
Hollywood’s sci‑fi blockbusters are under fire, and studios are scrambling to replace human villains with alien ones—only to wonder whether those extraterrestrials might be just as sensitive. In this sharply observed satire, the industry’s uneasy dance with political correctness collides with a deep‑rooted love of spectacle, setting the stage for a clash of art and commerce. The opening riffs on the absurdity of shielding audiences while still needing a clear antagonist, hinting at darker undercurrents beneath the glitter.
Against the backdrop of the nation’s fastest coast‑to‑coast train, a powerful banker and the head of a major studio meet in a cramped suite to decide the fate of Gigantic Studios’ next big picture. Their conversation is interrupted by a bruised, mysterious figure dragged through a corridor, raising questions about security, loyalty, and the true cost of filmmaking. The tension between creative ambition and corporate restraint drives the story forward, promising an incisive look at the people who make movies and the forces that shape them.
Language
en
Duration
~17 minutes (16K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2009-06-23
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1910–1996
Known for lively science fiction and mystery stories, this mid-century writer also helped shape the pulp magazines where many classic SF readers first found the genre. His work blends big ideas with the brisk pace of popular fiction.
View all books
by Jr. Sam Merwin

by Jr. Sam Merwin

by Jr. Sam Merwin

by Jr. Sam Merwin

by Jr. Sam Merwin

by Jr. Sam Merwin

by Jr. Sam Merwin

by Jr. Sam Merwin