The Pacifist (Arthur C Clarke short story)

The Pacifist (Arthur C Clarke short story)

"The Pacifist" is a short story by Arthur C. Clarke, first published in 1956.

This story is about a computer programmer's revenge on his unreasonable military boss by tinkering with software code in a way that makes his boss the laughing stock of the organization.

The story details the contruction of a supercomputer within "a cavern in Kentucky" (Clarke may have been thinking of Mammoth Cave, then suspected (and later known) to be the world's longest known cave system.) The purpose of the computer is military battle simulation, and the details of all known historical battles have been stored in the computer's data banks.

The computer's designer, nicknamed "Dr. Milquetoast" by the story-within-a-story's narrator, works under the harsh supervision of a military General. By way of revenge, Dr. Milquetoast programs the computer so that it will answer purely theoretical or mathematical questions put to it, but when asked to solve a military problem, responds by insulting the General using phrases industriously prepared by the programmer. Frustration mounts as the General realizes that because the computer is aware of every known historical military battle, it is capable of recognizing such scenarios even when couched in purely mathematical terms.

Analysis

The story presents a computer programmer as an "everyman," a downtrodden and unappreciated worker who has the last laugh on his tormentor. In 1956, computers were rare, and computer programmers were regarded as an engineering elite. Although the character of Dr. Milquetoast is depicted in a classic stereotypical fashion for his character's archetype, the frustration he feels, at the hands of the General, humanizes the character.

Published near the beginning of the Cold War, "The Pacifist" satirizes the military-industrial complex (although the term would not come into wide use for another five years.) The involvement of civilian scientists in military projects was familiar to the reading public, notably the involvement of J. Robert Oppenheimer's team of nuclear scientists in the Manhattan Project, under the military leadership of General Leslie Groves.

Legacy

The story's theme of military-computer-gone-haywire is now a staple of written and filmed science fiction. Later examples include Dr. Strangelove (1964), (novel, 1966, film version, 1970), and WarGames (1983).


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • The Collected Stories of Arthur C. Clarke — infobox Book | name = The Collected Stories of Arthur C. Clarke title orig = translator = image caption = Dust jacket from the 1st edition author = Arthur C. Clarke illustrator = cover artist = Blacksheep country = United Kingdom language =… …   Wikipedia

  • List of works by Arthur C. Clarke — The following is a list of works by Arthur C. Clarke.Novels* Prelude to Space (1951) * The Sands of Mars (1951) * Islands in the Sky (1952) * Against the Fall of Night (1948, 1953) original version of The City and the Stars * Childhood s End… …   Wikipedia

  • The Playboy of the Western World — is a three act play written by Irish playwright John Millington Synge and first performed at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, on January 26, 1907.[1] It is set in Michael James Flaherty s public house in County Mayo (on the west coast of Ireland)… …   Wikipedia

  • Arthur Conan Doyle — For the professional athlete, see Conan Doyle (rugby player). Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Born Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle 22 May 1859(1859 05 22) Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom …   Wikipedia

  • Tales from the White Hart — infobox Book | name = Tales from the White Hart title orig = translator = image caption = Cover of the 1st edition author = Arthur C. Clarke illustrator = cover artist = country = United States language = English series = genre = Fantasy Short… …   Wikipedia

  • Chickamauga Wars (1776–1794) — The Chickamauga Wars (1776–1794) were a series of raids, campaigns, ambushes, minor skirmishes, and several full scale frontier battles which were a continuation of the Cherokee (Ani Yunwiya, Ani Kituwa, Tsalagi, Talligewi) struggle against… …   Wikipedia

  • List of atheists (authors) — Authors * Douglas Adams (1952 ndash;2001): British radio and television writer and novelist, author of The Hitchhiker s Guide to the Galaxy . [ I am a radical Atheist... Adams in an interview by American Atheists… …   Wikipedia

  • United Kingdom — a kingdom in NW Europe, consisting of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: formerly comprising Great Britain and Ireland 1801 1922. 58,610,182; 94,242 sq. mi. (244,100 sq. km). Cap.: London. Abbr.: U.K. Official name, United Kingdom of Great… …   Universalium

  • H. G. Wells — Wells pictured some time before 1916 Born Herbert George Wells 21 September 1866(1866 09 21) Bromley, Kent, England, United Kingdom …   Wikipedia

  • china — /chuy neuh/, n. 1. a translucent ceramic material, biscuit fired at a high temperature, its glaze fired at a low temperature. 2. any porcelain ware. 3. plates, cups, saucers, etc., collectively. 4. figurines made of porcelain or ceramic material …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”