Science Fiction · ThoughtfulTwo professors build a cybernetic brain that offers a better mind and eternal youth to those who give up prejudice
They'd Rather Be Right
by Mark Clifton & Frank Riley
A thinking machine that rewards people who drop their prejudices
Astounding Science Fiction serialized the novel in four parts, August to November 1954, and Gnome Press published the first book edition in 1957. Two professors build an advanced cybernetic brain called Bossy. It offers a better mind and eternal youth, but only to people willing to give up their prejudices. The book continues two earlier stories by Mark Clifton and Alex Apostolides, "Crazy Joey" and "Hide! Hide! Witch!", published in Astounding in 1953. A heavily cut version appeared in 1958 as The Forever Machine.
More about this book
Who
Bossy, Joe and Mabel, with two professors who build the machine.
World
A near-future story built around a cybernetic brain.
What makes it different
It was the second Hugo ever given for a novel. It is a sequel to two 1953 Astounding stories, and its 1958 cut version was titled The Forever Machine.
Feel
Reflective and talky.
Page count and cover shown for: Selected edition
Further reading
- They'd Rather Be RightWikipedia