The Last Answer

"The Last Answer" is a science-fiction short story by Isaac Asimov.

Plot summary

In the story, an atheist physicist dies of a heart attack and is greeted by a being of supposedly infinite knowledge. This being, referred to as the Voice, tells the physicist the nature of his life after death, as a nexus of electromagnetic forces. The Voice then tells the physicist that he is to think, for all eternity, so as to amuse him. The physicist is appalled by the idea of thinking and discovering for no reason but to amuse a being capable of easily out thinking him but given a bit of effort. The physicist wishes to be destroyed then, but the Voice will not permit it, as were the physicist to disrupt the nexus it would instantly be made again with that possibility of suicide removed. The physicist decides then that he will spend eternity devising a way to destroy the Voice. The Voice is pleased, as the physicist reaches the same conclusion that all others chosen before him have. It becomes apparent that the Voice is suffering the same fate of forced existence as the physicist, and like him, desires to learn how to end his own eternity. The Voice leaves the physicist to think upon this task.