The Disintegration Machine
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| Author | Arthur Conan Doyle |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | Professor Challenger |
| Genre(s) | Science fiction short story |
| Released | 1927 |
| Preceded by | The Land of Mist |
| Followed by | When the World Screamed |
The Disintegration Machine is a very short story written by Arthur Conan Doyle in 1927. The story centers around the discovery of a machine capable of disintegrating objects and reforming them as they were. This short story is a part of the "Challenger series", a collection of stories about the wealthy eccentric Professor Challenger.
[edit] Plot summary
Professor Challenger is arguing with people who are persistently calling him on the telephone when reporter Ed Malone enters and requests Challenger accompany him to inspect the discovery of Theodore Nemor, who claims to have invented a machine capable of disintegrating objects. Skeptical of the invention, Challenger accepts Malone's proposal and accompanies him to the house of Theodore Nemor.
At first Theodore offers to disintegrate Challenger and put him back together to demonstrate the machine, but Malone convinces Challenger that should the machine fail to restore him, his scientific work would go unfinished, and thus Malone nominates himself to be disintegrated.
Malone is successfully disintegrated and put back together and Challenger then undergoes the same treatment. As a joke Theodore restores him without hair and Challenger assaults Theodore. Theodore restores Challenger's hair and Challenger congratulates Theodore on his machine and inquires as to its practical application. Theodore boasts that in the hands of the "Soviets" it could be used to destroy London. After ascertaining whether any other knows the secret of the machine, Challenger inspects it. Challenger claims that a small amount of electricity is leaking from the chair on which he sat when he was disintegrated. Theodore refutes this and sits himself in the chair in an attempt to feel this electricity. Challenger then disintegrates him and, considering it is for the greater good, he and Malone leave without restoring Theodore.
