Tape Jockey
Tape Jockey
Pettigill was, you might say, in tune with the world. It wouldn't even have been an exaggeration to say the world was in tune with Pettigill. Then somebody struck a sour note....
Book Excerpt
ody struck a sour note....]
The little man said, "Why, Mr. Bartle, come in. This is indeed a pleasure." His pinched face was lighted with an enthusiastic smile.
"You know my name, so I suppose you know the Bulletin sent me for a personality interview," the tall man who stood in the doorway said in a monotone as if it were a statement he had made a thousand times--which he had.
"Oh, certainly, Mr. Bartle. I was informed by Section Secretary Andrews this morning. I must say, I am greatly honored by this visit, too. Oh heavens, here I am letting you stand in the doorway. Excuse my discourtesy, sir--come in, come in," the little man said, and bustled the bored Bartle into a great room.
The walls of the room were lined by gray metal boxes that had spools of reproduction tape mounted on their vertical fronts--tape recorders, hundreds of them.
"I have a rather lonely occupation, Mr. Bartle, and sometimes the common courtesies s
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A story really only marred by the technology of the time--tape recorders. In a society broken into castes, each caste is broadcast music each night that will soothe and reassure it. A newspaper reporter interviews Mr. Pettigill, the man who has been in charge of the tapes and broadcasts for 20 years. The reporter's idle question sets a chain of events going.
It's a two-character story, and the characters have little back-story, but the plot was entertaining.
It's a two-character story, and the characters have little back-story, but the plot was entertaining.
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(1954) Sci-fi (Future society mind control)
From 'IF Worlds of Science Fiction' March 1954.
R: ***
Plot bullets
The government prescribes and provides a nightly dose of music.
What if the tapes could be manipulated?
From 'IF Worlds of Science Fiction' March 1954.
R: ***
Plot bullets
The government prescribes and provides a nightly dose of music.
What if the tapes could be manipulated?
10/08/2013