Day of the Moron by H. Beam Piper
"Day of the Moron" by H. Beam Piper is a science fiction novel written in the early 1950s. The book explores themes related to technology, human behavior, and the potential dangers that arise when insufficiently capable individuals work within critical fields, particularly those involving nuclear energy. Set in a future world where atomic power plants provide energy for vast metropolitan areas, it presents a narrative that delves into the implications of humanerror and negligence in high-stakes environments. The story follows Scott Melroy, an engineer tasked with implementing a cybernetic control system at a nuclear reactor. As he prepares to begin his work, he becomes increasingly concerned about the potential presence of incompetent workers among his newly hired staff. To mitigate the danger posed by such "emotional morons," Melroy enlists the help of psychologist Dr. Doris Rives to administer a series of tests aimed at identifying individuals who may be mentally unstable or insufficiently intelligent. Tensions rise as union representatives challenge Melroy’s methods, leading to a labor dispute that culminates in a catastrophic failure of the nuclear plant, highlighting the dire consequences of human folly in reliance on dangerous technology. The novel ultimately serves as a commentary on the fragility of modern civilization in the face of human incompetence. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Piper, H. Beam, 1904-1964 |
|---|---|
| Title | Day of the Moron |
| Series Title | Produced from Astounding Science Fiction September 1951. |
| Note | Reading ease score: 74.4 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read. |
| Credits | Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature |
| Subject | Science fiction |
| Category | Text |
| EBook-No. | 18949 |
| Release Date | Jul 31, 2006 |
| Copyright Status | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 146 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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