have been committed to mental hospitals at least once; 6 are dead; 5 have wounded parents, close relatives or guardians; 2 have murdered siblings; 1 awaits trial for molesting a girl aged three.

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