In this story, Isaac Asimov’s favorite supercomputer Multivac has a big problem. It doesn’t respond to commands, and isn’t following its built-in program to self-diagnose the cause. As the global economy depends on Mulitvac, this could result in panic across the world. Teams of technicians have been trying to identify what is wrong for three days. Finally, a scientist discovers the “key item” needed to fix the problem. It is a simple thing that we are all taught to use as children. Themes include the dangers of Artificial Intelligence and/or relying solely on technology, scientific hubris, good manners. More…
Dirk the Protector
This memoir by Gary Paulsen looks back to a time when, as a “street kid”, he not only had to fend for himself after school, but also had to be constantly on the lookout for a gang of bullies who liked to harass him. Relief from the bullies came in the form of a big, rangy, right on the edge of ugly dog he describes as as close to having a live nuclear weapon as you can get. When no longer needed, the dog moves on to its next protection job. Themes: self-sufficiency, courage, bullying, friendship, letting go. More…
Lakshmi’s Adventure
This story from Manoj Das contrasts the innocence of a six-year-old girl with the intolerance of her village priest and the hypocrisy of corrupt temple officials. After dreaming that her deity spoke to her, the girl sneaks into the temple and has a wide-ranging “discussion” with him, including his problems (hearing and too many bananas), hers (arithmetic), and her family’s (an aggressive money-lender). On leaving with two bananas from his shrine, she is chased by an angry mob into a pond in which she catches a fatal fever. Themes include innocence, faith, family, poverty, righteous indignation, guilt and remorse. More…
The Soft Touch of Grass
In this story by Luigi Pirandello, a “not old and yet no longer young” man is full of emptiness and despair following the death of his wife. In accordance with Italian tradition, his married son becomes “man of the house” and consigns him to a remodeled servant’s room in the courtyard. Alienated, he spends his days watching children play in a nearby park. A misunderstanding by a young girl when he bends to take off his shoes so he can feel the grass under his feet sends him home in misery. Themes include loss, grief, despair, aging, alienation/isolation, loneliness, relativism. More…
The King of Jazz
The King of Jazz provides a satirical account of several aspects of the American music scene. Donald Barthelme loved jazz, and his main target here are fickle music critics and the way they try to out-do each other with flowery and often meaningless language when describing performances. He also makes fun of the ‘cutting contests’ once used by musicians to judge themselves against one another and, in so doing, satirizes the system of ‘chair challenges’ that were (are?) common in U.S. school bands. Finally, he sends up the notion that American musicians are the preeminent force in world jazz. More…