| They'd Rather Be Right | |
|---|---|
Dust-jacket of the first edition |
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| Author(s) | Mark Clifton & Frank Riley |
| Cover artist | W. I. van der Poel |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Science Fiction |
| Publisher | Gnome Press (1957 novel) |
| Publication date | 1954 (as a serial), 1957 (as a novel) |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 189 pp |
| ISBN | NA |
They'd Rather Be Right (also published as The Forever Machine) is a science fiction novel by Mark Clifton and Frank Riley. It was first published as a four-part serial in Astounding Science Fiction during 1954. It won a Hugo award for best novel during 1955.[1]
In it, two professors create a cybernetic brain, which they call "Bossy". "Bossy" can "optimise your mind (...) and give you eternal youth into the bargain, but only if you're ready to abandon all your favourite prejudices."[2] However, when given the choice of admitting they were wrong and therefore being able to benefit from Bossy's abilities, most people would rather be right.
In 2008, Sam Jordison described it as "appalling", the "worst ever winner (of the Hugo Award)", and "a basic creative writing 'how not to'", saying that its win "by public vote (...) raises serious questions about the value of a universal franchise".[3] Similarly, Lawrence Watt-Evans has stated that They'd Rather Be Right is "the usual (book) cited" as the "worst book ever to win (the Hugo)",[4] and Rick Cook has responded to the question of "is the book any good" with "No", going on to explain its origins as "one of those tailored-to-order serials for the old Astounding. Sometimes those things worked and sometimes they didn't. This one didn't."[5]
David Langford has addressed conspiracy theories attributing They'd Rather Be Right's win to Scientology, saying it is more likely that Clifton was popular for his short stories.[2]
Galaxy reviewer Floyd C. Gale faulted the novel, saying "although a passably workmanlike job, loose ends outnumber neat knits in this yarn."[6]
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