"They'd Rather Be Right" (also called the Forever Machine) won the 1955 Hugo-award for best Novel.
It's actually a sequel to two short stories: "Crazy Joey" and "Hide! Hide! Witch!" by Mark Clifton &
Alex Apostolides.
"The only way to have immortality is to free yourself of your convictions".
This is the central theme of the novel.
It's a good idea, however I felt this wasn't convincingly argued.
The book puts forward the notion that inflexibility in knowing you're right is the only reason you're growing old.
I've always felt that being able to put yourself in someone elses shoes is a good way to be.
The Forever Machine is a classic example of 1950's sci fi. ... I don't think its a bad novel. Sure its a bit long and at times ...you think they could have got rid of 20% but the idea is interesting.
The main character, Joey (Joe Carter), in the prequels is a telepathic kid who doesn't fit into society.
He is an object of hate. But he uses his powers to help build a telepathic computer , Bossy, an AI.
BTW, Bossy is an unusual choice of name for a super computer .....It's no wonder the general population were concerned it might be a future problem for humanity.
Anyway, rather than use Bossy to fix the many problems of society, they hook it up to an ex-prostitute and turn her into an immortal super-woman. Maybe this is a missed opportunity??? Anyway, she becomes smarter, healthier and develops the power of telepathy.
I wonder why the authors chose this purpose for Bossy? John Campbell , one of the main editors of Astounding Science Magazine, was a supporter of L Ron Hubbard and his idea of "Dianetics."
(December 1949 to April 1950). Is there a connection ??? I'm not sure.
The Forever Machine continues to receive lots of criticism, most reviewers describing it as the worst winner of the Hugo Prize. They may have a point when one considers the other novels available at that time such as
The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov and The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien.
The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov and The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Anyway, If you are like me, trying to read all the Hugo winners , you may decide to leave this book till later.
The illustrations on this page are from the story's first appearance in Astounding Science Fiction magazine.
If you can get hold of the original publications, do it.
Reading them in their original format puts the story in it's true historical context.
Astounding Science Fiction magazine. Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov 1954
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