Short Science Fiction Review – Brian W Aldiss – Conviction
1955 – The Friday Project – Spoiler alerts
Poor David Stevens is just an average kind of guy who is suddenly picked randomly to represent Earth before a tribunal of God-like overlords of the Universe. He has been given just months to prepare his case before his trial.
If Stevens fails to convince the mighty beings that we are worthy to join their federation, Earth will be annihilated. Stevens does his best and hopes getting advice secretly through concealed microphones connecting him to the US government will be enough to save us. We’ll find out the verdict any time now.
Startling in its sense of the sheer power of the creatures who abduct Stevens. I think if I was representing us, we would be pretty well stuffed.
Arthur Chappell
Comments
MegL wrote on January 20, 2015, 12:27 PM
Ha, ha. It's amazing how quickly you can think and what you can come up with when the outcome is critical!
maxeen wrote on January 20, 2015, 1:29 PM
I am wondering who copied who ? Did the government copy him ,or him then.?
msiduri wrote on January 20, 2015, 8:09 PM
What a proposition. No pressure. No pressure, huh?
BodieMor wrote on January 22, 2015, 2:43 AM
Randomly chosen to decide the fate of the earth? Sounds like Aldiss...