Placebo by David Mason
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"Placebo" by David Mason is a science fiction story written in the mid-20th century. The narrative unfolds during a time of emerging technological advancements and societal changes, reflecting themes of time travel and the complexities of different realities. The tale explores the concept of psychological and societal perceptions as the protagonist encounters an unusual and chaotic interaction with an alien traveler from another 1955, dealing with the dichotomy of primitive versus advanced
civilizations. The story centers around Philip Corrigan, who discovers a time traveler named Darwin Lenner stranded in a peculiar world that appears simple and carefree compared to Lenner's more structured and rigid society. As they interact, Lenner expresses his despair over his inability to return to his home world—where complexity reigns over freedom. With a comedic twist, Corrigan, alongside another character named Burwell, ultimately deceives Lenner into believing that his faulty time machine has been successfully repaired, illuminating the idea that psychological belief can serve as a catalyst for action. The conclusion emphasizes the value of self-belief over mechanical reliance, as Lenner's departure is facilitated by the notion of empowerment rather than the actual functioning of his device, highlighting a whimsical critique of civilization's reliance on technology. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Mason, David, 1924-1974 |
|---|---|
| Title | Placebo |
| Original Publication | United States: Royal Publications, Inc,1955. |
| Series Title | Produced from Infinity Science Fiction, November 1955 |
| Credits | Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 78.0 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature |
| Subject | Science fiction |
| Subject | Short stories |
| Subject | Time travel -- Fiction |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 67324 |
| Release Date | Feb 5, 2022 |
| Last Update | Oct 18, 2024 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 330 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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