Project Gutenberg 2016-01-30 Public domain in the USA. 100 Cogan, Alan Diehl The Amateurs Produced from Galaxy Science Fiction July 1955 Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net "The Amateurs" by Alan Cogan is a science fiction short story published in the mid-20th century. Set in a future speculative society, the narrative delves into the controversial concept of euthanasia within a luxurious facility known as Sunnylands Palace, where guests can choose how they want to die. The story explores themes of choice, dignity, and the darker aspects of human nature. The plot centers on Mr. Sims, a man forced into the Sunnylands program by his doctor due to a supposed heart condition that renders him a burden to society. As he meets with the director, Mr. Hoode, he learns about various extravagant and theatrical methods available for ending one's life—options that range from dying in battle to facing wild animals. However, Mr. Sims's choice is simple: he opts for a dignified death reminiscent of Socrates. The story takes a dark turn when Mr. Sims discovers his family’s ulterior motives, ultimately leading to a violent betrayal by his envious relatives. The narrative culminates in a stark commentary on the nature of humanity and the concept of a "proper" death, leaving readers to ponder the ethical implications buried within the facade of choice. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 85.5 (6th grade). Easy to read. en Science fiction Short stories Death -- Fiction PS Text Science Fiction Category: Short Stories Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy 44609 2025-07-20T12:19:48.365712 text/html 20792 2024-10-22T23:49:01 text/html 238000 2025-07-20T12:19:49.982741 application/epub+zip 236848 2025-07-20T12:19:48.725734 application/epub+zip 84704 2025-07-20T12:19:48.525719 application/epub+zip 271893 2025-07-20T12:19:51.098728 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 264980 2025-07-20T12:19:49.789741 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 113065 2022-09-23T08:42:43.034241 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 37990 2025-07-20T12:19:48.263729 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 18257 2024-10-22T23:49:01 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 17380 2025-07-20T12:19:51.217708 application/rdf+xml 27121 2025-07-20T12:19:48.598722 image/jpeg 4290 2025-07-20T12:19:48.562719 image/jpeg 215234 2025-07-20T12:19:48.374741 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog