Project Gutenberg
2019-10-16
Public domain in the USA.
88
Zuroy, Michael
1918
2007
Orban, Paul
1896
1974
The Super Opener
Produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, August 1958
Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
"The Super Opener" by Michael Zuroy is a science fiction story written in the late 1950s. The narrative revolves around Kalvin Feetch, the chief engineer at the Piltdon Opener Company, as he grapples with the challenges of innovation while under pressure from his demanding employer. The book explores themes of corporate greed, scientific discovery, and the often-overlooked contributions of individuals in the workplace. In the story, Feetch is tasked with creating an unprecedented can opener that outperforms competitors within an unreasonably short deadline. After experimentation leads to an unexpected and mysterious effect where opened cans seemingly vanish, the product becomes a major success for the company. However, the fallout from the product's unforeseen consequences—a bizarre phenomenon where emptied cans start raining down across the nation—leads to chaos and public outrage. As the pressure mounts on Feetch from his employer, Piltdon, to capitalize on the invention while stifling scientific inquiry, he ultimately chooses to take a stand for his research. The climax showcases his decision to reveal the secrets behind his invention in exchange for ownership and recognition, thus illustrating the conflict between corporate interests and genuine scientific pursuit. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Reading ease score: 69.4 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
en
Science fiction
Short stories
Inventions -- Fiction
Business enterprises -- Fiction
PS
Text
Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
Category: Novels
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